266 COLEOPTERA 



protliorax lieing narrow behind. This is a small family of about 

 100 species, found in temperate regions in connection with 

 tini1)er. The species of Bhinosimvs have the head prolonged in 

 front of the antennae so as to form a beak. The larva of Fyfho 

 depressus is tlat and has parallel sides ; tlie l)ody is terminated l)y 

 two widely -separated sharp processes. It is found occasionally 

 under the bai'k of firs in Scotland. 



Fam. 71. Pyrochroidae. — -Differs from Melandryidae liy tlie 

 head forming a very narrow neck behind^ and Ijy the penultimate 

 tarsal joints being broad. They are fee])le Insects, though active 

 on the wing. They are destitute of any of the various remark- 

 ;d;)le structures found in Mordellidae. Only al)Out forty species 

 are known, and the family is confined to tlie north temperate 

 region, being liest represented in Japan. Pi/rochroa rvhens is 

 common in some parts of England ; the larva is found under 

 the Ijark of tree-stumps ; it is remarkalily fiat, and has the eighth 

 abdominal segment unusually long, wliile the lunth terminates 

 the body in the form of two long sha,rp processes. 



Fam. 72. Anthicidae. — Head vith an ahrvj}t narrow nccl' ; 

 j^rotliora.r narroirrr than the elytra. Middle and. h ind coxae 2ylca'ed 

 in. dejimte aeetcdnda. Clavs simple. These little Insects are 

 numerous in species ; they have little resemblance to I'yrochroidae, 

 though the characters of the two families cause us to place 

 them in proximity. There are about 1000 species known; 

 though we have only about 12 in Britain, they are very 

 numerous in the Mediterranean region. Tlie fandly Pedilidae 

 of Lacorclaire and some others is now merged in Anthicidae. 

 Thomson and Champion, on the other hand, separate some very 

 minute Insects to form the family Xylophilidae, on account of 

 certain differences in tlie form of the abdomen and tarsi. The 

 Xylophilidae live in dead wood ; the Anthicidae, on the surface of 

 the earth, after the manner of ground-beetles ; very little is, 

 howe\'ev, known ;is to their natural history. 



Fam. 73. Oedemeridae. — Frothorax not forming skarji edges 

 at the sides, head v:ithoiit a narrow necl-. Penultimate tarsal 

 joint hro(al ; elaws smooth. These Insects usually have a feeble 

 integument, and bear a certain reseinl)lance to Malacodermidae. 

 Less than 500 species are known, but they are widely distri- 

 buted, and occur in both temperate and tropical regions. The 

 larvae live in old wood. Nacerdes melanura is common on our 



