198 Prof. J. C. Schiddte on the Classification 
enormous strength, with colossal socket and condyle; at the 
base they are so much extended both upwards and downwards 
that they appear as if they carried horns when seen from the 
back; their inner margin is destitute of frmge, excavated like a 
spoon, and the point sometimes whole, sometimes divided into 
several powerful and sharp teeth. The two other pairs of buccal 
organs are extremely small. The palpiferous stalk of the maxillee 
is shaped like a joint, and stands out from the stipes; there is 
only one lobe, which is small, with thin skin and fine hair. The 
mentum is very small and thin; stipites palporum labialium not 
separate; lingua small, short, obtuse, undivided. The terminal 
joint of the palpi is very large, oviform. 
It is a matter of course that both in Buprestidee and Elateridze 
the mouth is turned more downwards, in proportion as the 
beetle has more to do with wood, on account of the habits of the 
larva. ‘The fore legs being, in both families, weak, with globular 
coxee, the prothorax is naturally short, unless the clicking-appa- 
ratus be strongly developed, in which case also the organs of the 
mouth are larger, more protruding, and caleulated for eating 
pollen. These, then, require protection during the work in 
earth, moss, and decaying wood, where the eggs are to be placed 
&c., which protection is afforded by a pecular prolongation of 
the prosternum, a “chin-lobe” (mentonniére), by means of 
which the beetle can hide the organs of its mouth when the head 
is not protruded. Such a chin-lobe is therefore found in all 
Elaterini ; but it is of varying size, more or less distinctly marked 
by a transverse groove, more or less turned downwards, accord- 
ing to the degree in which the Clicker-type is developed in the 
species. When authors deny (as Lacordaire does in Gen. des 
Coléopt.iv.p. 224) thatsuch genera as Campylus and Cebrio possess 
this chin-lobe, and find one of their essential characters in this 
defect, this must arise from their not having sufficiently 
investigated the character of that organ, so that they are unable 
to recognize it when it is somewhat different im appearance from 
its most general form. For it must always be kept in view that 
this chin-lobe is merely a prolongation of the prosternum 
alone, which is indicated by its being separated, be it ever so 
short, from the epimeron on either side by a small sharp notch, 
Thus understood, the chin-lobe becomes one of the most es- 
sential characters of the group of Elaterini. 
VITl. 
On a former occasion I gave an account of the internal 
anatomy of Buprestidz*, and I shall here offer a corresponding 
* Oversigt over det Kongelige Danske Videnskabers Selskabs Forhand- 
linger (Transactions of the Royal Danish Society of Sciences), 1847, no. 3. 
pp. 24-35. 
