THE CLERID^. 333 



the apex, -where they are considerably wider than the 

 body. The legs and the elytra are usually considerably 

 compressed, — the latter dilated and serrated, and inserted 

 closely together upon the face or forehead ; but in the 

 Nepaul Tylocerus, their basal and terminal joints are 

 greatly enlarged. In Dictyoptera, the body is linear, 

 as also in Omalisus ; and in Lycus the thighs are con- 

 siderably thickened, and the head prolonged in front 

 into a porrected snout, with the palpi very conspi- 

 cuously exposed. Many of these insects are sub-cortical 

 feeders, and almost all are gaily coloured. 



(296.) ^Vg have already hazarded the suggestion 

 that the Cleridm should occupy the present situation of 

 the preceding family, and those be transposed into the 

 circle of the Lampyridce ; in which case we should have 

 another direct connection with the Predutores in this 

 group. They have also a very close and intimate con- 

 nection with Dasytes, in our second family. This is, 

 perhaps, one of the prettiest families of the Coleoptera, 

 They are tolerably uniform in figure, but present con- 

 siderable differences in the structure of their antennae, 

 palpi, and tarsi : their most typical forms exhibit the 

 former clavate — the clava being constructed of the three 

 last joints, — the palpi securiform, and the tarsi penta- 

 j merous. But we have here, perhaps, the greatest suc- 

 cession of changes and difterences of combination in 

 these organs, of any extant, in so small a family, through- 

 out the Coleoptera. They are very gaily diversified in 

 their markings, — presenting us with rich blues and 

 pui-ples, agreeable greens, vivid carmines, and pale 

 vermilions, in all kinds of combinations and spots, 

 with bars of white or yellow, and very generally 

 considerable metallic brilliancy. In those which have 

 distinctly five joints to the tarsi, Priocera has serrated 

 antennse, with the labial palpi securiform ; Cylidrus 

 has the seven terminal joints only serrated ; Axina and 

 Tillus, with the antennae gradually enlarging to the 

 apex, but the latter differing from the former, in all the 

 palpi terminating in a securiform jouit; and Eurypus, 



