THE BRACHELYTRA. 93 



most beetles is furnished to it by the wing-cases, 

 acquires a horny consistency on the back as well as on 

 the belly, although the segments are so loosely con- 

 nected together, as to give the whole a great amount 

 of flexibility. These insects belong to a most exten- 

 sive group of beetles, to which, fi'om their most 

 striking character, the shortness of the wing-cases, 

 the name of Brachelytra^ has been given. Not- 

 withstanding the shortness of the elytra, however, 

 these insects are by no means unprovided with organs 

 of flight, — the membranous wings are of considerable 

 size, often reaching to the extremity of the abdomen 

 when extended, and by their assistance the Brache- 

 lytra are enabled to fly with tolerable rapidity. When 

 not in use the wings are folded under the short elytra 

 in a very complicated manner, and the insects make 

 great use of their flexible abdomen in packing away 

 these appendages beneath their protective sheaths. 

 In their structure they exhibit a close resemblance to 

 the Necrophaga ; their mandibles are usually of con- 

 siderable size, exposed and pointed ; the outer lobe of 

 their maxillae is generally simple, their heads are 

 freely exposed in front of the prothorax, and often 

 connected with that segment by a distinct neck; 

 their antennse are rather short, filiform, or slightly 

 thickened towards the tip ; their limbs are all formed 

 for running, and their tarsi usually composed of five 

 joints, although this character is liable to some excep- 

 tions. They are to be met with in the most various 

 situations : some, as already stated, in dung and car- 

 rion, others in fungi, or in the midst of putrescent 

 vegetable matter, others under the dead leaves in 

 woods, or in the moss upon the roots of trees, whilst 

 * Gr. brachus, short, elutron, a cover. 



