37^ €ASSIDA*r 



Genus IX. — Cajfida, 



Jn this tribe the antennae are nearly filiform, thickening 

 a little towards their extremities : The elytra have a 

 broad margin, and the head is entirely concealed under 

 the thorax, which is flat, and forms a kind of fliield to 

 it * ; a peculiarity from whence this genus takes its 

 name. 



The cafTidae that are found in Britain have, in their 

 larva ftate, two prongs projeding from the extremity of 

 the abdomen, with which they form a kind of umbrella 

 of their own excrements, to ihelter them from the fun 

 and rain. When the umbrella becomes unfit for that 

 purpofe, it exchanges it for another, which is fabiicated 

 of the fame materials!. Thefe infeds, which in their 

 larva ilate are diilinguiflied by manners as difgulling as 

 thofe of the Hottentots^ are afterwards transformed into 

 the moft elegant of the beetle tribe. Before they under- 

 go their lafl change, they caft the fltin fevcral times ; 

 their food all the while being different kinds of thiftles, 

 and verticillated plants. 



There are thirty-one fpecies of the caffid^ already de- 

 fci-ibed ; of tbefe the green oval iliaped caffida X is the 

 moil remarkable for its beauty. Above, the elytra are 

 wholly of a green colour, variegated with fmall ftrise, snd 

 projeding from the body like the fhell of a tortoife ; un- 

 derneath, the body is entirely black, and fupported by 

 pale coloured feet : It inhabits the gardens and fields, 



* Syft. Nat. p. 574. f Reaumur, Tome III. Mem. vij, 



+ P>r.; Inf. p> 107. 



