BUPRESTID^. 459 



same genus, found under bark of oaks) is greenish black above, 

 with a brassy polish ; it infests the apple and oak, in which it 

 lives one j-ear. C. Harrisii Hentz inhabits the small limbs of 

 tlie white pine. It is also very injurious to apple trees and red 

 maples. To prevent its attacks Fitch recommends placing a 

 piece of soap in a fork in the tree so that it will be washed 

 down by the rains over the bark, while young trees may be 

 rubbed with soap ; tliis is an excellent remedy against the 

 attacks of all kinds of borers. 



The genuine species of Buprestis occur in Europe. The 

 largest species of this family known to us is the Eucliroma 

 Columbica Mann, which occurs in Central and 

 South America. It is two and a half inches 

 long and metallic green. Mr. McNiel has sent 

 to the Museum of thePeabodj^ Academy sev- I 

 eral immense white larvae (Fig. 416, natural 

 size), from Nicaragua, which are, without much 

 doubt, the young of this gigantic beetle. 



The small, flattened, ovate, angular Bracliys rig. 4i8. 



is probably a leaf miner, as such are the habits of the closely 

 allied genus Trachys (T. pygmsea. Fig. 417, larva; 418, pupa), 

 as observed in Europe where it mines the leaves of the Malva 

 and Alcsea, according to M. Leprieur. 



Throscid^ Laporte. This small group has been separated 

 from the succeeding family ; the species differ in not having 

 the power of leaping, owing to the immovable thorax. In 

 TJiroscus the antennee are terminated by a three-jointed club. 



Elaterid^ Leach. A very large and easily limited family, 

 in which the serrate, eleven-jointed antennse, are inserted upon 

 or under the margin of the front, in grooves, while the head is 

 retracted, though sometimes free as usual from the prothorax, 

 between whicli and the mesothorax is a loose articulation, 

 enabling the species to leap in the air by a sudden jerking 

 movement, whicli Dr. Leconte thus describes: "a few of the 

 species of the first subfamily (Eucnemidse) and a majorit}^ of 

 those of the third (Elateridse), possess the singular power 

 of springing in the air when placed on the back. This is 



