THE FOUR-HORN. 85 



be plentiful in any particular locality. Twenty Britisli species 

 of this genus are known. 



We have only space for one more example of the Brachelytra : 

 it is drawn on Woodcut IX. Fig. 4. As maj be seen by re- 

 ference to the illustration, this is a very curious insect. It is 

 the only British representation of the family to which it be- 

 longs, namely, tlie Piestidiip. In this family the spiracles of 

 the prothorax are hidden, the coxse of tlie front legs are globular, 

 and those of the hind legs transverse ; there are five joints to 

 the tarsi, and the last segment of the abdomen is very small. 



The genus is characterised by the flat, elongated body, the 

 long and hairy antennae, the long eljrtra, the five-jointed tarsi, 

 and the horned head of the Tnales. The maxillary palpus is 

 shown at Fig. d, and the labium at e. The colour of this 

 insect is shining-black. The elytra have four striae, and on the 

 disc is an oblique mark or dash of reddish-broAvn, the outer 

 angle being dusky. The tip of the abdomen is chestnut, and 

 the legs and antennae red. The illustration represents a male 

 insect, in which sex the sides of the head are developed into 

 two sharp liorns pointing forward. The mandibles are each 

 furnished with a laro'e horn. This vprv remarkable ir.'''^"t is 

 not very scarce, and may be found under the bark of various 

 trees. Kensington Gardens is a good locality for it, where it 

 may be foimd lurking under the bark of elm-trees. 



The scientific name of this Beetle is Prognatha quadricornis, 

 and it is popularly styled the Four-horn. 



I MAY here mention that the only viviparous Beetles at 

 present known, belong to the Brachel)i:ra. They are about one- 

 tenth of an inch in length, and are found parasitic in the nests 

 of the Brazilian Termites or White-ants. The abdomen is 

 enormously large, and is turned back over tlic head, like the 

 tail of u squirrel. 



