olO CLASS INSECTA. 



We shall divide tiie Sternoxi into two tribes. 



The first, that of Buprestides, has the posterior pro- 

 jection of the praesternum flatted, and not terminated in a 

 point laterally compressed, and simply received in a depres- 

 sion or in an emargination of the mesosternum. The man- 

 dibles often terminate in an entire point, or without emar- 

 gination or fissure. The posterior angles of the corslet are 

 either not at all, or very little prolonged. The last articu- 

 lation of the palpi is most frequently almost cylindrical, a 

 little thicker than the preceding, and globular, or ovoid in 

 the others. The most part of those of the tarsi are com- 

 monly broad, or dilated, and furnished underneath with 

 small pellets. These insects do not leap, a character which 

 eminently distinguishes them from those of the following 

 tribe.* 



They compose the genus 



BupRESTis, of Linnaeus. 



The generic denomination of Richard, given by M. Geof- 

 froy, to these coleoptera, announces to us the beauty of 

 their clothing. Many indigenous species, and many exotic, 

 otherwise remarkable for the greatness of their size, and the 

 brilliancy of polished gold on a ground of emerald ; in 

 others, azure shines over the gold, where many other metallic 

 colours are united. Their body, in general, is oval, a little 

 broader, and more obtuse or truncated in front, and nar- 

 rowed behind from the base of the abdomen, which occupies 

 the greatest part of its length. The eyes are oval, and the 

 corslet is short and broad. The scutellum is small or nulli- 

 fied. The extremity of the elytra is more or less denticu- 

 lated in a great number. The feet are short. 



* The insects of this tribe differ moreover from all the others of this 

 family, by their vesicular trachea, while they are tubular in the other serri- 

 corncs. See the anatomical observations of M. Leon Dufour. 



