THE COPKIS BEETLES. HO 



the large and massive Copra Hamadrxjas. This insect is a 

 wonderfully fine one, measuring two inches and a half in length, 

 of a shining black colour, and being densely clothed in parts 

 with long silken, gold-coloured down. It is found both in 

 Africa and Asia. The general form of the male may be seen 

 by reference to the illustration. The head, with its forked, 

 upright horn, is deeply punctured and granulated, and so is the 

 thorax, except in the middle, where it is highly polished, like 

 black, burnished steel. The elytra are punctured in parallel 



Fig. 54. — Copns Hamadryas. 

 (Black, with golden yellow down.) 



rows, and are so highly polished that it is not easy to hold even 

 a dead and dried specimen, as it persists in slipping through the 

 lingers as though it were oiled. 



The female is without the formidable-looking horn of the 

 male, and even in the latter sex there is very great variation in 

 the size and shape of the horn. Some of the species have a 

 curious resemblance to the Dynastidre, a family which will 

 presently be described. The most curious of them is Copris 

 Laius, wdiich has two large pointed horns on the thorax, and a 

 very long horn on the head, curved back so as nearly to touch 

 those of the thorax. 



If the insect be turned over so as to bring the under surface 

 into view, the quantity of the golden down with which it is 

 clothed is seen to be very great, especially in two large oval 



