444 INSBCTA. 



lar joint of the same size ; the second and third joints of the antennae 

 nearly equal, and the terminal club elongated, with loose joints; no 

 depression in the thorax anteriorly. 



N violacea, Oliv., Col., Ib., 76, bis, 1, 1 ; Dermestes violaceus^ 

 L. Small ; violet-blue or greenish, with similarly coloured legs ; 

 elytra, with longitudinal series of punctures. Very common in 

 houses in the spring ; it is also found in carrion *. 



We will terminate this tribe with a subgenus in which the two 

 penultimate joints of the antennae, more or less dilated internally 

 in the form of teeth, compose with the last, which is oval, a serrated 

 or semi pectinated club. The palpi are terminated by a larger joint, 

 either in the form of an elongated or compressed triangle, or secu- 

 riform. Such are those which form the 



ENOPLIUM, Lai. TILLUS, Oliv. Fab. CORYNETES, Fab. f 



The type of the fifth tribe of the Malacodermi, or the PTINIO- 

 RES, consists of the genus Plinus of Linnaeus, and of some other 

 genera depending en, or which most closely approach it. The body 

 of these Insects is of a tolerably firm consistence, sometimes almost 

 ovoid or oval, and at others nearly cylindrical, but generally short 

 and rounded at the two extremities. The head is nearly globular or 

 orbicular, and almost entirely received into a strongly arched or 

 vaulted thorax, resembling a hood. The antennae of some are 

 filiform, or diminished towards the end, and are either simple, flabel- 

 liform, pectinated, or serrated; those of others terminate suddenly by 

 three larger and much longer joints. The mandibles are short, thick, 

 and dentated under the point. The palpi are very short and termi- 

 nated by a larger and almost ovoid joint, or like a reversed triangle. 

 The tibiae are not dentated, and the spurs at the extremities are very 

 small. There is but little variety in their colours, which are always 

 dark. They are very small. When touched they counterfeit death, 

 lower their heads, incline their antennae, and contract their feet ; in 

 this apparent state of lethargy they remain for some time. Their 

 motions are generally slow, and those that are winged rarely take to 

 flight to escape. Their larvae are very noxious to us, and bear a great 

 resemblance to those of the Scarabaeides. Their body, frequently 

 curved into an arc, is soft and whitish ; the head and feet are brown 

 and squamous. Their mandibles are strong. With fragments of 

 various substances, which they detach by gnawing, they construct a 

 shell in which they become nymphs. Other species establish their 



* See Olivier, genus Necrobie and Schoenl)., Synon. Insect. I, 2, p. 50. 



f Tillus serraticornis, Oliv., Coll. II, 22, 1, 2 ; T. Weberi, Fab. ; T. damicomis, 

 Id. ; T. dermestdides, Scheff., Elem. Entom., 138; Co^neto sanguinicollis, Fab. 

 See Schoenh., Synon. Insect., I, 2, p. 46. 



