A CURIOUS DISCOVERY. 171 



The curious family of the Bostrichidaa is represented by a fine 

 and remarkable insect, Apate terebrans, a native of Western 

 Africa. All the Bostrichidse are cylindrical in form, and show at 

 once by their shape that they are wood-borers. As their bodies 

 and elytra are quite hard, it seems strange that they should be 

 ranked among the soft-bodied Malacoderms. They are, how- 

 ever, so evidently allied to Beetles which are acknowledged 

 Malacoderms, that although the Malacoderms are, as a rule, soft- 

 bodied and the Bostrichidse are hard-bodied, we cannot deny 

 them their relationship. Only four British species of the Bos- 

 trichidse are known. Others have been found in England, one 

 of which, Dinoderus ocellaris, was discovered by Mr. Westwood 

 floating in a cup of coffee. It was evidently an imported 

 specimen. 



All the Bostrichida? may be distinguished by the shape of the 

 thorax, which projects like a hood over the head. One of the 

 British species has this peculiarity so well marked that it lias 

 gained the specific name of capucinus. The head cannot be 

 retracted into the thorax, but the 

 latter organ is so large that the 

 head is quite hidden under it. 



The species which is shown 

 in the illustration is the largest 

 of its genus. Although it is 

 not very large, only about an 

 inch in length, it is wonderfully * 1G - ra.— Apate terebrans. 



, , (Black.) 



stout and solid, and the holes 



which it makes must be of corresponding diameter. It has 



nothing remarkable about its colour, which is simply black, 



but its form is so curious as to require a somewhat detailed 



description. 



Beginning at the head, we find that this portion of the body 

 appears quite of secondary importance. It is bent downwards, 

 and so completely concealed by the large, solid, hood-like thorax 

 that when the insect is viewed from above the head cannot be 

 seen at all. The jaws are small, but are yet strong and sharp, 

 and capable of cutting their way entirely through wood. 



Next comes the thorax. This is also black, and the fore 

 portion of it is covered with a number of little tubercles that 

 gradually increase in size until near the junction of the head 



