Chap. XII.] GOLDEN BEETLES, ETC. 405 



periodicals, a series of papers on the Coleoptera of the 

 island, in which every species introduced is stated to be 

 previously undescribed. 1 



Coleopteka. - — Bupresticlce ; Golden Beetles. — In the 

 morning the herbaceous plants, especially on the eastern 

 side of the island, are studded with these gorgeous beetles, 

 whose golden wing-cases 2 are used to enrich the em- 

 broidery of the Indian zenana, whilst the lustrous joints 

 of the legs are strung on silken threads, and form neck- 

 laces and bracelets of singular brilliancy. 



These exquisite colours are not confined to one order, 

 and some of the Elateridse 3 and Lamellicorns exhibit 

 hues of green and blue, that rival the deepest tints of 

 the emerald and sapphire. 



Scavenger Beetles. — Scavenger beetles 4 are to be 

 seen wherever the presence of putrescent and offensive 

 matter affords opportunity for the display of their re- 

 pulsive but most curious instincts ; fastening on it with 

 eagerness, severing it into lumps proportionate to their 

 strength, and rolling it along in search of some place 

 sufficiently soft in which to bury it, after having de- 

 posited their eggs in the centre. I had frequent op- 

 portunities, especially in traversing the sandy jungles in 

 the level plains to the north of the island, of observing 

 the unfailing appearance of these creatures instantly on 

 the dropping of horse dung, or any other substance 



1 Kepublished in the Ann. Nat. 

 Hist. 



2 Sternocera Chrysis ; S. sterni- 

 cornis. 



3 Of the family of Elateridce, one 

 of the finest is a Singhalese species, 

 the Campsosternus Templetonii, of 

 an exquisite golden green colour, 

 with blue reflections (described 



and figured by Mr. Westwood in 

 his Cabinet of Oriental Entomology, 

 pi. 35, f. 1). In the same work is 

 figured another species of large 

 size, also from Ceylon, this is the 

 Alaus sordidus. — Westwood, 1. c. 

 pi. 35, f. 9. 



4 Ateuchus sacer ; Copris sag ax ; 

 C. capucinus, &c. &c. 



D D 3 



