372 INSECT A. 



essentially from the first in the posterior stylet of the praesternum? 

 which terminates in a laterally compressed point, frequently some- 

 what arcuated and unidentate, that sinks at the will of the animal 

 into a cavity of the pectus, situated immediately above the origin of 

 the second pair of legs; and in the circumstance, that these Insects 

 when placed on their back have the faculty of regaining their origi- 

 nal position by bounding upwards. Most of them have mandibles 

 emarginated or cleft at the end, palpi terminated by a triangular or 

 securiform joint, much larger than those which precede it, and the 

 joints of the tarsi entire. This tribe only comprises the genus 



ELATER, Lin. 



The body is usually narrower and more elongated than that of the Bupres- 

 tides, and the posterior angles of the thorax are prolonged into a sharp 

 point, in the form of a spine. 



The common French name of these Insects is Scarab^es a ressort, and their 

 Latin one, Notopeda, Elater. When placed on their back, finding it imposs- 

 ible to regain their natural position on account of the shortness of their 

 legs, they bound perpendicularly upwards until they fall on their feet. To 

 execute this motion, they press the latter close to the body, lower their 

 head and thorax, which has a free downward motion, then approximating 

 this last to the postpectus, they forcibly press the point of the praesternum 

 against the margin of the hole situated before the mesosternum, into which 

 it sinks suddenly, as if by a spring. The thorax and its lateral points, the 

 head and elytra, being violently propelled against the plane of position, 

 particularly if it be solid and smooth, concur by their elasticity in causing 

 the body to bound upwards. The sides of the prsesternum are distinguished 

 by a groove, where the antennae, which are pectinated or bearded in seve- 

 ral males, are partly lodged. The females have a species of elongated 

 ovipositor with two lateral pieces pointed at the end, between which is the 

 true oviduct. 



The Elaterides are found on flowers, plants, and even on the ground; 

 they lower their head in walking, and if any one approaches, let themselves 

 fall, pressing their legs against their body. 



The various subgenera of this tribe may be referred to two principal 

 divisions. Those where the antennae can be entirely received into the in- 

 ferior cavities of the thorax constitute the first. 



The second division includes all those whose antennae are exterior or 

 exposed. 



ELATER, properly so called. 

 The antennae of the males are simply serrated. 



E. noctilucus, L. Rather more than an inch long; dusky-brown, with a 

 cinereous down; a convex, yellow, round, shining spot on each side of the 



