COLEOPTERA. 377 



. The two last tribes of this family and of the section of the Heteromera pre- 

 sent certain common characters, such as mandibles terminating in a simple 

 point, &c. In a perfect state they are all herbivorous, but several, in their 

 first state, or that of larvae, are parasitical. 



The Horiales, composing the fifth tribe, differ from those which constitute 

 the sixth, or the Cantharidice, in their hooks, which are indented and accom- 

 panied (each) by a serrated appendage. These insects have filiform antennae, 

 as long, at most, as the thorax, a small labrum, strong and salient mandibles, 

 filiform palpi, square thorax, and very robust posterior legs, -at least in one of 

 the sexes. 



This tribe is composed of the genus 



HORIA, Fabricius. 



These insects inhabit the intra-tropical countries of South America and of 

 the East Indies. One of these insects is distinguished from all others by its 

 head, which is narrower than the thorax, and by its posterior thighs, which 

 are strongly inflated ; a character, however, which in all probability belongs 

 to only one of the sexes. 



The sixth and last tribe, that of the CANTHARID^, is distinguished from 

 the preceding one by the hooks of the tarsi, which are deeply cleft, and seem 

 to be double. The head is usually large, wider, and rounded posteriorly. 

 The thorax is commonly narrowed behind, and approaches the form of a 

 truncated heart ; in others it is almost orbicular. The elytra are frequently 

 somewhat inclined lateraUy, or tectiform, flattened, and rounded. These 

 insects simulate death when they are seized, and several, thus situated, pro- 

 duce a caustic yellowish liquid of a penetrating odour, from the articulations of 

 their feet; the organs which secrete it have not yet been detected. 



Various species Meloes, Mylabres, Cantharidesare employed externally as 

 epispastics. This tribe is formed of the genus 



MELOE, Linn&us, 



Which has been divided into several others. 



In Meloe properly so called, the antennae are composed of short and rounded 

 joints, the intermediate of which are the largest, and sometimes so disposed, 

 that these organs present in this point, in several males, an emargination or 

 crescent. The wings are wanting, and the elytra, oval or triangular, with a 

 portion of the inner margin crossing each other, only partially cover the 

 abdomen, particularly in the females, where it is extremely voluminous. 



They crawl along the ground, or upon low plants on the leaves of which 

 they feed. A yellowish or reddish oleaginous liquid exudes from the articula- 

 tions of their legs. 



In some districts of Spain, these insects are ilsed in place of Cantharides, or 

 are mixed with them. They are also employed by the farriers. They were 

 formerly regarded as a specific in hydrophobia. I suspect that our Meloes are 

 the Buprestes of the ancients, insects to which they attributed very noxious 



