98 
THE ORDER OF COLEOPTERA. 
be found which will enable us to establish it upon rational bases ; but 
many months’ assiduous labor compels me to declare that such characters 
do not exist, and that we shall search for them in vain. We must trust 
therefore to tradition to supply the inadequacy of science.” 
They comprise two well marked but very unequal sub-families, as 
follows : 
First Sub-family, Eucnemides. Antennae inserted upon the front. 
Head bent down upon the breast in repose. 
Second Sub-family, Elaterides. Antenna; inserted under the margin of 
the front. Head directed forwards. 
Sub-family EUCNEMIDES. 
This sub-family is composed of a moderate number of small, compa- 
ratively rare, black or brown insects, and more or less clothed with 
minute yellow hairs. They resemble the Elaterides in their elongated 
slender forms, but are distinguished by their vertical heads, the mouth 
being inferior, and not anterior as in the Elaters. The auteume also, 
as a general rule, are more strongly serrate, and in the males often pec- 
tinate or even flabellate. The palpi are often terminated by a widened 
or hatchet-shaped joint. Whilst the perfect insects strongly resemble 
the Elaterides, such of their larva; as are known have a striking resem- 
blance to those of the preceding family of Buprestidaj, both in form and 
habits, being abruptly enlarged at their anterior extremity, and being- 
found in wood in an incipient state of decay. 
. The following tables exhibit those genera which are most common or 
most numerous in species : 
A. Antonme inserted in pits on tbc front, at some distance apart ; claws not serrate. 
B. Maxillary palpi with the last joint acuto MRLASI8, 4 sp. 
B B. Maxillary palpi with the last joint dilated. 
C. Grooves for the antennas Tinder the margin of the thorax. 
D. Antennas serrate Eucnemis, 3. 
D D. Antennas filiform Fornax, 14. 
C C. Antennal grooves wanting Nematodes, 3. 
A A. Antenme inserted close togothor on the front ; claws serrate CEUQi’HYTUM, 2. 
Sub family ELATERIDES. 
A. Sternum with deep grooves for the reception of tho antenna) Adeloceka, 10 sp. 
AA. Sternal grooves obsolete or wanting. 
B. Mesosteruum connate with the metasternum ; very large species clothed with whitish scales, 
and with two eye-like spots ttu the thorax Alaus, 4. 
B B. Mesosternal suture distinct, and without tho other above mentioned characters. 
C. Hind coxal plates suddenly dilated inwards, and prolonged into a tooth at the posterior an- 
gle ; claws never pectinate. 
I). Prosternal spine truncate ; scutellum heart shaped Caudiopiiouus, 32. 
X) D. Pro-sternal spine acute ; scutellum oval. 
E. Anterior margin of the front not olevated ; coxal plates moderately dilated ; large specie* 
with distinctly serrate antenme ..Ludius, 5. 
