THE LINE OF BEAUTY. 37 



males have either two or three joints much widened 

 and squared, and very sponge-like below. 



A well-known beetle belonging to this family is 

 shown. Its name is PristonycJius terricola. As may 

 be seen by reference to the illus- 

 tration, it is a very prettily-shaped 

 insect, the curves of the outline 

 harmonising in a way that would 

 have delighted the soul of Ho- 

 garth, had he taken the trouble to 

 look at Nature's original of his 

 celebrated ' line of beauty.' 



Except in shape, it is not a 

 very pleasing insect to the eye, the 



Colour being black, With a violet Pristonychus terricola. 



gloss when examined in a proper light. The head is 

 pitchy- black, and the thorax is sometimes of the same 

 colour as the head, and sometimes blue-black, w r ith a 

 faint furrow in the centre, and a deep oblong pit on 

 either side of the base. The elytra are of the same 

 colour, and rather flattened, and covered with faint 

 but regular striae, which are slightly punctured. 

 Along the edges there is a series of roundish pits. 



This Beetle is plentiful in most parts of England, 

 and may be found in cupboards, cellars, dark out- 

 houses, and similar localities. There is only one 

 British species. 



WE now come to the pretty little Beetles that are 

 ranked under the generic title vtAnchomcnus. All these 

 insects have an elongated thorax, the head egg-shaped 

 and the antennas with the third joint twice as long as 

 the second. 



