COLEOPTERA PYROCHROID.'E. 287 



shaped joint {fig- 32. 4.) ; the thorax is narrowed behind, occasionally 

 nodose, and not so broad as the elytra ; the eyes are entire or 

 but slightly notched. The majority of these insects are found upon 

 the ground and at the roots of grass, in sandy situations ; some 

 evidently prefer the neighbourhood of decaying vegetable matter ; and 

 some are found on flowers. They are very active in their motions, 

 and fly with agility. 



Latreille considers their larvae to be parasites, and M. Solier 

 has observed that Anthicus instabilis is occasionally troublesome 

 during the evening, creeping under his clothes, and causing con- 

 siderable irritation with its claws, and also, as he considered with its 

 jaws, as he observed a small wound. Hence he imagined that this 

 species might be carnivorous in its habits. 



In the genus Notoxus, as now restricted, the front of the thorax is 

 produced into a long horn extending over the head, which peculiarity 

 is not confined, as in the Lamellicorn beetles, to the male sex alone. 

 Latreille adds the genus Scraptia to this family, which seems more 

 nearly related to the Melandryidae ; and Stephens inserts Xylophilus, 

 &c., which I had at first regarded as belonging to this flimily, but 

 which the dissections of Mr. Curtis have proved to possess a greater 

 affinity with Nothus, &c. 



The second family, Pyrociiroid.'e* LeacJi, is allied to theLagriidse 

 in the form of the tarsi and narrowness of the front part of the body, 

 which, however, is flattened, with the neck distinct, and the thorax 

 suborbicular {fig. 32. 7. Pyrochroa rubens) ; the antennae of the males 

 are generally more or less pectinated or serrated ; the mandibles are 

 acutely bifid at the tips {fig. 32. 8.) ; the maxillary palpi are also 

 somewhat serrated, with the last joint subsecuriform {fig. 32. 9.) ; 

 and the labial palpi filiform and 3-jointed, {fig. 32. lo.) ; the abdomen 

 is moderately long, and covered by the elytra, much broader than the 

 thorax, and rounded at the tip. 



* BiBLioGR. References to the Pyrochroid^. 



Fischer. Act. Soc. Nat. Mosc. vol. iii. and Ent. Russ.-Pogonocerus (Dendroides.) 

 Guirin. Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. No. 6. (Pscudolycus.) 

 Newman. Ent. Mag. No. 24. 



