212 



INS FCTS ABROAD. 



The ground colour of this beautiful insect much resembles 

 burnished copper, with a distinct dash of carmine, and lias quite 

 a metallic, look about it. 



On the head, thorax, and ahdomen are a numher of spots, 

 arranged as shown in the figure. These spots are, like those of 

 the Brachycerus which has already been described, slightly 

 depressed, and their centres are filled with the most brilliant 



green scales, over which plays a 

 strong iridescence as the light 

 changes. Tt is rather remarkable, by 

 the way, that while the scale-clad 

 pits of the Diamond Beetle have the 

 centres blank, and the scales set in a 

 sort of broad ring, exactly the oppo- 

 site arrangement is found in this 

 Pachyrhynchus. 



The elytra are very large, and are 

 turned far over the sides, which, if 

 possihle, are even more gorgeous than the hack, the green 

 spots being exceedingly numerous. As the legs are bright 

 metallic red, and as they are seen very conspicuously when the 

 insect is viewed from the side, the profile view of the Beetle has 

 an added splendour. 



Via. 102.— Pachyrhynclius gemmatus. 

 (Copper, with green spots.) 



Another of these insects is here given as an example of the 

 extraordinary varieties of colouring that prevail in this genus. 



In this insect the ground colour is black. Upon the thorax- 

 is drawn a bright green cross, and the elytra are covered with a 

 network of the same colour, the 

 meshes being largest and fewest on 

 the back, and smallest and most 

 numerous on the sides. The legs are 

 also thick, with a green patch on 

 each. Although the colouring is so 

 simple, being composed of only two 

 hues, if is wonderfully effective, the 

 pattern being as clear and sharp as 

 if traced by the finest crow-quill, and 



the contrast between the shining jetty-black and the glittering 

 green being almost startling. Even on the under-side, which is 



Fig 103.— Pachyrhynclius reticulntus. 

 (Black, with green uetwork.) 



