20 COLEOPTERA. 



resembles a beetle at all. The few known species are all dark- 

 brown insects, and are very much alike; they are confined 

 to the Malayan Peninsula and the adjacent islands, the type, 

 M. Phyllodes, Hagenb., being from Java. The transformations are 

 not specially remarkable, but the fully developed beetle, which is 

 about two inches long, much resembles a fiddle, both in shape and 

 colour, and is actually called " the Fiddler " by the European in- 

 habitants of the countries where it occurs. 



Anthia, Web., is a genus of large and handsome beetles inhabit- 

 ing the tropics of the Old World. A. Orientalis, Hope, which is 

 common in India, is a black species, about an inch and a quarter 

 in length, with two large white spots on the thorax, and four on 

 the elytra. 



Scarites, Fabr., includes a number of species remarkable for the 

 great size of their head and thorax, which are closely united, but 

 sharply separated from the abdomen ; their great mandibles ; and 

 their strongly-dentated front tibiae. They are common in the 

 warmer parts of the earth, where they burrow in loose soil, but 

 are not met with in Northern Europe. Some of the species are 

 diurnal, but the greater number only seek for prey at night. The 

 nearest ally to this genus which we possess in England is a small 

 dark-brown or reddish-brown species, with red legs and antennae 

 (Clivina Fossor, Linn.), which is met with in sandy places near 

 water, under stones, or at the roots of trees, etc. 



Panagceus, Latr., is a pretty genus containing black species 

 marked with red or yellow ; Panagceus Crux-major, Linn., which 

 is about an eighth of an inch in length, is not uncommon in 

 England. 



A great number of small and moderate-sized Caralidce, gener- 

 ally of a more or less oval form, and black, bronzy, or green in 

 colour, often with red legs, are met with in England. The most 

 important genera are perhaps Chlcenius, Bon. ; Anisodadylus, Dej. ; 

 Bradycellus, Erichs. ; Ophonus, Steph. ; Harpalus, Latr. ; Stenolophus, 

 Dej.; Pcecilus, Bon.; Argutor, Dej.; Pterosticlius, Calathus, Platynus, 

 Alax, and Amara, Bon., etc. Many species may be found running 

 on paths by day, especially in spring. Although the smaller Cara- 

 bidce, like the larger, are carnivorous as a rule, yet many species 

 of Harpalus, etc., will sometimes indulge in a vegetable diet; 

 and Zabrus Giblus, Linn., is a highly destructive insect. It is of a 

 shining black or pitchy black colour, and the antennae and legs are 

 pitchy brown. It is of a cylindrical form, winged, and with shorter 



