324 REPORT ON ZOOLOGY, MDCCCXLIV. 



the Buprestis mariana. In regard to the question, as to the position of the 

 spiracles in the larva of this family (s. Hep. 1843, p. 134) Lueas (ibid.) and 

 Dufour (p. 204) have made further researches. 



ELATERIUES. Gerniar (Zeitschr. v. 133) has continued the examination 

 of this family, in the course of which the difficulty of finding determinate 

 and well-characterized groups has become still more sensible, strengthening . 

 the conviction that a natural arrangement of the family must rest on consi- 

 derations different from any hitherto applied. Such can be come at only 

 through a comprehensive and profound study of the whole, which makes our 

 obligations to the author the greater for the pains which he has taken with 

 them. 



The article under review treats of a pretty natural group of Elateridse, 

 having the feet simple without membranous flaps, the forehead curving 

 down but with a rim in front, and the thigh-covers [the lu'nd pair of hips] 

 dilated internally. The genera arc four : 1. Cryptoliypnm [false orthography!]; 

 feelers filiform, with the base joint long and thickened ; feet with long bristles; 

 containing besides the proper Cryptohypnus (formerly Hypolithns), Esch., 

 in which the scutel is broad (17 species), also OopJiorm, Dej., with the scu- 

 tel oval, with which Drasterius, Esch., is joined (12 species.) 2. Ampedm : 

 feelers slightly serrated from the fourth joint, feet with scattered hairs 

 beneath ; contains 40 species, among which limbalis, Hbst., with strongly 

 serrated feelers, and dorsiyer (Drasterius id., Dej.), with the hairs of the feet 

 long and close set, differ from the rest, and A. semiflavm might be referred 

 to the genus Melanoxanthus. 3. IscJinodes, new genus, the type of which is 

 El. sanffuinicollis, Pz., with the feelers serrated from the third joint. 4. Apha- 

 nobius : differing from all the foregoing by the feelers distinctly twelve- 

 jointed (11 species). The author then examines several species related to 

 this group, but with flaps to the feet. El. acuticoriiis, Germ. Spec. \ Ampe- 

 dus nigeUus, Dej.], in other respects agreeing with IscJinodes, has a flap to 

 the third joint, and the fourth is minute. Amp. siynaticolUs, Dej., comes 

 close to it also, but the second and third joints are here broader and almost 

 triangular. Amp.fulvus, Redt. (Col. Austr.), agrees with Ampedus, only the 

 third joint has a large flap, and the fourth is very minute. In conclusion, 

 the genus Melanoxantlms, Esch., is discussed, and it is shown that Escholtz's 

 description of the first joint of the foot, as not much larger than the second, 

 does not apply to El. melanoeephalm, E. [given by Dejean as an example.] 

 It appears to me that this genus, which is closely allied to Ampedus, is 

 characterized principally by the very narrow thigh-covers, and the feelers 

 much compressed from the fourth joint. The feet are elongated in M. 

 melanucephalus, F., and k-gutiatus. Er., shorter in Amp. sfmijianis, Germ. 

 In other respects this last agrees well with the others, and seems to be better 

 placed in this genus than in Ampedus. 



