S2 PLATE LXVII. 



the colours confiderably decreafed by the exhalation of that moifture 

 which ferved to refrefh them in the living ftate. 



The underfide, from the greater tenacity of the fkin, or (belly fub- 

 llance, is Icfs liable to alteration than the upper fide ; it is entirely of a 

 dr.rk, but beautiful purple, which is changeable in proportion to the 

 convexity of the body, to the moft brilliant hues ; the legs are alfo of 

 a beautiful purple, with the appearance of bronze or copper colour 

 intermixed. 



It does not appear to be frequent in any part of Europe ; even ia 

 Germany it is rarely, if ever taken : as one of the Britljh Coleoptera 

 it is very little knov/n, and is perhaps confined to the diftant parts of 

 Kent, where it is not generally difFufed, but is found local to certain 

 fituations. 



Mr. Crow, of Feverfliam, very fortunately met with a brood of 

 them laft feafon, and tranfmitted feveral fpecim.ens to his friends in 

 London. They varied confiderably in feveral rcfpe^s, and particularly 

 in their colours j fome appearing much m^ore beautiful than others. 



The male is fmaller than the female ; they fecrete themfelves be- 

 neath the furface of the earth, and fubfill on the roots of grafs, or 

 herbage in general ; arc fometimes found by turning up the mould, or 

 may be obfcrved crawling among the grafs. Come forth in April,_ 

 er May. 



FLATR 



