72 COLEOPTERA. 



cially towards tlie tip, and moniliform : thorax narrower than the 

 base of the elytra ; first segment of the abdomen rather larger 

 than the others ; body long, oval. 



The Criocerince resemble the DonacUnce in shape, but they are 

 not aquatic; their integuments are harder, and they are more 

 varied in their colouring. 



The type of the sub-family is perhaps Crioceris Asparagi, Linn., 

 a bluish-green beetle, with a red thorax, and red edges to the 

 elytra, which are also spotted with yellow. It measures nearly 

 a quarter of an inch in length, and is common in gardens on 

 asparagus. 



One of the largest genera of the Criocerince is Lema, Fabr., 

 which has representatives in all parts of the world, but appears 

 to be most numerous in South America. The European species 

 are of a shining blue, green, blackish-green, or red, and measure 

 nearly a quarter of an inch in length. 



Sub-Family IV. — Megalopodince. 



Mandibles pointed ; antennae more or less thickened from the 

 base to the tip ; dentated or pectinated ; head depressed ; front 

 and middle coxae contiguous ; last segment of the abdomen larger 

 than any of the rest. 



All the species of this sub-family are exotic, and a large pro- 

 portion inhabit tropical America, although a few may be met with 

 in Africa and the East Indies. They are moderate-sized insects, 

 which live on plants and shrubs ; their flight is rather heavy, and 

 they avoid the heat of the day. Like many other beetles, they 

 are said to produce a sharp sound, and also to emit a yellow fluid 

 when touched. 



Family TI. — Cryptocephalidce. 



Head buried in the thorax as far as the eyes ; antennae wide 

 apart ; mandibles pointed. 



Sub-Family I. — Clythrince. 



Body rather long ; antennae pectinated ; thorax as wide as the 

 elytra at the base ; legs short. 



Clythra Quadrimaadata, Linn., may serve to represent the 

 typical genus of this family. It is about one-third of an inch in 

 length, and is black, with yellow elytra, each of which is marked 

 with a black spot on the shoulder, and a larger one, often divided 



