CL56 THE TIMBER CAPRICORN. 



smell, perceptible at a great distance ; and some of 

 them, when seized, emit a sort of cry produced by 

 the friction of the thorax on the upper part of the 

 abdomen and win^-cases. 



The antennas are tapering and articulated. The 

 thorax has several prominences i and the wing-cases 

 are long and narrow. To the mouth there are four 

 palpi, or feelers. 



Their larvce are found in the inner parts of trees, 

 through which they bore, feeding on and pulveri- 

 zing the substance of the wood- They are trans- 

 •formed into perfect insects in the cavities they thus 

 make, and never issue from their retreats till they 

 have attained their perfect state. 



THE TIMBER CAPRICORN*. 



The body of this insect is of a dark violet, some- 

 what hairy and punctured. The thorax is rounded 

 and dowmy ; and the antenna? are nearly as long 

 as the body. The wing cases are narrow, rounded 

 at the tip, and bulging towards the base. The head 

 and thorax are sometimes greenish. The body is 

 from four lines and a half to seven and a half in 

 length. 



This insect, both in a perfect and larva? state, 

 feeds principally on fir timber which has been felled 

 some time, without having had the bark stripped off; 

 but it is often found on other wood. Though now 



* Sy.vonyms. — Cerambyx YKjlaceus. Lir.n. Callidium viola- 



ceum. Fabricius. 



