156 



MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



Fig. 14. 



darius) is characterised by the partially contractile power of the legs, 

 the tarsi not being folded upon the tibiae when at rest, the latter being 

 long and narrow. The labrum is very short, with a membranous tip 

 (fig. 14. 2.) ; the jaws are short, thick, and toothed at the tip, and con- 

 cealed beneath the labrum {fig. 14. 3. •,fig. 14. 4. maxilla, 14. 5. labium 

 of Dermestes) ; the antennae are short, clavate at the tip, and not el- 

 bowed {f^g- 14. G.) The body is ovoid or oblong, thick, rounded at 

 each end, and clothed with pile, scales or hairs, which 'give it a variety 

 of tints ; the head is short, and deeply immersed in the cavity of the 

 thorax, which is trapezoid, and broadest behind. The tarsi are 

 5-jointed {fig. 14. 7. anterior, 14. 8. posterior tarsus). M. Brulle 

 has very recently noticed the existence of a single minute tubercle 

 upon the forehead of some of these insects, which has all the ap- 

 pearance of an ocellus. Mr. Curtis had, however, discovered its ex- 

 istence in the genera Megatoma and Attagenus in 1829 {fig- 14. 19. 

 head of Tiresias serra ; o, the ocellus). The perfect insects are of 

 small size and obscure colours. 



The name of the family is derived from Izpjxa, a skin ; and is given to 

 these insects in allusion to the ravages which their larvae commit in dried 

 skins, furs, (ic. The perfect insects are found in the same situations as 

 their larvae, but they appear only to be destined to continue their spe- 

 cies ; they are very timid : their movements are slow and very irregular, 

 and are suspended on the slightest danger, the insects admirably coun- 

 terfeiting death. Some species are found upon old palings, under the 

 bark of trees, kc. ; and Megatoma undatum, which is met with in the 

 last-mentioned situations, is said by Mr. Curtis, on the authority of Mr. 

 Robinson, to eat holes in, and apparently to feed upon, the chrysalides 

 of Noctuae. The ravages of these insects are chiefly directed towards 

 the skins and carcasses of animals of all kinds ; thus the Dermestes 



