324 NATURAL ARRANGEMENT OF INSECTS. 



retain the normal number of eleven joints, are not 

 outvied in their beauty by the last, for here each joint 

 emits a double convoluted feather. In Lamprocera, 

 which also throws out from each joint a double branch, 

 these are porrect and divergent ; but in others, the 

 antennae are simple. In the typical Lampyris, the 

 females are apterous ; and in the proximate Phosphcenes 

 the elytra are abbreviated : in Luciola, they are entire ; 

 and the species of the latter are sometimes so prolific, 

 that on a summer's night they completely fill the air, 

 and sparkle about in their erratic vagaries, presenting 

 an agreeable spectacle, and one which the Luciola Italica 

 constantly exhibits to our absentee countrymen. Species 

 of the three last are those which chiefly occur in 

 Europe ; the type, only, ranging as far north as our 

 island. Tropical countries, and especially South Ame- 

 rica, seems to exuberate in them ; thus compensating in 

 an additional instance, in those regions, by the prolific 

 energy of physical phenomena and powers, for the 

 debasement and enervation of intellectual and moral 

 characteristics. Like the neighbouring genus Drilus, 

 Lampyris feeds upon snails ; and the former genus is 

 remarkable for its fleshy larva-form female, which, we 

 believe, wholly lives within the shells of snails. 



(291.) Passing to the next family, we appear to enter 

 it by its pentamerous division, or those insects which 

 have the greatest affinity to the preceding. We thus 

 proceed by means of Telephorus, a genus of universal 

 distribution : Malthinus is distinguished for its abbre- 

 viated elytra and prominent eyes ; and in the next 

 sub-family, the MelyrinfB^ we observe Malachius, which 

 has the power of projecting from various parts of its 

 thorax, under excitement and irritation, large fleshy ve- 

 sicular appendages, the uses of which are not correctly 

 known. By means of the next sub- family, the Dasytes, 

 we have an intimation of the proximity of the Cleri to 

 this circle, if not constituting a family of it : a very 

 easy transition is effected from the Tekpkorina to the 

 typical heteromerous Cantharidce ; for ia general habit 



