CJIAPTKR V. 



ORDER I. COLEOPTERA ( Continued). 



PENTAMERA. 



Distihguisheo entomologists have made two grand divisions of the pentamerous insects. 

 Some of the families of the first division have been noticed : the second is equall7 im- 

 portant with the first, and admits of subdivision into natural groups or families; but there 

 is some diversity of opinion where the lines bounding these families shall be drawn, and 

 also respecting the best terms for designating them. 



A plain and comprehensive subdivision into groups has been made by Stephens : 1, 

 the Clayicornes, which are characterized by the antenna' terminating in a solid ball, cr 

 a perforated one ; 2, the Lami.u.icornes, with the antenna- terminating in a leafy or 

 lamellated mass ; and. 3, the Sermcornes, having the antenna' © nstructed so thai their 

 whole length is toothed somewhat like a saw. The Clavioornes are divided into two 

 families : the first contains those insects which resemble the Linnean Genus Byrrhvs, 

 having straight claviform antennae, and called the Family Byrrhid;e, Leach. The second 

 family have also claviform antennae, but each with a distinct elbow or angle. 



The Byrrhid.£ are small beetles with short oval convex bodies, and generally pilose or 

 hairy : the elytra cover the body, and the legs can be folded up ; when alarmed, it folds 

 them together under its body, and then remains motionless, appearing like a seed, until 

 the danger is past. In this family the antenna? become gradually clavate, and the club is 

 not solid. 



The second family of clavicornes takes its name from the Genus Histek : hence the 

 family name Histerid.e. Leach. In these, the antenna?, instead of being straight, have a 

 sudden or short angle in them. or are said to be elbowed. Thej are small insects, hard and 

 shining or highly polished, and usually black : their forms are s> mew hat square, but still 

 [., ssess i msiderable convexity ; their legs arc more < r less dentate, and the two hind ones 

 are se f widely apart; the elytra arc short, and hence have a portion of the abdomen 

 Their elbowed antenna?, their polished surface and short elytra, clearly distin- 

 guish them from the byrrhidse. 



