258 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



In the Transactions American Philosoph. Soc. (New Series, vol. iii.) 

 is contained an interesting Memoir by Mr. Hentz upon the use of 

 the maxillffi in the Coleoptera*, and which comprises some intei'esting 

 details upon two North American species of this family (Canth. mar- 

 ginata and 2-maculata Fab.), forming the genus Chauliognathus Hentz, 

 from the peculiar structure of the maxillfe {Jig- 28. 2. head, and 28. 3. 

 maxilla of Ch. marginatus), the extremities of which are capable of 

 being protruded in the form of elongated, fleshy^ and pilose setae, 

 those found in the latter species being described as twice the entire 

 length of the maxillae : the abdomen in these species is longer than 

 the elytra ; and the former species at least has a pair of vesicles at- 

 tached to the second abdorhinal segment, as in Malachius. Neither of 

 tlrese species are predaceous, but are found upon flowers. The former 

 lives long, and, when about to die, generally grasps the petal of a 

 flower with its mandibles, in which position it may often be found 

 dead and dry ; the latter species appears later in the year, remaining 

 until the first frost destroys the blossoms of thistles upon which it 

 feeds, where Mr. Hentz had an opportunity of seeing it protrude its 

 maxillary setae in the same manner as the tongue of the Lepidop- 

 tera. I have received specimens of the former species from Dr. T. W. 

 Harris of Cambridge (Massachusetts), in which the maxillary lobes 

 are exserted to twice the length of the head, having been displayed 

 by Mr. Hentz himself. 



The fifth family Melyrid.'e* is composed of insects belonging to 

 the Linngean genera Cantharis and Dermestes, having the body soft, 



* Mr. Hentz regards the maxilla merely as appendages of the tongue or labium, 

 except in the MelolonthidEB and some other groups, in which their organisation evi- 

 dently indicates some other use. 



* BlBHOGR. Refer, to the MELYRIDiE. 



Fallen. (See Telephoridae. ) 



Nov. Act. Soc. Sc. Upsal, vol. viii. and ix. 



Mem. Acad. Sc. Stockh. 1799. 



Gerniar. Insect. Sp. Nov. 



Perty. Del. An. Art. Brasil. — Ditto, Coleopt. Ind. Orient. (Thesis, 1831.) 



Brullt. Exped. Scient. de Morce. 



Boisduval. Voyage de 1' Astrolabe, 



