T'NTOMoLOGfCAr. CABINET, 



BYRRHUS PILULA. Linne. 

 Pill, or Horse-bean Beetle. 



Brown and covered with short shining tawny hair, 

 each elytron, or wing case, with two or three black 

 and interrupted longitudinal streaks, from hair of 

 that colour : the under part is black, without hair, 

 and shining : head nearly vertical : antennas short 

 and clavated, the club perfoliated : legs short, the 

 thighs and tibia, or shanks, flattened for the purpose 

 of lying close to the body. 



Inhabits sandy situations, fields, foot-paths and the 

 sides of roads. 



Length 3£ to 4 lines. 



This curious insect is not uncommon in the 

 months of April and May, in the above enumerated 

 situations ; and, in the spring excursions of the Ento- 

 mologist, will occasionally engross his attention from 

 its singular construction, in having excavations in 

 the body for protecting and concealing the legs : the 

 antennas, and even the head are capable, to a certain 

 degree, of being retracted within the thorax, which 

 is singular in its form, as the sternum is produced 

 like a neckcloth : when alarmed or handled, the 

 head is bent down into the sternum, and the legs are 

 drawn close to the body, so that it resembles a seed 

 or horse-bean, more than an animal ; besides this it 

 is frequently covered with dust or dirt, and it is only 

 10-2 



