158 



L\SF,(TS ABIiOAD. 



"mourning;" both names being given to the insect in conse- 

 quence of the sober black and white of its colouring. 



The splendid insect which is shown in the accompanying 



illustration belongs to another group of Elaters. If the reader 

 will look at the figure of the Alaus and at that of our present 

 species, he will see that the ends of the elytra are, in the former 

 insect, blunt and rounded, and in the latter, drawn out into lonj 

 sharp points. The name Oxynojiti ri<L*, which is given to this 

 group, signifies " sharp-winged," and refers to this formation. 





In;. ~i. — Oxynnpterus Cumin^M. 

 (Reddish brown.) 



The most striking point in the appearance of this insect is the 

 beautifully feathered structure of the antennae in the male. To 

 each of the joints is attached a long, narrow, flat projection, ot 

 " flabellum," not unlike those of the Lainellieorn Beetles, which 

 gives to the whole organ the appearance of a. fan. The female 

 dors not. possess these beautiful appendages, her antennae being 

 only toothed, the poinl of each tooth showing where the flabellum 

 would he in the Other sex. So important is the antenna in the 

 general appearance of the insect, that although the female is 

 larger than the male, she absolutely seems to be smaller, so much 



