APHANISTICUS. INSECTS. 263 



** With a cushion. 



B. gigas, Lin. Thorax coppery, mixed with brilliant green, and 

 large smooth steel-coloured spots ; elytra terminated by two points, 

 coppery in the centre, with deep points, and elevated and wrink- 

 led lines. 2 inches long. Cayenne. Cuv. Reg. An. iii. 228. 



B. mridis,~Lir}. Body linear, bronze green, with the elytra entire 

 and dotted. 2| lines long, Inhabits Europe, on trees Cuv. 



Reg. An. iii. 228. 



Gen. APHANISTICUS, Lat. 



Body linear ; antennae terminated in a knob ; palpi filiform. 

 A. emarginatus, Lat. Oliv. Col. x. 116. 



Gen. GALBA, Lat. 



Tarsi slender ; antennae of the males pectinated or tufted ; feet 

 generally compressed. 



This genus is founded on the characters of some species from BraziL 



Gen. MELASIS, Oliv. Elater, Gmel. 



Body cylindrical ; antennae pectinated in the males, and serra- 

 ted in the females ; last joint of the palpi ovate or subglobu- 

 lar ; jaws simple, or without interior division ; tarsi slender. 



M. buprestoides, Oliv. Body dusky ; antennae, tibiae, and tarsi red- 

 dish yellow ; thorax with impressed dorsal line ; elytra finely 

 striated or rugous ; tarsi entire. Inhabits Europe, in old trees. 

 Lat. Gen. i. 247. 



Gen. CEROPHYTUM, Lat. 



Body oval ; antennae in the males branched on the internal side ; 

 base of the third and following joints prolonged interiorly 

 into a broad lobe rounded at the end ; antennae serrated in 

 the females ; feet slender ; last joint of the tarsi bifid. 



C. elateroides, Lat. (Melasis, Lat. Hist.) Body entirely black, 

 with the elytra striated. Inhabits Europe Lat. Hist. ix. 76. 



TRIBE II. ELATERIDES. 



Body linear, depressed ; posterior projection of the pre-sternum 

 sunk at the will of the animal in a cavity of the breast ; man- 

 dibles notched or bifid at the extremity ; maxillary palpi ter- 

 minated by a larger triangular joint ; angles of the thorax 

 generally prolonged into a sharp tooth. 



This tribe of insects includes the genus Elater of Linnaeus. Their body is more 

 elongated than the preceding family ; and when laid upon their back, not being able, 

 from the shortness of their feet, to recover their position, they have the faculty of 

 leaping perpendicularly, until they fall in their natural position, by springing from the 

 surface. The females have at the anus a kind of elongated auger, with two lateral 

 and pointed pieces at the end, between which is the oviduct. This tiibe is found 

 on flowers and plants or on grass. They lower their head in walking, and when they 

 are approached fall close to the ground. 



I. Antennae filiform or setaceous, not terminated in a perfoliated club. 



1. The first four joints of the tarsi furnished below with prolonged lobiform cushions ; 

 antennae approximated at their base. 



