S32 NATURAL ARRANGKMENr OF INSECTS. 



(294.) Our next family^ the MordelUdce, is also of 

 limited extent, although more numerous than the pre- 

 ceding. They are usually small gibbous or humped 

 insects, their longitudinal section exhibiting the segment 

 of a circle. They are frequently large and thick in 

 front, and much attenuated behind ; and in many, as in 

 the genuine Mordella, that extremity terminating in an 

 exserted ovipositor. They are all very active creatures, 

 flying with great velocity and promptitude, and to 

 facilitate this, in many genera, the elytra are attenuated 

 and abbreviated, as in Rhvpiphorus, Emenadia, Myo- 

 dites, &c., — the former of which is parasitical in the 

 nests of wasps, and all, in the males, have flabellated 

 antennae ; and the last is so active in its motions, and 

 its elytra are so abbreviated, that it has received its 

 name in allusion to these circumstances. It is with 

 these insects that Sundeval's extraordinary genus 

 Symbius, which is parasitical upon the Bluttce, must be 

 associated, — the females of which, like those of Drihi-i, 

 are destitute of wings and elytra, or even their indica- 

 tion. The species of Mordella are gaily decorated with 

 markings, usually white upon a black silky ground ; 

 Orchesia has the power of jumping ; and Pekcotonm 

 contains the largest in the family, which excessively 

 rarely reach an inch in length ; the majority are minute, 

 varying from two to four lines. The most of them 

 have spurs at the extremity of their long legs ; and they 

 are found almost exclusively upon flowers. 



(295.) Our next family, Lycus and its affinities, if 

 it should really form a distinct family, or, rather, a 

 constituent of our first family, the Lampyridce, consists, 

 also, of but few insects. This circumstance strengthens 

 our supposition that the requisite analysis will place the 

 CleridcB here, and remove these to where we have just 

 suggested. They are very flat insects ; and some, 

 especially the African genus Lycus, have the elytra in 

 the males enlarged, and circularly developed on each 

 side. In Catopteron, these organs are not wider than 

 the thorax at the base, but gradually enlarge towards 



