468 INSECT A. 



the principles which have guided us in the division of this 

 family. 



In some, the antennae are approximated to the eyes, and 

 the head is not prolonged in the manner of a proboscis, but 

 terminated at most by a very short snout. They will form 

 our four first tribes. 



Those of the first or the Helopii, have their antennae 

 covered at base by the margin of the head ; they are gene- 

 rally filiform or slightly thickened towards the extremity, 

 generally composed of almost cylindrical joints attenuated at 

 base, of whicli the penultimate ones are frequently a little 

 shorter, and in the form of a reversed cone, and the last is 

 usually almost ovoid ; the third is always elongated. The 

 extremity of the mandibles is bifid; the last joint of the max- 

 illary palpi is larger and securiform, or in the figure of a re- 

 versed triangle ; the eyes are oblong, and reniform or emar- 

 ginated. None of the legs are fitted for leaping ; the penul- 

 timate joint of the tarsi, or at least of the last ones, is almost 

 always entire or not deeply emarginate ; their terminal hooks 

 are simple, or without fissure or dentation ; the body is most 

 commonly arcuated above, and always solid and firm. 



Such of the larva? as are known to us are smooth, filiform 

 and glossy, with very short legs, like that of a Tenebrio. 

 They are found in old wood, and the perfect Insect lives un- 

 der the bark of trees. 



This tribe mostly corresponds to the genus 



Helops, Fab. 



In some, ihe body is almost elliptical, strongly arcuated above, or 

 very convex; the antennae, at most, as long as the thorax, compress- 

 ed, and dilated like the teeth of a saw towards the extremity; the 

 thorax is transversal, plane above, either trapezoidal and becom- 

 ing widened posteriorly, or almost square; and the elytra frequently 

 terminate in a point or by a tooth. The posterior extremity of the 

 presternum projects in a little point, which is received into a fork- 

 ed emargination of the mesosternum. 



In these the mentum is broad, and conceals the origin of the max- 

 illae. The middle of the posterior extremity of the thorax projects 



