(JOLEOPTERA. 351 



Our second section, or that of the MAT.ACODERMI, is divided into five tribes. 

 In the first, or the CEBRIONITES, so named from the genus Cebrio of Olivier, 

 on which all the others depend, the mandibles terminate in a simple or entire 

 point, the palpi are of equal thickness or more slender at the extremity, the 

 body is rounded and convex in some, oval or oblong, but arcuated above, and 

 inclined anteriorly in others. It is usually soft and flexible ; the thorax is 

 transversal, widest at base, and its lateral angles acute, or in several even 

 prolonged into spines. The antennae are generally longer than the head and 

 thorax. The legs are not contractile. 



Their habits are unknown. Many of them are found on plants in aquatic 

 localities. They may all be united in one genus, that of 



CEBRIO, Olivier, Fabricius. 



Some, which establish a connexion between this and the preceding tribe, 

 which are even of as firm and solid a consistence as -the Sternoxi, whose legs 

 are never fitted for leaping^and whose body is generally an oblong oval, with 

 the antennae of the males either pectinated, flabellated, or serrated, the palpi 

 filiform or somewhat elongated at the extremity, and the posterior angles of 

 the thorax prolonged into an acute point, present mandibles projecting beyond 

 the labrum, narrow, and highly arcuated or in the form of hooks. The 

 labrum is usually very short, and emarginated or bilobate. 



There, as in the Elaterides, the praesternum terminates posteriorly in a 

 point, received into a cavity in the mesosternum. 



The antennae, which in the males of some species are long, are composed 

 of eleven pectinated or serrated joints. The last joint of the palpi is almost 

 cylindrical or forms a reversed cone. 



This genus is now cut up into several, such as Physodactylus, Anelastes, 

 Sandalus, Rhipicera, &c. 



The second tribe of the Malacodermi, or that of the LAMPYRIDES, is distin- 

 guished from the first by the enlarged termination of the palpi, or at least 

 those of the maxillae, by their always soft, straight, depressed, or but slightly 

 convex body, and by the thorax, sometimes semicircular, and at others nearly 

 square or trapezoidal, that projects over the head, which it either entirely or 

 partially covers. The mandibles are usually small, and terminate in a slender, 

 arcuated, very acute point, that is generally entire. The penultimate joint of 

 the tarsi is always bilobate, and the crotchets of the last have neither denta- 

 tions nor appendages. 



The females of some are apterous, or have but very short elytra. When 

 seized, these insects press their feet and antennae against their body, and 

 remain as motionless as if they were dead. Several, thus situated, curve their 

 abdomen underneath. They comprise the genus 



LAMPYRIS, Linnaeus. 



Antennas closely approximated at base, the head either exposed and prolonged 

 anteriorly in the manner of a snout, or for the greater part, or entirely, 



