296 



MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



Fig. 34. 



Cantharis, it would be more convenient to name Meloidae), is an 

 extensive group, having for its type the common Cantharis of the 

 Pharmacopoeia (Cantharis vesicatoria, fig. 34-. 10.), and Is distinguished 

 by the head being dilated behind the eyes, and then suddenly nar- 

 rowed into a short neck ; and by the claws of the tarsi, which are 

 bifid, or rather are respectively furnished with an additional slender 

 and curved claw (^fig. 34. 18.). The mandibles terminate in a simple 

 point ; the palpi are filiform, or but slightly thickened at the tips ; the 

 abdomen is soft, and the elytra flexible, and deflexed at the sides ; the 

 thorax is narrowed behind, and of a cordate, truncate, or suborbicular 

 form. The joints of the tarsi ai'e not dilated, nor is the penultimate 

 joint bilobed. 



Audouin. Anat. des Cantharides. Ann. des Sc. Nat. v. ix. p. 31. 



Fischer, J. B. Tentamen conspectus Cantliaridarum. 4to. Munich, 1827. — Ditto, 



in Entomol. Russ. vol. ii. 

 Meyer. Tentamen Monogr. Meloes. Getting. 1793. 8vo. 



Leach. Monograph of Meloe in Trans. Linn. Soc. vol. xi. 1SI8, i>arts i. and ii. 

 Brandt and Erichson. Monogr. Gen. Meloes, Nova Act. Acad. Nat. Curios, vol. 



xvi. pi. 1. 

 Brandt and Ratzeburg. Darstell.und Beschreib. der Thiere, &c. Berlin, 1830. 

 LoscJuje, in der Naturforscher. 23 Stuck. (Cantharis.) 

 Tauscher. Mem. Soc. Imp. Nat. Moscow, torn. lii. (Canthai'ides Rossiae. ) 

 Klug and Ehrenberg. Symbolae Physica;. 

 JToppe. Enum. Ins. Erlang. 

 Guerin. Mag. Zool. 

 Audouin, in ditto, pi. 169. 

 Kirhy. Century in Linn. Trans, vol. xii. 

 Zier. Sur le D^veloppemcnt de la Cantharide, in Brande's Archiv. des Apothek, 



t. xxix. p. 209. 1829. 

 And the general works of Fabrichts, Olivier, Say, Herbst, &c. 



