ON THE SERIIICORNES. 379 



The larvae of ptilinus, like those of Anobium, live in 

 dead wood, and form there small, round, and deep holes. 

 They have a scaly head, provided with two corneous man- 

 dibles, hard and trenchant, and six small scaly feet. They 

 undergo their metamorphosis in the wood, and do not issue 

 from it, but under the form of the perfect insect. 



The insects forming the genus anobium, were originally 

 classed by Linnaeus under Dertnestes, with which they have 

 certainly some relations ; but they differ from them in having 

 longer antennae, terminated in a less thick and more elongated 

 knob, and by their denticulated mandibles. They have also 

 many relations with the ptini. 



Their French name {Vrillettes, wimbles) designates the 

 instinct which they have received from nature, which impels 

 them, in their larva state, to gnaw wood, making small round 

 holes in it, such as might be made with a wimble. Those 

 insects are commonly seen to escape in the spring, from the 

 wood in which their nymphs were enclosed, and, attracted by 

 the rays of the sun, creep along the windows, or scaffolding, 

 and other wood-work. Their colours without brilliancy, 

 their habits without industry, and their form without grace 

 or beauty, are not likely to render them very interesting in 

 our eyes. Like the dermestes, as soon as they are touched, 

 they sink their head into the corslet, apply the legs and tarsi 

 exactly against the thighs, conceal the antennae entirely be- 

 tween the head and the lower edges of the corslet, and then 

 resemble an inanimate body. But what distinguishes them 

 from the Dermestes is, the invincible obstinacy with which 

 they remain in this species of lethargy. If we may believe 

 Degeer, neither water nor fire can induce them to throw it off. 

 They will suffer themselves to be completely burned, rather 

 than give any sign of life. When they are no longer touched, 

 and suffered to remain tranquil, they recover from this state 

 by little and little ; but it is not until after a long repose, 



