108 THE ORDER OF OOLEOPTERA. 



neutly carnivorous. We have two common species of the genus : the 

 G. pensylvanicus^ DeGeer, (Fig. 49,) with a large oval black spot near 



the end of each elytron; and the G. 

 marginatusj Fab., with a broad black 

 stripe through the middle of the ely- 

 tron. Telephorus, Schreffer, contains 

 many species, varying Irom less than 

 a quarter to more than half of an inch 

 ciiAULioGNATHus i-ENsvLVANicus, DeGeer :- 1^^ length. They^are black, with the 



t^^^^^ti::^^^ iiV dish-yellow. SiUs, Megerle, contains a 

 few small species, less than a quarter of an inch in length, and colored 

 like Telephorus, from which they differ in having the head inserted in 

 the thorax, which is two or three times as wide as it is long, and with 

 a notch on the side and near the posterior angle, usually most conspicu- 

 ous in the males. 



Family XL. MELYRID^. 



This is a family of small extent, and is composed mostly of small or 

 very small species. They bear a general resemblance to the preceding 

 family, but are usually smaller and differ in the palpi not being widened 

 at the tip, and in the fourth joint of the tarsi not being bilobed, in both 

 of which characters they diifer from the great majority of the soft- 

 winged beetles. The species of the genus Malachius have the singular 

 l)ower of protruding from the sides of their bodies a number of soft 

 orange-colored vesicles, the use of which is a matter of conjecture. 

 They are supposed to be instrumental in deterring their enemies. The 

 larvae are carnivorous, like those of the other Malacodermes ; but the 

 perfect insects are generally found upon flowers, and are supposed to 

 feed upon their more tender parts. 



The two leading genera in our fauna are Malachius — which has been 

 divided into a nujuber of sub-genera, all of which possess the extensile 

 vesicles — and Dasytes, in which the vesicles are wanting. 



Family XLI. CLERID^. 



In this family the labial palpi terminate in a large hatchet-shaped 

 joint, and the fourth joint of the tarsi is bilobed ; but the body is tole- 

 rably firm, and the antenna^ depart from the common serrate character 

 in being more or less widened towards the tip ; but the enlargement 

 differs ftx)m the genuine clavate, in being more or less flattened, and 

 sometimes strongly serrate. They also differ from the Malacoderms 

 proper in having usually but five segments in the abdomen, Avhereas 

 the latter have seven. The Cleridic are usually rather below the me- 



