olO NATURAL ARRANGEMENT OF INSECTS, 



the aberrant groups, however, there are several modifi- 

 cations, more or less influenced by their affinity to in- 

 sects beyond their own circle, and by the analogies they 

 bear to others. The great majority of the Monilicorncs 

 live upon the leaves of plants; but there is an extraor- 

 dinary exception in regard to the Coccinellince, or lady- 

 birds, whose larvae are carnivorous, — feeding most vora- 

 ciously, as is well known, upon the Aphides, or plant lice. 

 This is another marked instance, within this order, 

 of herbivorous and raptorial insects being actually as- 

 sociated in the same group ; and yet, that they follow 

 each other in a natural series, there can be no doubt. 

 This carnivorous propensity seems to be shared also 

 by the Hispklce, but is quite unknown among the larvae 

 of the other families. Did our space permit, it would 

 not be difficult to show that the ladybirds correspond 

 in their own circle to the predatorial tribe, just as the 

 Cassidce represent the Lamellicornes. 



(277-) The three aberrant families which we consider 

 as more or less connected with the two preceding, are the 

 Clythridtp, the Erotylidce, and the Hispidce, — each differ- 

 ing, in a striking manner, from the other, both in their 

 larva and perfect state, yet all possessing certain cha- 

 racters by which they approximate to the typical structure. 

 In regard to Cryptocephalus, it is impossible to determine, 

 without analysis, whether the insects form a part of the 

 Chryso77ie!>dce, or of a distinct family. The nature of their 

 larvae, which is stated to be unknown*, might help us to 

 determine this question. However this may be, we 

 have no doubt that the genus Clythra is the type of a dis- 

 tinct family, analogous to i\\e Acrocinince by the elongated 

 fore-legs of the perfect insect, and to the Hesperid<z by 

 their larvae : the species are few, and are remarkable for 

 the large size of their heads. The ErotylidcB are the 

 largest insects contained in this tribe, and differ so much 

 among themselves, that, from not having been properly 

 analysed, we cannot separate the true from the false 



* Griff. Cuv., p. 146. 



