INSECTA. 
444 
lar joint of the same size ; the second and third joints of the antennae 
nearly equal, and the terminal club elongated, with loose joints; no 
depression in the thorax anteriorly. 
N violacea, Oliv., Col., lb., 76, bis, 1, 1 ; Dermestes violaceus, 
L. Small ; violet-blue or greenish, with similarly coloured legs ; 
elytra, with longitudinal series of punctures. Very common in 
houses in the spring ; it is also found in carrion *. 
We will terminate this tribe with a subgenus in which the two 
penultim.ate joints’ of the antennae, more or less dilated internally 
in the form of teeth, compose with the last, Avhich is oval, a serrated 
or semipectinated club. The palpi are terminated by a larger joint, 
either in the form of an elongated or compressed triangle, or secu- 
riform. Such are those which form the 
Enoplium, Lat . — Tillus, Oliv. Fab. — Corynetes, Fab. | 
The type of the fifth tribe of the Malacodermi, or the Ptinio- 
RES, consists of the genus Plinus of Linnaeus, and of some other 
genera depending on, or Avhich most closely approach it. The body 
of these Insects is of a tolerably firm consistence, sometimes almost 
ovoid or oval, and at others nearly cylindrical, but generally short 
and rounded at the two extremities. The head is nearly globular or 
orbicular, and almost entirely received into a strongly arched or 
vaulted thorax, resembling a hood. The antennae of some are 
filiform, or diminished towards the end, and are either simple, flabel- 
liform, pectinated, or serrated ; those of others terminate suddenly by 
three larger and much longer joints. The mandibles are short, thick, 
and dentated under the point. The palpi are very short and termi- 
nated by a larger and almost ovoid joint, or like a reversed triangle. 
The tibiae are not dentated, and the spurs at the extremities are very 
small. There is but little variety in their colours, which are always 
dark. They are very small. When touched they counterfeit death, 
lower their heads, incline their antennae, and contract their feet; in 
this apparent state of lethargy they remain for some time. Their 
motions are generally slow, and those that are winged rarely take to 
flight to escape. Their larvae are very noxious to us, and bear a great 
resemblance to those of the Scarabaeides. Their body, frequently 
curved into an arc, is soft and whitish ; the head and feet are brown 
and squamous. Their mandibles are strong. With fragments of 
various substances, which they detach by gnawing, they construct a 
shell in which they become nymphs. Other species establish their 
* See Olivier, genus Necrohie and Schoenh., Synon. Insect. 1, 2, p. 50. 
Tillus serraticornis,' Coll. II, 22, 1, 2; — T. Weberi, Fab.; — T. damicornis, 
Id. ; — T. dermesto'ides, Scheff., Elem. Entom,, 138 ; — Corynetes sanguinicollis, Fab. 
See Schoenh., Synon. Insect., I, 2, p. 46. 
