COLEOPTERA. MELYRIDiE. 



259 



Figz 28. 



oblong, or ovate, and but sligbtly convex {jig. 28. 4. Malachius a^neus) ; 

 the palpi are short, fiHform, and pointed at the tip ; the upper lip is 

 distinct and exserted {fig. 28. 5. front of the headj^r^. 6. the mandible 

 seen laterally, ^<7. 7. the maxillae, and ^<7. 8. the labium of Malach. 

 aeneus) ; the head exposed ; the thorax slightly convex ; the antennaj 

 moderately long, serrated, nodose, or pectinated in the males of some 

 of the species {fig. 27. lO. antenna $ , ll. ditto ?, Mai. aeneus ; 

 fig. 27. 12. extremity of tarsus of ditto.) These insects are generally 

 of small size, and very active, being ordinarily found upon flowers for 

 the sake of the insects which they find there and upon which they 

 feed, the females not even sparing their partners if confined together. 

 They are gaily coloured, green and red being their most conspicuous 

 tints. 



Some of the species of the British genus Malachius have the an- 

 terior angles of the thorax and the base of the abdomen (as in 

 fig. 28. 4.) furnished with several red bladder-like appendages 

 {fig. 28. 9.), which the insect is able to contract or dilate at will, the 

 precise use of which is not known. Mr. Curtis thinks they may 

 enable the insect to increase or decrease its gravity during flight ; but 

 Messrs. Kirby and Spence regard them as being employed for the 

 purpose of alarming their enemies and showing their rage, as they are 

 retracted as soon as the cause of alarm is removed. I should rather 

 consider them as a portion of an apparatus for emitting an offensive 

 effluvium for the like purpose. 



Gutrin. Voyage Duperrey. — Ditto, Iconogr. Regno Animal. — Ditto, Voyage 



de la Coquille. 

 Bull. Soc. Nat. Moscow, vol. vi. 

 Fahricius, Olivier, GyllenhaU, Stephens, §'c. 



s 2 



