Cetonud^. INSECTS. Goliath us. 
217 
{Phylluphaga quercina), is very destructive, according 
to Dr. Harris, to fruit-trees; aud he mentions that they 
have been exterminated by simply shaking them from 
the trees every evening.* 
The “ Kose-bug” of the United States [Macrodac- 
tylus subspinosus) is another destructive species of this 
himily, so named from its appearing at the time of 
the flowering of the rose, on which it commits great 
ravages. It destroys, too, the grape vine and other 
useful fruit trees, and even grass does not escape the 
ravages of this ruthless depredator. The larvae live on 
roots, and it is only in the perfect state that the farmer 
or gardener can destroy it. 
Of all the Melolonthidce, the largest aud most remark- 
able belong to a section which by some authors has 
been formed into a family named Euchiridce. The 
type of this group is the great Euchirus longimanus, 
from Amboyna, a brown beetle with very long fore 
legs, of which Madame Pfeiffer obtained many speci- 
mens. Another fine species lives in the Philippine 
Islands ; it is the Euchirus Dupontianus, marked with 
four longitudinal lines. The females in Euchirus have 
shorter fore legs. On Plate 2, fig. 5, is figured a very 
fine beetle, closely allied to the Euchirus, and perhaps 
in the same genus. The Kev. F. W. Hope, named it 
Cheirotonus. The species, with its fine green thorax 
and dark elytra spotted with yellow, is named C. 
Macleayii. 
One of the commonest insects in the United States 
is a species of Phyllophaga. It is allied to our Cock- 
chafer, and is named in Pennsylvania the May Bug. 
Like our Chafer, its larva is at certain seasons most 
destructive, damaging grass, corn, and other crops to 
an amazing extent. 
On the interesting family GLAPHYKiD.iE space 
forbids me entering. 
Family— CETONIIDiE. ^ 
Our Rose beetles, Cetonia aurata, is a well-known 
example of this very extensive family, of which there 
are but six British species, and even of those recorded 
two are very doubtful. The great Goliath Beetles 
are natives chiefly of Western Africa, whence one or 
two specimens were sent in the days of the Hunters 
and of Dr. Drury, the goldsmith in the Strand. Dr. 
William Hunter bought or had presented to him one 
of these Goliath beetles, still a rare variety. It was 
said that fifty pounds sterling were given for a single 
specimen. These Goliath beetles were found by Dr. 
Savage on a tree, thirty or forty feet high, and with 
a trunk from six to eight feet in diameter. They 
may be taken at Cape Palmas in great numbers in the 
months of December, January, and February, when the 
tree flowers and renews its leaves. The natives eat the 
insects, which are reported to be very fat and sweet. 
Dr. Harrisf remarks that “the food of these beetles 
is fluid, like that of the Trichii and Cetoniae, insects 
belonging to the same natural family ; but the latter 
live chiefly on the nectar of flowers, and the former on 
the sap of plants. The long brushes on their maxillae, 
and the diverging rows of hairs that line their lower 
* Dr. Harris’ Insects Injurious to Vegetation, p. 2G. 
t Journal of Boston Soc. Nat. His., vol. iv. 
VOL. ir 84 
lips, are admirably fitted for absorbing liquid food, 
while their horny teeth afford these beetles additional 
means of obtaining it from the leaves and juicy stems 
of plants when the blossoms have disappeared. Thus 
every new discovery in natural history, even when 
least expected, serves to increase the evidence of skilful 
contrivance, and perfect adaptation of structure in all 
organized beings.” 
Among the Goliath beetles some of the species are 
metallic green, dashed with yellow in various lights, as 
the E. Morgani. The E. Grallii, described by M. 
Buquet, is even a more showy species from Congo, 
whence the late Mr. Curror of the royal navy sent 
it to the Museum. The E. Smithii is a pretty modest 
brownish-yellow species, with four black spots, found 
in Natal, and first sent home by Dr. (now Sir) Andrew 
Smith. Another fine sub-genus is Mecynorlima con- 
taining the dark-green and yellow-spotted M. Poly- 
phesnus of Western Africa, and the even finer Mecy- 
norhina Savagii found in tropical Africa ; its thorax is 
striped, the feet and the hind legs are fulvous. 
Fig. 93. 
Cocoon of Goliathus Drurii,with part of the end of the elytra and 
abdomen of beetle. 
In the British Museum is a specimen of the Cocoon 
of the Goliathus Drurii, with a strong raised ledge 
which nearly surrounds it, and not only helps to 
strengthen it, but also keeps it from rolling too far, 
should it fall. — (See fig. 93.) 
Fine Goliath beetles are found in South Africa, 
