38 BEETLES. 



Wing-cases with a longitudinal line next to the suture, which 

 disappears in front. Length, 3-4 mm. It is not uncommon. 



Genus Sph/ERIDIUM, Fabr. 



Slightly oval beetles, having both of the elytra rounded behind. 

 The metasternum does not in these extend between the middle 

 ( oxie. They do not live in the water, but in fresh dung. 



* S. scarabccoideSy Fabr. Wing-cases with a large and often 

 indistinct blood-red spot at the base, and a large yellow one 

 at the extremity. It is a common species. 



* >S^. hipustidatum, Fabr. (Plate IV., Fig. 21). Smaller than 

 the last species. The pronotum has narrow yellow lateral 

 liorders, and so have the elytra, which also have a large yellow 

 spot at the tip. It is rather common. 



Genus Cercyon, Leach. 



Small, smooth, rounded beetles. The prothorax has a small 

 I'oint near the middle, but the metasternum does not extend 

 between the middle coxa?. Some live in damp places, under 

 stones, and others in dung. 



* C.Jlavipes, Fabr. (Plate IV., Fig. 22). Moderately convex, 

 black and shining. The wing-cases are reddish-ochreous on 

 the lateral borders, and at the tip often reddish -brown. It 

 is very common. 



Family VI. STAPHYLINID-ffil (Rove Beetles). 



Wing-cases much reduced in length, generally covering only 

 the wings and the base of the abdomen. The abdomen is 

 composed of seven or eight freely movable segments. This 

 is a very large family, comprising, for the most part, little 

 elongated, black species, which live beneath moss, bark and 

 stones, in decomposing substances and animal refuse, in the 



