THE 

 FOURTH FAMILY 



OF 



PENTAMEROUS COLEOPTERA, 



Clavicobnes, 



Having, like the preceding, four palpi, and cases covering 

 the upper part of the abdomen, or its greater portion, differ 

 from it by having the antennae almost always thicker towards 

 their extremity, often even in a perfoliate or solid knob. 

 They are longer than the maxillary palpi, with the base 

 naked, or hardly covered. The feet are not adapted for swim- 

 ming, and the articulations of the tarsi, or at least those of 

 the hinder ones, are usually entire. 



They subsist, at all events in the first state, on animal sub- 

 stances. 



We shall divide this family into two sections, the first of 

 which shall have for common characters : — antennae always 

 composed of eleven articulations, longer than the head, not 

 forming from the third any fusiform or almost cylindrical 

 knob ; their second articulation not dilated in the manner of 

 an earlet. The last articulation of the tarsi, as well as its 

 crotchets, of moderate length, or small. These clavicornes 

 live out of the water, while those of the second section are 

 aquatic, or fluvial, and thus conduct us to the palpicornes, 



