THE MOUNTEBANK EEETLE. 269 



insect, that few persons who did not know them would think 

 that they belonged to the same group. 



When viewed from above, the shape of the Beetle very much 

 resembles the ace of diamonds, as it is sharp at either end and 

 very broad in the middle. If viewed from the side, it is seen to 

 be quite flat below and with its back forming a sort of hunch in 

 the middle, and altogether slug-like in shape. The front of the 

 flattened thorax is so scooped out as to project in a sort of 

 crescentic horn on either side, and the hinder angles form a 

 somewhat similar, though blunter, horn. 



As for describing precisely the colours of this insect, such a 

 feat is all but impossible, inasmuch as the arrangement of the 

 markings is exceedingly variable. Suffice it to say that the 

 ground hue is yellow, and that upon it are drawn a vast number 

 of bold and very complicated black marks, scattered in a pro- 

 miscuous manner over the whole surface. The only point in 

 which all the specimens agree is, that a broad, jagged band of 

 these black marks runs completely over the middle of the body, 

 and there are three similar but shorter and narrower bands, one 

 above and two below the central band. On each shoulder is a 

 roundish red spot, and a similar spot is on the tips of the elytra. 



The name of histrio, or " mountebank," is given to this 

 species in consequence of the jagged and irregular markings 

 bearing a fanciful resemblance to the many-coloured dress used 

 by the race of mountebanks, which is nearly extinct in this 

 country. The head and thorax are simply black, flat, and 

 shining. 



Many species of Encaustes are known, all differing greatly 

 from each other, but all possessing the characteristic jagged 

 lines. Erotylus Guerenii, for example, is jetty-black, and is 

 diversified with one broad yellow band and two red bands. 

 Erotylus peregrinus has four narrow belts thus arranged : yellow, 

 red, yellow, yellow. Another has one red and five yellow bands. 

 Another is black, with five yellow bands, each tipped with 

 scarlet, just at the outer edge of the elytra. Some are all ver- 

 milion, with a few black bauds, and the red has so spread 

 itself as to oust the black as a ground colour; and, on the other 

 hand, one species is all black except one or two little yellow and 

 red spots, the only remains of the coloured bands. 



This genus can easily be distinguished by the shape of the 



