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NATURAL HISTORY OF 
ACROCINUS LONGIMANUS, or HARLEQUIN 
BEETLE. 
PLATE XXY. Fig. 1. 
Cerambyx longimanus, Linn . — Prionus longimanus, Fab. 
— Olivier , iv. No. 66, pi. 3, fig. 12, pi. 4, fig. 12. 
It is distinguished generically by having a move- 
able tubercle on each side of the thorax terminating 
in a spine. This is certainly one of the most singular of 
coleopterous insects, whether we regard the propor- 
tions of its parts, or the curious colouring and variega- 
tion of the body. The figures on the elytra, formed 
of strongly contrasted colours, are so regularly drawn 
that they may be conceived to be the result of some 
artificial process. As the wings of several moths 
and butterflies are inscribed with characters repre- 
senting with great accuracy letters of various lan- 
guages, and figures corresponding with several dates 
of the Christian era, these grotesque delineations in 
like manner seem to resemble, as has been remarked 
of them, certain hieroglyphic symbols pourtrayed by 
the mysterious hand of nature. Its party-coloured 
dress has caused the insect to be very generally 
known by the name of Harlequin Beetle. 
The ground colour is black, and the whole sur- 
face is clothed with a dense silky pubescence. The 
antennae are about twice the length of the body, and 
of a black colour, except the base of the joints, which 
