72 ORDER!. Elater. 



Genus XXI. Elater. 



Linn. Syft. Nat. page 651. 



The antennas of the Elater are feta- 

 ceous. 



An elaftic fpring or fpine projects from 

 the hinder extremity of the bread or un- 

 der fide of the thorax. 



The infed, when laid upon its back, 

 rifes and fufiains itfelf upon the anterior 

 part of its head, and the end, or point, of 

 its abdomen or elytra, by which means the 

 fpine of its breafl is withdrawn from out of 

 a groove or cavity of the abdomen, where it 

 is lodged when in its natural pofition ; 

 then fuddenly bending its body, the fpine 

 is (truck with force acrofs a fmall ridge, or 

 elevation, into the cavity from whence it 

 was withdrawn, by which fhock, the parts 

 of the body before fuftained in the air, are 

 fo forcibly beat againft whatever the infeft 

 is laid upon, as to caufe it to fpring, or re-, 

 bound, to a confiderable diftance, 



Geoffroy 



