COLEOPTERA. 353 



but slightly convex thorax, generally square, or elongated and quadrilateral ; 

 joints of the tarsi entire, and the hooks of the last one unidentated or bordered 

 with a membrane. The antenna; are usually serrated, and, in the males of 

 some species, even pectinated. 



Most of them are very active, and are found on flowers and leaves. 



This tribe, which is a mere division of the genera Cantharis and Dermestes 

 of Linnaeus, will form the genus 



MELYRIS, Fabricius, 



Now consisting of the subgenera, Mafachius, Dasytes, &c. &c. 



The fourth tribe of the Malacodermi, that of the CLERII, is distinguished 

 by the ensemble of the following characters. Two of their palpi at least 

 project and are clavate. The mandibles are dentated. The penultimate joint 

 of the tarsi is bilobate, and the first is very short or but slightly visible in 

 several. The antennae are sometimes nearly filiform and serrated, and at 

 others insensibly enlarged near the extremity. The body is usually cylin- 

 drical, the head and thorax narrower than the abdomen, and the eyes emargi- 

 nated. 



Most of these Insects are found on flowers, some of the species on the trunks 

 of old trees or in dry wood. Such of the larvae as are known are carnivorous. 



This tribe will comprise the genus 



CLERUS, Geoffroy. 



Now divided into Cylidrus, Tillus, Priocera, &c. &c. 

 CLERDS proper. 



The maxillary palpi of the Cleri, properly so called, are terminated by a 

 compressed joint in the form of a reversed triangle ; the last of those that belong 

 to the labium, which are larger than the others, is securiform. The antennal 

 club is hardly longer than wide, and is composed of crowded joints ; the third 

 is longer than the second. The maxillae terminate in a projecting and fringed 

 lobe. The thorax is depressed anteriorly. 



These Insects are found on flowers; their larvae devour those of certain 

 Bees. 



C. apiarius. Blue ; elytra red ; traversed by three bands of deep blue, the 

 last of which occupies the extremity. The larva devours that of our domestic 

 Bee, and does much injury to hives. 



C. alvearius. Almost like the preceding, but with a bluish -black spot on 

 the scutel. It inhabits the nests of the Mason BeesOsziiA of Reaumur, 

 and feeds on their larvae. 



The type of the fifth tribe of the Malacodermi, or the PTINIOBES, consists 

 of the genus Ptinus of Linnaeus, and of some other genera depending on, or 

 which most closely approach it. The body of these Insects is of a tolerably 

 firm consistence, sometimes almost ovoid or oval, and at others nearly cylin- 

 drical, but generally short and rounded at the two extremities. The head is 



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