GREEN OR LIVING VEGETABLE MATTER. 77 



spinosuli, unguibus anticis aqualibus, indivisis, 

 posticis interdum solitariis. 



Observations. 



All the Glaphyridte yet known are confined to the old 

 world, and within zones of 25 degrees breadth on each 

 side of the tropics : at least no insect of this family has as 

 yet been discovered within the tropics, nor have any been 

 brought from higher latitudes than 45°. Though by no 

 means composing a numerous family, they are interesting 

 from the obvious parallel they afford to the Aphodiida, in 

 their change from membranaceous mandibles to those of 

 a more solid texture. The membranaceous process of the 

 maxillse, exserted labrum, and subquadrate clypeus, will 

 serve to distinguish them easily from the Melolonthidce, 

 with which they have a most obvious connexion. These 

 insects all appear to frequent flowers. Pallas is the en- 

 tomologist who has made the most accurate observations 

 on them : but little can be extracted from his remarks, 

 except that the Glaphyrida would seem principally to be 

 vernal insects, and that many of them are fond of the 

 liliaceous flowers, which are with us but rarely if ever 

 attacked by coleopterous insects. Professor Pallas like- 

 wise says, that it is very probable that the larva of an 

 insect of this family lives on the bulbs of the tulip, but 

 gives no reason for this opinion. 



These insects from the hairiness of their bodies must be . 

 very useful in promoting the fecundation of plants, and 

 may in their native climates fulfil the same functions which 

 are in this country performed by several Hymenoptera. The 

 Cetoniida, or perhaps these, which are spring insects and 

 very common in Greece, appear to have been the My\o- 



