266 COLEOPTERA 



CHAP. 



prothorax being narrow behind. This is a small fanaily of about 

 100 species, found in temperate regions in connection with 

 timber. The species of BJiinosimus have the head prolonged in 

 front of the antennae so as to form a beak. The larva of Pytho 

 dcpressus is flat and has parallel sides ; tire body is terminated by 

 two widely-separated sharp processes. It is found occasionally 

 under the bark of firs in Scotland. 



Fam. 71. Pyrochroidae. — Differs from Melandryidae by the 

 head forming a very narrow neck behind, and by the penultimate 

 tarsal joints being broad. They are feeble Insects, though active 

 on the wing. They are destitute of any of the various remark- 

 able structures found in ]\Iordellidae. Only about forty species 

 are known, and the family is confined to the north temperate 

 region, being best represented in Japan. Pyrochroa rubens is 

 common in some parts of England ; the larva is found under 

 the bark of tree-stumps ; it is remarkably flat, and has the eighth 

 abdominal segment unusually- long, while the ninth terminates 

 the body in the form of two long sharp processes. 



Fam. 72. Anthicidae. — Head unth an abrupt narroio neck; 

 2JrotJwrax narrotver than the elytra. Iliddle and hind coxae placed 

 in definite acetabida. Clairs simple. These little Insects are 

 numerous in species ; they have little resemblance to Pyrochroidae, 

 though the characters of the two families cause us to place 

 them in proximity. There are about 1000 species known ; 

 though we have only about 12 in Britain, they are very 

 numerous in the Mediterranean region. The family Pedilidae 

 of Lacordaire and some others is now merged in Anthicidae. 

 Thomson and Champion, on the other hand, separate some very 

 minute Insects to form the family Xylophilidae, on account of 

 certain differences in the form of the abdomen and tarsi. The 

 Xylophilidae live in dead wood ; the Anthicidae, on the surface of 

 the earth, after the manner of ground-beetles ; very little is, 

 however, known as to their natural history. 



Fam. 73. Oedemeridae. — Prothorax not forming sharp edges 

 at the sides, head without a narrow neck. Penultimate tarsal 

 Joint liroad ; cluus smooth. These Insects usually have a feeble 

 integument, and bear a certain resemblance to Malacodermidae. 

 Less than 500 species are known, but they are widely distri- 

 buted, and occur in both temperate and tropical regions. The 

 larvae live in old wood. Nacerdes melanura is common on our 



