section {e.g., brunnipes), have the tarsi almost as much bi-lobed 

 as others in the second, but are otherwise readily capable of distinction; 

 and one of the latter, S.fuscicornis, often seems to belong to the first, 

 owing to the lobes being narrow, and in carded specimens frequently 

 gummed to the terminal joint. Care should be taken in setting these 

 insects to get the tarsi flat on the card, and not to clog the joints with 

 too much gum. In Thomson's work, hereafter mentioned, the above 

 diflficulties are avoided by an altered system of arrangement, o^ a very 

 original and ingenious character; but when it is seen that to tabulate fifty- 

 seven species he makes twenty-nine divisions, occupying about forty lines 

 of print, it can be easily understood that our space prevents its adoption. 



Both the above-mentioned sections are divided into sub-sections, 

 in which the abdomen is respectively margined and unmargined ; in the 

 former whereof a more or less conspicuous ridge runs along the sides, 

 which is wanting in the latter, except on the first segment shewing after 

 the elytra. There are, however, often faint indications of a margin to 

 be seen, with a strong magnifier, on the sides of the abdomen, in species 

 of the unmargined divisions; though under a low power they appear 

 cylindrical. 



These sub-sections are again separated into little groups, distin- 

 guished by the presence or absence of spots on the elytra, and also by 

 the colour of the legs, which in some are entirely black, and in others 

 more or less light. It must, however, be remarked that the latter dis- 

 tinction is not always an easy guide, since some few species, to which it 

 is applied, have merely the base of the femora brownish, and many 

 insects, in which the limbs are black, assume a lighter appearance when 

 immature ; but, as no system can be perfect, and these divisions have 

 always been found of great service, I shall adopt them in the following 

 descriptions. 



The males of the diiferent species often afford good specific charac- 

 ters in the under-side of the abdomen (of which an instance is given in 

 the cut) ; these will be noticed as they occur. I would counsel 

 beginners to mount specimens of each species showing the underside, 

 and gencrall}^ to look to structural peculiarities as well as, or rather in 

 pi-eference to, distinctions of colour. The relative length of the thorax 

 and elytra, the form and sculpture of the head, general punctuation, and 

 structure of the limbs, will be found of the greatest use as diagnostic 

 characters, although the colouration of the palpi, &c., is also of great 

 assistance. Some of the Steni are apterous, and others winged : in the 

 former case the elytra (as in other beetles not winged) will be found to 

 be shorter and especially narrower at the shoulders than the others. 



