THE THORAX. 93 



The following are the chief differences of the elytra: 



TRUNCATED (truncata), are such elytra which are a little shorter 

 than the abdomen. 



ABBREVIATED (abbreviata), when they cover but a little more 

 than its half. 



DIMIDIATE (dimidiata), when exactly half as long as the abdomen. 



SHORT (brevissima), when they are not half the length of the abdo- 

 men. 



MUTILATED (mutilata), are those which cover only a portion of 

 the abdomen, yet more than the half, but less than the apex ; they are, 

 consequently, longer than the SHORT and shorter than the TRUNCATED 

 elytra (Aptinus}- 



FASTIGIATE (fastigiatct), are such which extend a little beyond the 

 apex of the abdomen. 



ENTIRE (integra), when they are exactly the length of the abdo- 

 men, and display no distinguishing peculiarity of form. 



AURICULATE (auriculata), are those which have at their humeral 

 angle a peculiar, free appendage (Lycus, Cassida.) 



SUBULATE ( subulata}, are those which gradually decrease towards 

 their apex, and which leave, both upon the sutural and exterior margins, 

 a portion of the abdomen uncovered (Necydalis, Fabr.) 



ELONGATE (elongata), are those which are much longer than the 

 abdomen. 



DEHISCENT (dehiscentia), when the suture is somewhat divergent 

 at the apex. 



AMPLIATE (ampliata, .<:. amplificata), when the edge of the exte- 

 rior margin is very high and prominent (Dyticus latissimns.) . 



COMPLICANT (complicantia) , when one elytra extends over the 

 other, and partially covers it (Meloe). 



According to their inclination we distinguish 



EVEN (piano) elytra, the whole superficies of which is upon one 

 plane. 



DEFLEXED (deflexa], when the vicinity of the suture lies higher 

 than the exterior margin ; sometimes they rise into a pyramid, called 



TURRETED (turrita), or they are very convex in the centre, viz. 

 GIBBOUS (gibba). 



Both the elytra together are called the sheath or covering (coleop- 

 tera), and each single one a wing case (elytrum). 



The differences of surface have been already sufficiently described at 



