182 



INTRODUCTION. 



abdomen. This appendage appears to be wanting in the larvoe of 

 Porpliyraspis palmarum, which forms a sort of bird's-nest-like 

 enclosure from long threads of excrement ; these are attached at 

 their base to the surface of the last abdominal segment, as 

 described by Candeze (Mem. Soc. Koy. Sc. Liege, 1861, p. 387, 

 pi. xvi), and figured by Sharp (/. c. p. 281). 



The larvse and the life-histories of the members of the family 

 are, as might be expected, very different; the following table of 

 the larvse is for the most part that given by Chapuis (Gen. 

 Coleopt. x, p. 15) with alterations by Sharp (Cambr. Nat. Hist. vi. 

 p. 279) :- 



I. Lame with the body uncovered. 



1. Larvse elongate, subcylindrical, whitish, living on, or in 



the stems of aquatic plants, under water ; pupae also 

 subaquatic, contained in cocoons fixed to the root of the 

 plants. Donaciin^:. 



2. Larva3 mining, more or less elongate, suhlinear or narrowed 



at each end, undergoing their metamorphoses in the 

 leaves in which they live. Hispix^: and some HALTiciNiE. 



3. Larva3 short, oval, very convex above, often more or less 



brightly coloured, or dark metallic, living exposed on 

 plants and undergoing their metamorphoses on the plants 

 or in the ground. Most of the Cyclica. 



II. Larvse with the body protected by excrement. 



1. Larva? short, oval, very convex above, dark coloured, 

 without any special apparatus for carrying the excre- 

 mentitious matter, undergoing their metamorphoses in 

 the ground. Criocerin^e (in part). 



2. Larvse short, oval, somewhat depressed, spiny, with the 



excrementitious matter supported and attached by a 

 special apparatus, undergoing their metamorphoses on 

 leaves. Cassidin^e. 



III. Larvse elongate and whitish, with the abdomen curved, 

 inhabiting portable tubes or cases and undergoing their 

 metamorphoses in these. 



Cl YTKiNiE, Crypto cephalin^e, Chlamydi^le, etc. 

 (in fact, most of the Camptosomes known). 



The next two families form the important group which is 

 ordinarily known by the name of Longicornta. This group is so 

 well known and has been so well worked that the name is sure 

 to be retained whatever classification may be adopted. The 

 species are usually elongate and parallel-sided or not much 

 rounded at the sides, and, as a rule, possess, as their name 

 implies, long, or very long, antennse; in some genera, however, 

 the antennse are quite short, and in others the form is more 

 convex and rounded. They are very closely connected with the 

 Chrysomelldje, and although individually they are not at all 

 likely to be confused with the latter, yet the differences are hard 

 to express in words. Dr. Horn (Class. Coleopt. N. Amer. p. 269) 



