BEETLES. 51 



eyes, and the three last joints forming a club ; tarsi generally five- 

 jointed, the first small, and the second and third large ; abdomen 

 with five segments, the first very large. 



A small family of wood-feeding beetles, which, like many other 

 wood-feeding insects, vary considerably in size within the same 

 species. Thus, Bostrichus Capucinus, Linn., varies from less than a 

 quarter of an inch to more than half an inch in length. It is 

 black, with the very coarsely punctured elytra and the abdomen 

 red. The genus Psoa, Herbst, is remarkable for the ramose 

 antennae of the male. P. Blanchardii, Luc., is an Algerian species, 

 about half an inch long ; it is of a shining black colour, with a 

 red dot on each side of the thorax ; there are also reddish bands 

 on the elytra near the suture, and the segments of the abdomen 

 are bordered with red below. The tarsi are apparently only four- 

 jointed. 



FAMILY IV. Cioidce. 



Body cylindrical ; head short, covered by the prothorax, and 

 retractile ; antennae eight- to eleven- jointed, inserted at the front 

 edge of the eyes, and terminated by a three- (or two-) jointed club ; 

 legs short, tarsi four- (rarely five-) jointed, the first small, but dis- 

 tinct, and the last long; abdomen with five segments, the last 

 longest. 



These are small beetles, of a brown or reddish-brown colour, 

 which are usually found in fungi, sometimes in great abundance. 

 Orophius Mandibularis, Gyll., is of a chestnut colour, and varies 

 from one-fifteenth to one-tenth of an inch in length. It frequents 

 fungi growing on trees. Cis Boleti, Linn., is a much commoner 

 species about the same size, which varies from black to yellowish 

 brown. 



SECTION IX. HETEROMERA. 



Body more or less oval, sometimes nearly round ; four front 

 tarsi five-jointed, hind tarsi four-jointed ; antennae moniliform, or 

 bead-like. 



The Heteromera are an extensive group, and many of the 

 species much resemble CaraUdce in shape and general appearance, 

 but they may always be easily distinguished by the peculiar 

 structure of the legs and antennae. 



