ORDER COLEOPTERA. 329 



or almost nothing. The tarsi are filiform. {Cyphon palus^ 

 tris, Germ. ibid. IV. 3.) 



The second tribe of Malacodermi, that of Lampyrides, 

 is distinguished from the preceding by the swelling which 

 terminates their palpi, or at least the maxillary ones ; by their 

 body, which is always soft, straight, depressed, or but little 

 convex, and the corslet, sometimes semi-circular, sometimes 

 almost square, or in the form of a trapezium, advances on 

 the head, which it covers entirely, or in part. The mandi- 

 bles are generally small, terminating in a slender, arched, 

 and very acute point, entire at the end in the majority. The 

 penultimate articulation of the tarsi is always bilobate, and 

 the crotchets of the last are neither denticulated, nor have 

 they any appendages. 



The females of some of them are deprived of wings, or 

 have only very short elytra. 



When these insects are seized they fold back their antennae 

 and feet against their body, and make no motion, just as if 

 they were dead. Many, in this case, curve the abdomen 

 underneath. They comprehend the genus 



Lampyris, Lin. 



Antennae very much approximated at their base ; head 

 either uncovered and prolonged interiorly, in the manner of 

 a muzzle, or concealed entirely, or far the greater part under 

 the corslet, with the eyes large and globular in the males, 

 and the mouth small ; such are the essential characteristics 

 of a first division of this tribe, which we shall divide into 

 those of which neither of the sexes is phosphorescent, and 

 those whose females at least enjoy this property. All the 

 individuals of the first are winged, have the head uncovered, 

 often narrowed and advanced in front, or in the form of a 

 muzzle, and the corslet widened posteriorly, with the lateral 

 angles painted. The two or three last rings of the abdomen do 



