NATURAL HISTORY. 
I 91 
The lucani feed on the oozings from oaks. 
Where the females depofit their eggs. The 
larvte, or grubs, lodge under the back, or 
in the hollow of old trees ; which they bite, 
and reduce to fine powder. Here they tranf- 
form themfelves into chryfalids. 
The ufe of their porrefted maxillae, or 
jaws, is to loofen the bark to which they af- 
fix themfelves, -while they fuck the juices 
oozing from the tree. 
GfNUS III. 
D E R M E S T 1 D E S. 
CharaSlenJl'ics. 
' HE antennae, or horns, end in a head of 
an oval form ; the thorax, or brealt, is of 
a convex form ; and the head is fo bent as to 
lie almolt concealed under the thorax. 
DERMESTIS VIOLACEUS. 
VIOLET BEETLE. 
Ills infect is exceedingly beautiful, and 
IS much fmaller than, though nearly refem- 
l>ling, the Itag beetle. The elytra are of a 
‘Icep violet ; the thorax, or breaft, is cover- 
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