Prionus coriarim is one of the smallest examples of the 

 family to which it belongs, some of the exotic species being of 

 gigantic stature, one brought from Western Africa measuring 

 nearly one foot when the antennae are extended, the length of 

 the body being about four inches and a half; and in another 

 species it is six inches long. The Prionidae form a numerous 

 tribe, principally within or near the torrid zone : in temperate 

 climates they are very rare, and the species before us is the 

 only one that inhabits England. The Prionidae are distin- 

 guished from the Cerambycidae by their stout and sometimes 

 serrated antennae, by their strong mandibles, which are often 

 elongated in the males, by broad elytra and thick legs, and 

 the maxillae have only one small lobe. 



The larvae live in large trees which are in a decayed state, 

 and the ravages they commit in forests must be very great, 

 considering their size and number ; and it is worthy of remark 

 that the insects most destructive to timber are found in tro- 

 pical regions, where vegetation is most luxuriant, and where 

 plants require to be nourished by the rich soil formed by the 

 decomposition of timber and other vegetable substances; con- 

 sequently we find in central Africa the largest Buprestidte in 

 abundance, as well as in India, and the tropical portions of 

 America produce the largest Prionidee and Cerambycidae in 

 surprising variety : the Elateridae and Curculionidae also assist 

 in the reduction of trees by a similar ceconomy. 



The female Priomis coriarhis is said to lay a considerable 

 number of eggs, which are deposited in the crevices and cracks 

 of the wood by means of a horny ovipositor : this species flies 

 heavily in the evening and at night, but it is more frequently 

 seen on the trunks of trees, or in the decayed wood collected 

 at the base of worm-eaten oaks, elms, birch trees, &c. They 

 make their appearance towards the end of July. I have found 

 them larely in Norfolk ; they have been taken at Epping, 

 Birch and Coomb woods, in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Kent, 

 Shropshire and Glamorganshire. 



P. Coriarius Linn. — Curt. Brit. Ent.pl. 746 c?. 



Pitchy-castaneous : palpi and tarsi paler : antennae veined 

 or reticulated, punctured at the base, head thickly and 

 strongly punctured, with an imperfect channel down the 

 centre : thorax short, strongly and numerously punctured, 

 the punctures uniting, smoothest on the disc, base and an- 

 terior margin as well as the labrum ciliated with bright fer- 

 ruginous hairs, the central lateral spine a little curved : 

 scutel not punctured at the apex : elytra rugose, the punc- 

 tures uniting : each with 3 faintly elevated lines : legs punc- 

 tured, scabrous, with ochreous pubescence. 



The plant is Sambucus nigra. Common Elder. 



