234- MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



phytum, to the typical species of which, injustice to Latreille, I have 

 restored the name given by him. This insect has been once found in 

 the neighbourhood of Bristol, and is in the collection at the British 

 Museum. According to M. Chevrolat, from whom I have received 

 the insect, it is enabled to make a slight leap, thus approaching the 

 Elateridse. 



The curious little genus Throscus has much perplexed systematists, 

 having been alternately placed in the Elateridse, Byrrhidse, or Der- 

 mestidEB : in its small size and perfoliate antennae (^jig. 24. 23.) it cer- 

 tainly disagrees with the Elateridse, whilst its elliptic form and clavate 

 palpi equally remove it from the Byrrhidae, and the structure of its 

 mouth and sternum from the Dermestidae. Of these characters, the 

 least important as family characteristics, are those which distinguish 

 it from the Elateridae, wherefore it seems more correct to place it 

 in the situation here assigned to it ; it appears, however, to me to 

 form the connecting link between the Elateridae and Byrrhidae, in 

 which latter family the presternum is also prominent. Gyllenhal 

 states that the typical species inhabits oaks, and Mr. Stephens says 

 that he has found it plentifully on old oak wainscotting. I have, how- 

 ever, always found it (and somewhat abundantly) in sandpits, like the 

 Byrrhidae, although the second species, Thr. obtusus mihi, was beaten 

 by me out of an oak-tree, in which, according to Hellwig (quoted by 

 Gyllenhal) the larva of the former also resides. Gyllenhal adds 

 " Tactus antennas pedesque arete retrahit sed dorso impositus saltare 

 potest uti Elateres." I have never, however, observed it to possess 

 such a saltatorial power. 



The exotic genus Chelonarium, whose situation has also equally 

 perplexed systematists, is introduced into this subfamily by Latreille ; 

 the body is suborbicular, the second, third, and fourth joints of the 

 antennae long, and the remainder very short and slender ; according 

 to M. Lacordaire, they are found upon the leaves and flowers of 

 various plants, from which they drop on the approach of danger. The 

 species of this genus are chiefly found in South America, but Dr. 

 Horsfield brought one from Java. In the genus Cryptostoma 

 (Elater denticornis Fab. from Cayenne) ; the third joint of the an- 

 tennae is elongated into a linear branch. 



