OllDER COLEOPTERA. 315 



groove in which those insects lodge, in part, their antennae, 

 which are pectinated, or in long barbs, in many males. The 

 females have at the anus a sort of long auger, with two 

 lateral pieces, pointed at the end, between which is the ovi- 

 d actus, properly so called. 



These insects remain on flowers, plants, and even on the 

 ground, or turf ; they lower the head in walking, and when 

 they are approached they suffer themselves to fall to the 

 ground, applying their feet under the lower part of the 

 body. 



De Geer has described the larva of a species of this genus 

 {undulatus). It is long, almost cylindrical, provided with 

 small antennae with palpi, with six feet, and has twelve rings 

 covered with a scaly skin, of which, that of the posterior ex- 

 tremity forms a plate bordered and angidar on the edges, 

 with two blunt points, and curved within ; tmderneath is 

 a thick, fleshy and retractile nipple, which performs the office 

 of a foot. It lives in the sort of loam formed by rotten 

 wood ; it is also found in the earth. It even appears that 

 that of the E. Striatus, of Fabricius, gnaws the roots of 

 corn, and causes much injury when it multiplies. 



The stomach of the elater is long, wrinkled crosswise, and 

 sometimes swelled at the lower part. The intestine is mo- 

 derate. 



We may refer to two principal divisions the various sub- 

 genera which have been formed in this tribe. Those whose 

 antennae can lodge entirely in the lower cavities of the corslet 

 will compose the first. 



Sometimes they are received on each side in a longitudinal 

 groove, formed immediately under the lateral edges of the 

 corslet, and always filiform, and simply serrated. The arti- 

 culations of the tarsi are always entire, and without elonga- 

 tions, in the form of a palette underneath. The corslet is 



