56 LINNEAN SYSTEM. 



phorlc, proceeds from the last segment but one of the abdomen, and 

 seems intended to attract the male. Lampyris sphndidula is said to in- 

 habit this conntry, but I have not yet seen any British specimen : I 

 should therefore advise those entomologists residing at a distance from 

 London to collect all the specimens they can obtain, and carefully ex- 

 amine them : the males may be taken in profusion in the evenings of 

 the above months, if a few females be put in the entomologist's fold- 

 ing-net as he walks in the above places of an evening. 



Genus 26. Pyrochroa, Tuhr. Gtriel. 



^/i/c?m<E pectinate : thorax orl)icular: 6o(/y elongate, depressed. The 



prevailing colour in this genus is red and black. 

 Sp. 1. Pi/roch. cocclnea. Black : thorax and elytra of abright scarlet red ; 



the antennae strongly pectinate. 

 Inhabits the woods of Kent in the months of June and July. {PL 3. 



fiS- 3.) 

 Sp. 2. Pi/roch. rubens. Black : thorax and elytra ot a duller red tharj 



the preceding species. 



A very common insect in the months of IMay and June, and may be 

 found in most hedges where white-thorn grows. 



Genus 27. Cantharis. 



Antenna' filiform; thorax (in most species) marginated; c/j/;?y/ flexible ; 

 the sides of the abdomen with papillary folds. 



This is an extremely rapacious genus, preying upon other insects, 

 and even its own tribe. 



Sp. 1. Canth. fmca. Thorax red, with a black spot; elvtra brown. 

 {PL3.fg.4.) ■ 



This is a numerous tribe, and forms several natural genera of mo- 

 dern authors. 



Sp. 2. Canth. bigutfafa. Thorax black in the middle ; elytra greenish- 

 bronze; red at the apex. (P/. 3. fg. 5.) 

 This insect is furnished with two red obtuse vesicles at the base of 



the abdomen, and two at the apex of the thorax, which are raised and 



depressed alternately. Common on various plants in woods in the 



months of May and June. 



Genus 28. Elater. 



Antenna filiform : palpi four, securiform : mandibles notched, or bifid at 



their extremities. 



Many of the coleopterous insects have a great difficulty in restoring 

 themselves when laid on their back ; the apparatus with which the in- 

 sects of this genus are provided for that purpose is singular and curi- 

 ous. An elastic spring or spine projects from the hinder extremity of 

 the breast, and there is a groove or cavity in the anterior part of the ab-< 



