COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 189 



tlier shining, except the elytra, which are somewhat 

 obscure. The anterior part of the head is rough with 

 shallow punctures, and there are two small approxi- 

 mating tubercles placed in the middle of the fore- 

 head between the eyes. The thorax is somewhat 

 convex, marked with numerous minute points ante- 

 riorly, and entirely surrounded by a narrow margin, 

 which is crenulated behind. The elytra are usually 

 more obscure than the other parts of the body, and 

 without any other impressions on their surface than 

 a few scattered punctures. The anterior tibiae are 

 armed with four long teeth on their outer edge, and 

 the posterior pair are slightly bent inwards. All of 

 them are pretty thickly clothed with fine hairs. 



This species is very common in all the southern 

 countries of Europe, especially in those that lie 

 along the shores of the Mediterranean. It likewise 

 occurs in the east, and seems to be diffused over all 

 Africa, from Egypt to the Cape of Good Hope. 



This renowned insect has been singularly exempt- 

 ed from the obscurity and neglect which have fallen 

 to the lot of most of its tribe. It was one of those 

 "creeping things" to which the Egyptians paid di- 

 vine honours, and appears to have constituted one 

 of the favourite deities of that remarkable people. 

 If it enjoyed an inferior degree of veneration to the 

 snake-devouring Ibis, it certainly far surpassed in 

 virtue the sacred leeks and onions, from which Ju- 

 venal takes occasion to congratulate the nation on 

 account of the number and dignity of its gods : 



