248 THE DEATH-WATCH PTINUS. 



ferent parts of Africa that they visited, which agree 

 in every respect with those of the present species. 

 We have also one in our own country, Scarab.-cus 

 lunar is, whose manners are very nearly the same. 



Aristophanes, in his E/p^, has introduced one 

 of the Dung-Chafers, on which a character in the 

 play mounts up to Jupiter, to petition for peace. 



THE PTINI. 



These insects have antennae that are nearly of an 

 equal thickness throughout ; the last joints, however, 

 in most of the species are somewhat larger than 

 the rest. The thorax is nearly round, unmargined, 

 and contains the head. 



Their larvae are found in the trunks of decayed 

 trees ; among hay, dried leaves, &c. and in collec- 

 tions of dried plants those of one of the species are 

 sometimes known to do great mischief. A few of 

 them inhabit different species of fungi. 



THE DEATH-WATCH PTINUS*. 



The Death-watch is a dusky and somewhat hairy 

 insect, with irregular brownish spots, about a quar- 

 ter of an inch in length. Notwithstanding its small- 

 ness, this creature is often the cause of serious alarm 



* Synonyms.— Ptinus tesselatus. — Linn.— — — Anobium tesselaturo. 

 Jabricius. Ptinus fatidicus. Shazv\< Nat. Mis. 



