Illustrations of Exotic Entomology, Volume 3Drury, Dru
Science
Illustrations of Exotic Entomology, Volume 3
Drury, Dru
Insects -- Pictorial works
Head cream-coloured at top, and black underneath, being full
three-fourths of an inch in length, from the neck to the extremity of the
two horns which issue from the fore part of it, the sides of which are
furnished with two other thick horns which are shorter than the former.
Eyes black, and situated so as to discern above and beneath. Antennæ
black. Thorax an inch and a half long, cream-coloured, having a thin,
sharp, black edge all round; on the top are six longitudinal black
streaks differently shaped, separated by cream-coloured lines, the middle
ones being narrowest, on each side of which near the lateral edge is a
small single black spot; the under part of the thorax is cream-coloured.
Scutellum of a longish triangular shape, and cream-coloured. Elytra
cream-coloured, with a broad black streak like velvet, about a third of
their breadth, running near the lateral edges from the shoulders to the
tips. On each side the scutellum is a small black oblong spot, at about
one-third of an inch from it. Legs dark green, finely polished. The hairs
on the middle and hind thighs and tibiæ dark orange. Abdomen dark green.
Abdominal scales [posterior coxæ] the same; on which, close to the joints
of the hinder thighs, are two small cream-coloured spots. Sternum long,
and of a dark green colour.
I have ventured, on the authority of several distinguished entomologists,
to give this insect as a species distinct from Goliathus maximus, figured
in the first volume of these Illustrations, Pl. 31. It is true, indeed,
that both are from the tropical districts of the western coast of Africa,
and that both exhibit the same general structure and form of the horns,
(the variations of which constitute the chief specific differences in these
cornuted species). Drury evidently at first regarded it as specifically
distinct, for he says, in his observation upon it, "This insect is of the
same genus with that described in Vol. 1. Pl. XXXI., but I judge it to be a
different species," although in the synoptical appendix to the volume he
calls it "a variety of Goliathus," the markings are very different, as may
be seen by comparing the two figures; but it might be considered that the
specimen represented in the first volume was a rubbed individual of that
here figured; this, however, is evidently not the case, because in both
descriptions Drury expressly describes the dark part of the elytra as
resembling velvet, which could not be the case if the specimen was
{55}rubbed. Moreover, a very fine and recent specimen corresponding with
the present figure has lately been received by Mr. Havill, of Oxford
Street, printseller and naturalist, who has demanded the sum of fifty
pounds for it. The individual here figured is in the collection of Mr.
MacLeay, to whom I have been indebted for a sight of it, and by whose
father it was purchased at the sale of Mr. Drury's collection at the price
of £12.
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