306 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



and broader than the other segments, which are gradually narrowed 

 to the extremity : it indeed bears some resemblance to the larvae of 

 the Longicornes, but in the size of the head and legs it is suffi- 

 ciently different ; the head (Jiff. 35.9.) is transverse, with the jaws 

 horny, reddish coloured, and advanced, forming a triangle in front 

 when shut ; the antennas and palpi are slender {Jiff. 35. lo. represents 

 the maxilla) and labium) ; the legs are short, scarcely extending 

 beyond the sides of the body. The five anterior segments are fur- 

 nished on the upper side with a double series of small oval plates 

 (Jiff- 35.12.). The fifth and two following segments are also severally 

 furnished on the under side with a pair of small fleshy prolegs or 

 tubercles (Jiff. 35. il.) ; the sides of each segment are also furnished 

 with a fleshy contraction ; and the terminal segment is entire above, 

 but with an apparent tubercle on the under side. 



These insects appear to be allied to the Telephori on the one hand, 

 and to Zonitis on the other. They are also in some respects related to 

 the Melandryidae, with which they agree in having the antennce exposed 

 at the base, and in the form of the mandibles and maxillary palpi. 



Latreille considers that it might not be unnatural to place the 

 Horiidae, which have the posterior femora clavate, immediately after 

 Zonitis and Sitaris (at one end of the Cantharidae), and to pass from 

 thence to the CEdemeridae and Mordellidae, from which by Scraptia the 

 passage to the Notoxidae might be effected. I have partially adopted 

 these views; the affinity of Scraptia, however, appears rather to be 

 towards the Serropalpi. 



The remarkable and very rare genus Nothus has much perplexed 

 entomologists as to the distinctions of the sexes as well as of the 

 species. Mr. Curtis has figured a small insect of this genus with 

 simple posterior legs, which he is inclined to regard as a variety of 

 the male, which can scarcely be correct. In the British Museum col- 

 lection is an English female specimen of this genus, overlooked both 

 by this author and Mr. Stephens, resembling Mr. Curtis's right hand 

 figure, but having a fulvous thorax with two red spots. 



The ninth family Melandryid^ * Leach (or the Securipalpi or 

 Serropalpi of Latreille) are especially distinguished by the large size 



* BiBLioGR. Refer, to the Melanuryid^. 

 Bosc. Observ. sur le Serropalpus, Act. Soc. Hist. Nat. Paris, torn. i. 

 Mhen, in Schneider's Mag. vol. ii. 



