COLEOPTERA. 127 



with brilliant and metallic colours ; their body is smooth or destitute 

 of hairs. They are mostly slow and timid, letting themselves fall to 

 the ground the moment we attempt to seize them, or folding their 

 antennae and feet close to their body. Several species are good 

 jumpers. The females arc extremely prolific. 



If we take into consideration the different habits of their larvfe, 

 we will find that the Cyclica are divided into four pricipal sections : 



1. Larvae covering their bodies with their excrement, 



2. Larvae inhabiting tubes which they drag about Avith them. 



3. Naked larvae. 



4. Larvae concealed in the interior of leaves, and feeding on their 

 parenchyma : the Leaping Cyclica. 



Such are the principles on which wc have proceeded in the arrange- 

 ment of this family. We divide it into three tribes, according to the 

 mode in which the antennae arc inserted. 



In the first, or the Cassidarc^e, the antennae are inserted in the 

 superior part of the head, and are ajiproxi mated, straight, short, 

 filiform, and almost cylindrical, or gradually enlarged towards the 

 extremity. The mouth, altogether underneath, and with short and al- 

 most filiform palpi, is sometimes arched (cintree), and sometimes partly 

 received into the cavity of the prsestcrnum. The eyes are ovoid or 

 round. The legs are contractile and short, and the tarsi flattened; 

 the lobes of the penultimate joint completely inclose the last. 



The body being flat above, these Insects, owing to the disposition 

 of their tarsi, are enabled to glue themselves to the surface of leaves, 

 and to remain there without motion ; besides this, the body is most 

 commonly orbicular or oval, and overlapped all round by the thorax 

 and elytra. The head is concealed under the thorax, or received into 

 its anterior emargination. Their colours are various, and are prettily 

 distributed in the form of spots, points, and streaks. Such of their 

 larvae as are known to us cover themselves with their faeces. 

 The Cassidariae are composed of two genera. In the first, or 

 HisPA, Lin., 

 The body is oblong, the head is entirely exposed and free, and the 

 thorax forms a trapezium. The mandibles have but two or three 

 teeth ; the exterior maxillary lobe is shorter than the inner one ; the 

 antennae are filiform and pectinated anteriorly. 

 Alurnus, Fab. 

 The alurni, which Olivier does not distinguish from his Hispse, 

 appear to differ from them only in the form of their mandibles, the 

 superior extremity of which is pi'olonged into a stout and pointed 

 tooth, and which, besides, exhibits a second but very short one on the 

 inner side. 

 The ligula is corneous. 



