$2 PLA T#£ °LXVIL. 
‘ 
the colours confiderably decreafed by the exhalation of that moifture 
which ferved to refrefh them in the living flate. 
The underfide, from the greater tenacity of the-fkin, or fhelly fub- 
ftance, is lefs liable to alteration than the upper fide; it is entirely of a 
dark, but beautiful purple, which is changeable in proportion to the 
convexity of the body, to the moft brilliant hues; the legs are alfo of 
a beautiful purple, with the appearance of bronze or copper colour 
intermixed, 
It does not appear to be frequent in any part of Europe; even in 
Germany it is rarely, if ever taken: as one of the Briti/h Coleoptera 
it is very little known, and is perhaps confined to the diftant parts of 
Kent, where it is not generally diffufed, but is found local to certain 
fituations. 
Mr. Crow, of Feverfham, very fortunately met with a brood of 
them laft feafon, and. tranfmitted feveral fpecimens to his friends in 
London. They varied confiderably in feveral refpects, and particularly 
in their colours; fome appearing much more beautiful than others. 
The male is {maller than the female; they fecrete themfelves be- 
neath the furface of the earth, and fubfift on the roots of graf, or 
herbage in general: are fometimes found by turning up the mould, or 
may be obferved crawling among the grafs. Come forth in April, 
or May. 
