96 COLEOPTERA. 



strength, hence such names as Goliath, Hercules, Samson, &c., 

 are pretty freely conferred upon them. 



SECTION OF HETEROMERANS. 



\Vc now arrive at the second great section of the Coleoptera 

 namely, the Heteromerans distinguished by having five joints 

 on the tarsi of each of the two front pairs of legs, but only four 

 on the two hind ones. They are all, without exception, vegetable 

 feeders ; and it may be said that every plant has appropriate 

 inhabitants selected from their numerous hosts 



First of this extensive series we must notice the Melasomes,* 

 remarkable as a group from the circumstance of their bodies being 

 almost invariably black, and thus adapted to the nocturnal habits 

 of the generality of the species. Many of them are wingless. 

 Others, provided with wings, are frequently met with, especially 

 towards night, in unfrequented parts of our houses ; they abound 

 in bakers' shops, corn-mills, and wherever farinaceous food is ob- 

 tainable ; they are likewise frequently to be met with in old walls, 

 and in other out-of-the-way situations. As a sample of the group 

 we may mention 



The Meal-grinders (Tencbrio molitor}, whose larvae, under the name of 

 meal-worms, are found abundantly in bran and flour, which they devour in 

 great quantities, and wherein they undergo their metamorphosis. These 

 grubs, being easily obtainable, are given as food to nightingales and other 

 small birds. 



A second numerous family is that of the Taxicornes, t so 

 called from the regularly beaded structure of their antennae. 

 These are generally found upon decaying fungi, such as grow 

 upon old trees, or else they lurk beneath the bark, while others 

 live upon the ground or under stones. 



The StenelytraJ form the next division. Many of these in- 

 habit trees, creeping beneath the bark, where, too, their progeny 

 is reared, while some are only found on flowers, or are appropriate 

 to different kinds of fungi or of mushrooms. 



The Trachelides, distinguished by the length and size of 

 their necks, are likewise found on plants, of which they eat the 

 leaves or suck the nectar from their flower-bells ; many of them 

 are remarkable for shamming death as soon as they are seized or 



* fj.^\as, melas, black ; <r&fj.a, soma, body. f rdts, taxis, regularity ; cornu, a horn 



or antenna. 

 'js, stenos, narronu; 2\vrpov, elutron, iuing-cover. rpc^Xos, trachelos, the neck. 



