﻿220 BRITISH BEETLES. 



the only species we possess that can be cousidercd as at all 

 variegated in markings ; the latter (in which the elytra 

 always gape somewhat) has much the fades of certain of 

 the Halticidm, and lives gregariously on the dwarf furze. 



Finally, Lyperus, elongate, feebly-built, with very 

 large granulated eyes, and exceedingly long and fragile 

 antennae (especially in the male; whose body, also, is 

 longer), of which the second joint is minute, occurs 

 plentifully on alders, and other marsh-loving trees. 



The Halticidjs are at once distinguished from the 

 other families by their thickened hinder femora, which 

 are formed for jumping; an exercise in which they freely 

 indulge, often to the disgust of the collector, who gets 

 his net half full of some desired species (for they are 

 usually gregarious), and perhaps succeeds in bottling 

 only a dozen, owing to the extreme activity and long 

 leaps of his temporary captives. 



Their antennse are inserted between the eyes, and, in 

 the majority, close together; their elytra have the 

 margin sinuated, aud their front coxffi arc almost trans- 

 verse, and not approximated. 



We possess more than a hundred species of this family, 

 descriptions of which (with many others) will be found 

 in the 'Essai Monographique sur les Galerucites Ani- 

 sopodes (Altises) d'Europe,' by AI. AUard, Paris, 1861 

 (extracted from the Annals of the French Ent. Society). 



They are all small, mostly metallic, strongly punc- 

 tured, and often gaily coloured; varying from a very 

 convex and globular to an elongate form, but preserving 

 throughout a certain likeness. They frequent all kinds 

 of plants, but one species is generally attached to its 

 particular favourite; Thistles, Hazel, Mallow, Willow, 

 Mercurialis, Salicaria, Euphorbia^ Rubus, Nasturtium, 



