CHAPTER IX. 



MALACODERMI. 



IN this group of Beetles are gathered together a 

 number of Beetles differing much from each other 

 in many points, but agreeing in the one characteristic 

 which has gained for them the name of MALACO- 

 DERMI, or Soft-skinned Beetles. In these insects the 

 exterior of the body, instead of being quite hard and 

 strong, as is the case with those Beetles which we 

 have examined, is soft and flexible, and generally 

 covered with a very short and delicate down. 



We begin our notice of these Beetles with the family 

 of the Lampyridae, of which only one species in- 

 habits England, namely, the well-known GLOW-WORM 

 (Lampyris noctilucd). In this family, the female pos- 

 sesses neither wings nor elytra, the head is concealed 

 under the large and rounded prothorax, and both 

 sexes have the power of emitting a phosphorescent 

 light, the lamp of the female being very much brighter 

 than that of her mate. 



This, almost our sole representative of the exotic 

 light-giving insects, is fortunately very plentiful in 

 this country, and may be seen abundantly in sheltered 



