COLEOPTERA. 351 



ScYRTEs, Lat. — Cyphon, Fab. 



Thighs of the posterior legs very large, and the tibiae terminated 

 by two stout spurs, one of which is very long, a circumstance which 

 enables these Insects to leap. The labial palpi are forked, and the 

 first joint of the posterior tarsi is as long as all the others taken to- 

 gether(l). 



In those, all the joints of the tarsi are entire. 



Nycteus, Lat. — Hamaxohium, Zieg. — Eucynetus, Schiip. 



The third joint of the antenna; very small, and much shorter than 

 the second and following one, the last almost granosej the four ti- 

 biae terminated by two very distinct spurs; the tarsi long, and more 

 slender towards the extremity(2)". 



EuBRiAj Zieg. Dej. 



The antennae slightly serrated, the second joint very small, the 

 two following ones largest of all, and the last somewhat emarginate 

 at the end, and tapering to a point; spurs of the tibiae very small, or 

 nearly null; tarsi filiform(3). 



The second tribe of the Malacodermi, or that of the Lam- 

 PYRTDES, is distinguished from the first by the enlarged ter- 

 mination of the palpi, or at least those of the maxillse, by their 

 always soft, straight, depressed, or but slightly convex body, 

 and by the thorax, sometimes semicircular, and at others 

 nearly square or trapezoidal, that projects over the head, 

 which it either entirely or partially covers. The mandibles are 

 usually small, and terminate in a slender, arcuated, very acute 

 point, tbat is generally entire. The penultimate joint of the 

 tarsi is always bilobate, and the crotchets of the last have nei- 

 ther dentations nor appendages. 



The females of some are apterous, or have but very short 

 elytra. 



When seized, these Insects press their feet and antennae 

 against their body, and remain as motionless as if they were 



(1) The second division of Cyphon, Fab. See the Catalog-ue, &c. of Dejean. 



(2) Eucynetus hwmorrhoidalis. Germ., Faun. Insect. Europ. V, ii. See Catal., 

 &c., Dej. 



(3) Cyphon palustris, Germ., lb. IV, 3. 



