COLEOPTERA. 457 



In the males of the last of the Pedini, the three first joints of the 

 two anterior tarsi, always strongly dilated, diminish progressively 

 in breadth, and the fourth is very small. The posterior thighs of 

 the same individuals are concave and silky underneath(l); the body 

 is oval and the thorax slightly bordered, widening from before pos- 

 teriorly or slightly narrowed behind, always terminated posteriorly 

 and insensibly by a prolonged and pointed angle. Such are the true 

 Pedini of Dejean or the Pedinus, Dej (2) 



There, the anterior margin of the head is entire or unemarginate 

 in several. The four anterior tarsi of the males are equally, or 

 almost equally dilated. The form of the body, and that of the tho- 

 rax in particular, is still similar to that of the last Pedini. 



Those, in which the anterior margin of the head still presents an 

 emargination, form the genus 



Blaptinus, Dej. (3) 



Those in which it is entire or unemarginate, the 

 Platyscelis, Lat.(4) 



We now come to Melasoma, provided with wings. Their 

 body is usually oval or oblong, depressed or but slightly ele- 

 vated ; their thorax square or trapezoidal, and its posterior 

 extremity as wide as the abdomen. The palpi are larger at 

 the extremity ; the last joint of the maxillary palpi has the 

 figure of a reversed triangle, or is securiform ; the mentum 

 is but slightly extended in width(5), and leaves the base of 

 the maxillae exposed. 



These Insects compose the third and last tribe of the 

 Melasoma, that of the Tenebrionites, formed of the single 

 genus 



(1) The underpart of the same thighs is also silky in the male Heliophili. 



(2) Catalogue, &c , Dej., p. 65. 



(3) Dej., Catalogue, See, p. 66. — Blaps tihidcns, Schoenh., Synon. Insect., I, i, 

 tab., ii, 8. 



(4) Dej., Ibid.; Fisch., Entomog. Russ., II, xx, 1 — 5. 



(5) The Epltragi, by their jaws, which are armed on the inner side with a 

 tooth, in a systematic arrangement, should be placed in this tribe; they would be 

 removed from all the subgenera of which it is composed, by their much larger 

 mentum that covers the origin of the maxillae: but in a natural order, it appears to 

 me tlicy should be placed near Helops. 



Vol. 111—3 H 



