326 ARTICULATA. INSECTA. 



acquire a size and a magnificence unknown to us, the 

 wood-eaters chiefly abound ; having a commission to 

 keep in check the mighty vegetation of those teem- 

 ing regions by devouring the trees almost as soon 

 as their noble heads have bowed to the storm. The 

 magnificent genus Buprestis* is one of these, whose 

 species shine with the most gorgeous radiance ; blue, 

 purple, green, and crimson, alternately flash from 

 their sculptured elytra, accompanied by a golden 

 splendour that no colouring can imitate. The Long- 

 horned Beetles, (Prionus,^ Cerambyx,^ &c.) distin- 

 guished by the great length, and often by the saw- 

 like form of their antenna, also live in the interior of 

 trees, which their larvce perforate in long winding 

 channels. The former genus contains the very 

 largest Beetles known, some of them, as the P. 

 Giganteus, P. Cervicornis, &c., being of enormous 

 size. The mandibles also are often of great length 

 and thickness. A South American species, the Har- 

 lequin, (P. Longimanus,} is remarkable for the ex- 

 treme length of the first legs, and the beautifully 

 fantastic arrangement of colours, gray, red, and 

 black, on the elytra. 



Of those Beetles whose larvce derive their support 

 from living plants, the Weevils, (Curculio,) a nu- 

 merous tribe, are the most remarkable. They are 

 easily known by their plump, oval shape, and by 

 their head being prolonged into a projecting snout 



* The ancient name of a Beetle injurious to cattle. 



f- n^/wv, prion, a saw. j Kg^a;, keras, a horn. 



Their ancient Latin name. 



