198 
BRITISH BEETLES. 
than the body ; the thorax generally almost trans- 
verse ; and the femora but slightly thickened. 
In Rhagium , — the species of which are very abundant 
in pine woods, and which may be found in all then- 
stages under fir-bark, the larval eating galleries on the 
surface, — the antennae are very short, and the entire 
insect is flattened, broad, and of a comparatively dull, 
mottled appearance. The pupae have rows of short 
spines across the segments of the abdomen ; as in 
Cossus and other wood-feeding Lcpidoptcra. 
Toxotus , — a most variable insect, both in size and 
colour, — has long straggling legs and antennae, and 
flies with a considerable noise in the hot sunshine; it 
is however surpassed, in point of variation, by the 
common Strangalia armata (Plato XIV., Fig. 1 ; a 
dark variety), of which it is difficult to obtain two 
specimens exactly alike ; and in the male of which the 
hinder tibiae have two conspicuous tooth-like processes 
on the inner side. 
This insect, — which, according to the predominance 
of colour, may be designated either as yellow with 
black spots, or as black with yellow, — is abundant 
during the summer months on the flowers of Umbelli- 
ferx, especially at the margins of woods ; and is very 
active both with its legs and wings (at all events when 
the sun shines), taking to flight readily, and making 
ludicrous movements in its hurry to escape. 
The Lamiidie are divided into two tribes, Lamiina 
and Saperdina, in which tho head is abruptly and 
vertically bent down, the antennae are inserted within 
the emarginatiou of the eyes, the tibiae armed with 
small spurs, and the legs not very elongate. 
In the Lamiina the femora are distinctly clavate, 
