COLEOPTEKA. 361 



called the Chique or Chigre in America, most probably forms a 

 particular genus, It insinuates itself under the nails of the 

 toes and the skin of the heel, where, by the speedy developement 

 of the ova contained in a membranous sac under the venter, it 

 soon acquires a size equal to that of a pea. 



The numerous family, to which it gives birth, produces a ma- 

 lignant ulcer, that is cured with difficulty, and which sometimes 

 proves mortal. These difficulties are generally avoided by rub- 

 bing the feet with bruised tobacco leaves and other bitter and 

 acrid plants. The Negroes extract the animal from its domicil 

 with much address. 



Various Quadrupeds and Birds are infested with Fleas, Avhich 

 appear to differ specifically from these two. 



ORDER V. 



COLEOPTERA * 



Coleopterous Insects have four wings, the two superior of which 

 resemble horizontal scales, joining in a straight line along the inner 

 margin ; the inferior wings are merely folded transversely and covered 

 with others, which form cases or covers for them, usually denomi- 

 nated the elytra f . 



Of all Insects, these are the most numerous and the best known. 

 The singular form and brilliant colouring of many species, the 

 volume of tlieir bodies, the greater solidity of their teguments, which 

 facilitates their preservation, the numerous advantages which the 

 study derives from the various forms of their external organs, &c., 

 have secured to them the particular attention of naturalists. 



Their head presents antennae of various forms, and almost always 

 composed of eleven joints ; two compound eyes, but none simple J; 

 and a mouth consisting of a labrum, two mandibles, usually of a scaly 

 substance, two jaws, each furnished with one or two palpi, and of a 

 labium formed of two pieces, the mentum and tJie ligula, and accom- 

 panied by two palpi, commonly inserted into the latter. Those of the 

 jaws, or when they have two, the exterior ones never consist of more 

 than four joints ; those of the lip usually have three. 



* The Eletttherata, Fab. 



t For the anatomical characters of the Coleoptera, see Ann. des Sc. Nat. VIII, 

 p. 36, where the resume is given by M. Dumeril. 



X In some of the Brachelytra two small yellowish points have been observed, that 

 have been taken for ocelli ; but without, as I imagine, any careful examination, 

 particularly as the Forficulse, a genus of the Orthoptera that is nearest to the 

 Coleoptera, exhibit none. 



