MUTILIiA, '^25 



Genus X Mutilla. 



A FEW only of this tribe are winged ; in thofe that are 

 provided with thefe inftruments, they are refplendent like 

 pearl, and laid horizontally upon their backs. The an- 

 tennae are broken, and have the firft articulation longer 

 than the reft ; the body is covered with down ; the tho- 

 rax is obtufe at the bafe ; and the Iting is concealed 

 within the abdomen *. 



The common refidence of the mutillse is upon the 

 ground, below mofs, efpecially where there is a hollow 

 fpace between the mofs and the earth. They are gre- 

 garious, and when difturbed in their retreats, they make 

 their efcape by running very fwiftly. The mutillse, for 

 the greateft part, are inhabitants of foreign climes ; that 

 moft frequently feen in Britain is, 



The mutilla Europea. The thorax of this infe£l is a 

 deep yellow, mingled with black velvety down ; the pre- 

 vailing colour of the abdomen is black, but is adorned 

 with two, and fometimes a greater number of yellowilh 

 white bands ; the antcnnce are black, and bending ; the 

 legs of the fame colour, and haiiy ; the eyes are of a 

 beautiful pearl white, Ihining from a head of a coal 

 Wack. 



* Syft. Nat. p. 966. 



