HABITS OF THE LARVA. 107 



yellow brushes. Along the middle of the thorax is a deep 

 channel, and a few very shallow pits are scattered over it. The 

 elytra turn rather abruptly over the sides, and that portion is 

 covered with deep punctures. Each elytron is marked with ten 

 bold striae, and one of them, which runs from the shoulder, 

 extends only half-way along the elytron, whence comes the 

 specific name interruptus. 



The habits of this insect are very similar to those of the 

 Dorcus and Ceruchus, both larva and beetle living in rotten 

 wood. The insects of this genus possess large wings, but the 

 larger species appear seldom to use them. The smaller species, 

 however, are more active, and are accustomed to fly about after 

 dark. 



The larvss of Dorcus, Sinodendron, and their kin arc, as is 

 often the case with wood-boring larva?, rather deeply ringed. 





Fig. 50. — Neieus interruptus. 

 (Black, with golden duwn.) 



In the Passalides, however, the larvse are comparatively smooth, 

 the rings are but slightly marked, and the general form very 

 closely resembles that of the Lamellicorn larva. 



M. Lacordaire, after giving a description of the insect, makes 

 a statement which seems absolutely astounding. "All those 

 insects which I have observed in America are remarkable for 

 the rapidity with which they die when pierced with a pin. The 

 most vigorous individual scarcely survived three or four hours 

 after that operation" (vol. iii. p. 45). 



From which account we gather that M. Lacordaire was accus- 

 tomed to pin Beetles while still alive, and to allow them to 

 remain for hours after "that operation" without killing them. 

 There is a cool unconsciousness of cruelty about the whole state- 

 ment which seems scarcely credible in a professed naturalist, 



