EERMEBTES LARDARIXJS. 
368 
fumes the form of a hairy oblong worm, which is divide 
ed into fegments alternately of a dark and light colour. 
In that form it is ofcen found deeply penetrating into old 
bacon, which it renders ufelefs. 
The infedfs of this genus are extremely numerous ; 
Limiceus has enumerated thirty fpecies, and is probably 
far from having completed the catalogue. They are of 
fizes and colours too various even for the pencil to de- 
fcribe : In their manners, however, there is a ftrong re- 
femblance ; moll of them inhabiting dung or putrid flelh. 
The beautiful tints dil'played by fome, overcome our a- 
verfion to their impure habits : The violet dermeftes exhi- 
bits the molt brilliant lliades of that colour *. The tho- 
rax is covered with greenilh hairs ; the legs black, form- 
ing upon the whole a pleafing objeft, if we could forget 
that its refidence, both in the larva and perfect: Hate, is 
in the bodies of dead animals. 2 
* Sytt. Nat. OrJ. 1. gen. iii. fpcc. 13. 
