THE MALACODERMATA. 
173 
free ventral segments; and the elytra very seldom 
punctate-striate, and usually not covering the sides of 
the abdomen. 
In the remainder there is great variation in the 
antennae, hardness of the body, &c. ; so that it is im- 
possible to couple them with the true Malacodermata ; 
and yet they differ so much inter se as to require the 
formation of many other sections for their reception 
if separated from that group, although none of their 
associations are equivalent in extent or distinctness 
to it. 
The Dascillid.® may be divided into two tribes, the 
Dascillina and the Cyphonina ; in the former of these 
the maudibles are prominent, and the anterior coxae 
have a distinct trochantin, while in the latter the 
mandibles are hidden, and the anterior coxae have no 
trochantin. 
The Dascillina are here represented by one genus 
and species, Dascillus ceirinus, a large, oblong-oval, 
convex, hard, dull-grey, downy insect, not uncommon 
in flowers, especially in chalky districts. It has pro- 
minent maudibles, straight and spurred tibiae, and 
each of the second, third, and fourth joints of the 
tarsi furnished with a bilobed lamella. Its short, flat, 
eyeless larva is set with rows of long hairs, and has 
four-jointed antennas, rather long legs, horny plates 
on the upper segments, and no anal prolongation : it 
lives in the earth at the roots of plants. 
The Cyphonina are all much smaller and less oblong, 
with softer integuments, and very fragile. They have 
sharp mandibles, which are not prominent; the pro- 
sternum linear and transverse; the mesothoracic epi- 
mera elongate, and those of the metathorax not 
