262 INSECTS. COLEOPTERA. 



ed, pectinated, or serrated ; in some terminated in a perfoliated 

 or dentated club ; elytra covering, except in one genus, all 

 the upper part of the abdomen ; penult joint of the tarsi often 

 bilobed. 



1. STERNOXI. 



The body in this division is always of a firm and solid consistence, with the head 

 placed vertically in the thorax to the eyes. The pre-sternum is dilated at both extre- 

 mities ; before it advances in the form of a chin ; at the opposite end it is prolonged 

 and narrowed into a point The antennas in general are scarcely longer than the head 

 and thorax. 



TRIBE I. BUPRESTIDES. 



Body ovate ; antennae short and serrated ; eyes oval ; palpi ge- 

 nerally filiform ; thorax short and broad ; feet short, with the 

 first four joints broad, triangular, and cordiform, and the pe- 

 nult one bilobed in the greater number. 



This tribe is peculiarly distinguished by the beauty of their colours. Many in- 

 digenous and exotic species, besides being remarkable for their size, possess the lus- 

 tre of polished gold on an emerald ground ; in others azure blue is reflected on a gold- 

 en base ; and a metallic lustre of various kinds is almost always present. The Bu- 

 prestides walk slowly, but their flight is rapid when the weather is dry and warm. 

 The females have a coriaceous or corneous appendage, in the form of a conical plate 

 of three pieces, at the posterior extremity of the abdomen, which probably serves as 

 an auger to deposit their ova in the dry wood where their larvae are found. 



I. Antennae of the males pectinated or serrated ; internal side of the joints dilated 

 in all their length, the teeth contiguous. 



1 . First four joints of the tarsi short, broad, flattened, triangular, furnished below 

 with a spongy ball ; antennae of the males serrated, the teeth short^ and not pec- 

 tinated ; palpi filiform, or nearly so. 



Gen. BUPRESTIS, APHANISTICUS. * 



2. Tarsi slender ; antennae pectinated or plumose in the males ; palpi often termi- 

 nated in a thicker joint : feet generally compressed. 



Gen. GALBA, (formed for some species from Brazil ;) MELASIS, PHYLLO- 

 CERUS. 



II. Antennae of the males branched on the internal side ; base of the third and fol- 

 lowing joints prolonged interiorly into a widened branch, and rounded at the end, 

 those of the female serrated ; feet slender ; penult joint of the tarsi bifid. 

 Gen. CEROPHYTUM. 



Gen. BUPRESTIS, Lin. 



Antennae of the males serrated ; palpi filiform or slightly thick- 

 er at their extremity ; first four joints of the tarsi short, broad, 

 flattened, triangular, with a spongy cushion ; body oval, con- 

 vex, depressed, or triangular. 



* Without cushion. 



ft.fascicularis, Lin. Body ovoid, convex, dotted and wrinkled, gold- 

 en green or coppery, with little tufts of yellowish or reddish hair ; 

 elytra entire. About an inch long. Inhabits Cape of Good Hope. 

 Lat. Gen. i. 242. 



B. sternicorms, Lin. Brilliant golden green, with large sunk points ; 

 elytra with three teeth at their extremity ; posterior sternum ad- 

 vanced like a horn. Inhabits East Indies. Cuv. Reg. An. iii. 227- 



