CANTHARIS. 55 



setting the insect at liberty, collapse and dis- 

 appear, leaving a red spot only to mark the 

 place. It would be difficult to say for what 

 purpose these vesicles are formed, since the de- 

 privation of one or all of them, neither affects 

 the life, nor makes any difference in the habits 

 of the insect. 



The larva of the Cantharis is but little known. 

 It lives in decayed wood, and according to the 

 late Mr. Curtis, resembles that of the Ceram- 

 byx. 



SPECIFICATION. 



Cantharis xnea. C. corpore viridi aeneo, elytris 

 extrorsum undique rubris. Linn. Syst. Nat. p. 648. 

 Gmel. p. 1897. 

 Malachius aeneus. Fabr. Ent. Syst. 1. p. 221. Syst. 

 Ent. l.p. 207. Spec. Ins. l.p. 262. Mant. l.p.169. 

 'Degeer, 4. p. 45. t. 2./. 16, 17. 

 Schaeff. Icon. 1. 18./. 12, 13. 

 Panzer, Faun. Ins. Germ.fasc. 10. t. 2. 

 Inhabits Europe. Is found on flowers and thistles, 

 in May ; and is provided with lateral vesicles, which 

 it raises and depresses alternately. 



PI. 20. a. Natural size. b. Magnified, c. The 

 hedd and thorax, d. A horn. e. A leg. 



