BEETLES. 77 



punctured, and about one-third of an inch long. It is not an 

 uncommon species, and is found on flowers. 



FAMILY VII. Hispidce. 



Antennae rather short, cylindrical, inserted close together on 

 the front of the head ; body oval, convex, and generally spiny. 



It is impossible to mistake the typical Hispidce, for they are the 

 very porcupines or hedgehogs of the Coleoptera. They are nearly 

 all exotic, though one or two species are found in Europe, the best 

 known of which is Hispa Atra, Linn., a black insect, about one- 

 eighth of an inch in length. It is far from common, at least in 

 Central Europe, but is occasionally met with running over grass 

 growing in sandy places in the evening. 



The South American genus Alurnus, Fabr., is very different 

 from Hispa. A. Grossus, Fabr., from Cayenne, the typical species, 

 is an inch in length ; the head, legs, and antennae are black, the 

 thorax is red, rugose, armed with a spine on each side at the base, 

 and bordered behind with black, and the elytra are smooth and 

 yellow ; the body is not spiny. It is a native of Cayenne. 



FAMILY VIII. Cassididce. 



Antennae cylindrical, inserted close together on the top of the 

 head ; body rounded, more or less depressed ; thorax (in the more 

 typical species) entirely covering the head. 



The Cassididce, or Tortoise Beetles, are an extensive group, and 

 may often be recognised at once by their form alone. Many of 

 the species are brightly coloured, and some are metallic. Their 

 larvae are provided with a curious fork-like appendage, attached to 

 the hinder extremity of the body, but curving forwards. On this 

 they pile their excrement, under the shade of which they always 

 live. The beetles are sluggish, with short legs and antennae, and 

 they and their larvae feed on low plants. 



The American genus Himatidium, Fabr., and its allies differ 

 from the more typical genera in the antennae being moderately 

 long and slender, and in the head not being concealed by the 

 thorax. They are often of small size and dull colours. H. Latreittei, 

 Cast., is a Brazilian species, which measures about one-third of an 

 inch in length. It is of an orange-brown colour, with dull bronzy- 

 green elytra. 



The genus Calaspidea, Hope, has longer legs and antennae than 

 typical Cassida. The species are all tropical American, and are 



