COLEOPTERA. 421 



in which the antennae— always short— are lodged, and prolonged 

 posteriorly into a point, which is received into a depression of the an- 

 terior extremity of the mesosternum. These anterior legs are at a 

 distance from the anterior extremity of the thorax. They form our 

 first section or that of the Sternoxi. 



Others, whose head is enclosed posteriorly by the thorax, or at 

 least covered by it at base, but in Avhich the prsesternum is not 

 dilated, and does not project anteriorly in the manner of a chin-cloth, 

 nor is usually* terminated posteriorly in a point received into a 

 cavity in the mesosternum, and in which the body is most commonly 

 either entirely or partially soft and flexible, constitute our second 

 section, that of the Malacodermi. 



A third and last, that of the Xylotrcgi, will comprise those 

 Serricornes, in which the posterior extremity of the praesternum 

 is not similarly prolonged, but whose head is completely exposed 

 and separated from the thorax by a strangulation or species of neck. 



We will divide the Sternoxi into two tribes. In the first or that 

 of the BupRESTiDES, the posterior projection of the prsesternum is 

 flattened, and not terminated in a laterally compressed point, that 

 is simply received into a depression or emargination of the mesos- 

 ternum. The mandibles frequently terminate in an entire point, with- 

 out any fissure or emargination. The posterior angles of the thorax 

 are either but very slightly or not at all prolonged. The last joint 

 of the palpi is most commonly nearly cylindrical, hardly thicker than 

 the preceding; the others are globular or ovoid. Most of the tarsial 

 segments are generally wide or dilated, and furnished beneath with 

 pellets. These Insects never leap, a character which eminently 

 distinguishes them from those of the following tribe f : they compose 

 the genus 



BUPRESTIS, Li7l. 



The generic appellation of Richard, given to these Coleoptera by 

 Geoff"roy, intimates the richness of their livery. Several of the 

 European species, and many that are foreign to this country, besides 

 their size, are remarkable for a brilliant polished gold colour on an 

 emerald ground ; in others, an azure blue glistens over the gold, or 



* The Cebriones are an exception, and approximate, in this respect, to the Ela- 

 terides ; but the inferior extremity of the praesternum does not advance under the 

 head. The mandibles project, are arcuated and simple; the palpi filiform ; the legs 

 non-retractile, and the two anterior ones somewhat removed, at base, from the ante- 

 rior extremity of the thorax, and closely approximated. 



t The Insects of this tribe also differ from all others of the family in their tra- 

 cheae which are vesicular — in the rest they are tubular. See Obs. Anatom., of M. 

 Leon Dufoiir. 



