THE CETONIAD^. 211 



distributed, joined to other considerations, appear to be 

 more typical than the sub-family Rutiliiice, whose limits 

 are almost entirely restricted to the New "World. The 

 CetoniancE, on the contrary, are common in Europe, 

 Africa, Asia, and Australia. They are at once dis- 

 tinguished by the membranaceous texture of the man- 

 dibles and maxiUfe ; a structure which proves that these 

 insects, in the perfect state, are intended to live on 

 vegetable juices. The Cetonia Morio, and probably 

 many others of the darker coloured species, regale on 

 the sap which flows from the wounds of trees ; while 

 the rose beetle (C. aurata), and its more brilliant com- 

 panions, are only to be found on flowers.* Mr. INIac- 

 Leay is of opinion that Trichius may with safety be 

 regarded as a natural group in this division, although the 

 larvae of these beetles live in putrescent wood. The 

 Cetoniadce may be distinguished, anatomically, from the 

 Glaphyridce (MacLeay), by having their labrum con 

 cealed under the clypeus ; whereas these last have it ex- 

 serted, and very prominent. The larvae live in the richest 

 vegetable soils ; and the perfect insects, as before re- 

 marked, are gaily and elegantly coloured, although rarely 

 possessing that metallic brilliancy which belongs to the 

 next sub-family. 



(184-.) Although we have just said that this family 

 presents a less metallic appearance than the following, 

 it must be applied only as regards its genera ; for many 

 of the species, certainly, cannot be exceeded in beauty, 

 and, indeed, vie with any in the resplendency of their 

 decorations, especially in the genus Cetonia, as also in 

 some of the GoUathi. Among the anomalies of form in 

 this group, we may mention the cornuted thorax of 

 Cetonia (Ischnostoma) cornuta Fab., which Mr. j\Iac- 

 Leay considers as osculent between the two genera; 

 besides which relation, we may observe that it points 

 certainly very strongly to Pachycnemus, by its thickened 

 posterior legs. A tuberculated thorax we also find in 



• Hor. Ent., 7*. 

 F 2 



