COLEOPTERA. 403 



These Insects, however, are easily distinguished from other Hete- 

 romera of the same family, by the general conformation of their 

 body, which is elevated and arcuated; the head is low, the thorax 

 trapezoidal or semicircular, and the elytra are very short or nar- 

 rowed, and terminate in a point, like the abdomen. They form the 

 genus 



MoRDELLA, Lin. 

 In Mordella properly so called, the antennae are of equal thickness through- 

 out, and somewhat sen-ated in the males; all the joints of the tarsi are entire, 

 and the hooks of the last present one or two indentations beneath. The 

 eyes are not emarginate. 



The subgenera are Ripiphorus, Myodites, Pelocotoma, and Anaspis. 



In the fourth tribe, that of the Anthicides, we find the antennae 

 simple or slightly serrate, filiform, or a little thicker towards the 

 extremity, most of the joints being nearly obconical and almost 

 similar, with the exception of the last, which is somewhat larger 

 and oval. The thorax is sometimes obovoid, narrowed and trun- 

 cated posteriorly, sometimes divided into two knots, and at others 

 semicircular. Some of these Insects are found on various plants, 

 but the greater number live on the ground. They run with great 

 quickness. Their larvae are perhaps parasitical. 



They will compose the genus 



NoToxus, Geoff. 

 In Notoxus properly so called, the antennse enlarge insensibly and are al- 

 most entirely composed of obconical joints, and the thorax is obovoid, nar- 

 rowed and truncated posteriorly, or divided into two globular points. 



The two last tribes of this family and of the section of the Hete- 

 romera present certain common characters, such as mandibles ter- 

 minating in a simple point, &c. In a perfect state they are all 

 herbivorous, but several, in their first state, or that of larvas, are 

 parasitical. 



The Horiales, composing the fifth tribe, differ from those which 

 constitute the sixth, or the Cantharidise, in their hooks, which are 

 indented and accompanied (each) by a serrated appendage. These 

 Insects have filiform antennai, as long, at mosi, as the thorax, a 

 small labrum, strong and salient mandibles, filiform palpi, square 

 thorax, and very robust posterior legs, at least in one of the sexes^ 



