44 INSECTS ABROAD. 



under stones, in dark crevices, and similar habitations, so that 

 they are seldom found except by those who industriously look 

 for them. But there is at least one species of Graphipterus, 

 which was seen by M. Lefebre in Egypt, running about quite 

 actively in the hottest part of the day. Tins occurred in March, 

 and the insect was seen near the edge of the desert. 



The same observer noticed that this is one of the noise- 

 producing insects, being able, like our common Musk Beetle, to 

 emit squeaking or creaking sounds. In this case the sound is 

 produced by rubbing the thighs of the hind legs against the 

 i Iges of the broad elytra. 



There are many species of Graphipterus, the most striking 

 of which is, in my opinion, the insect which is represented in 

 tli^ illustration. The colours are simply "dead" black and 

 white of a rather peculiar texture, which cannot be seen without 

 artificial aid. If a moderately powerful magnifier be brought to 

 bear upon the insect, the whole of the white surface is seen t<> 

 be covered with exceedingly minute longitudinal black streaks, 

 looking like the smallest imaginable hairs, so that by them all 

 shine and glitter are prevented. The dulness of the black 

 portion is obtained in precisely the same manner, the hair-like 

 streaks being best seen by a side light. The reader will doubt- 

 less notice the shape of the elytra, which are very wide behind, 

 and then squared off abruptly. It is a very variable insect, 

 both in size and colour. This species inhabits Egypt. 



Nearly all the species of this genus are so pretty that I should 

 very much like to figure them all, but our space is so limited 

 compared with the enormous number of foreign insects, that I 

 can only give brief descriptions of one or two. 



There is G 'r< 2 / thi ) dcrus mclanocephahis of Southern Africa, which 

 is entirely dull yellow. But the yellow is only a sort of powdery 

 coat or covering to the elytra, and is almost as easily rubbed off 

 as the down of a butterfly's wing, showing the Mack elytra with 

 their delicate punctures. In consequence of this peculiarity it 

 is scarcely possible to obtain a really perfect specimen, and I 

 should think that the only way of doing so would be to rear the 

 insect from the larva. 



From the same district also comes Graphipterus clcgans, an 

 insect which thoroughly deserves its name. On the top of the 

 ln-ad there is a spindle-shaped mark of deep brown-black, a 



