54 COLEOPTERA. 



FAMILY III. Nilionidce. 



Head contracted behind ; antennae eleven-jointed, moniliform ; 

 apical joint ovoid ; thorax short and broad ; elytra broad, convex, 

 and covering the body. 



These are yellowish beetles of moderate size, which resemble 

 large Cocdnellidce in appearance. They feed on Boleti growing on 

 the trunks of trees, and simulate death when disturbed. They are 

 almost exclusively confined to tropical America. 



This and the following families of Heteromem are distinguished 

 from the Tenebrionidce, by the head being contracted behind, a 

 character which it will be unnecessary to notice further. 



FAMILY IV.Pythidce. 



Antennse eleven-jointed, filiform, generally thickened towards 

 the tips ; claws simple ; head triangular, or produced into a beak, 

 and overlapped by the thorax as far as the eyes. 



Another small family, the species of which are usually met 

 with under the bark of dead trees. Pytho Depressus, Linn., is 

 rather scarce everywhere, though found in most parts of Europe. 

 It is about half an inch long, and is of a shining black colour, 

 with red antennae and legs ; the elytra are blue or reddish, some- 

 times with blue tips ; and in specimens with reddish elytra the 

 thorax also is sometimes of the same colour. 



FAMILY V. Melandryidce. 



Antennae filiform, ten- or eleven- jointed, and generally some- 

 what thickened at the tips ; claws simple ; thorax generally rounded 

 at the sides; maxillary palpi very large, and serrated on the 

 inside. 



The Melandryidce generally live on rotten wood or on tree 

 fungi. It will suffice to mention one or two representative species. 

 Serropalpus Striatus, Fabr., is rather long and narrow, and is found 

 in most parts of Europe. It is brown, and about half an inch 

 long ; it feeds on pine and fir. Eustrophus Dermestoides, Fabr., on 

 theTother hand, another common brown species which is found in 

 the wood of the oak and beech, is of a short oval form, and about 

 a quarter of an inch long. The species of Melandrya, Fabr., are 

 black or dark blue, and about twice as long as broad. 



