130 NATURAL HISTORY OP 



This insect is of frequent occunence ai all tnfc 

 middle and southern countries of Europe, but it be- 

 comes scarce in the north. Few instances are re- 

 corded of its having been observed in Britain, and 

 an indigenous specimen is consequently regarded 

 as a valuable acquisition by collectors. Mr Kirby 

 mentions that one was taken at Aldborough in Suf- 

 folk, by Dr Crabbe, the celebrated poet ; another 

 Ly a young lady at Southwold, which is now in the 

 cabinet of W. J. Hooker, Esq. ; and a third by a 

 boy at Norwich, crawling up a wall, which was pur- 

 chased of him by S. Wilkin, Esq. 



ELAPHRUS RIPARIUS. 

 PLATE III. FIG. 2. 



Clcindela riparia, Linn. Donovan'* British Insects, vol. x 

 p. 301. 



The above figure represents this beautiful insect 

 as it appears under a very high magnifier. The 

 colour of the body is brassy green, with coppery re- 

 flections. The head and thorax are very thickly 

 punctured, and the latter has a short deep groove 

 in the middle. The elytra are very thickly covered 

 with minute punctures, and each is ornamented with 

 four rows of rounded spots, rather faintly marked, 

 wnich are purple in the centre, and surrounded with 

 a ring of a metallic lustre. The spaces between these 

 oceliated spots are very little elevated, except one 



