THE BUPRESTID^. 245 



of the Lamellicornes, and^ consequently, possess the 

 fewest of the typical characters. Their external aspect 

 is sufficient, at once, to prevent their being confounded 

 with any other group : it is, in fact, so peculiar, that 

 none but an entomologist would detect their affinity to 

 the floral beetles. The body is remarkably long, and, 

 generally, very narrow behind ; while the head and 

 thorax are short, — the former being remarkably obtuse 

 and broad. The tarsi have, generally, five distinct 

 joints ; but, then, they are often so dilated, as to appear, 

 at first sight, similar to those of the Curculionidce and 

 other tetramerous genera : in some of the African 

 types of Buprestis, there appear to be only four tarsal 

 joints ; the fifth, or claw joint, being so small as to be 

 nearly hid under the penultimate one. In truth, how- 

 ever, the variations are so great in this single sub- 

 family, that no stress can be laid on these characters, 

 drawn from these parts only, for defining the whole. 

 It may be a question whether the Buprestis or the 

 Elater are the pre-eminent type of this family ; for, 

 although abundantly distinct, they are yet most inti- 

 mately united. The first, however, is by far the most 

 numerous both in species and in forms ; and, as this 

 is almost universally the case in groups pre-eminently 

 typical, we are disposed to consider the sub-family 

 Buprestinee in this light. They are the most richly 

 coloured, as a whole, of all the tribe. But, here, 

 almost every indication of lamellicorn antennae dis- 

 appear : some large and fine species of Elater, indeed, 

 have these organs fan-shaped, or flabelliform ; but, in 

 no case, are they angulated, as if broken, similar to the 

 other lamellicorn families. These two typical groups 

 present as great a diversity, in their respective colours, 

 as the LucanincB and the Lamprimince. The Bupres- 

 tincB, with very few exceptions, are richly glossed V)^ith 

 metallic shades of green and blue ; while the Elaterince 

 are almost universally devoid of any bright colours. 

 The peculiar powers of leaping, possessed by these 

 latter insects, Avhen laid upon their backs, is without 



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