samouellk's 



the atmosphere has evidently a very great influence 

 in that perfection. 



Mr. Curtis has observed, " The specific name 

 which our insect bears in both the works of Linnaeus 

 lias been restored, as well from respect as injustice 

 to that great man ; and it is to be regretted that the 

 praise due to Fabricius for having established the 

 genus, should have been diminished by the unneces- 

 sary confusion he has created, in changing the Lin- 

 nsean specific name, and afterwards describing an- 

 other insect under the name of Elater buprestoides." 



" In the year 1811 I found a perfect specimen dead 

 in the decayed arm of a tree, in a wood in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Halesworth, Suffolk. Dr. Herschel, 

 however, is said to have first observed it at Windsor: 

 it has since been taken in some abundance in a 

 decayed tree in the New Forest, by Mr. Samouelle 

 and Mr. Chant : the males are frequently smaller 

 than the females. It is common in Sweden and 

 Germany, but rare about Paris and in Britain. La- 

 trielle says it walks badly, and if it fly, it cannot 

 apply the vigour and activity which so strongly mark 

 the family to which it belongs." 



" It inhabits dead decaying trees, which it per- 

 forates like the Anobia ; it has been detected in the 

 beech, sallow, alder, and birch." 



