62 
BRITISH BEETLES. 
considerable distance. Perhaps the most often noticed 
are G. violaceus , monilis , and nemovalis, all of which 
arc about an inch in length, and of a long oval shape. 
Violaceus is nearly smooth, dull blue-black, with the 
sides of the thorax and elytra bright purple ; monilis, 
coppery-green, with three series of slightly elevated 
and interrupted lines, separated by three elevated 
stria), on each wing-case ; and nemoralis (rather 
broader and shorter than the other two) has a purplish 
thorax and coppery or brassy elytra. All three of 
these may be seen dead on pathways in the suburbs 
early in the morning, having been trodden upon in the 
dark, in the course of their nocturnal roamings, seeking 
what they may devour. Another, and much rarer 
species, C. nitens, found iu mossy bogs, and on the 
Lancashire sands, is brilliant golden-copper on the 
head and thorax, with silky green wing-cases, each of 
which has three elevated ridges, and the margins 
reddish-copper. It is, perhaps, the most brilliant 
and effectively coloured beetle we possess (Plate I., 
Fig. 5). 
Calosoma sycoplianta, the largest Geodephagous 
insect taken in England, has blue-black or violet bead 
and thorax (the latter with the margins greenish), and 
very broad, rich metallic green wing-cases, the green 
changing into gold and orange-red as the position of 
the beetle is altered. It is found on our shores occa- 
sionally, but can scarcely be considered a true British 
species, though one or two instances have occurred of 
its being found inland. In Silesia, and elsewhere on 
the Continent, it frequents pine forests, feeding on the 
caterpillars of various moths, and being especially 
attached to colonies of the “ processionary ” and 
