COLEOPTERA. 521 



sembling a joint(l) at the base of the last. The ligula, placed 

 on a short and transversal mentnm, is usually membranous, 

 cordiform, emarginated or bifid, corneous and forming the 

 segment of a very short and transversal circle in others(2). 

 The antennse are filiform or setaceous, most commonly as long 

 as the body at least ; they are sometimes simple in both sexes, 

 and sometimes serrated, pectinated, or flabelliform in the 

 males. The eyes of a great many are reniform and surround 

 them at base. The thorax is trapezoidal or narrowed before, 

 in those where the eyes are rounded and entire, or but slightly 

 emarginated ; even in this case the legs are long and slender, 

 and the tarsi elongated. 



M. Leon Dufour remarks, that in their alimentary canal, 

 as well as in the disposition of their hepatic vessels, these In- 

 sects bear a general resemblance to the Melasoma contrary 

 to the opinion of M. Marcel de Serres, he denies the existence 

 of a gizzard. The alimentary canal, most commonly covered 

 with papillce, is preceded by a crop, but less or slightly 

 marked in the Lamise and LeptursB, which, according to our 

 system, terminate this family. The testes are formed by dis- 

 tinct, pediculated, and tolerably large spermatic capsules or 

 sacs, which vary in number according to the genus. 



As almost all their larvse live in the interior of trees, or 

 under their bark, they are destitute of feet, or have but very 

 small ones. Their body is soft, whitish, thickest anteriorly, 

 and the head squamous and provided with stout mandibles, 

 but without any other projecting part. They do much injury 

 to trees, the large ones particularly, perforating them very 

 deeply, or boring holes in them in every direction(3). Some 

 of them attack the roots of plants. The abdomen of the 



(1) The Parandrx, in this respect, perfectly resemble the Longicomes, and if 

 this little nodule be considered as a true joint, not only this family, but the follow- 

 ing one likewise, would belong- to the section of the Pentamera. It may in fact 

 represent the fourth j oint of the latter, but as it has no peculiar motion, it is under- 

 stood as forming part of the next. 



(2) Parandra. 



(3) See the Nat. Hist, of the Lamia amputator, by M. Langsd. Quilding, Lin. 

 Trans., XIII. 



Vol. III. 3 Q 



