66 THE ORDER OP COLEOPTERA. 



Cucit/jus, Fab,, contains bat one N. A. species, the C. cJavipes, Fab. ; 

 Cafogcnus, Westw., one, the C. rufus, Fab. ; Lwmophheus, Lap., ten spe- 

 cies ; Brontes, Fab., three species ; and SUvanus, Latr., nine species. 



The word Cucujus comes from the Brazilian Oucuyo and Spanivsh Cu- 

 cujo, a name given by the natives to the luminous snapping-beetle 

 (Elater noctilucus, Linn.) of South America. 



Family XXI. COLYDIID^. 



This family includes two principal types. In one, forming the sub- 

 family Colydiides, the species are elongate and cylindrical, with ribbed 

 or striate elytra, and in the other, or the sub-family of Synchitides, the 

 species are simply oval or oblong, somewhat flattened, and remarkable 

 for their rough or spinous bodies. The anteunaj are either moderately 

 and gradually clavate, or terminate in a small club, which usually in- 

 cludes but two joints. The tarsi are all strictly four-jointed. These 

 insects have the same carnivorous habits which seem to be common to 

 most of the species included in our division of sub-clavicornes. The 

 larvse of Ditoma, of Aulonium, and of Cerylon, have all been seen depre- 

 dating upon the larvai of Tomicus and other small wood-boring beetles, 

 and one species, at least, the Cerylon histeroides, is equally predaceous 

 in its perfect state. 



Forty-four N. A. species have been described. 



Family XXII. LATHRIDIID^. 



Very small and not very common insects, sometimes found under 

 stones and sometimes caught flying. They are of an oblong form, the 

 abdomen being wider than the thorax. The antenna3 terminate in a 

 small club of one, two, or three joints. The tarsi are three-jointed, the 

 last joint being at least as long as the other two. The thorax has a 

 raised border, and the elytra are puncto-striate, and ribbed between 

 the striae. 



About fifty N. A. species have been described. 



Third Sub-section, ]VEON"ILICORaNrE:S. 



Antennae often moniliform or bead-like ; subsist mostly upon decaying vegetable substances. 



Tribe V. 



SHORT WINGED SCAVENGER-BEETLES. 

 Futrivora brevipennata. Brachelytra, Latreille. 



This tribe embraces an extensive series of beetles, corresponding, for 

 the most part, to the Linnsean genus iStaphyUmis, sometimes called in 

 English Eove-beetles, and readily distinguished from all other Coleoptera 



