COLEOPTERA. 341 



Buprestides, and the posterior anjijles of the thorax are prolonged 

 into a sharp point, in the form of a spine. 



The common French name pf these Insects is Scarabees a ressort, 

 and their Latin one, Notopeda, Elater. When placed on their back, 

 finding it impossible to regain their natural position on account of the 

 shortness of their legs, they bound perpendicularly upwards until 

 they fall on their feet. To execute this motion, they press the latter 

 close to the body, lower their head and thorax, which has a free 

 downward motion, then approximating this last to the postpectus, 

 they forcibly press the point of the prsesternum against the margin 

 of the hole situated before the mesosternum, into which it sinks 

 suddenly, as if by a spring. The thorax and its lateral points, 

 the head and elytra, being violently propelled against the plane of 

 position, particularly if it be solid and smooth, concur by their elas- 

 ticity in causing the body to bound upwards. The sides of the prae- 

 sternum are distinguished by a groove, where the antennae, which 

 are pectinated or bearded in several males, are partly lodged. The 

 females have a species of elongated ovipositor with two lateral 

 pieces pointed at the end, between which is the true oviduct. 



The Elaterides are found on flowers, plants, and even on the 

 ground; they lower their head in walking, and if any one approaches 

 let themselves fall, pressing their legs against their body. 



De Geer has described the larva of a species (undidatus) of this 

 genus. It is long, almost cylindrical, and provided with small an- 

 tennae, palpi, and six feet; it consists of twelve annuli, covered with 

 a scaly skin, that of the posterior extremity forming a plate with an 

 elevated and angular margin, with two blunt points curved inwards; 

 underneath is a large fleshy and retractile mammilla, which performs 

 the duty of a foot. It inhabits the debris of rotten wood, and is also 

 found in the earth. It even appears that the larvae of the E.striatus, 

 Fab., attack the roots of the Wheat, atid, where they exist in great 

 numbers, do much injury to it. 



The stomach of the Elaterides is long, transversely rugose, and 

 its posterior portion sometimes inflated; their intestine is moderate. 



The various subgenera of this tribe may be referred to two prin- 

 cipal divisions. Those where the antennae can be entirely received 

 into the inferior cavities of the thorax constitute the first. 



Sometimes they are received, on each side, into a longitudinal 

 groove, situated directly under the lateral edges of the thorax, and 

 are always filiform and simply serrated. The joints of the tarsi are 

 always entire, without prolongations, and in the form of a palette 

 underneath. The thorax is convex or arched, at least on the sides, 

 and dilates at the posterior angles in the manner of a lobe, pointed 

 or triangular. These Insects approach the Buprestides. 



