54 INSECTS ABROAD. 



various Beetles which arc found in such situations. It lias even 

 been seen to fall upon the. Beetles themselves, though of gnat 

 size, to pull them in pieces, and devour them. 



Like many other Beetles which are adorned with brilliant 

 metallic hues, this insect seldom displays its beauties to the sun, 

 but remains hidden in some dark place during the day, and only 

 issues from its den alter dark in search of prey. It is said to 

 feed largely on cockchafers, which, like itself, are mostly noc- 

 turnal in their habits. 



The sub-family or tribe of the Panagseinae is represented by 

 several species, the first of which is the curious and rare Tejfius 

 Mrgcrhi of Guinea. 



Fig. 19.— Tefflus Megerlui. 



(I '.luck. ) 



This insect is the largest of its tribe, though not the hand- 

 finest in point of colour, as we shall presently see. Its colour 

 is black, but of different quality in the thorax and abdomen. 

 The former is covered with a whole network of small and intri- 

 cate wrinkles, like those in the faces of Rembrandt's old women. 

 The latter, which is rotund and much depressed towards the 

 end, has the elytra covered with bold longitudinal rounded 

 ridges, set widely apart, and having between each ridge a double 

 row <>f squared knobs, rather longer than wide. These knobs 

 break up the light in a very artistic manner, and, in spite of the 

 uniform black of the colour, give a variety of light and shade 

 tli.it could hardly he expected from so simple a device. 



