V COLEOPTEliA. 



being useless where the insect is denied the 

 power of flight. This does not in the least in- 

 terfere with the character of the order, which 

 depends not upon the number of wings or wing- 

 cases, but upon the real existence of the latter, 

 which in no instance is absolutely wanting. A 

 few of the Coleoptera, indeed, such as the Ne- 

 cydalis, the Staphilini, and some of the ikfor- 

 della, have their elytra so short that they scarcely 

 cover the wings. These elytra, nevertheless, 

 however short they may be, most decidedly ex- 

 ist, and may be readily known by their form, 

 their consistence, and their position. 



