214 DESCRIPTION OF A 



parallel to the future ; in number, three equal, one 

 unequal, the ridges not very prominent. 



Air or wings — membraneous, a little exceeding the 

 elytra in length, and the ends folded under. 



The tarn of the two firit pair of ittx confifts of five 

 articulations ; and of the poiterior pair, four only. 



Every part of the infect, excepting the wings and 

 elytra, is black, oily to the touch, and covered more 

 or lets with denie hairs ; a few icattered hairs are alfo 

 evident on the elytra. All the cruitaceous parts of the 

 infect are pitted minutely. It is about the bignefs of 

 the Mcloc Prqfcarabceus of Lixx. and a full grown 

 one, when dry and lit for uie, is to the M. Veficatorlus 

 in weight as A\ to 1. 



They come into feafon with the periodical rains, 

 and are found from the month of July to the end of 

 October, feeding on the flowers of cucurbit aceous plants, 

 but more frequently on the lpecies of Cucumis called 

 by the natives Turiey ; with a cylindrical, fmooth, ten 

 anded fruit. Alio on the Raam Turiey - or Hibifcus 

 Efculentus Hibifcus, Roja Senfis — and in jungles where 

 thefe plants are not to be found, they are to be met 

 with on two or more fpecies of Sida> which flouriih in 

 that feafon. 



In the- failure of flowers, they will feed on the 

 leaves ot all thefe plants, except the Turiey — which I 

 have not obierved them eat. They are great devourers, 

 and will feed as freely in confinement as at large. 



In September they are full of eggs, which feems to 

 be the beft itate in which they can be taken for medi- 

 cal ufe, at that time abounding more abundantly in 



an 



