Larva of Siagonium quadricorne. 57 



caying trees in Kensington Gardens ; but by far the greater portion 

 of them were females, their number exceeding that of the males, in 

 the proportion of, at least, five to one. These last, although differing 

 much in size, were, (contrary to the rule commonly observable in 

 injects) all larger than the females ; this however is well ascer- 

 tained to be usually the case with the generality of insects whose 

 males have the head or other parts of the body, furnished with 

 horns — but amongst the specimens of that sex there were very 

 few in which the horns of the head were fully developed ; but 

 where this was the case, these perfect specimens (if I may be 

 allowed to apply thjs term to insects already in their perfect 

 state), were much larger than the others — (See Note 2.) 



The colour of the thorax and elytra of the females varied from 

 bright chesnut almost to blaek. 



On loosening a portion of the decayed bark, it is surprising to 

 pbserve the facility and quickness with which these minute crea- 

 tures again shroud themselves under that which remains, but 

 which still firmly adheres to the trunk, and this is rendered still 

 more curious when the slowness of the insect's motions is atten- 

 tively observed ; it is however easily accounted for, when we no- 

 tice the extreme flatness of the body and the strength of the legs. 



I have been informed by several gentlemen who took them in 

 Kensington Gardens in the course of last year, that (like many of 

 the Staphylinidce) they may be found throughout the season. 

 H. Griesbach, Esq. also informs us, that he found them in profu- 

 sion in similar situations in Windsor Park, during the summer, 

 and I believe Mr. Denny took them in JNorfolk about the same 

 time. I have also since met with them in Lord Spencer's Park, 

 near Wimbledon, Surrey. 



It may not be unworthy to remark, that wherever I have dis- 

 covered the perfect insects I have also found a quantity of small 

 larvae, and which I have little doubt are the young of the SiagO' 

 niumy in which opinion I am confirmed by a remark of Latreille 

 (Regne An. iii. 218), who says, " Ces larves se nourissent des 

 memes matieres que I'insecte dans son dernier etat." They do 

 not, however, exactly agree with the characters of the Staphylini- 

 dous larva, as described by this author in the work quoted, and 



