194 Prof. J.C. Schjodte on the Classification 
degree engrossed by this part of its activity that the beetle’s 
own nutritive life cannot be expected to express itself very 
strongly inits structure. The Elaterids, on the contrary, are, as 
larvee, carnivorous; and consequently we find amongst them a 
a great variety of forms, according to the mode of life of the 
prey; and the corresponding demands for the equipment of the 
perfect beetle with regard to propagation causes a far richer 
variety of form among the Elateridz than among the Buprestide. 
In those Elateridz which, as larve, hunt their prey in closed 
galleries in timber, the faculty of springing is reduced in power 
and facility, whilst that of flying is more developed, and the 
animal then approaches somewhat to Buprestidze in outer form, 
sculpture, &e.,—thus, particularly, in Melasini and Euenemidini, 
especially in exotic genera, as Pterotarsus. Those Elateride, on 
the contrary, which, in the larval state, seek their food in less 
circumscribed localities are more developed as “ clickers” than 
for flying, and therefore occupy a place in every respect oppo- 
site that of the others: excellent instances of this combination 
are afforded by many species of the group Diacanthus and con- 
geners. The majority of Elateride stand between these two 
extremes, inclining sometimes more to one than the other. 
Elateridze are consequently to a certain extent placed under 
equal conditions with true carnivorous beetles—that is, such as 
live on animal food in all stages of their existence; and it is 
therefore natural to expect further analogies with such beetles— 
as, for instance, with Carabide. Accordingly we find that they 
live in shade, or are mostly active at night, with close, fine, and 
minute sculpture, regularly ribbed (striated) elytra covered with 
short and fine hair; their colours are mostly dark and dull, 
principally black, brown, or ferruginous; some are more 
vividly coloured, red, or with checquered light and dark designs, 
or even with metallic lustre; but they rarely attain and never 
surpass that degree of splendour and lustre which is met with 
amongst Carabide. Llateridze possess similar round eyes, and 
longer antenne ; and though the legs, for the sake of the spring- 
ing-faculty, cannot be very strongly developed, they nevertheless 
retain the character of running-legs by the trochanters of the 
third pair being large and “supporting,” asin Carabide*. Nor is 
the analogy with Carabide deficient im this point—that amongst 
Elateride one group (viz. Cebrionini) is calculated for digging 
in the ground, just as several genera amongst Carabide. It is, 
however, time to turn our attention to the structure of the 
mouth. 
* Latreille has already pointed this out in the Elateres properly so- 
called: “ Femora postica ad basin appendice trochanteriformi instructa” 
(Gen. Crust. et Ins. 1. 2. p. 248). 
