THE HETEROHEKA. 
235 
in which it is simple ; several of the species of Anaspis , 
may be beaten in swarms from any hawthorn bush in 
blossom in May and June. 
The family ScraptiiD/E contains the genus Scraptia, 
which has usually been classed with the Melandryidse, 
or placed in an exceedingly imperfectly characterized 
family called the Pedilidse ; its position is extremely 
doubtful, but the general formation of the head and 
thorax appears to place it near Anaspis ; the species 
are small and fragile, and are found in rotten wood ; 
they are extremely rare, and represented in but very 
few of our collections. 
The Rhiitdoitiorid;e are closely allied to the Mor- 
dellidse ; they contain here a single genus and species, 
Metcecus paradoxus (Plate X., Fig. 6), a most remark- 
able insect, both on account of its form and habits ; 
and in whicli (and its allies not found here) commences 
a certain degradation in the development of the parts 
of the mouth ; — the mentum being slender and con- 
fused with the ligula, the labial palpi apparently com- 
posed of only one joint, the lobes of the maxillae 
rudimentary, and the mandibles short and not toothed 
internally. 
It differs from the Mordellidse in having the lobes of 
its maxillae soldered together at the base, with the last 
joint of their palpi not hatchet-sliaped, no membranous 
plate to the inner side of the mandibles, and its an- 
tennae flabellated ; but otherwise presents numerous 
points of affinity, and great superficial resemblance. 
It is much larger than any other of the family ; the 
female being the largest, and usually having blue- 
black elytra (which are attenuated and gaping, allow- 
ing the wings to be seen) instead of reddish-testaceous. 
