Malacodermata. | SERRICORNIA. 65 
antenne largely flabellate or simple, the trochanters applied obliquely 
to the femora, the claws often bifid, and the abdominal segments often 
cut in various ways in the male; the intermediate coxe are subcon- 
tiguous, and the female is sometimes apterous. 
Telephoride. Antenne inserted between the eyes which are 
entire, at most only faintly serrate, usually quite simple, long or very 
long; trochanters applied to femora; edge of thorax often plicate 
(e.g. Szlis) ; abdomen ‘very soft, composed of six or seven segments, 
which are often divided or excised ; elytra not, or obsoletely, striate ; 
prosternum very short ; legs long, claws simple or bifid. 
Melyridz. Antenne serrate or pectinate, very rarely moniliform, 
inserted in front of the eyes on the produced part of the head ; labrum 
distinct ; prosternum short ; body occasionally with extensile vesicles ; 
abdomen composed of six free ventral segments, the sixth being occa- 
sionally indistinct ; surface often very hairy and brilliantly coloured ; tarsi 
5-jointed, with the fourth joint entire, often furnished beneath with 
membranous pads or lobes ; posterior coxee prominent internally. 
Cleride. Antenne usually serrate, often pectinate (Z%llus), but 
with the terminal three joints almost always tending to form a club 
(Corynetes and Necrobia being the ultimate forms), inserted behind the 
base of the mandibles ; body hairy, and tarsi with lobes beneath (points 
which ally the family to the Melyridz) ; thorax subcylindrical, with the 
sides not margined; abdomen composed of six ventral segments ; 
posterior coxe flat. 
Drilidz. Antenne usually highly pectinate in the males; females 
apterous (this character may not be general) ; palpi often very abnormal 
(a character which brings the family near the Limexylonide ; it is also 
closely allied to the Lampyride and Lycide, with which it has often 
been included as a tribe, and with which it agrees in the formation of 
the tibie, tarsi, and abdomen). 
Limexylonide. Antenne 11-jointed, serrate or subfiliform, 
inserted at the sides of the head, which is narrowed behind ; maxillary 
palpi of the male very large and flabellate (in the European species) ; 
all the coxe contiguous ; abdomen consisting of five or six (according to 
Thomson six or seven) ventral segments; tarsi elongate, 5-jointed, 
with the joints entire ; integuments soft ; elytra, in our genera, covering 
or nearly covering abdomen, 
PTINOIDEA. 
Ptinide. Antenne long and filiform, or very faintly serrate, never 
clavate, inserted upon the front, more or less contiguous at base, as a 
rule 11-jointed; head retractile; thorax narrower than elytra, and 
usually constricted at base ; elytra, as a rule, more or less rounded and 
VOL. IV. IV 
