Systematic Course. 29 
black and yellow species they are likely to be white grubs which 
feed underground upon vegetable matter, In the case of one of 
the European species of Meloé, a genus which also occurs in India, 
the larve are parasitic upon bees and have a most complicated life 
history. Cantharide beetles are rematkable for their irritating 
secretions, which no doubt serve to protect them from being eaten by 
birds. In a dried state the beetles are used medicinally as irritants. 
The students should sketch a Mylabris beetle. 
Tenebrionida.—This is a large family of heteromerous beetles. All the 
common species are blackish in colour and some of them are liable to 
be mistaken for Carabidae. They can readily be distinguished from 
the Carabide by the structure of their tarsi. Most of the species 
are sluggish in their movements and many of them are said to have 
the power of emitting offensive secretions when disturbed. The larve 
appear to be mostly much like wire-worms (Elateride), only flatter. 
They live upon vegetable matter, including grain and flour, One 
species is said to tunnel into the stems of sandal-wood trees in 
Mysore, while another has been reported as injurious to agricultural 
plants, but little has been ascertained upon the subject. Tenebrionide 
beetles are excessively common in India, so should be noticed, though 
they are not known to be of any very special importance. The 
students should sketch one or two tyyical specimens from the 
School Museum. 
Bruchide (Pea and gram weevils).—These tetramerous beetles are small, 
thick-set obscure-coloured creatures, with the front of the head 
produced into a short rostrum. The front. wings do not cover the 
posterior of the abdomen. The only family with which they are likely 
to be confounded is that of the Curculionids, from which they can 
be at once distinguished by not having elbowed antennw. Bruchide 
attack the seeds of leguminous plants of all kinds in India, and are 
often most destructive. The only tree which has been specially 
reported as suffering in India is the tamarind (Zamarindus indica) , 
but the seeds of almost all forest representatives of the Leguminose 
are likely to be attacked to a greater or less extent. The common 
weevil which attacks gram may be taken asa typical representative 
of the family. The eggs are said to be laid in the developing 
pods. The larve are little soft footless grubs which bore into the 
seeds, which they often injure to the extent of preventing germina- 
tion. The pupa is usually formed within the seed, a large bole 
being formed when the beetle emerges. It is said that seed affected 
by Bruchide larve can be disinfected without destroying its ger- 
minating power either by dipping it into boiling water, or by keep- 
ing it in some close-fitting receptacle with a little carbon bisulphide. 
Treatment of this kind, however, should only be attempted under 
