256 
BRITISH BEETLES. 
a more or less extensive dark lunated mark on each 
elytron. It is not uncommon in sandy places on the 
coast, and near London. The characteristic protho- 
racic canal is in this insect of a very superficial nature. 
The Hyperina are chiefly distinguished by their life 
history, in which they can only be compared with 
the Cionina. The species of Hyper a ( Phytonomus ), in 
which the funiculus of the antennae is seven-jointed, 
are often very abundant in clover-fields, &c. ; they are 
moderately large, oval, with a globular thorax, and 
prettily clothed with variegated scales and hairs. 
H. trilineatus, found commonly on Leguminosx in 
many districts, is perhaps one of the most elegant. 
(Plate XI., Fig. 6.) 
Their larvae live on the outer side of the leaves of 
plants, of which they devour the parenchyma; they 
have two or three rudimentary eyes on each side of the 
head. Possessing no legs, thoy fix themselves to their 
support with a viscous fluid secreted by a retractile 
process, situate in the front part of the back of the last 
abdominal segment. When full grown thoy cover 
themselves with a coarse network, composed of threads 
of the same fluid, which hardens on exposure to the 
air. A cocoon is thus formed (often found on wa,ter 
plants, &c., in wet places, where some of the species 
are abundant), in which the transformations of the 
insect take place. 
The little Liviobii exactly resemble the members 
of the preceding genus, except that their antenna> 
have but six joints to the funiculus ; and it should 
be remarked that many other genera are accom- 
panied by similar imperfect reproductions of their 
structure. 
