LOXGICOHXU. U29 



(CERAMBYX, L. (Hammaticltertts, Meg.) 



As one or two species belonging to this genus have been found in 

 Britain, it may perhaps be as well to shortly point out its characters; 

 the specimens taken, however, have undoubtedly been imported in the 

 larval state in timber; they are very large and conspicuous insects with 

 the antennae longer than the body, clothed with silky pubescence, and 

 subserrate, with the third to the fifth joints clavateatapex; the anterior 

 coxal cavities are open behind; the thorax is rugose, and armed with a 

 lateral spine on each side ; the elytra are convex and rugose, and the 

 legs are long, with the intermediate tibia) simple; the larva of C. lieros 

 is very large, thick, and fleshy, and has been supposed by some authorities 

 to be the Cossus of the ancients, which was much esteemed as a delicacy; 

 it bores into solid oak, to which it often does great dan.age, and is 

 therefore easily exported in the logs. 



The genus is not a very extensive one, but is very widely distributed 

 in both tropical and temperate countries ; two, apparently, have been 

 found in Britain. 



I. Elytra narrowed towards apex, with the sutural angles mu- 



rronate C. HERO8, Scop. 



II. KUtru not narrowed towards apex, with the sutural angles 



not mucronate C. CERDO, L. 



C. lieroB, Scop. Oblong, gradually narrowed behind, black or pitchy 

 black, upper surface almost glabrous; head with a deep channel; thoiax 

 with a spine at sides; elytra rugose, with the apex smoother, and with 

 two obsolete elevated lines on each; the colour of the elytra is some- 

 times lighter than that of the head and thorax, and the apex is usually 

 lighter; antennas aad legs black. L. 30-40 mm. 



Male longer, with the antennae almost twice as long as the body. 



Female smaller, with the antennas a little shorter than the body. 



In oak ; recorded from Devonshire, Colney Hatch, aud Portsmouth Dockyard ; 

 I .-:.!, Aug. 18J-2 (C. U. Hall). 



C. cerdo, L. Very like the preceding, but differs in having the 

 elytra slightly pubescent, not narrow*. d towards apex, with the apt-x 

 concolorous, and with no raised lines; the sutural angle is not mucro- 

 nate; the mandibles, which in the former species are sinuate on their 

 lower margin before the apex, are in this species not sinuate ; in the 

 female the antennae are slightly longer; the general size is smaller. L. 

 ;J3 mm. 



On willows, and also on hawthorn blossom ; recorded from Dcpford and the Isle 

 D| Klv ; it will be noticed that both s|iecies have occurred in dockyard*, but Imse 

 I. ii 1'ciund also in oilier localities; if all the s|n-rir> Unit liuvf !>.. 11 tmuul in ciock- 

 \;iuls Mere recorded, lhe> would be iouud to amount to u considerable number.) 



