COLEOPTERA. 417 



but very brilliant colour, green, golden, or a fulgid-red, with a slight mix- 

 ture of violet. 

 There are three subgenera, Megalopus, Orsodacna and Psammoecus. 



The second tribe, or that of the CRIOCERIDES, is distinguished 

 from the preceding by the mandibles, the extremity of which is 

 truncated or presents two or three teeth, and by the ligula, which is 

 entire or but slightly emarginated. 



It is composed of the genus 



CRIOCERIS, Geoff. 



Which is now divided into Donada y Haemonia, Petauristes, Crioceria pro- 

 per, &c. 



FAMILY VL 



CYCLICA. 



In our sixth family of the Tetramera, where the three first joints 

 of the tarsi are still spongy, or furnished with pellets beneath, with 

 the penultimate divided into two lobes, and where the antennae are 

 filiform or somewhat thicker towards the end, we observe a body 

 usually rounded, and in those few where it is oblong, with the base 

 of the thorax of the width of the elytra and maxillae, whose exterior 

 division, by its narrow, almost cylindrical form and darker colour,, 

 has the appearance of a palpus; the interior division is broader and 

 destitute of the little squamous nail. The ligula is almost square or 

 oval, entire or widely emarginated. 



These Insects are generally small, and are frequently ornamented 

 with brilliant and metallic colours; their body is smooth or destitute 

 of hairs. They are mostly slow and timid, letting themselves fall 

 to the ground the moment we attempt to seize them, or folding their 

 antennae and feet close to their body. Several species are good 

 jumpers. The females are extremely prolific. 



If we take into consideration the different habits of their larvae, 

 we will find that the Cyclica are divided into four principal sections: 



In the first, or the CASSIDARIJE, the antennae are inserted in the 



superior part of the head, and are approximated, straight, short, 



filiform and almost cylindrical, or gradually enlarged towards the 



extremity. The mouth, altogether underneath, and with short and 



3 C 



