ORDER COLEOPTERA. 399 



mandibles are bifid or emarginated at their extremity. Their 

 tarsi seem to be composed but of four articulations, the first 

 and the following one, in some, not being apparent except un- 

 derneath, and forming there but a small projection, the penult 

 in the others being very small, and in the form of a knot, 

 enclosed between the lobes of the preceding. The knob of 

 the antennas is always perfoliate, of three or two articula- 

 tions, and usually short, or but little elongated. 



The palpi are short, filiform, or a little thicker at their 

 extremity. The elytra are short or truncated in many. The 

 feet are but little elongated, with the legs often widened at 

 their extremity, and the tarsi furnished with hairs or cushions. 

 The habitation of these insects varies according to the spe- 

 cies : they are found on flowers, in mushrooms, corrupted 

 meat, and under the bark of trees. They form the genus 



NiTIDULA. 



In some the knob of the antennae has but two articulations, 

 and the fore part of the head advances in the manner of a 

 semi-circular hood, flatted, covering the mandibles, and the 

 other parts of the mouth. 



CoLOBicus, Latr. . 



In this sub-genus and the following, the tarsi, proceeding 

 from the point in which they are mobile, seem to have but 

 four articulations, of which the first three are much shorter 

 than the last, entire, and simply furnished underneath with 

 hairs, in greater or less abundance, as well as in many of the 

 Cleri of Olivier ; the first, properly so called, appears only 

 below, and makes there a slight projection. It is also fur- 

 nished with hairs. The palpi of Colobicus, and those of the 

 following sub-genus, are terminated by an articulation a little 

 thicker than the preceding. 



In the other Nitidularia, the knob of the antennae is of 



