of Buprestidse and Elateridie. 20Q 



of combinations which the insect world exhibits also in this re- 

 spect, seeinglhat in one single order at least four or five parallel 

 series of great natural families can be pointed out, presenting 

 so many cross combinations of characters in all their organic 

 systems, always different in type, always analogous in modifica- 

 tion, whilst the only other series of animals provided with true 

 limbs, in the modern creation, viz. Vertebrata, hardly exhibits 

 anything corresponding to this, except Marsupialia and Chon- 

 dropterygii. 



It has been explained above how the Elateridse, by degrees, 

 as their habits of life associate them less with timber and wood, 

 are less developed for flight and nocturnal life, and more for 

 "clicking" and daylight life. The two extreme points of this 

 development are indicated by Melasis and Campylus, which are 

 connected by an infinite series of transitions; and Campylus 

 approaches not a little to Cantharis. 



The development of the Elater-tyipe in the direction of flight 

 and night life is characterized by the following features : — ■ 



1. The eyes become smoother, so that at last the facets pro- 

 trude so little that they are not to be distinguished except when 

 strongly magnified, and the whole cornea becomes quite shiny. 



2. The sensitive pores of the antennae * are more closely ac- 

 cumulated on the lower part of both sides of the joints, whereby 

 well-defined poriferous spots are sometimes formed, usually 

 from the third or fourth joint. Such spots, however, are not 

 constantly distinguishable, except in Melanotus, Adrastus, Agri- 

 otes, Sericosomus, and Ludius. Amongst Diacanthi, D. ceneus is 

 distinguished by very small and little-depressed poriferous spots; 

 and amongst the species oi Athous, A. rhombeus is distinguished 

 by double spots — namely, besides a lower series beginning on 

 the third joint, also an upper series beginning on the fifth joint. 

 The gigantic tropical species of the genera Oxynopterus, Tetra^ 

 lobus, and Charitophyllus possess extensive naked poriferous 

 spots, particularly on the fan-branches of the male. 



3. The forehead is more rounded downwards towards the 

 mouth, the antennae are more closely approached to one an- 

 other, the prothorax is shortened, and the " springing-spine " 

 (mucro saltatorius) is more distinctly separated from the pro- 

 sternal spine ; the legs are more completely arranged for being 

 folded up and accommodated inside the margins of the body ; 

 the general outline of the body assumes a higher and at the 

 same time more elongated oval shape, the edges are rounded off, 



* See my treatise on Cerambycidae, Ann. <& Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 3, vol. xv. 

 Ann. ^ Mag. N. Hist, Ser. 3. Fo/. xviii. 15 



