SYSTEM OF NATURE. 
149 
them are loaded witli armature of horns, which appear rather designed 
for ornament than use. 
Blapsina, equivalent to the Heteromera of authors, including the 
genera Pimelia, Blaps, Helops, Tenehrio, Mordella, Mylabris, &c. 
These are, generally speaking, slow, dark-coloured, nocturnal, and some¬ 
what repulsive-looking beetles ; they feed, for the most part, on decaying 
vegetable substances. 
Buprestina, equivalent to the Serricornes and Malacodermes of the 
French, including Buprestis, Elater, Lampyris, Telephorus, Clerus, Pti- 
nus : they differ generally from the preceding in having pentamerous 
tarsi: these are also phytophagous. 
Cerambycina, equivalent to the Tetramera of recent authors : they 
possess a maggot-like larva, and include the great groups of Cerambyx, 
Curculio, Cucujus, and perhaps Donacia: these are strictly phytophagous. 
Chrysomelina, equivalent to the Tetramera Cyclica of recent au¬ 
thors, including the groups Chrysomela, Cassida, Hispa, Erolytus, Eu- 
morplius, and perhaps Coccinella : with the exception of the last group 
these are decidedly phyllophagous. 
Silphina, equivalent to the Philhydrida and Necropliaga of recent 
authors, and including the groups Silpha, Dermestes, Nitidula, Hydro- 
philus, Helophorus,&c. These feed on animal and vegetable substances 
in a putrid state. 
Carabina, equivalent to the Adephaga of recent authors, including 
the groups Cicindela, Carabus, Staphylinus and Dytiscus: these are 
strictly carnivorous. 
It may possibly be objected that the divisions, both as regards pla- 
centals and beetles, are not those in common use; but to this I will 
reply that they accord with nature if not with usage, and I consider na¬ 
ture the higher authority. Some authors indeed may mix up the marsu¬ 
pials with the placentals, but I am confident this view of arrangement 
is perfectly untenable, and must be abandoned. 
Now it must be observed that the tribes in the two series which I 
have just sketched are founded on precisely analogous, if not identical, 
characters. Both the classes comprise animals of the most diversified 
appetites, feeding on recent and putrid flesh, bone, insects, seeds, fruits, 
leaves, grass : the appetite is accompanied by the power and the struc¬ 
ture essential to its gratification, and whether the food is found in the 
