55»t 



AllTICULATA. 



wliioh pro.liire such a beautiful effect at nii,'lit, durinc: the close of summer and beginning 

 of HUtuiini, in our country, atnl wliidi are still more brilliant in tropical retfions. The -£", noc- 

 tiliicus, of South America ami the AVest Indies, is over an inch long, of a brown color, and is so 

 lununous that several of that species being put into a glass jar or bottle, give light enough to 

 rend bv. The li<;ht is emitted from two large oval spots on the thorax. Other species of this 

 fmnilv are remarkable for the metallic splendor of their colors ; of these, the Buj)restidce, very 

 few arc found in Europe ; but the American species arc numerous, and often attain a large size. 



THE GIANT BCPRESTIS. 



The Giant Buprestis, B. gigantea of Guiana, is two inches long, and its body is of a green 

 coppery color. It is so brilliant that the inhabitants make bracelets and other ornaments of 

 it. The B./asciata, of our country, is of a fine green color, and over half an inch long. 



THE MALACODERMATA. 



This temi is from the Greek malakos, soft, and denna^ skin, and is descriptive of most of the 

 species. • These are distinguished from the Sternoxia, by having the prosternum of the ordinary 

 form, and not produced into a spine, posteriorly. Many of these, such as the European species 

 familiarly called Soldiers and Sailors — Telephori — are predaceous in their habits, while others 

 are wood-borers, and some feed on dry animal substances. Of the wood-boring species, one, the 

 Lymexylon navale, infests oak timber, to which it frequently does incredible mischief in dock- 

 yards. 



Other species, which also bore into timber in their larva state, are well known by the name 



oi Death- Watch — Anobium — from their habit of 

 making a ticking noise by knocking with their jaws 

 against the wood-work upon which they are stand- 

 ing, this being the call of the insect to its mate. 

 They are little creatures, which often do great 

 damage to furniture in houses. When touched 

 they contract their legs and counterfeit death — a 

 piece of mimicry they are said to keep up even 

 when exposed to a heat suflficient to. roast them. 

 Another insect, the Atropos pulsatorius, which we shall hereafter notice, is also called Death- 

 Watch. 



To this group also belongs the European Glow- Worm, Laynpyris noctiluca, whose lamp I 

 has so often been the theme of the poet's song. The female is chiefly luminous. It is a flat, 



DEATH-WATCHES. 



