48 COLEOPTEKA. 



The foreign Lampyrince much resemble the European species, 

 though some far surpass tliem in size : they are usually of a black 

 or yellow colour. Lticermda Savignyi, Kirb., is a large Brazilian 

 species. 



Sub-Family III. — Telepliorince. 



Body flattened ; head not contracted behind, nor covered by the 

 thorax; eyes rather large ; antennae separated at the base ; segments 

 of the abdomen seldom or never phosphorescent. 



The genus Telephonis, SchafF., and its allies include the long and 

 narrow beetles, generally of a black or yellow colour, and with soft 

 elytra, which are common on leaves and flowers in summer, and 

 feed voraciously on other insects. As an example we may men- 

 tion T. Abdominalis, Fabr., Avhich is black in the male, with bluish 

 elytra, and the mouth and abdomen reddish yellow, while the 

 female has the front of the head, the collar, prothorax, and front 

 femora also of a reddish-yellow colour. One of the commonest 

 species is T. Livida, Linn., which is reddish yellow, with ochre- 

 yellow elytra, and the eyes and pectus black. This is of the same 

 size as the last species ; but others, as Malthinus Biguttatus, Linn., 

 are smaller and more slender, with longer antennse. The species 

 referred to is pitchy black, with the base of the antennse, the front 

 femora, and the tips of the elytra yellow ; it is about an eighth of 

 an inch in length. 



Sub-Fajiily IV. — Drilmce. 



Antennse dentated or flabellated, inserted in front of the eyes ; 

 female apterous ; habits carnivorous. 



The commonest species of this small family is Drilus Flavescens, 

 Linn., which much resembles a glow-worm, but is only half the 

 size, and not luminous. The male is black, with yellowish elytra. 

 The larva feeds on snails, and forms its pupa in the shells. 



Sub-Family V. — Malachiince. 



Antennse eleven-jointed (occasionally ten-jointed), filiform, 

 serrated, or pectinated ; palpi short, filiform ; body long and narrow, 

 head only overlapped by the prothorax at the base. 



The species of this family are found on flowers in the day-time. 

 They are not so rapacious as the Tch'plturklce, for although they 

 feed on small insects, yet they also feed on plants. Several of 

 the European species are of a black colour, often with a red or 



