288 



TRAXSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 



hills and manure-heaps ; whilst a few arc found upon dead 

 bodies. jMushrooms of all kinds are the favourite diet of a 

 number of species, and rotten wood and all sorts of vegetable 

 and animal remains are enjoyed by a great number of them. 

 The Staphylinidie, with their plain legs and antenna, are 



THE METAMORPHOSIS OF StapJiyliniis olens. 



evidently more simply organised than the Silphidcu and the Sca- 

 rab<xida; ; but their larvns are born much more fully developed 

 than are those of this last family. The larvse of the StapJiyliiiida^ 

 are partly covered with a hard integument, and are very active, 

 and recall the adult forms, not only by their shapes but by their 

 peculiar attitudes. The largest of the Staphyliiiidcc have very 



