204 
KATURAL HISTORY; 
articulations or joints, only, on the two 
firfl pair of legs, and four only to the tarfi of 
the Jaft pair. 
Genus XXI. 
The SKIPPER. 
Charader. 
Tn HEIR horns are briftly ; and they have 
an elaflic fpring, or fpine, wliich projefts 
from the hinder extremity of the breaft. 
ELATER SANGUINEUS. 
rhe BLOOD-COLOURED SKIPPER. 
TPhE breaft of this infeeft ends, under- 
neath, in a long point, or fpine, which en- 
ters, as if with a fpring, into a cavity in the 
upper part of the under fide of the thorax. 
By this admirable conftrudtion, the Ikipper 
is enabled, when upon its back, to leap in 
the air, and, thus, alight on its feet. It va- 
ries in file; and, vdien young, the elytra 
are of a beautiful red ; but in a few days 
they lofc this fplcndid hue, which is then 
changed to poliftied black; and, when view- 
ed 
