COLEOPTERA. 389 



FAMILY VI. 



CYCLICA. 



IN our sixth family of the Tetramera, where the three first joints of the 

 tarsi are still spongy, or furnished with pellets beneath, with the penultimate 

 divided into two lobes, and where the antennae are filiform or somewhat thicker 

 towards the end, we observe a body usually rounded, and in those few where it 

 is oblong, with the base of the thorax of the width of the elytra and maxillae, 

 whose exterior division, by its narrow, almost cylindrical form, and darker 

 colour, has the appearance of a palpus ; the interior division is broader and 

 destitute of the little squamous nail. The ligula is almost square or oval* 

 entire or widely emarginated. 



These insects are generally small, and are frequently ornamented with bril- 

 liant] and metallic colours ; their body is smooth or destitute of hairs. They 

 are mostly slow and timid, letting themselves fall to the ground the moment 

 we attempt to seize them, or folding their antennae and feet close to their body. 

 Several species are good jumpers. The females are extremely prolific. 



If we take into consideration the different habits of their larvae, we will find 

 that the Cyclica are divided into four principal sections: 



In the first, or the CASSIDARI.E, the antennae are inserted in the superior 

 part of the head, and are approximated, straight, short, filiform and almost 

 cylindrical, or gradually enlarged towards the extremity. The mouth, alto- 

 gether underneath, and with short and almost filiform palpi, is sometimes 

 arched and sometimes partly received into the cavity of the praesternum. The 

 eyes are ovoid or round. The legs are contractile and short, and the tarsi 

 flattened ; the lobes of the penultimate joint completely enclose the last. 



The body being flat above, these insects, owing to the disposition of their 

 tarsi, are enabled to glue themselves to the surface of leaves and to remain 

 there without motion ; besides this, the body is most commonly orbicular or 

 oval- and overlapped all round by the thorax and elytra. The head is con- 

 cealed under the thorax, or received into its anterior emargination. Their 

 colours are various, and are prettily distributed in the form of spots, points, 

 and streaks. Such of their larvae as are known to us cover themselves with 

 dirt. 



The Cassidariae are composed of two genera. In the first, or 



HISPA, Linnaeus, 



The body is oblong, the head is entirely exposed and free, and the thorax 

 forms a trapezium. The mandibles have but two or three teeth ; the exterior 

 maxillary lobe is shorter than the inner one ; the antennae are filiform and 

 pectinated anteriorly. The Hispae properly so called, have short mandibles 

 terminated by two or three small and almost equal teeth. America produces 



