COLEOPTEEA. 127 



their size and prodigious strength, — hence such names 

 as Goliath, Hercules, Sampson, &c., are pretty freely 

 conferred upon them. 



We now arrive at the second great section of the 

 Coleoptera — namely, the Heteromerans— distinguished 

 by having five joints on the tarsi of each of the two 

 front pairs of legs, but only four on the two hind 

 ones. They are all, without exception, vegetable 

 feeders ; and it may be said that every plant has 

 appropriate inhabitants selected from then' numerous 

 hosts. 



First of this extensive series we must notice the 

 Melasomes,* remarkable as a gi'oup from the cir- 

 cumstance of their bodies being almost invariably 

 black, and thus adapted to the nocturnal habits of 

 the generality of the species. Many of them are 

 wingless. Others, provided with wings, are fre- 

 quently met with, especially towards night, in un- 

 frequented parts of our houses ; they abound in 

 bakers' shops, corn-mills, and wdierever farinaceous 

 food is obtainable ; they are likewise frequently to be 

 met with in old w^alls, and in other out of the way 

 situations. As a sample of the group we may men- 

 tion 



The Meal Grinders (Tenehrio moUtor), whose larvte, 

 under the name of meal-worms, are found abundantly in 

 bran and flour, which they devour in great quantities, and 

 wherein they undergo theii' metamorphosis. These gi'ubs 

 being easily obtainable, are given as food to nightingales 

 and other small birds. 



A second numerous family is that of the Taxi- 

 comes, t so called from the regularly beaded struc- 

 ture of their antennse. These are generally found 

 upon decaying fungi, such as grow upon old trees, or 

 else they lurk beneath the bark, while others live 

 upon the ground or under stones. 



The Stenelytra| form the next division. Many 



* jxeXas, melas, blade ; aoofxct. soma, hod]), 



t Tci|ts, taxis, regularity ; cornu, a horn, or antennas. 



I (jT^vos, stuiios. narrow • %\vtoov, elution, iving-cover. 



