THE GEEEX JTHsTE BEETLE. 6 



from C. sobrina are in the highest degree inconstant, and that there are no 

 means of defining the two species. All that can be said is that C. mutabilis is, 

 in the great majority of its individuals, larger and broader. The shape of 

 the clypeal horn is very variable, and its varieties do not correspond with 

 variations in size, breadth, and color, large and robust specimens of the typical 

 mutabilis having the horn either dilated toward the apex, parallel-sided, or 

 triangular, and the same diversities may be seen in small and slender oblong 

 examples of C. sobrina-. It is the same with regard to form and color; for 

 it is far from the case that the large and broad examples (C. mutabilis) only 

 are unicolorous ; smaller and narrower individuals exist equally unicolorous 

 and of nearly all the color-varieties displayed by the larger set. It is true 

 that the variegated varieties described by Burmeister under C. sobrina are, 

 as a rule, smaller than the others ; but they are connected by the most finely 

 graduated series of variations, so that it is impossible to draw a distinction 

 between the two series. The case is a very difficult one to deal with. It 

 would not be satisfactory, and scarcely practicable, to include under one 

 specific diagnosis all the numerous varieties, some of which are possibly local, 

 thus presenting an interesting study to future collectors and students ; the 

 better course seems to be to treat the more distinct separately, giving the locali- 

 ties of each. 



DESCRIPTIVE. 



The beetle (fig. 1) is larger and more robust than the common 

 brown May and June beetles (Phyllophaga), measuring from three- 

 fourths to a full inch or more in 

 length, and about one-half inch wide. 

 The color varies from dull brown with 

 irregular stripes of green to beautiful 

 uniform velvet green, the margins of 

 the body being usually light brown 

 varying to orange yellow. The lower 

 surface is metallic greenish or yellow, 

 or metallic dark brown with a yellow- 

 green tinge. 



The full-grown larva is illustrated 

 in figure 2 and Plate II. When com- 

 pared with that of Phyllophaga (fig. 

 3). it will be noticed that the former 

 is stouter with shorter legs. 



The pupa, which is also stouter, is 

 shown alone and within its pupal case 

 or cocoon in Plate III, A, B. The 



pupa of Phyllophaga (PL III, C) differs from the pupa of Cotinis 

 in that the pupa of the former is not encased in a regular cocoon. 



Fig. 1. — Adult of green June beetle 

 {Cotinis nitida) of a type show- 

 ing narrow margin about elytra 

 and narrow margin on anterior 

 half of thorax. One-third enlarged. 



HABITS DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OF WHITE GRUBS. 



The green June beetle differs from the May beetles in habits, be- 

 ing strictly diurnal and most active in the heat of the day, whereas 



