28 COLEOPTEKA. 



oval cavity, wliicli is lined by some glutinoiis substance 

 thrown from its mouth. In this cavity it is changed to a 

 pupa by casting off its skin. In this state, the legs, antennte, 

 and wing-cases of the future beetle are visible through the 

 transparent skin which envelops them, but appear of a yel- 

 lowish-white color; and thus it remains until the month of 

 February, when the thin film which encloses the body is rent, 

 and three months afterwards the perfected beetle digs its way 

 to the surface, from which it finally emerges during the night. 

 According to Kirby and Spence, the grubs of the cockchafer 

 sometimes destroy whole acres of grass by feeding on its 

 roots. They undermine the richest meadows, and so loosen 

 the turf that it will roll up as if cut by a turfing spade. They 

 do not confine themselves to grass, but eat the roots of wheat, 

 of other grains, and also those of young trees. About seventy 

 years ago, a farmer near Norwich, in England, suffered much 

 by them; and, with his man, gathered eighty bushels of the 

 beetles. In the year 1785 many provinces in France were 

 so ravaged by them, that a premium was offered by govern- 

 ment for the best mode of destroying them. The Society of 

 Arts in London, during many years, held forth a premium 

 for the best account of this insect, and the means of check- 

 ing its ravages, but without having produced one successfiil 

 claimant. 



In their winged state, these beetles, with several other 

 species, act as conspicuous a part in injuring the trees as 

 the grubs do in destroying the herbage. . During the month 

 of May they come forth from the ground, whence they have 

 received the name of May-bugs, or May-beetles. They pass 

 the greater part of the day upon trees, chnging to the under- 

 sides of the leaves, in a state of repose. As soon as evenino- 

 approaches, they begin to buzz about among the branches, 

 and continue on the wing till towards midnight. In their 

 droning flight they move very irregularly, darting hither and 

 thither with an uncertain aim, hitting against objects in their 

 way with a force that often causes them to fall to the ground. 



