COLEOPTERA. 385 



and which differ from the preceding ones in their feet, which 

 are either wholly or partially contractile; the tarsi may be free, 

 but the tibice at least can be flexed on the thigh. The mandi- 

 bles are short, and generally thick and dentated. The body is 

 ovoid, thick, and covered with deciduous scales or hairs of 

 various colours. The antennas are straight and usually shorter 

 than the head and thorax. The head is plunged into the tho- 

 rax as far as the eyes. The thorax is but slightly or not at all 

 bordered, trapezoidal, and wider posteriorly ; the middle of 

 its posterior margin is frequently somewhat prolonged or lo- 

 bate. The larvae are pilose, and mostly feed on the exuviae 

 or carcasses of animals. Several are very injurious to ento- 

 mological collections. 



Those then in which the legs are not completely retractile, 

 the tarsi being always free, and the tibiae elongated and nar- 

 row, form our seventh tribe, that of the Dermestini, and the 

 great genus 



Dermestes. 



The only insects of this tribe whose antennae do not present two. 

 distinct joints, and whose very short and inferiorly inflated palpi 

 afterwards terminate in a point, are those which form the 



Aspidiphorus, Ziegl. Dej. 



Their body is orbicular(l). 



From among the species in which the antennas consist of eleven 

 distinct joints, and the palpi are filiform or gradually enlarge, we 

 will first separate those whose antennae are not received into parti- 

 cular fossulae in the under part of the thorax. The presternum 

 rarely extends over the mouth(2). 



In some, the antennae terminate abruptly in a large perfoliaceous 

 triarticulated club. 



Dermestes, Lin., Geoff., Fab. 

 In Dermestes, properly so called, the antennae are similar, or differ 



(1) Nitidula orbiculata, Gyllenh. 



(2) The only exceptions are found in the Dermestes undatus (Megatoma) of Fa- 

 bricius, and the Limnichi, Ziegl. 



Vol III. 2Y 



