10 PLARECDKLN. 
In the Linnzan Syftem this infect mutt fall under fome one of the 
feveral families into which modern Naturalists divide the Lampyrides 
of that author. Neverthelefs, it fhould not be concealed that its 
charaéters are in certain refpe€ts remote from that of the true Lam- 
pyrides, and might, without any degree of impropriety, remove it 
entirely from that genus. The Entomologitt need fearcely to be ap- 
prized of the families to which we allude; the genus Lampyris, as 
establithed by Linnzus, it muft be known, are divided into many 
feétions, without which it would be impoffible to retain the whole of 
the Lampyrides under one generic appellation, Even Gmelin, in 
editing the laft edition of Syftema Natura, feems fenfible of this, as 
he forms no lefs than five distinct families for their reception. The 
whole of thefe, according to Fabricius, from whom they are adopted, 
are generically diftinét, and are fo conftituted by him under the re- 
fpective names Lampyris, Omalyfjus, Coffyphus, Pyrochroa, and 
Lycus :—this is the order in which they ftand in the lateft works of 
that writer: fome further alterations have been agam made by writers 
fubfequent to Fabricius, but generally, it may be obferved, the example 
of Fabricius is almoft implicitly followed in the divifion of the Lin- 
iean genus of Lampyrides, thiougheut the continent of Europe. 
‘That the prefent infect is a genuine Lampyris of Linneus admits of 
no doubt; but in referring it to either of the feétions, we should exprels 
ourfelves with greater caution; for perhaps it ought rather to conftitute a 
diftinét genus than be configned to either. It has the characters of Py- 
rochroa, and yet is allied to Lycus. As afpecies it feems to approach 
the Pyrochrea, called by Herbtt Aurora, a native of Pomerania; but 
fhould it be the fame, there muft bea deticiency in the charaéter afligned 
to it by that author, which creates uncertainty; neither the black 
{pot in the dik of the thorax, nor thofe at the extremity of the wing- 
cafes, being there described: we conclude for thefe reafons it cannot 
be the fame. 
The highly beautiful form of the pe¢tinated antenne in this elegant 
little inf & contributes to render its general appearance attractive : 
the 
