ATTEMPTED DIVISION OF BRITISH INSECTS. 415 



short, strong, and bifid ; head more than two-thirds received into 

 the prothorax ; prothorax beneath produced posteriorly into a 

 spine ; but there being no corresponding cavity in the mesothorax, 

 the insect has not, when placed on its back, the power of leaping 

 possessed by the Elaterites. These insects are diurnal ; they 

 possess the most gorgeous metallic colours ; they run and fly with 

 ease and rapidity. Buprestis. 



StIRPS. — SCARAB^INA. 



Natural Order. — Cetoniites, Day chafers. 



Larva, with six elongate, weak, articulate legs, and the posterior 

 extremity of the body incrassated, soft, and recurved under the 

 fore-part, which, touched, rolls in a ring, with the tail on one side 

 of the head. Inhabits and feeds on decaying wood. Pupa 

 changes in the same situations, or in the ground. Imago, with 

 antennae composed of ten joints, of which the three or four termi- 

 nal ones are produced laterally, and form a club ; labium mem- 

 branaceous, most concealed by the clypeus ; mandibles and 

 maxillae pubescent and membranaceous ; colours various and 

 brilliant ; form generally flattened above ; diurnal, flies with 

 ease and rapidity. Feeds on the farina or honey of flowers. 

 Celonia, Trichius. 

 Natural Order. — Melolonthites, Cock-chafers. 



Larva resembles that of the preceding order. Inhabits the earth, 

 feeding on the roots of vegetables. Pupa changes in the ground. 

 Imago, with antennae composed of nine or ten joints, the six or 

 seven terminal ones produced laterally, and forming a flabellated 

 club ; la^bium more corneous than in the preceding order, and 

 not entirely concealed by the clypeus ; mandibles corneous and 

 masticatory ; colour less brilliant ; form generally convex above ; 

 flight easy, not rapid ; mostly nocturnal. Feeds on the leaves of 

 vegetables. Hoplia, /fnomala, Melolontha, Amphlmalla, Omaloplia, 

 PhyllofertJia , S erica . 



Natural Order. — Trogites, Sand-chafers. 

 Larva resembles that of the two preceding orders. Feeds on 

 decaying animal and vegetable matter found in sand, which it 

 inhabits. Pupa changes in the sand. Imago, with antennae 

 composed of nine or ten joints, the three or four terminal ones 

 forming a small round club ; labium and mandibles concealed 

 and membranaceous ; colour black ; form oval and very convex 

 above. Inhabit sand, particularly by the sea-shore ; seldom fly. 

 Trox, JEgialia, Psammodius, 



