COLEOPTERA. 433 



terminated by two very distinct spurs; the tarsi long, and more 

 slender towards the extremity *. 



EUBRIA, Zieg. D< 



The antennae slightly serrated, the second joint very small, the 

 two following ones largest of all, and the last somewhat emarginate 

 at the end, and tapering to a point; spurs of the tibiae very small, or 

 nearly null ; tarsi filiform \. 



The second tribe of the Malacodermi, or that of the LAMPYRIDES, 

 is distinguished from the first by the enlarged termination of the 

 palpi, or at least those of the maxillae, by their always soft, straight, 

 depressed, or but slightly convex body, and by the thorax, sometimes 

 semicircular, and at others nearly square or trapezoidal, that projects 

 over the head, which it cither entirely or partially covers. The 

 mandibles are usually small, and terminate in a slender, arcuated, very 

 acute point, that is generally entire. The penultimate joint of the 

 tarsi is always bilobate, and the crotchets of the last have neither 

 dentations nor appendages. 



The females of some are apterous, or have but very short elytra. 



When seized, these Insects press their feet and antennae against 

 their body, and remain as motionless as if they were dead. Several, 

 thus situated, curve their abdomen underneath. They comprise the 

 genus 



LAMPYRIS, Lin. 



Antennne .closely approximated at base, the head either exposed and 

 prolonged anteriorly in the manner of a snout, or for the greater 

 part, or entirely, concealed under the thorax ; eyes of the males large 

 and globular; mouth small. Such are the characters of a first 

 division of this tribe, which we will subdivide into those in which 

 neither sex is phosphorescent, and those in which the females at least 

 are possessed of that faculty. Both sexes of the former are provided 

 with wings, have their head exposed, and frequently narrower and 

 extended anteriorly, or in the form of a snout, and the thorax widened 

 posteriorly with pointed lateral angles. The two or three ultimate 

 anmili of their abdomen are destitute of that pale yellowish or whitish 

 tint that is always found on this part of the body in the true Lampy- 

 rides, and which announces their phosphorescence. The elytra, in 

 several, widen behind, and are sometimes strongly dilated and rounded 

 posteriorly, in the females particularly. They are densely punctured, 

 and frequently reticulated. 



LYCUS, Fab. Oliv. CANTHARIS, Lin. 



We restrict this subgenus to those species of Fabricius, in which 

 the snout is as long as the portion of the head that precedes it, or 



* Eucynetus htcmon-hoidalu, Germ., Faun. Insect. Europ. V, ii. See Catal., &c., 

 Dej. 



f Cyphon palwtri*. Germ., Ib. IV, 3. 

 VOL. III. v 9 



