532 INSECTA 



evidently more dilated than the following-. Megerle and Dejean have cut this up into several other subgenera, 

 without, however, characterizing them. Such are their genera, — 



Opatrinus (in which the males have the four basal joints of the anterior tarsi of equal breadth, composed of 

 American species); Dendarus, Meg., in which the basal, and especially the fourth joint, are evidently narrower 

 than the interveningjoints, the tibia; long and narrow, but little dilated at the tip; Heliophilus, Dej., in which the 

 sides of the thorax are suddenly narrowed near the posterior angles ; Eurynotut, K., with the thorax large, 

 scarcely broader than long, and strongly margined ; Jsocerus, Meg , with the body distinctly more convex above, 

 and the thorax transverse, and Pedinus proper, in which the males have the three basal joints of the two anterior 

 tarsi always very much dilated, diminishing gradually in breadth, the fourth being very small; the hind thighs 

 of the same individual are concave and silky beneath. [We possess a species of this genus found on the sea coast, 

 of small size and black colour,— P. maritimus.] 



Blapstintis, Dej. (with the front margin of the head notched,) and. 



Platyscelis, Latr. (with the head entire in front), have the four anterior tarsi of the males equally dilated. 



We are now arrived at Melasomata furnished with wings, having the body generally oval or oblong, 

 depressed, or but slightly elevated, with the thorax square or trapeziform, as broad behind as the ab- 

 domen ; the palpi are largest at the extremity ; the last joint of the maxillary palpi is hatchet-shaped ; 

 the mentum is but little extended in breadth, leaving the base of the maxillae exposed. 



These Melasomata compose the third and last tribe, that of the Tenebrionites, formed of the single 

 genus 



Tenebrio, — 

 Such as it was at first formed by Fabricius, to which we reunite those which he has named Opatrum 

 and Orthocerus. They serve as types for the same number of peculiar sections. 



1. Those with the body oval, the thorax nearly trapezoid, curved at the sides or semi-oval, broader 

 behind than the abdomen ; the maxillary palpi terminated by a hatchet-shaped joint. 



Crt/pticus, Latr., has the body convex anil polished above, with the head exposed ; the antenna; are nearly as long 

 as the thorax ; the tibiae are long and narrow. Type, Pedinus glaber, Latr. [a species found in England on the sea 

 coast, of a small size and black colour]. 



Opatrum, Fabr., has the body generally less elevated and often depressed, the head and eyes received into the 

 deep prothoracic cavity ; the antennae are shorter than the thorax, the elytra are rough, the fore tibiae are broad in 

 some. 



Silpha sabulosa, Linn., about one third of an inch long, of an ashy grey colour. Very common throughout 

 Europe [including England] in sandy places, appearing in the first fine days of the spring. 



2. Those with the body narrow and elongated, nearly of the same width or wider behind, with 

 the thorax nearly square, and at least as long as wide, the antennae forming a thick mass. 



Corticus, Dej. (having cylindric antennae), and 



Orthocerus, Latr. (with spindle-shaped antennae), have these organs thick, perfoliated, hairy, and apparently only 

 10-jointed ; Hispa mutica, Linn. [The type of the last subgenus is found in sand pits in various parts of England.] 



The antennae of the others are of the ordinary thickness, not visibly perfoliated, and with ten distinct joints. 



Chiroscelis, Lam., with the fore-tibiae palmated. Ch. bifenestra, Lam., [a large African insect]. 



Toxicum, Latr., with simple fore-tibiae, and with the head triangular, and thorax nearly square. [Exotic species 

 of moderate size.] 



Boros, Herbst., with simple fore tibiae, and with the head oval, and thorax somewhat oval. 



3. Those with the body long and narrow, the thorax nearly square, the antennae of the ordinary 

 size, and not suddenly terminated by a club ; the thighs of the two fore-legs are thick, and the tibiae 

 bent and narrow. 



Calcar, Dej., has the thorax oblong, the body linear, of equal breadth throughout, the front of the head notched. 



Upis, Fab., has the thorax oblong, the body narrow but not linear, the front of the head straight. U. ceram- 

 boides, Fabr. [a German species]. 



Tenebrio, Linn., Fabr., differs only from Upis in having the thorax broader than long. 



Tenebrio molitor, Linn., about two-thirds of an inch long, of a black brown colour, is of very common occurrence 

 [in England], being found, especially in the evening, in unfrequented parts of houses, bake-houses, 

 and corn-mills, &c. Its larva [known under the name of the Meal-worm] is long, cylindric, and 

 of an ochre colour, scaly, and very smooth ; it lives in barley and wheat [biscuits, flour, &c] 

 and is given to Nightingales. The Brazilian, T. grandis, is found under the bark of trees, and 

 discharges from the anus a caustic fluid to the distance of a foot. 



Heterotarsus, Latr., has the penultimate joint of all the tarsi minute, and received in a cana] 

 of the preceding joint. 



[The student will find the descriptions of many new genera in this and the two preceding sections 

 of Melasoma, described by M. Solier in the Annates de la Soeicte Entomologique de France, and Fj -, _ Tene i, r ; 

 by M. Guenn in his Magasin de Zoologie, and in the Voyage de la Coquille.] molitor. 



