COLEOPTEBOUS INSECTS. 267 



VIPALPI, on account of the large size of the termi- 

 nal joint of the maxillary palpi. It includes only a 

 few genera, some of which consist of small insects 

 with a hemispherical body, which they have the 

 power of contracting into a ball. The larger kinds, 

 which do not possess this property, are chiefly re- 

 ferrible to the genus Erotylus of Fabricius. The 

 latter well exemplify the distinctive character of the 

 family, as the last joint of the maxillary palpi is un- 

 usually large, transverse, and attached by the middle 

 to the stalk of the palpus, bearing considerable re- 

 semblance to a hammer. The species are nume- 

 rous, amounting to nearly one hundred and thirty ; 

 and they occur chiefly in the tropical countries of 

 America, if indeed they are not confined to these 

 regions. They are said to frequent leaves, and are 

 observed flying about in the woods during the day. 

 They are solitary in their habits, with the exception 

 of E. sphacelatus (Fab.), which is usually found con- 

 gregated in considerable numbers on the trunks of 

 fallen trees. The species figured is not rare. It is 

 named 



EROTYLUS HISTRIO. 



PLATE XXIX. Fio. 6. 

 Fabr. Enl. Syst Olivitr, v. No. 89, pi. 2, fig. 12, a, b. 



It is about an inch long ; the head, antennae, and 

 thorax black ; the elytra, which are very much ele- 



