64 DR. HARRIS’S REPORT. April, 
margin above armed with the teeth, and the apex with a pair of forked, 
recurved horns or hooks. Beneath this is situated the anal proleg, 
which is retractile, and (at least in one species, E. oculatus,) fur- 
nished behind with two small incurved hooks, and spined at the sides. 
The true legs are six, each armed at tip with a single claw. ‘The 
total length of the largest larva found here is 24 inches. 
The pupe of Elaters, like those of most coleoptera, bear a near 
resemblance to the perfect insect. After their last metamorphosis, 
Elaters make their appearance upon trees and fences, and some are 
found upon flowers. They fly both by day and night. Their food, 
in the perfect state, appears to be chiefly derived from flowers, 
though many species do not probably take any in this state. When- 
ever discovered, they should be immediately destroyed. The larva 
of Elater noctilucus resides in the interior of the sugar cane. The 
perfect insect is remarkable for its luminous properties. Eater ocu- 
latus I have found in the decayed stumps of apple trees, both in 
the larva and perfect state. We have a great many small species 
which appear to live upon the roots of the grasses. These will 
probably in time became serious assailants of vegetation. There are 
a few, which, in the perfect state, are found upon flowers, and 
which have their nails pectinated or divided, like the teeth of a comb. 
Our attention is next attracted to that great family of insects com- 
prehended in the Linnean genus Scaraseus. These insects are 
easily recognized by their antenne, terminating in several, leaf-like 
joints, and by their legs, particularly the first pair, which are furnished 
with several strong projecting teeth. Among these are the insects in- 
cluded by Fabricius in his genus Melonontha, a word tised by the 
Greeks to distinguish these same insects. More than 400 years 
before the Christian era, Aristophanes alludes to a custom which his 
commentator says was common to the children at that time, of fast- 
ening a string to the leg of a Melolontha, and then allowing it to fly 
in the air. His words may be translated, 
—*“ To winds thy cares commit 
Like Melolontha string-bound by the feet.” 
( Aristophanes’ Clouds.) 
[t is not a little remarkable, that this kind of sport should still exist. 
De Geer’says, that, in the Netherlands, the children amuse themselves 
