NATURAL HISTORY. 



491 



Famity, Staphylinidse. (Gr. Sra^uvUvof, the Rove-beetle.) 

 CREOPHILUS. (Gr. Kpeuz, flesh ; Q&elv, to love.) 



Masillosus (Lat large-jawed), the Rovc-bcctlc. 



beetles. These last inhabit the water, and swim with re- 

 markable activity. They occasionally come to the surface for 

 a fresh supply of air, which they carry down between the ely- 

 tra and the upper surface of the abdomen. They fly very 

 well, but the construction of their limbs prevents them from 

 walking. They cannot be kept in a limited space, as they 

 are very fierce and voracious, and in one case when a male 

 and female were placed in a jar filled with water, only one 

 day elapsed before the male was found dead and half devoured 

 by his disconsolate widow. 



The EARWIG is placed in an order by itself, called Der- 

 maptera from the soft elytra. The wings are large and ex- 

 ceedingly beautiful, and the method of folding by which they 

 are packed under the very small elytra is very curious. The 

 use of the forceps seems principally for the purpose of folding 

 the wings and placing them in their proper position under 

 the elytra. Ten species of earwigs inhabit England. The 

 eggs of the earwigs are hatched, and the young protected by 

 the parent. 



