CLE BID M, LYMEXYLONIDvE. 



141 



Cor YNETixiE , since they still possess a well-developed fourth joint 

 in the tarsi." He believes (on other grounds than those stated by 

 Lameere) that it is highly improbable that the ClerinvE are derived 

 from the Coryneten^e, but sees no reason why the latter should 

 not be derived from the former. He further is inclined to accept 

 Lameere's suggestion that the Clerin.e, CoRYNETiNiE, and Mely- 

 rid.ze should constitute a single family. Certain of the genera at 

 present placed under the PHYLLOBiEXTNiE and four genera now 

 standing under the ClerijN^e will have to be transferred to the 

 Corynetinje, and several alterations will have to be made in the 

 other subfamilies. 



The Exopliix,e are remarkable as displaying to a greater extent 

 than any other known group of the same size the phenomena of 

 mimicry. AVithin its limits, as Mr. Gahan points out, are com- 

 prised the exact counterparts of other Coleoptera belonging to the 



LyCIN^E, LAMPYRINiE, CATs T THARIl\ r iE, ClSTELTEvE, CHRYSOMELINiE, 



Galerucix.e and Coccineellbve. 



Family 62. LYMEXYLONID^;. 



Form elongate ; antenna 3 inserted at the sides of the head, eleven- 

 jointed, more or less serrate ; maxillary palpi in the male usually 

 strongly dec eloped and fiabellate ; pronotum short; anterior and 

 intermediate coxce large and prominent, conical; elytra usually 

 covering or nearly covering the abdomen (much abbreviated and 

 rudimentary in Atractocerus) ; abdomen with five to eight visible 

 ventral segments ; legs slender ; tarsi filiform, five- jointed ; integu- 

 ment soft. 



This remarkable family contains about thirty species, which are 

 widely distributed throughout the greater part of the world. In 

 spite of their very soft bodies the larvae of the LymexylonibvE can 

 bore into hard wood aud have at times done much damage to 

 timber. Lymexylon navale obtained its name from the injury it 

 was found to be doing to ships, Linna?us having been commissioned 

 by the King of Sweden to enquire into the ravages of the iusect in 

 his dockyards. Several of the species are remarkable for the extra- 

 ordinary development of the maxillary palpi. 



The larvae of Lymexylon and Hylecoetus have been figured by 

 Westwood (Classif. i, p. 269, figs. 19, 23, 30) ; they are very 

 peculiar in appearance, the prothoracic segment being much raised 

 and enlarged, and the last segment being furnished in Bylecoetus 

 with a long pointed setose process, and in Lymexylon with a iarge 

 half-upright obtuse lobe. 



The most curious member of the family is, perhaps, Atractocerus 

 (of which two or three species have been described from Ceylon). 

 It has rudimentary elytra and large ample wings which are not 



