MALACIIHDAE. 213 



tion of his family Malacodernies, it appears to us fully capable of 

 taking rank as distinct. The different position of the antenna;, 

 and the presence of the separate piece between the labrum and 

 the front, distinguish it from the Lampyridaj, as herein defined. 



Jt is, moreover, remarkable for exhibiting certain charactei's 

 not seen in the neighboring families; thus in one tribe the body 

 is furnished with soft extensible v,esicles, and the ventral segments 

 of the abdomen are frequently in part membranous; in the second, 

 the apparent ventral segments are sometimes but five in number; 

 the occurrence of membranous appendages between the claws of 

 the tarsi is almost universal ; and the fourth joint of the tarsi is 

 bilobed, only by a very rare exception. 



The affinities of the family appear to conduct directly from the 

 Lampyridie to the Clerida;, with a strong tendency to inosculate, 

 through Byturus, with the Dermestidae. We have already ob- 

 served in the Byrrhidae and Parnidae on the one side, and the 

 Dascyllidae on the other, similar affinities between the Serricorn 

 and Clavicorii series. 



We would consider our genera as indicating three tribes: — 



Body witii extensible vesicles. Malachiini. 

 Body without vesicles ; 



Eyes finely granulated ; Dasytini. 



Eyes coarsely granulated. Rhadalini. 



Tribe I.— IWrALACHIINI. 



Body with lateral vesicles capable of distension ; the anterior 

 pair proceeding from a fissure beneath the anterior angles of the 

 prothorax: head short; mandibles toothed at the extremity; eyes 

 entire, finely granulated; palpi moderate, in our genera slender; 

 last joint of the tarsi with two membranous appendages beneath 

 the claws; ventral segments six, always distinct. 



Tlie species of this tribe are small insects found on flowers, and 

 on the ground near water; many of them are of pleasing colors, 

 but all are of small size. The form is varied, some resembling at 

 first view certain Staphylinidte 



Our genera are numerous, and may be tabulated thus : — 

 Antennae apparently lO-jointed. CoUopa. 



Antennae distinctly 11-jointed ; 



Anterior tarsi % 4-jointed ; 



Head short, fir.'st joint of antenna? % with recurrent process. 



Temnopsophus 



