of Buprestidze and Elateride. 209 
of combinations which the insect world exhibits also in this re- 
spect, seeing that in one single order at least four or five parallel 
series of great natural families can be pointed out, presenting 
so many cross combinations of characters in all their organic 
systems, always different in type, always analogous in modifica- 
tion, whilst the only other series of animals provided with true 
limbs, in the modern creation, viz. Vertebrata, hardly exhibits 
anything corresponding to this, except Marsupialia and Chon- 
dropterygil. 
b© 
It has been explained above how the Elateridz, by degrees, 
as their habits of life associate them less with timber and wood, 
are less developed for flight and nocturnal life, and more for 
“clicking” and daylight life. The two extreme points of this 
development are indicated by Melasis and Campylus, which are 
connected by an infinite series of transitions; and Campylus 
approaches not a little to Cantharis. 
The development of the E/ater-type in the direction of flight 
and night life is characterized by the following features :— 
1. The eyes become smoother, so that at last the facets pro- 
trude so little that they are not to be distinguished except when 
strongly magnified, and the whole cornea becomes quite shiny. 
2. The sensitive pores of the antenne *-are more closely ac- 
cumulated on the lower part of both sides of the joints, whereby 
well-defined poriferous spots are sometimes formed, usually 
from the third or fourth joint. Such spots, however, are not 
constantly distinguishable, except in Melanotus, Adrastus, Agri- 
otes, Sericosomus, and Ludius. Amongst Diacanthi, D. eneus is 
distinguished by very small and little-depressed poriferous spots; 
and amongst the species of Athous, A. rhombeus is distinguished 
by double spots—namely, besides a lower series beginning on 
the third joint, also an upper series beginning on the fifth joint. 
The gigantic tropical species of the genera Oxynopterus, Tetra- 
lobus, and Charitophyllus possess extensive naked poriferous 
spots, particularly on the fan-branches of the male. 
8. The forehead is more rounded downwards towards the 
mouth, the antenne are more closely approached to one an- 
other, the prothorax is shortened, and the “ springing-spine ”’ 
(mucro saltatorius) is more distinctly separated from the pro- 
sternal spine; the legs are more completely arranged for being 
folded up and accommodated inside the margins of the body ; 
the general outline of the body assumes a higher and at the 
same time more elongated oval shape, the edges are rounded off, 
Fis my treatise on Cerambycide, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 3. vol. xv. 
Ae ef 
: Ann. & Mag. N, Hist. Ser. 3. Vol. xvi. 15 
