CHAPTER XVI. 



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LONGICORNES, OR LONG-HORNED BEETLES. 



The insects which now come before us are mostly characterised 

 by the structure from which they derive their name. The 

 antennae are mostly long, and are never thickened at the ends. 

 In many of the Longicornes, the antennas have each joint 

 widened at the end, so as to produce a serrated appearance, the 

 widening being always on the inside. The first, or basal joint, is 

 always large, long, and stout, especially towards the end. 



The jaws are always powerful, sharp, and shear-shaped, often 

 being so bent downwards that when the insect is viewed 

 from above, they are hidden beneath the head. The eyes are 

 almost invariably kidney-shaped ; but there are some instances 

 where they are absolutely divided by the basal joint of the 

 antennae, so that the insect appears to have four eyes instead of 

 two. Such is the case with the Beetle called TctrojJS f jTocustus , 

 which is common in the London district, and has its antennae 

 seb in the very middle of its eyes. The head is generally broad 

 and squared, and is never lengthened so as to form a rostrum, 

 as is the case with the Weevils. 



The reader may remember that in the Weevils the elytra are 

 very large, in most instances folding over the sides, and conceal- 

 ing half of the abdomen. This structure is not found in any of 

 the Longicornes, the elytra being comparatively flat and not bent 

 at the sides, so that when the insect is viewed in profile, nearly 

 the whole of the abdomen is visible. 



The legs are never short, and in some instances, as for example 

 the Harlequin Beetle, which is drawn on Plate IV., axe of very 

 great length, so as to give a very quaint aspect to the insect. 

 The tarsus shows a similar structure to that of the Weevils, the 

 joints being widened into two lobes in front, and the fourth joint 



