398 CLASS INSECT A. 



This tribe compose the genus 



SCAPHIDIUM. 



ScAPHiDiuM (Proper), Oliv. Fab. Silpha, Lin. 



The last five articulations of their antennae are almost glo- 

 bular, and compose the knob. The maxillary palpi are but 

 little prominent, and terminate gradually in a point, the 

 penultimate articulation being but little thicker than the last, 

 at their junction. The body has a navicular form, with the 

 corslet a little edged, and the cases truncated. They live in 

 mushrooms. But a small number of species are known, one 

 of which belongs to Cayenne, and the others to Europe. 



Choleva, Latr. Spence. Catops, Fab., Peltis, Geoff. 



Have the club of their antennae composed of articulations, 

 for the most part almost in the form of a whirligig, and more 

 or less perfoliate ; the maxillary palpi very prominent, and 

 terminated abruptly in the manner of an oval ; the body 

 ovoid, with the corslet plane, without edges. The first four 

 articulations of the anterior tarsi, and the first of the inter- 

 mediate, are dilated in the males of some species. {Catops 

 blapoides, Germ.) 



In the choleva, properly so called, the antennae are about 

 the length of the head and corslet ; their eighth articulation, 

 or the second of the knob, is sensibly shorter than the pre- 

 ceding and the following, and even sometimes but little 

 distinct. The last is semi-ovoid and pointed. In MyloechuSi 

 Latr. Oliv. Catops, Payk. Gyll., the antennas are shorter; 

 the eighth articulation is larger than the preceding, and 

 almost equal to the following ; the last is rounded and obtuse 

 at the top. 



The fifth tribe, that of Nitidularia, approaches that of 

 Silphales, in the buckler-formed and edged body, but the 



