BEETLES. 71 



SUB-FAMILY I. Sagrince. 



Mandibles entire, pointed ; antennae inserted widely apart on 

 the inner front edge of the eyes; hind femora frequently much 

 enlarged ; first segment of the abdomen at least twice as large as 

 any of the others ; body rather long. 



The type of this group is the beautiful genus Sagra, Fabr., 

 which inhabits tropical Asia and Africa. The species are green, 

 golden-green, purple, blue, or even black, and measure from half 

 an inch to an inch in length ; the hind coxae are of enormous size. 

 The most beautiful and one of the largest species is S. Bugueti, 

 Less., which is met with in Java and Borneo. It is bright green, 

 with the inner edge of the elytra along the suture of a bright 

 coppery red or flame-colour. S. Seraphica, Lac., from Senegal, is a 

 violet-blue species. 



The only European genus of Sagrince is Orsodacna, Latr., which 

 includes several black or yellowish species, which resemble Sagra 

 in shape, but are less than a quarter of an inch in length ; they 

 are found on flowers. 



SUB-FAMILY II. Donaciince. 



Mandibles indented at the tip ; antennae rather long, slender, 

 filiform, inserted near together on the front of the head, some 

 distance from the eyes ; thorax much narrower than the base of 

 the elytra ; legs rather long ; femora not dilated ; first segment of 

 the abdomen very large; body elongated or oblong; habits 

 aquatic. 



This sub-family only includes two genera Donacia, Fabr., and 

 Hcemonia, Latr., and most of the known species are either Euro- 

 pean or North American, though a few have been described from 

 different parts of Asia. The species of Donacia are about one-third 

 of an inch in length, and are generally of a bright green or bronzy 

 colour. The larvae feed under water on the roots of water-plants, 

 and the beetles are often found basking on the leaves. The 

 under surface of the bodies of the latter is clothed with a silvery- 

 white down, which entangles a bubble of air, which they carry 

 with them beneath the water when diving. 



SUB-FAMILY III. Criocerince. 



Mandibles indented or bifid at the tip; antennae inserted 

 widely apart on the inner front edge of the eyes, rather thick, espe- 



