DEATH-WATCH. MELASOMA. 



131 



of escape. 



Fro. 448 A.XOBIUM srniATUM. NATURAL 

 SIZE AND MAGNIFIKD. 



When touched, they counterfeit death by lowering 

 the head, drawing in the antennae, 

 and contracting their feet ; and 

 they remain in this position for 

 some time. Their colours are 

 always obscure, and but slightly 

 variegated ; and they live in dark 

 places near or upon the surface of 

 the ground. Of the genus Ano- 



bitim, nearly allied to Ptinus, many species inhabit the interior 

 of our houses, where they do much injury in the larva state, by 

 gnawing furniture, books, &c., which they pierce with little 

 round holes, like those made by a drill. Other species feed upon 

 flowers, wafers, preserved specimens of natural history, &c. 

 The curious sound mac^e by them from which have arisen the 

 superstitious ideas that gave origin to their common name of 

 D>ath- watch lias been elsewhere noticed (ANIM. PHYSIOL. 

 677). The species are remarkable for the pertinacity with 

 which they feign death when alarmed ; preferring, it is said, 

 to suffer death under a slow fire, rather than give the least sign 

 of life. 



7 1 3. Section II. HETEROMERA. The Coleoptera of the Se- 

 cond section, characterised by possessing five joints in the tarsi 



of the two anterior pairs 

 of feet, and only four 

 i\f-**Jj in the posterior tarsi, 

 *_ feed entirely on veget- 



/ I IX ab * 6 su ^ stances tnev are 

 V I k^ all terrestrial, and most 



/ \\J x of them frequent dark 



places. In thefirst tribe, 

 the MELASOMA or black- 

 bodied Beetles, the body 

 is usually of an ashy- 

 and the wings are for the most part ab- 



Fro. 450. 

 TBNRBRIO Mo- 



Fro. 449. KLAPS MORTISAGA. 



brown or black colour 



sent, the elytra being united along the suture. They usually 

 live in the ground, beneath stones, or in the sand often also in 



