424 INSECTA. 



the tarsi and palpi, announce that these Insects form the passage 

 from this tribe to the second. * 



Or that of the ELATERIDES, which only differs essentially from the 

 first in the posterior stylet of the praesternum. which terminates in a 

 laterally compressed point, frequently somewhat arcuated and uni- 

 dentate, that sinks at the will of the animal into a cavity in the 

 pectus, situated immediately above the origin of the second pair of 

 legs ; and in the circumstance, that these Insects when placed on 

 their back have the faculty of regaining their original position by 

 bounding upwards. Most of them have mandibles emarginated or 

 cleft at the end, palpi terminated by a triangular or securiform joint, 

 much larger than those which precede it, and the joints of the tarsi 

 entire . This tribe only comprises the genus 



E LATER, Lin. 



The body is usually narrower and more elongated than that of the 

 Buprestides, and the posterior angles of the thorax are prolonged 

 into a sharp point, in the form of a spine. 



The common French name of these Insects is Scarabees a ressort, 

 and their Latin one, Notopeda, Elater. When placed on their back, 

 finding it impossible to regain their natural position on account of the 

 shortness of their legs, they bound perpendicular upwards until 

 they fall on their feet. To execute this motion, they press the latter 

 close to the body, lower their head and thorax, which has a free 

 downward motion, then approximating this last to the postpectus, 

 they forcibly press the point of the preesternum against the margin 

 of the hole situated before the mesosternum, into which it sinks 

 suddenly, as if by a spring. The thorax and its lateral points, the 

 head and elytra, being violently propelled against the plane of posi- 

 tion, particularly if it be solid and smooth, concur^by their elasticity 

 in causing the body to bound upwards. The sides of the praestennum 

 are distinguished by a groove, where the antennae, which are pecti- 

 nated or bearded in several males, are partly lodged. The females 

 have a species of elongated ovipositor, with two lateral pieces 

 pointed at the end, between which is the true oviduct. 



The Elaterides are found on flowers, plants, and even on the 

 ground ; they lower their head in walking, and if any one approaches 

 let themselves fall, pressing their legs against their body, 



De Geer has described the larva of a species (undulatus ) of this 

 genus.. It is long, almost cylindrical, and provided with small 

 antennae, palpi, and six feet ; it consists of twelve annuli, covered 

 with a scaly skin, that of the posterior extremity forming a plate with 

 an elevated and angular margin, with two blunt points curved 

 inwards ; underneath is a large fleshy and retractile mammilla, which 

 performs the duty of a foot. It inhabits the debris of rotten wood, 



* Melasis baprestoides, Oliv., II, 30, 1,1 ; Melasis elateroides, Illig., differing, 

 according to him, from the Elater bvprestoides, Lin. 



