298 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



gave to the blister-fly the generic name of Lytta ; Latreille cleared 

 up the difficulty, by giving to the Linnsean Cantharides the name of 

 Telephorus, and restoring the name of Cantharis to the blister-fly. 

 The German entomologists, however, still adopt the Fabrician names; 

 and the consequence is, that the Cantharis of their systems, and that 

 of the Pharmacopceia, are totally distinct. Other genera have been 

 subsequently separated, and which, from the anatomical researches of 

 M. L. Dufour, and the interesting observations of Dr. Bretonneau 

 upon the vesicatorial powers of these and other insects, Latreille 

 considers that a natural classification of the genera may be effected 

 by placing the genus Sitaris at one end of the series, from its not 

 possessing this property, and yet being in other respects closely allied to 

 Zonitis, which is nearly allied to Cantharis, and by thus continuing the 

 series throughout, by a comparative examination of other characters, 

 and especially those of the antennae. 



Of the genera, Sitaris appears to be most closely allied to Ripiphorus ; 

 indeed, in respect to their habits and general structure, it would per- 

 haps be more natural to place them in the same family, in which case 

 Ctenopus, and perhaps Horia, might accompany them. (Mr. Stephens 

 places the genus Sitaris in the family ffidemeridEe.) It is at once distin- 

 guished by its narrow and attenuated elytra, and by the distended abdo- 

 men of the females (^fig. 34. l. ; 34. 2. maxillary palpus ; 34. 3. anterior 

 tarsus). This species is found in the larva state, in the nests of certain 

 solitary mason bees, particularly those composing the genera Osmia and 

 Anthophora ; but it is not yet recorded whether they prey upon the 

 larvfe of these insects, or merely devour the food laid up for the 

 support of the latter. Mr. Curtis states that the Sitaris humeralis 

 (which is the only British species) is found by M. Foudras of Lyons 

 in the nests of Anthophora hirsuta and A. acervorum, neither of 

 which are inhabitants of this country. Some years ago many specimens 

 were found at the foot of a wall in a small yard at Chelsea, by 

 the Rev. A. Badger, at the beginning of September, creeping very 

 sluggishly about ; one was found crawling up a water-butt placed 

 against the wall ; and as the Anthophora retusa is the only species 

 found in the neighbourhood, it is most likely that the Sitaris had 

 been reared in the nests of this insect, which, however, makes 

 its appearance in the winged state at the beginning of the spring. 

 M. Audouin has also observed the habits of this insect, of which the 

 larvfe resemble, in several respects, those of Lytta and Meloe (Ann. 



