CLAVICORNIA. / 



of the front, or on the front, being distant or approximate at base ; the 

 anterior coxse are transverse and oval, and except in the DiphylUna the 

 cavities are open behind. 



Scaphidiidae. This family is placed in its present position partly on 

 account of tlie formation of the anterior coxal cavities, of which one 

 half is formed by the prosternum and the other lialf by the meso- 

 sternum:* in Ej;J])istemns the formation is somewhat analogoiis, and 

 the present family seems therefore to come somewhat naturally after that 

 genus ; in some respects the characters of the family are somewhat 

 anomalous ; form more or less boat-shaped, with the elytra broadly 

 truncate and not covering abdomen ; antennae 10-11 -jointed, with the 

 last five or six joints enlarged and forming a slight club, inserted at the 

 margin of the forehead, which is somewhat prolonged in front ; thorax 

 margined at sides and sinuate at base; elytra with a sutural and marginal 

 stria ; legs very long and slender, with the tarsi filiform, S-jointed, 

 abdomen composed of six free ventral segments, of wdiicli the first is the 

 largest and the fifth longer than the three preceding ones ; the species 

 range in size from about 2|-6 mm, 



Ittycetophag-idae. Oval or oblong insects, of small or moderate 

 size, often handsomely variegated with yellowish or orange-red spots, 

 and with the upper surface always more or less pubescent ; they are 

 characterized by having the tarsi all 4-jointed in the female, and the 

 anterior pair 3- jointed in the male, the intermediate and posterior pair 

 in the latter sex being 4:-jointed as in the female ; the mandibles are 

 bifid at apex ; the antcnnse are inserted before the eyes and are 

 11- jointed, with the apical joints gradually thickened or forming a 

 club ; the anterior coxal cavities are always open behind ; the thorax is 

 transverse, truncate at apex, and the elytra usually cover the abdomen, 

 which is composed of five free and almost equal segments. 



Sermestidae. An important family of insects which vary consider- 

 ably in size and general appearance ; foim oblong oval or oval, in 

 some cases almost round, usually strongly pubescent, and sometimes 

 squamose ; head variable in size, furnished, except in Dermcstes, with a 

 frontal ocellus; antennie inserted in front of the eyes, usually 11-jointed, 

 but variable, clavate or thickened at apex ; thorax short, usually excavate 

 beneath for the reception of the antennae ; anterior coxal cavities open 

 behind ; elytra covering abdomen, not striated ; abdomen composed of 

 five free convex segments ; legs short, somcAvhat coutractile, tibia3 with 

 distinct spurs, tarsi 5-jointed, with the fifth joint long, and the first four 

 joints as a rule short, claws simple. 



Byrrhidse. This family is in many respects allied to the preceding, 

 but may as a rule be distinguished by the much more strongly retractile 



* Dr. Sharp informs me that this formation is not so imcomraon as Mr. Matthews 

 supposed it to be ; tlie position of this family may tlierefore have to be modified. 



