of some Coleopterous Larvcc, Sfc. 37 



winter. I am not aware that the larvae cut out cocoons in the 

 curious way in which those of the B. agaricola form theirs, as 

 observed by Mr. L. Dufour,* for I have not even seen the pupa. 

 The larvae are very active when taken from their cells, curling 

 and jerking their bodies about when touched. They seem to 

 differ from those of 5. agaricola in having a styliform tail. I was 

 unable to give a highly magnified figure of the mentum with the 

 lateral palpi, from having lost that portion in dissecting the head. 



Family CUCUJID^. 

 Genus Prostomis, Lat= (Plate V. figs. 23 and 24. 

 Sp. 5. P. Mandihularls, Fab. 

 Very depressed, elongate, white, shining, with a few scattered 

 hairs. Head transverse, being twice as broad as long; eyes none 

 (fig. 25). Mouth prominent, ferruginous; labrum semi-orbicular, 

 fringed with bristles (fig. 26). Mandibles not large, crossing, out- 

 line sinuated, terminating in two sharp teeth, black at their tips, one 

 mandible having a strong tooth towards the base (fig. 27). Maxillae 

 terminated by an oval lobe, irregularly fringed with bristly spines. 

 Palpi composed of two oval and an elongated elliptical joint (fig. 

 28a). Mentum elongated, produced into a lobe in front, furnished 

 with two parallel bristles. Palpi filiform, biarticulate, basal joint 

 oblong; 2nd smaller, oval, with a bristle at the tip (fig. 29). An- 

 tennae not short, placed on the anterior margin of the head, very 

 remote, and not approaching the mandibles ; they are quadriarti- 

 culate, the basal joint forming an ample scape, 2nd joint some- 

 what cup-shaped, 3rd elongate obconic, with a minute conical lobe 

 at the apex, Ith joint placed close behind it, nearly as long as the 

 3rd, but slender and linear, with a few bristles at the apex (fig. 

 30). Thorax narrower than the head, with the alimentary canal 

 shining through of an ochreous colour, often becoming black along 

 the back ; the prothorax and mesothorax are transverse oval, 

 being united by a neck, which forms a projecting angle or acute 

 tooth on each side ; metathorax transverse, but narrowed only at 

 the base. Abdomen formed of nine distinct segments, seven much 

 broader than long, with two faint long spots on each, forming two 

 lines down the back, 8th joint narrower, tapering, apical joint sub- 

 orbicular, with two conical protuberances at the extremity, form- 

 ing a concavity between them ; the margins appearing tubercled 

 when greatly magnified (fig. 31). Legs short and stout; coxae 

 sub-globose ; thighs very clavate, tibiae sub-ovate, with short 

 spiny bristles ; claws strong but very acute (fig. 32). 



• Ann. des Sci. Nat. 2nd Series, vol. xx. p. 284, pi. 12, B. 



