THE HETEROMERA. 153 



one known genus (an exotic one, Heterotarsus) departs 

 from the standard with regard to the joints of the tarsi ; 

 and in that the same proportions are preserved (4, 4, 3), 

 the apparently missing joints being represented by a 

 slight constriction. 



Thomson has divided this section into two tribes, 

 the Globicoxas and Conicoxa ; in the former of which 

 (amongst other characters) the anterior coxae are globose 

 or ovate, and the thorax is mostly margined, whilst in 

 the latter, the anterior coxae are long, conic and exserted, 

 the thorax being very rarely margined. . The Globicoxce 

 comprise all except the Pyrochroidce, Melo'idce, (Ede- 

 merid(K, Anthicida;, and the Rhipiphorides, a sub-family 

 of the Mor dellidcs. 



The typical Heteromera (Melasoma, Latr.) are of 

 darkling and sluggish habits, black or obscure in colour, 

 hard and wingless. It has been ingeniously remarked 

 that the fact of the eyes in these light-shunning species 

 being but slightly elevated above the surface of their 

 head affords an indication of their habits; and this is 

 borne out, to a certain extent, by the utter absence of 

 eyes in certain cave-frequenting Coleoptera; and, per 

 contra, by the large size and extreme prominence of the 

 same organs in many diurnal species ; but in this theory, 

 as in many others equally good at first sight, exceptions 

 occur so often that it is very difficult to turn it to any 

 practical benefit. 



Others of the section are eminently active, gaily 

 coloured, soft, with ample wings, and frequent flowers : 

 many occur in rotten wood, flour, or sandy places ; and 

 one or two species are parasitic in their habits. Per- 

 haps the best known are the "cellar-beetle" (Blaps), 

 " Mealworm" (Tenebrio), "Cardinal" (Pyrochroa], "Oil 



