COLEOPTERA. 373 



Those of the first or the HELOPII, have their antennae covered at base by the 

 margin of the head; they are generally filiform or slightly thickened towards 

 the extremity, generally composed of almost cylindrical joints attenuated at 

 base, of which the penultimate ones are frequently a little shorter, and in the 

 form of a reversed cone, and the last is usually almost ovoid; the third is 

 always elongated. The extremity of the mandibles is bifid; the last joint of 

 the maxillary palpi is larger and securiform, or in the figure of a reversed 

 triangle; the eyes are oblong, and reniform or emarginated. None of the legs 

 are fitted for leaping; the penultimate joint of the tarsi, or at least of the last 

 ones, is almost always entire or not deeply emarginate ; their terminal hooks 

 are simple or without fissure or dentation; the body is most commonly 

 arcuated above, and always solid and firm. 



Such of the larvae as are known to us are smooth, filiform, and glossy, with 

 very short legs, like that of a Tenebrio. They are found in old wood, and the 

 perfect insect lives under the bark of trees. 



This tribe mostly corresponds to the genus 



HE LOPS, Fabricius. 



In the Helops, properly so styled, most of the joints of the antennae are almost 

 obconical or cylindrical, and attenuated at base. T'he thorax is tranversal, or 

 hardly as long as it is wide, either square, trapezoidal, or cordiform, abruptly 

 narrowed posteriorly, terminated by pointed angles, and always exactly applied 

 to the base of the elytra. 



The remainijig genera of this tribe are Epitragus, Cnodalon, Campsia, &c. 



The second tribe, that of the CISTELIDES, is very closely allied indeed to the 

 first, but the insertion of the antennae is not covered, the mandibles terminate 

 in an entire or unemarginate point, and the hooks of the tarsi are pectinated 

 inferiorly. Several of these insects live on flowers. This tribe forms the 

 genus 



CISTELA, Fabricius. 



In Cistela, properly so called, the head projects in the manner of a snout, 

 and the labrum is hardly wider than it is long ; most of the joints of the 

 antennae are either obconical, triangular, or even serrated ; the last is always 

 oblong. The body is ovoid or bordering on an oval. 



The other genera are Lystronichus, Mycetophagus, and Allecula. 



The third tribe, that of the SERROPALPIDES, is remarkable, as intimated 

 by its name, for the maxillary palpi, which are frequently serrated, very large, 

 and inclined. The antennae are inserted in an emargination of the eyes, 

 exposed, as in the preceding tribe, and most usually short and filiform. The 

 mandibles are emarginated or bifid at the extremity, and the hooks of the tarsi 

 are simple. The body is almost cylindrical in some, and oval in others ; the 

 head is inclined, and the thorax trapezoidal. The anterior extremity of the 

 head does not project, and the posterior thighs not inflated, characters which 

 distinguish these insects from various Heteromera of the ensuing tribe. The 



