SAW HORNED WOOD-BEETLES. 



99 



E E. Anterior margin of the front slislitly elevated, foruiint; a transverse ridge which 

 separates the front from the upper lip. Size sometimes luri^e, bat usually uiodium or 

 small. 

 F. Prosternal sutures single and convex on the outer .side ; tarsi slender ; size small : 



CUYl-rOIIYl'MS, 31. 



r F. Prosternal sutures double and straight, or concave on the outward side. 



G. Tarsi simple Elatkk, 51. 



G G. Fourth tarsal joint bilobcd Moxoc kki-ii >i i"8, 15. 



G G G. Second and third Joints lobed DiCKEi'iDics, P. 



C C. Hind coxal plates gradually and but slightly dilated inwardly and often without a sharp 

 posterior angle ; claws sometimes pectinate. 



H. Front convex ; mouth inferior Agriotks, 12. 



H H. Front flattened, and with an elevated margin ; mouth anterior. 



I. Claws pectinate Melaxotu.s, 47. 



I I. Claws simple. 



K. Eyes prominent ; 1st joint of hind tarsi as long as the 2d and 3d united : 



Athous, 25. 



K K. Eyes small ; 1st joint of hind t.arsi less elongated LiMoxit'S, 39. 



H S H. Front flattened, without elevated margin ; mouth anterior. 



L. Size large ; color shining black Mei.anactes, 8. 



L L. Size moderate ; colors various Couymbetes, 93. 



The Elaterides proper constitute an extensive series of comparativ^ely 

 homogeneous insects, the great majority of which are of a uniformly 



brown color, and varying in 

 length between one-quarter 

 and three qnarters of an inch; 

 though there are a few large 

 or very large species. The de- 

 termination of the genera and 

 species of this family requires, 

 therefore, an amount of study 

 and an aptness for observa- 

 tions of this kind, which can 

 scarcely be exi)ected from 

 any but professed entomolo- 

 gists. We M ill only refer to 

 ;i few species which are re- 

 markable for their size, or 

 lor their exceptionally varied 

 coloring. 



Our largest and most strik- 

 iiig species is the well known 

 I'Jlater (Alaus) occnhdus, of 

 Linnaius. It is usually nearly 

 an inch and a-lialf in length, 



Mbi.axactes ricKt's, DeG.— a, snpiMisid larva, as sc. II by ^ • ^^ ■ t ^ 4. 



day ; t, same as seen by night ; c, beetle ; d. enlarged head thOUgll UUllVKlUalS are HOt 

 and parts; e, enlarged leg of same— after liiley. „ ^, 



^ unfrequently seen 



if 



which 



scarcely exceed an inch. Its gray color is produced by a dense sprink- 

 ling of small whitish spots and lines upon a black ground. These spots 

 are composed of minute whitish scale-like hairs. But its most couspic- 



