322 NATURAL ARRANGEMENT OF INSECTS. 



have before observed, some difficulty arises in deciding 

 which of the two latter should stand in this situation. 

 The short obtuse head of the MordelUdcE, of equal 

 breadth, and almost sunk in tlie fore part of the thora?i, 

 is without parallel in this tribe, and immediately re- 

 minds us of the Elateridce and other analogous forms, — 

 a resemblance rendered doubly evident by the enlarge- 

 ment of the thorax. If the Cleri do not form a sub- 

 ordinate group in the family of the Cantharidce, then it 

 will take the place, in all probability, of Lycu.s, and 

 thus present a direct analogy to its prototype Bostrichus, 

 in the capricorn circle. If, on the other hand, Lycus 

 intervenes between Mordella and Lampyru.f, there are 

 not wanting species of the former, which, in their pec- 

 tinated and nearly serrated antennae, the rugosity of 

 their elytra, and the form of their thorax, render such a 

 passage in some degree probable. It is obvious, how- 

 ever, that, in the rapid manner we are now proceeding 

 (imposed upon us from the vastness of the subject), all 

 such minor difficulties must be left for analysis. If, 

 in constructing the tribe before us, we have brought 

 together the elements of a natural group, and thereby 

 placed, under one head, a multitude of insects now scat- 

 tered over the whole of the Coleoptera, our chief object 

 will be gained. The next step will be to analyse these 

 groups, and appropriate to each its respective genera and 

 sub-genera. This task must be undertaken by those 

 who confine their attention to small divisions, without 

 embracing, as we have done, the whole animal kingdom. 

 Although we shall not attempt, under these circum- 

 stances, to construct a regular table of analogies for this 

 tribe, there are, nevertheless, some resemblances which 

 are too striking to be passed over. Setting aside the 

 obvious similarity between Hispa and Lycus, which we 

 deem, for the present, an affinity, it is not a little 

 singular how strongly the Cassidce are represented by 

 the Lawpyridte : in both, the elytra project considerably 

 over the sides of the body, without embracing it ; and 

 in both^ the margins of the thorax are dilated so much 



