154 
NATURAL HISTORY OF 
of the thorax prolonged into an acute spine» and by 
being incapable of leaping. The name Buprestis* 
was applied by the ancients to certain insects, of 
what particular kind cannot now be easily deter- 
mined, which were supposed to be possessed of qua- 
lities which rendered them noxious to cattle. Geof- 
froy transferred the term to another group, under 
the idea that such an application of it was more in 
accordance with its original usage, and distinguished 
the present one by the generic name of Cucujus. 
It now designates a numerous and well-defined fa- 
mily, including nearly 200 known species, many of 
which are the most beautiful and richly ornamented 
of the coleopterous tribes. They are adorned with 
the most brilliant green and golden colours, often 
glossed with purple and blue, and variegated with 
bands and markings of the highest metallic lustre. 
A few species inhabit this country, but several of 
the larger kinds included in the British Fauna have 
been introduced without sufficient authority. Their 
proper geographical position is within the tropics, 
where they may be seen flying about in great num- 
bers in the open parts of the forests and on the 
margin of rivers, or reposing on the trunks and 
leaves of trees, as if enjoying the heat of the meri- 
dian sun, which is reflected with great brilliancy 
from their polished surfaces. 
* From /3 ovs, an ox , and cr^»j Du, I inflame. 
