COLEOPTERA. 
-39 
characters in distinguishing between the different species of a genus. In the 
division of the family to which Hister belongs, the prosternum is produced in 
front, forming a prominent “ chin-piece ” which serves to protect the lower part of 
the head when the latter is retracted. In Saprinus the “ chin-piece ” is wanting. 
The Nitidulidcti have some resemblance in external form to the Histeridce, 
though they are generally of smaller size, with their integuments less hard, and 
their colours a little more varied. The elytra are 
slightly truncate behind, leaving a variable number of 
the segments of the abdomen exposed. The antennse 
are eleven-jointed or, exceptionally, ten-jointed, with 
the last two or three joints forming a knob; the maxillae 
have as a rule but a single lobe, and the tarsi are five- 
jointed, though in a few genera the males, at least, 
have only four joints in the posterior tarsi. Many of 
the species are found feeding and breeding in decaying 
vegetable or animal substances, such as rotten wood, 
bark, fungi, and in carcases or bones; some frequent 
the exuding sap of trees; while a very large number 
are to be seen on flowers, amongst which are the 
brightly-coloured little beetles of the genus Meligethes. 
The species figured (M. ceneus ) is one of the commonest, 
and met with chiefly on the flowers or leaves of cruci¬ 
ferous plants. In Germany these little beetles are well 
known, on account of the depredations they commit 
in crops of rape. A few days after emerging from 
their winter sleep, the beetles lay their eggs in the 
buds; in about a fortnight the larvae are hatched and 
proceed to feed on the undeveloped or full-blown 
flowers; while later on they attack the young pods, 
to which they do more damage than the beetles them¬ 
selves. The small family Byturidce may also be 
mentioned here. The genus By turns contains only 
four or five known species, which are confined to 
Europe and North America, and one of which is 
familiar to gardeners and others as the “ raspberry 
beetle.” This species ( B . tomentosus) is somewhat 
oblong in form, from an eighth to a sixth of an inch 
in length, of a dirty yellowish colour, and covered with a yellow down. Though 
found on flowers of many different kinds, it is especially common on raspberry 
blossoms, and the cylindrical brownish larvae sometimes do much damage to the 
flowers and fruit. 
The Dermestidce have a special interest, owing to the destructive habits of 
many of the species. The beetles themselves are small in size, oblong or oval 
in shape, sometimes nearly round, and usually clothed with fine closely lying 
hairs or scales, which frequently give rise to greyish or yellowish spots or bands 
on the elytra. The front of the head, except in the genus Dermestes, bears a single 
Meligethes ceneus (uat. size and 
greatly magnified). 
