150 



COMMON BRITISH INSECTS. 



to accommodate the muscles which move these jaws, 

 the head is very broad and covered with a hard skin, 

 nearly as strong indeed as the jaws themselves. In 

 consequence of their habits, the proceedings of the 

 larvae are difficult of observation, and require ma- 

 chinery such as few entomologists can hope to possess. 

 Still, by carefully opening the trees which are infested 

 by these destructive insects, much can be learned of 

 their habits, and many pleasant and instructive hours 

 be spent in this task. We will now proceed to 



examine some of 

 the British species 

 of the Longicorn 

 Beetles. 



OUR first ex- 

 ample is the beau- 

 tiful MUSK BEETLE 

 (Aromia [or Ce- 

 rambyx\ moschatd], 

 an insect which is 

 equally grateful to 

 the eye and the 

 nostril. 



This is really a 

 lovely insect, the 

 shape being pecu- 

 liarly elegant, and 

 the colour a soft 

 green, sometimes 

 glossed with blue, gold, copper, or bronze, the hue 

 being exceedingly variable. Even the thorax par- 



Aromia moschata. 



