1 02 
BRITISH BEETLES. 
CHAPTER XY. 
THE STERNOXI, OR, “SKIPJACKS” AND THEIR ALLIES. 
This section is divided into four families, — the 
Buprestidse, Throscidse, Eucnemidx, and Eluteridse ; 
in which the tarsi have five, and the antenna) 
eleven (except in certain of the latter, where there 
are twelve) joints ; and the prosternum is elongated 
into a projection behind, fitting into a cavity between 
the middle legs. 
In the three first families the prothorax fits tightly 
against the base of the elytra, and there is no power 
of jumping when the insect is placed on its back : 
whilst in the last the prothorax is not applied closely 
to the mesothorax, but loosely articulated, aud there 
is nearly always great saltatorial power. 
They are all wood or vegetable feeders, with ser- 
rated, flabellated, or filiform antennae ; mostly elongate 
and cylindrical, or a little depressed; metallic in 
colour, and of hard integuments. They have no 
paraglossae to the ligula; their posterior coxae are 
immoveable, and trausverse, receiving in repose the 
upper part of the hinder femora for their whole 
length ; the anterior coxae are globose ; the tibiae have 
no rows of spines ; the penultimate joint of the tarsi 
is often bilobed ; and the abdomen is five-jointed. 
