NATURAL HISTORY. 13 
élfewhere the colour is of a dufky blackifh brown, with a tranfverfe 
freak of white. This is common about the carcaffes of dead animals, 
Particularly birds. Some would not have this to be properly a Beetle, 
but call it Dermettes. 
_ The Black Dermefes with a white {pot on each of the cafes of the wings, 
1s of the fmall kind, and has a body of an oval fhape, which is black 
as well as its legs and feelers; on each of the cafes of the wings there is 
a remarkable white {pot, with five others fo fmall that they are hardly 
vifible. This animal when touched, or terrified with a noife, will Rop 
and draw its head and legs under the fhell of the body. It is common 
about fome houfes and old walls, and more particularly in places where 
Vidtuals are kept. sp ateepet 
The Dermeftes, of a,cylindrical thape, with a thick hairy neck, and 
teftaceous cafes for the wings. This is alfo of the fmall kind, and the 
body is of the fhape of a cylinder, with a thick roundifh black hairy neck. 
The cafes of the wings are longifh, blunt at the point, and like fhells . 
With a black edge or margin running all round them; but the colour 
of the cafes themfelves are of a whitifh brown, and the body and legs 
are black. The antenne or feelers are reddifh. The fize is not much 
bigger than a large loufe, and when it is touched or terrified it con+ 
trads itfelf and lies quite ftill. It is very common in houfes. The 
feelers of thefe three forts are of a clavated fhape, and are perforated 
tranfverfely. There is another fort of infeéts of the Beetle kind, with 
flender feelers like threads, though a little thicker near the ends. This 
fort, as well as the former, are by fome of our beft authors placed a- 
mong the Beetles. 
The Green Tortoife Beetle with clavated feelers divided into rings, has 
‘a very {mall oval body, convex on the back and flat on the belly. The 
Upper part confifts of the cafes of the wings and the fhield, which are 
oth green and {mooth, and appear to be one fingle cruft, divided only 
by a kind of triangular future. The belly is black, and the head is. 
entirely hid under the fhield. The feelers are pale, only they are of a 
deeper colour on the top than elfewhere. The legs are of a pale brown, 
and there is a fort of a prominent rim running round the cafes of the 
Wings, which entirely cover the body. It is common in gardens, and | 
May be met with on mint and other herbs. Thefe fort of Beetles are 
by Linnaus called Caffida, from the thield. . 
The Black Caffda, or Shield Beetle with feelers like briftles, and a 
Toundifh body, is a very {mall Beetle, of a little longith fhape, and of a 
dufky black colour. The cafes of the wings are oblong, and lightly 
flreaked with feveral very {mall hollowifh {pots. The fhield is round- 
Ua, being fomewhat broader than long, and:it is rough on the upper 
Part, with a cruciated prominent edge. Sometimes there are two {pots 
n the fide towards the hinder part, with yellow hairs thereon. ‘The 
belly is black, but in fome lights has a glofs of filver colour. It is 
Met with in houfes in the country, where it often does a great deal of 
Mifchief, eating holes in woolen cloths and ftuffs. When it is touch- 
€d ever fo lightly it draws up its head and wings under its body.” 
_The over pale-clouded Cafida, or Shield Beetle, with an undivided 
‘hield that covers the head. It is a very {mall Beetle, and has a body. 
Of an oval fhape and of a pale brown colour, {potted and clouded all 
Over with one that is more dufky, which makes it look fomewhat like: 
the 
