pYrochroid^. 
34 ] 
brown insect, witli clubbed, antennae fitting into grooves of the lower 
side of the prothorax. The group is monographed by Thomson (Ann. 
Soc. Ent., France, 1860). 
Pythid^e. 
Anterior coxal cavities open behind (c.f. Tenebrionidce). 
Prothorax narrower at the base than the 
elytra. Eyes entire. 
A small family of unimportant insects separated on minute 
characters from its allies. The family is small with few representa¬ 
tives. None are common in the plains, and Doliema plana, Fabr. (Plate 
XXI, fig. 8), is the species most likely to be found. 
Melandryid,®. 
A family distinct from all allies by a variety of characters ; the 
claws are not pectinate (Cistelidce) , the anterior coxal cavities are open 
behind (Tenebrionids) ; they are not hemispherical (Nilionidce) ; the 
prothorax is as broad as the elytra (Pythidce) ; there is no neck (Mor- 
dellides) ; and finally the pronotum does not extend laterally on the 
prothorax (rest of Heteromera). 
So far as our fauna is concerned* they are of no importance what¬ 
ever. They are dull coloured insects found in decaying wood in tem¬ 
perate regions. Penthe rufopubens, Mors., has been described as 
Indian. 
Pyrochroid^e. 
Antennce flabellate or pectinate. Prothorax narrower than the 
elytra. Head with a neck. Elytra longer than the 
body. Penultimate tarsal joint broadened. 
Beetles of small to moderate size, found with their larvae under 
the bark of trees. Pyrochroa is the common genus, with the antennae 
toothed (or nearly pectinate in the males), the body finely pubescent. 
Three species have been described, P. deplanata, Pic., from Malabar, 
P. subcostulata, Fairm., from Cashmere, and P. cardoni , Fairm., from 
the Himalayas (North Bengal). 
