536 INSECTA. 



RMnorimus, Latr. {Salpingut, Illig.), has the antennae terminated by an elongated mass, formed of three or five 

 joints ; the muzzle very flat, with a produced angle on each side before the tip. They reside beneath the bark of trees, 

 and require in a natural order to be arranged near to Anthribus of Fabricius, by whom indeed they were united 

 therewith. The body is depressed and the palpi thicker at the tips. [S. roborU, a pretty minute British species.] 



Our second general division, — 



THE FOURTH FAMILY OF THE COLEOPTERA HETEROMERA,— 



The Trachehdes, — 



Have the head triangular or heart-shaped, carried on a kind of neck, which, being as wide as the 

 front of the thorax, prevents it from being immersed therein up to the eyes ; the body is often soft, 

 with the elytra flexible, not striated, and often very short, one partially lapping over the other ; the 

 maxilla; are never hooked ; the tarsal joints are entire, and the ungues bifid. The majority live in 

 the perfect state upon different vegetables, devouring the leaves or sucking the honey of the flowers : 

 many, when seized, depress the head, and contract the feet, as if they were dead ; others are very active. 



We divide this family into six tribes, formingthe same number of genera. The first tribe, Lagriarice, 

 has the body elongated, narrower in front than behind, with the thorax either subcylindric or square, or 

 ovoid and truncated ; the antennae inserted near a notch of the eyes, simple, filiform, or thickened gra- 

 dually to the tips ; generally moniliform, with the last joint longer than the preceding in the males ; 

 the palpi thickened at the tips, and the last joint of the maxillary palpi long and triangular ; the tibiae 

 long and narrow ; the two anterior curved ; the penultimate joint of the tarsi bilobed, and the ungues 

 neither bifid nor toothed. The indigenous species inhabit woods, and are found upon different vegetables ; 

 the body is soft, the elytra flexible, and, like the Cantharides and Meloes, they feign death when taken. 



Lagria proper, is composed of species which have the antennae gradually thickened, and partly or entirely moni- 

 liform, the last joint ovoid or oval, the head scarcely advanced in front, and the thorax subcylindric or square. 

 [L. hirta, a very common British insect, of small size ; found in hedges, in which also I have found its larvae, 

 which is hairy, with the-extremity of the body bifid.) 



Stalira, Latr., is formed of exotic species resembling the genus Agra; prolonged in front, and suddenly nar- 

 rowed behind the eyes. 



Ilemipeplus, Latr., doubtfully belonging to this tribe, has the antennae filiform, short, and elbowed, the body 

 linear and depressed, and the head heart-shaped. 



The second tribe, Pyrochroides, approaches the preceding in respect of the tarsi, the length and 

 slenderness of the anterior part of the body, which is however depressed, with the thorax nearly orbi- 

 cular or trapezoidal ; the antennae, at least in the males, are pectinated or feathered ; the maxillary palpi 

 are but slightly serrated, and terminated by a subsecuriform joint; the labial filiform ; the abdomen 

 elongate, entirely covered by the elytra, and rounded behind. They are found in the spring in woods, the 

 larvae living beneath the bark of trees ; they form the genus — 



Pyrochroa, Geoffr. 

 Dendroides, Latr., has long feathery branches to the antennae. (Exotic species.) 

 Pyrochroa proper, has the antennae simply pectinated. [Pyrochroa rubens,&\ery abundant 

 British species, of a scarlet colour, with black legs and antennae.] 



The third tribe, Mordellonm, although not distinguished by any constant cha- 

 racter, derived from the tarsi, ungues, antennae, or palpi, is easily to be distinguished 

 by the general form of the body, elevated and arched, with the head low, the tho- 

 rax trapezoid or semicircular, the elytra very short, or narrow and pointed at the 

 tips, as well as the abdomen. In their antennas, many approach the Pyrochroides » 

 ¥ ' g ' " 6 ^" ! ." c, ' roa others, in their maxillae, ungues, tarsi, and parasitic habits, are allied to Nemognatha 

 and Sitaris, subgenera of the last tribe of this family, but they are removed from both by their extreme 

 agility, and the firm texture of their integuments. They form the genus — 



Mordella, Linn. 

 Some have the palpi of unequal thickness throughout, the antennae of the males strongly pectinated or fan- 

 snaped, the extremity of the mandibles not notched, and the tarsal ungues denticulated. 



Bipiphorus, Bosc, has the wings extended beyond the elytra, which are as long as the abdomen ; the tarsal un- 

 gues bifid; the antennae strongly ^'pectinated in the males, u«;'serrated in the females. Some naturalists have 

 found in the nests of the common Wasp, many living individuals of the [English species], Ripiphorus paradoxus 

 which has been thence inferred to be parasitic in the larva state in such situations. Nevertheless, from anobser- 



