281 



for instance, the Navic. viridis in the siliceous concrete ( Kieselguhr) of Franzens- 

 bad, Bacillaria vulgaris in that of the Isle of France, and Synedra capitata in the 

 pulverulent silica (Bergmehl) of Santa Fiora. The still existing ones are more 

 mixed, and live only about, and on plants upon which they feed. 



The foliaceous triopoli of shops (Bldttertripel) likewise showed that its mass 

 equally consisted of Infusoria. The polishing slate of Bilin in Bohemia, which 

 forms entire beds, I have discovered to consist almost exclusively of Infusoria which 

 may be ascribed to the genus Gaillonella ( G. distans) Podosphenia nana, n. sp. 

 Navic. scalprum $ and Bacillaria vulgaris, (the last are still living, salt-water 

 animalculae) present themselves only occasionally, the first alone is sometimes in 

 equal abundance with the Gaillonella. There are found in the same polishing 

 slate, the impressions of plants and an extinct species of fish, the Leuciscus pa- 

 pyraceus of Bronn, according to Agassiz. In the adhesive slate of Menilmon.- 

 tant I found only the doubtful traces of the altered Gaillonella distans. An indi- 

 vidual of this species, which forms almost without any connecting substance 

 the polishing slate, is 1-200'" larger, many are smaller, and one cubic inch of 

 this stone contains 41,000,000,000 (! ! Eds.) of these animals. 



Entomological. 

 Abstract of Count Mannerheim's Paper on the Family of the 



COLEOPTERA BrACHELYTRA. 



(From Oken's " Isis," 1836. Heft 5 J. 

 Brachelytra, Lair. (Microptera, Grav.J 



Antennae thickened towards the apex, often moniliform, rarely serrate or cla- 

 vate, and the clava never perfoliate or lamellate ; the body generally elongate, 

 narrow ; elytra abbreviated, large in the majority, small in a few, and in very 

 many covering one-half of the abdomen ; the anus furnished with retractile 

 vesicles. 



A. Labrum emarginate. — Tribe I. Staphylinides* 

 b. Labrum entire. 



*. Tarsi pentamerous. 



i. All the joints of the palpi distinct. 



1. Antennae inserted in front of the eyes. 

 * Legs simple. — Tribe IV. Omalides. 

 ** Legs spinose. — Tribe V. Tachinides. 



VOL. I. 2 o 



