ON THE LAMELLICORNES. 519 



them are greatly multiplied, and all are more or less hurtful. 

 We shall proceed to sketch the liistory of that one with 

 which it is most important to be acquainted, namely, the 

 common species {Melolontha vulgaris) the cock-chafer-^ and 

 we shall notice the means employed hitherto, if not to 

 exterminate this devastating race, at least to lessen its 

 population, and diminish the aggregate of mischief which it 

 produces. 



The melolonthae pass the greatest portion of the day mo- 

 tionless, and in a state of lethargy, attached to the branches 

 and leaves of trees. They rarely take their flight when the 

 weather is hot and dry ; but after the setting of the sun, 

 being urged by the want of nutriment, and more especially 

 the inclination to unite, they fly along humming from tree to 

 tree, and the males pursue the females. The organs of gene- 

 ration are accompanied by a sort of pincers, the sides of 

 which naturally approach each other, and cannot be opened 

 without an effort. The flight of these insects is dull, heavy, 

 and irregular. They strike at all the objects which they 

 meet. They are often seen to fall at once, and rise again 

 with sufficient quickness to resume their flight, unless the 

 shock has been too rude, or unless they happen to have been 

 thrown on their backs. 



The duration of the life of the melolonthae is very short 

 in their final state. Each individual scarcely lives a week, 

 and the species is rarely seen for the space of a month. A 

 short time after they issue from the earth, the melolonthae 

 begin to couple, and their union endures for four and twenty 

 hours. This appears to be the whole and sole object of the 

 existence of these insects in their perfect state, as both die 

 as soon as that object is attained. The mode of copulation 

 is singular, but we shall not enlarge upon it here. The eggs 

 are of a clear yellow, and in the form of an elongated sphe- 



