264 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



being embellished with agreeable combinations of 

 sc'arlet, azure, and golden green, with a high de- 

 gree of lustre. They are strictly herbivorous ; and 

 as many of them are gregarious in their habits, 

 they sometimes occasion much injury to herbaceous 

 plants, by stripping them of their leaves. About 

 thirty diiferent kinds inhabit this country ; of these 

 perhaps the most beautiful is named 



CHRYSOMELA CEREALIS. 

 PLATE XXX. FIG. 3. 



Linn. Syst. Nat. Fair. Syst. Entom Donovan's Brit. In- 

 sects , iv. pi. 115. 



It is of a brilliant coppery red above, with parallel 

 stripes of blue along the thorax and elytra. The 

 under side of the body and the antennae are usually 

 brownish, at other times inclining to purple. The 

 wings are of a fine scarlet colour. It is found on 

 the common broom, and is not uncommon in some 

 parts of the Continent. In this country it is very 

 scarce, and was long regarded as a doubtful native ; 

 but the recent occurrence of several examples in 

 Wales has removed all uncertainty on this point. 



