146 



INTRODUCTION. 



anterior coxce transverse, contiguous or subcontiguous, posterior 

 coxae transverse or semiovate, loidely distant ; elytra entire ; tarsi 

 apparently heteromerous (5, 5, 4); abdomen with five free ventral 

 segments, the first the largest. 



This family is regarded as including Aspidiphorus (Conipora), 

 and although the position of its members is doubtful, as they have 

 relations towards the Clavicorn series, yet they appear to be best 

 placed near the Cioidve, from which they differ in the tarsi being 

 5-jointed, at any rate the anterior and intermediate pairs ; the 

 number of joints possessed by the posterior pair is somewhat 

 doubtful, but is usually regarded as four, the first being obsolete. 

 They are small insects and are found in powdery fungi on and 

 under the bark of trees. Their larvae are of the ordinary elongate 

 form, with very short antennae and legs, and hairs at the sides of 

 the segments ; there are no cerci. The pupa of Sphindus dubius 

 is remarkable as bearing a long narrow process like a tail. 



I. Anterior coxal cavities plainly open behind ; form 



subglobular Aspidiphorin^. 



II. Anterior coxal cavities lightly closed behind ; 



form oblong Sphindinje. 



These two groups have been widely separated as families, but, 

 as they are only found in Europe and North America, the question 

 need not here be discussed at length. The former certainly bears 

 strong affinities towards the Btrrhidje, while the latter is related 

 to the Lyctid^e ; and Perris (who points out the resemblance 

 of their larvae) regards them as allied to the fungivorous Silphidje 

 and LathrldiidvE. Although we have before considered them as 

 distinct *, yet we prefer now to adopt Dr. Sharp's view and place 

 them as one family near the Cioid.e. 



Family G7. CIOKLE. 



Minute insects of oblong and more or less cylindrical form ; 

 antennas inserted at the interior margin of the eyes, eight- to ten- 

 jointed, with the last three joints thicker and forming a loose club ; 

 head and anterior margin of the pronotum sometimes furnished ivith 

 short horns or raised plates, especially in the males ; anterior and 

 middle coxce small, oval, not prominent ; anterior coxal cavities small, 

 narrowly closed behind; elytra covering the abdomen; legs rather 

 short, tibice variable in breadth, tarsi four-jointed, claws simple ; 

 abdomen with five free ventral segments. 



About 300 species are known, which are very widely distributed, 



* ' Coleoptera of the British Islands,' iii, p. 373, and iv, p. 203. 



