370 INSECTA. 



tarsi bifid, mandibles unidentatcd under the point; palpi, maxillae, 

 and ligula exposed, the latter bilobate; mentum nearly semi-orbicular. 

 Two species are known, both proper to North America(l). 



Rhysodes, Lat. Dalm. 



The antennae granose and all the joints of the tarsi entire. The 

 mandibles appear to me to be narrowed and almost tricuspidate at 

 the end; the mentum is corneous, very large, clypeiform and termi- 

 nated superiorly by three teeth or points; the palpi are very short. 



Notwithstanding the number of tarsial joints, this genus seems to 

 approach that of Cucujus and even certain Brenti, with a short pro- 

 boscis in both sexes. The habits of these Insects are the same as 

 those of the Xylophagi(2). 



FAMILY IV. 



CLAVICORNKS. 



In the fourth family of the pentamerous Coleoptera, as in 

 the third, we find four palpi, and elytra covering the superior 

 surface of the abdomen, or its greater portion; but it diifers 

 in the antennae, which are almost always thicker at the ex- 

 tremity, that even frequently forms a perfoliaceous or solid 

 club; they are longer than the maxillary palpi, and their base 

 is exposed, or barely covered. The legs are not natatory, and 

 the joints of the tarsi, at least those of the posterior ones, are 

 usually entire. 



In their larva state, at least, they feed on animal matters. 



We will divide this family into two sections : the common 

 characters of the first of which are, antennae always composed 

 of eleven joints, longer than the head, not forming from the 

 third a fusiform or nearly cylindrical club, and their second 

 joint not dilated in the form of an auricle; last joint of the 

 tarsi, as well as its hooks, of a moderate length, or small. 



These Clavicornes are terrestrial, while those of our second 



(1) Cupes capitata, Fab.; Lat., Gener. Crust, et Insect., I, viii, 2; Coqucb., 

 Must. Icon. Insect., Ill, xxx, 1. 



(2) Rhysodes exaratus, Dalm., Analect. Entom., p. 93. This species has lately 

 been discovered by M. Leon Dufour in the Pyrenees. 



