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BOOPS. A genus of small Acanthoptery- 

 gious fishes, found mostly in the Mediterra- 

 nean. The species are generally of brilliant 

 colouring, and characterized by a small 

 mouth, large eyes, and a rounded form. 



BOPYRUS. A parasitic Crustacean, of 

 the order Isopoda, of which three or four 

 species are known. They fasten on the 

 prawn, hermit crab, and other Crustacea. 

 The sexes differ very much in appearance. 

 The B, Squillarum is far from uncommon iu 

 this country : it causes swellings on the side 

 of the carapace of the common Palcemon 

 SquiUa. 



BOS. The scientific name for a genus 

 of hollow-horned ruminating quadrupeds, 

 which in their domesticated state contribute 

 most materially to the comforts and con- 

 veniences of man. [See Ox ; BISON, c.] 



BOSTRICIIUS : BOSTRICHID^E. A 

 genus and family of Coleopterous insects, of 

 the group Xylophila, some species of which 

 are highly destructive of timber. These Bee- 

 tles usually live in wood, which their larvae 



pierce in every direction ; and when abun- 

 dant in forests, especially those of pines and 

 firs, they destroy immense numbers of trees 

 in a few years. One of the most destructive 

 species is the Bostrichus Typoffraphicus, or 

 the Typographer Beetle, which has at difter- 

 ent times ravaged the forests of Germany. 

 It devours, both in the larva and perfect 

 states, the soft wood be- 

 neath the bark, which 

 is most essential to the 

 vegetative process, and 

 thus causes the death 

 of the tree. The fe- 

 males attack the cre- 

 vices of the bark, and 

 perforate it in diverg- 

 ing lateral channels, in 

 BEETLE which from sixty to 



eighty eggs are deposit- 

 ed. At the end of fifteen days the larvae are 

 hatched, and forthwith commence the work 

 of destruction, each gnawing a serpentine 

 gallery between the bark and the wood, and 

 gradually enlarging its burrow until the 

 period when it is ready to pass into the pupa 

 state ; when, having finally become a perfect 

 beetle, it directly bores through the portion 

 of the tree which remains between the wood 

 and the outer bark, and escapes through a 

 small circular aperture in the latter. There 

 appears to be no remedy when the trees are 



once attacked but to cut down the trees, bark 

 them and burn the bark, and to remove all 

 felled timber without delay. 



BOTATRISSO. The Eel-pout. [See EEL.] 

 BOTATIRUS. [See BITTEKX.] 



BOTRYLLUS. A ^enus of Molluscous 

 animals termed Aggregated Ascidians, which 

 at first float free and separate, but at a cer- 

 tain period of their existence unite to form 

 one common mass. The aggregated animals 

 thus found together are almost always very 

 small, soft, irritable, and contractile, chang- 

 ing their form with the slightest movement. 

 [See ASCIDIA.] 



BOTS. The larvae or caterpillars of the 

 Gad-fly, belonging to the order Diptera, 

 genus (Estrug, of which there are numerous 

 species. They infest horses and cattle ; and 

 are distinguished by passing the larval state 

 of their existence within some animal, and 

 feeding on the juices or substance of that 

 animal. [See CEsxiius ; BUEEZE-FLY, &c.] 



BOTTLE -FISH. [See SACCOPHAKYXX.] 



BRACHELYTRA. An extensive group 

 of Coleopterous insects, distinguished by the 

 elongate form of the body and the short- 

 ness of the wing-cases. They run and fly 

 with equal agility ; preying upon decaying 

 animal and vegetable matters, especially 

 fungi, agarics, &c., in which they chiefly 

 reside ; they are also found in profusion under 

 heaps of putrescent plants. They are decided- 

 ly carnivorous ; some species are, however, 

 found in flowers, others upon the margins of 

 running streams, and others under the bark 

 of decaying trees. One of the commonest, 

 and at the same time most formidable look- 

 ing members of the family, is a black species, 

 rather more than an inch long, commonly 

 , called the "Devil's Coach-horse" (Goeriux 

 olcw). This is frequently to be seen running 

 about garden walks, cellars, and dusty roads. 

 True to the habits of the family, on the least 

 approach of danger it immediately puts itself 

 into a posture of defence, throws the tail over 

 the head like a scorpion, protrudes the anal 

 rings, elevates its head, and opens its long 

 and powerful jaws. The geographical range 

 of this group of insects is principally confined 

 to the temperate climes of the northern 

 hemisphere ; a few species, however, have 

 been received from tropical climates, which 

 are remarkable for the singularity of their 

 forms and the splendour of their colours ; 

 but it rarely happens that the exotic species 

 exceed those of our own country in size. 



BRACHINUS. A genus of Coleopterous 

 insects, with truncated elytra and a smallish 

 thorax ; of which the Brachinus crepitans is 

 the most common. This insect, which is 

 found under stones, is about half an inch 

 long ; the head, thorax, and legs are of a 

 yellowish red colour ; the wing-cases green- 

 ish, or blue black ; and the antennae reddish. 

 They possess a remarkable power of violently 

 expelling from the anus a pungent acrid 

 fluid, accompanied by a loud report, consi- 

 dering the size of the insect ; whence its com- 

 mon name of Bombardier Beetle. 



