216 



3NTEODUCTIOX. 



certain species and ants ; the common, but very beautiful, Palse- 

 arctic species, Cetonia aurata, is often found in ants' nests, and 

 members of the large group Ceemastochili^i are supposed, by 

 several authors, to be retained in ants' nests as inquilines by 

 their hosts. Mr. Guy Marshall, however, informs me that this 

 is certainly not so in every case, as he has seen ants ejecting many 

 examples of an African species from their nests. 



The larvae of the Cetoxiix.e are remarkable for having the 

 tenth ventral segment merged in the ninth, with or without 

 dividing furrows ; the segments as a whole are less deeply furrowed 

 transversely than is usual in the Scabab.eidje, and the upper 

 surface is more hairy. They approach the larva? of the Dynastit^e 

 and recede from those of the Meloloxthixje in having the man- 

 dibles toothed at the apex and in their hairy surface, but otherwise 

 much resemble the latter. 



The Cetoxiijo:, as might be expected from their generally 

 brilliant colours and appearance, differ in their habits from the 

 33yjsa.sti]SLE in being, with a few exceptions, diurnal and not 

 crepuscular or nocturnal. Mr. Arrow says of the group that it 

 may be regarded as one " of comparatively late evolution, and as 

 still enjoying the maximum of vigour and prosperity." Very little 

 is known of the life-history of its members. 



The Cetoniin.e are well represented in the Indian region, 

 which contains some of the most beautiful forms. In America, 

 which is rich in striking Rutelix-E, the larger and more brilliant 

 Ceto]s t iixvE are very few in number. The curious group Valgln^, 

 of which many species are found in India, seems to be distributed 

 over the greater part of the world. Several authorities consider 

 the Cetonien^e to be at the head of the ScAEABiEiDyE, and there- 

 fore as the culminating point of the Coleoptera *. Whether we 

 allow this or not it seems most probable that the ScABABiEiDiE 

 are at the head of the order, and we need not differentiate 

 further. 



* Thus Granglbauer says, " Die priichtigen Cetoniien stehen dahei* auf der 

 hochsten stufe der Scarabseiden und der Co'.eopteren uberbaupt' (Munch. 

 Kol. Zeitsch. i. 3. p. 314). 



