154 SERRICORNIA. [ Walthodes 
also by the very short elytra, which hardly reach the middle of the 
abdomen, and are obscurely yellowish-testaceous at apex. 
Of all the genera of the Coleoptera there is hardly one that presents 
more difficulties than Malthodes; the reason of this lies chiefly in the 
fact that the integument is so soft and fragile that in dead specimens it 
is apt to shrivel considerably and alter its shape; the delicate male 
characters therefore require to be examined in fresh or living specimens, 
or else are wont to appear different to different describers; as this is in 
many cases impossible, considerable difficulties have arisen; again, the 
external differences are often comparative, and the colour is variable, so 
that with regard to the size of head, shape of thorax, &c., the chief 
writers of the group sometimes give diametrically opposite descriptions ; 
with regard to our own species, I do not in all cases feel at all certain of 
their identity, and it would be of very great advantage if some accurate 
worker would carefully examine and monograph them. 
MELYRIDZ. 
This family contains about seventy genera and a large number of 
species, which are widely distributed over the surface of the globe, but 
are perhaps more characteristic of temperate than of tropical countries ; 
about thirty genera and four hundred species are found in Europe; the 
species are characterized by having the antenne inserted in front of 
the eyes on the produced part of the head, the labrum distinct, and the 
feet often furnished beneath with membranous pads or lobes ; the pro- 
sternum is short, not extending between the coxe, and the coxal cavities 
are large, transverse, and open behind ; the elytra sometimes cover the 
abdomen, and sometimes are abbreviated ; the abdomen is composed of 
six free ventral segments, the sixth being occasionally indistinct ; legs 
rather long and slender, tarsi in all our species 5-jointed with the 
fourth joint entire ; antennz serrate or pectinate, filiform, or very rarely 
moniliform, often singularly distorted ; body often very hairy; this is 
especially noticeable in the Spanish genus Henicopus, which is not 
represented in our fauna. 
The family may be divided into two tribes, as follows:— 
I. Body with extensible vesicles; antennz filiform, sometimes 
slightly serrate . . se ee ef te lhl sl) MADACRIINA, 
II. Body without extensible vesicles. 
i. Antennz serrate; tarsal claws with or without mem- 
branous appendages . . DasyYTINA. 
ii. Antenne moniliform, with the three apical joints larger ; 
tursal claws simple . . . =. . » Sa? 5 - « PHLGOPHILINA, 
MALACHIINA. 
The members of this tribe are characterized by the presence of lateral 
extensible vesicles, which proceed from a fissure beneath the anterior 
