26o 



COLEOPTERA 



Schiodte. Leconte and Horn also adopt this view, except that 

 they treat Throscides as a distinct faniily. By most authors 

 Eucneniides, Throscides, and Cebrionides are all considered dis- 

 tinct families, hut at present it is almost impossible to separate 

 them on satisfactory lines. The following taljle from Leconte 

 and Horn exhibits the characters of the divisions so far as the 

 imago is concerned : — 



Posterior coxae laminate ; trochaiiterr; small. 



Labriuu concealed ; antennae somewhat distant from the eyes, their 



insertion narrowing the front . . . Eucnemides. 



Lalwum visible, free; antennae arising neai- tlie t-yes under tlie frontal 



margin ...... Elate rides. 



Labrum transverse, coimate with the front. 



Ventral .segments six ; claws simple ; tiliial sjnirs \\ ell develoi>ed. 



Cebrionides. 

 Ventral segments five ; claws serrate ; tibial sj)urs moderate. 



Perothopides. 



Posterior coxae not laminate ; trochanters of middle and ])osterior legs very 



Ion" . . . . . . . Cerophytides. 



Throscides are considered to be distinguished l)y the 

 mesosternum being impressed on each side 

 in front for the accommodation of the 

 ^^^ Cy posterior face of the front coxae. Tlie 



genus 2'hroscus has the antennae clavate. 

 I The classification of the Elaterides and 



these forms is a matter of the greatest 

 -J difficulty, and, if the larvae are also 

 considered, becomes even more complex. 

 Cebrionid larvae are different from 

 "^ ' those of any of the other divisions, and 

 possess laminate, not calliper-like, man- 

 dibles. The larvae of Eucnemides (Fig. 

 g 135) are very little known, l»ut are 

 "^ D liighly remarkable, inasmuch as it is 



^\]S-lt:i '''a'^^: ':^'J difficult to find any mouth-opening 



side ; B, under side : a .s, ill SOlllC of tlieiU, and they liaVC 110 legS. 

 position of spiracles ; C, rpi -i t • • r 



head more enlarged; D, -»- he other divisions iwssess veij few spccies 

 iiuder side of terminal seg- compared with Elaterides. Ill Britain 



lueut ; a, anus. , i i. • - • <? -r-i . 



we have about sixty species ot Elate- 

 rides, four of Throscides and three of Eucnemides ; Cerophytum 

 was probably a native many years ago. Neither Perothopides 



