COLEOPTERA. 555 



illary palpi are filiform, and the two terminal joints of the labial palpi form, when united, a triangular mass. They 

 inhabit India and America. 



Dapsa, Zeigl., has the antennal club narrow, elongated, with the joints apart at the side. [Exotic species.] 



The others have the third joint of the antenna; scarcely longer than the adjoiningjoints. Many of the species 

 are indigenous [to France and England], and live in Lycoperdons, or beneath the bark of trees. 



Endomiichus, Weber, has the four palpi thicker at the tips ; the last three joints of the antenna 1 apart at the 

 sides, longer than the preceding, and forming a reversed triangular mass. [E. coccineus, a pretty little English 

 species.] 



Lycoperdina, Latr., has the maxillary palpi filiform ; the last joint of the labial larger than the preceding, and 

 the two last joints of the antenna forming a reversed triangular club. L. Bovista, [a small British species, found 

 in pufT-balls]. 



THE SECOND FAMILY OF THE COLEOPTERA TRIMERA — 



The Aphidiphagi, — 

 Is composed for the most part of insects of a hemispherical form ; the thorax very short, transverse, 

 almost crescent-shaped ; the antennae terminated by a compressed mass in the form of a reversed cone, 

 composed of the three terminal joints, and shorter than the thorax ; the last joint of the maxillary palpi 

 is very large, hatchet-shaped ; and the second joint of the tarsi deeply bilobed. In the other Trimera, 

 of the same family, the joints of the tarsi are simple, or the second is but slightly bifid, a character 

 which, with some others, distinguishes these insects from the Fungicolae. 



Some have the body more or less thick, and never flattened and shield-shaped ; the thorax transverse ; the head 

 exposed ; the antennae distinctly 11-jointed; the terminal joints forming a reversed conical club. 



These insects compose the genus 



COCCINELLA. 



Lithophilus, Frohl., has the body ovoid, with the thorax strongly margined at the sides and narrowed behind, 

 with the second joint of the tarsi very slightly bifid. L. ruficoltU, Dahl. [a minute European species]. 



Coccinella proper, has the body nearly hemispherical ; the thorax very short, nearly crescent-shaped, scarcely 

 margined ; and the second joint of the tarsi deeply bilobed. 



Many species of this genus are widely dispersed upon trees and plants in our gardens, and enter our houses; they 

 are well known under the name of Lady-birds, or Lady-cows. The generally hemispherical form of their bodies, 

 the number and arrangement of the spots on their elytra, which resemble a kind of inlaid work of black upon 

 yellow or orange, or vice versa, as well as the agility of their motions, cause them to be easily known. They 

 are the first to appear in the spring ; when seized, they fold up their legs against the body, and emit a mucilaginous 

 humour from the joints of the legs, as in the Chrysomehe, and which is of a yellow colour and very disagreeable 

 scent. They feed upon plant-lice, as well as their larva 1 , of which the form and metamorphoses closely resemble 

 those of the Chrysomelinae. Occasionally, individuals, differing greatly from each other, are found coupled to- 

 gether, but the results of such unions have not been observed. 



Coccinella T-punclata, the common Lady-cow, is about three lines long ; black, with the elytra red, 

 with three black dots on each, and one in the middle. It is the commonest species in this country, 

 as will as in France. 



Clypeaster, Andersche, (Cossyphus, Gyll.), has the body very flat and shield-shaped, with the 



head hidden beneath a nearly semicircular thorax; the antenna 1 do not distinctly possess more 



F 'neH»~7^muiI t,i;m nme joints ; the joints of the tarsi are entire, and the prosteruum forms a kind of cravat 



cuta. beneath the mouth. [The species are of very minute size], and are found beneath the bark of 



trees, and under stones. 



THE THIRD FAMILY OF THE COLEOPTERA TRIMERA,— 

 The Pselaphi, — 



Has the elytra short and truncated, covering only a part of the abdomen, thus possessing a certain re- 

 semblance to the Brachelytra, and especially to the Aleocharoe ; this last part of the body is, however, 

 much shorter, broad, very obtuse, and rounded behind ; t lie antennae, terminated in a club, or thickened 

 to the tips, sometimes formed of only six joints ; the maxillary palpi arc ordinarily very large; all the 

 joints of the tarsi are entire, ami the first is much shorter than the following, and Beared) \isible at 

 first sight ; the last is often terminated by a single unguis. 



These insects are found on the ground, under the debris of vegetables, and some inhabit ants' qi 



[By EngJish entomologists, this extremely interesting family, pi. iced by LatreiRe at the end of the 



order Coleoptera (on account of the structure of the tarsi exhibiting a greater simplicity than that of 



any other Beetles), is arranged in immediate connexion with the Staphylinidae. The monographs of 



Reichenbach, Denny, and Leach, and the more recent works of Aube*, Stephens, and Erichson, have 



