160 
BRITISH BEETLES. 
be distinct by reason of the formation of the anterior 
coxal cavities which are formed by the pro- and meso- 
sternum, whei’eas these parts in the Eucnemulce and 
the Elateridce are entirely prosternal ; it contains the 
puzzling genus Throscus, which has by some authors 
been placed, as above stated, with the Eucnemidce, 
whereas by others it is, as here, separated, and 
placed (together with the exotic Lissomus ) in a separate 
family ; it further differs from the Eucnemidce in the 
fixity of its prosternal projection in the sternal cavity ; 
the existence of an anterior projection to the proster- 
num (as in Eister) ; and the strong flat three-jointed 
club of its antennae, which are inserted near the eyes, 
and (excepting the club) received into furrows in 
the prosternum. The common little T. dermesloules 
is found in sand-pits and crawling on old palings ; 
it has been said to possess the power of jumping, as 
in the Elateridce, but its structure appears to be 
opposed to such a habit : it certainly contracts its 
legs (of which the front pair are received into cavities) 
and falls in a jerky fashion when approached. 
This is a most irritating insect to mount, and may 
bo considered as a test object for proficiency in set- 
ting, owing to its tightly-packed legs and lop-sided 
proclivities. 
The Eucnemid/G possess many of the characters of 
the Buprestidce, but have the eyes small and round ; 
the antennae inserted on the forehead, at the inner 
margin of the eyes, and in the British species usually 
strongly flabellated ; the apical joint of the palpi 
clubbed ; the labrurn obsolete ; the outer lobo of the 
maxillae sometimes (in certain foreign genera) absent ; 
the spurs of the tibiae very small, or wanting ; the 
