78 IMSECTS ABROAD. 



and size, green and purple being the prevailing hues ; while in 

 dimensions many of them are but d\yarfs compared with the 

 present species. 



The head and thorax of SUrculia fidgens is deep shining 

 metallic blue, the head having a tendency to pink on the edges, 

 and being covered with deep punctures. The elytra are also 

 blue, but with a purple gloss, and deeply punctured, though not 

 so boldly as the head. The abdomen is shining coppery bronze, 

 and the whole of the under surface is blue, like that of the 1)1up- 

 bottle fly, and the limbs are of the same hue. Tt belongs to the 

 family Xantholinidae. 



Another of these Beetles belongs to the typical family 

 Staphylinidae. This is Staphylinus versicolor, a native of Para. 

 Though not as splendid as tlie preceding insect, it is yet far 

 handsomer than any British species of the same genus, and 

 , — _j deserves its name of versi- 



color, i.e. changeable colour. 

 It is chiefly remarkable for 

 the enormous size of the 

 mandibles and the peculiar 

 sliape of the head, which 

 is large, and has a bold keel 

 running along its centre. 

 The head of the male, indeed, 

 is much larger and wider than 



yio. 33.-Staphylinus versicolor. ,, thorflT thp o-rpat dp 



(Black, with yellow hair.) ^'^^ tnorax, iJip great ae- 



velopment of the jaws ren- 

 dering a corresponding development of the head necessary. 

 In the female the head is comparatively small, and the jaws 

 feeble. 



The jaws themselves are black, but in their inside there 

 is a membrane covered with yellow hair. The head is dull 

 black, mottled with yellow doAvn, and so are the elytra, the 

 down on them containing a slightly greener hue. The abdomen 

 is black except the tip, which is covered with bright golden down. 

 The insect is found in wet weeds, generally in decaying vege- 

 table manure : indeed, it has a look as if it were meant to dwell 

 in such places, its flattened body and drooping head showing 

 that it is one of the darklinc: insects, meant to crawl into narrow 



