150 INSECTS ABROAD. 



Larval stage, as the larva always does live for several years 

 before it becomes a pupa, and in this case development would 



be hindered by the dryness of the w 1. Several other foreign 



insects have been imported in like manner, and are mostly 

 found about the Dock^. 



The full account of this curiously prolonged life is found in 

 one of the early volumes of the " Linnean Transactions," and in 

 the same " Transactions " is an account of a larva of an Indian 

 Buprestis, which had been sent over in a bale of goods, and had 

 eaten its way completely through fifteen pieces of muslin — the 

 holes which it made being of course multiplied by the folds of 

 the muslin, which I should imagine must have furnished rather 

 innutritious diet. 



The present species is a native of the East Indies, and is a 

 very beautiful insect. The whole of the body is bright shining 

 green above, and more polished on the thorax than on the 

 elytra. Both thorax and elytra are covered with bold punctures, 

 the former looking very much like the pits on a lady's thimble. 

 On the elytra the punctures are not only deep, but on a close 

 examination are seen to be white inside. This curious colouring 

 is most perceptible on two large circular pits on the shoulders. 

 Besides having these punctures, the whole of the surface of the 

 elytra is covered with very tiny granulations. The boldly- 

 toothed antennae are covered towards their extremity with fine 

 down. 



On looking at the under surface a peculiar structure is shown, 

 which explains the generic name. The middle portion of the 

 thorax, technically named " meso-sternum," is prolonged into a 

 rather long, stout, and sharp spine, which projects completely 

 beyond the base of the first portion of the thorax, or "pro- 

 mum." If the reader will examine the under-surface of a 

 common Eose Beetle he will see a similar development, except 

 that the spine of the ftose Beetle is not so stout nor so propor- 

 tionately large as that of the Buprestis. The generic name 

 Stemocera is formed from two Greek winds signifying "breast- 

 horn," and is therefore a very appropriate one. The specific 

 name st&rnicomis is nothing more than a literal Latin rendering 

 nl' the same word. The whole of the under surface is green, 

 eckled with tiny yellow hairs. 



