220 



COLEOrTERA 



the skin of the beaver amongst the densest hair ; the larvae move 

 with a sinuous motion, like those of Staphylinidae. It has been 



Fig. 102. — PlatypsijUus casUrris. A, Upper side ; B, lower side, with legs of one side 

 removed ; C, antenna. (After West wood.) 



suggested that the Insect feeds on an Acarid, f^cldzocaiyns 

 mingaiuli ; others have supposed that it eats scales of epithelium 

 or hairs of the beaver. 



Fam. 14. Leptinidae. — Antennae 

 rather long, eleven-Jointed, unthout cluh, hut 

 a little thicker at the extremity. Eyes ahsent 

 or imperfect. Tarsi Jive-jointed. Elytra 

 quite covering ahdonien. Mentuni with the 

 2)Osterior angles sinuously ^^7'('/(r;/y7ff/. A 

 family of only two genera and two species. 

 Their natural history is obscure, but is 

 apparently of an anomalous nature ; the 

 \ inference that may be drawn from the 

 little that is known Ijeing that they are 

 parasitic on mammals. There is little or 

 nothing in their structure to indicate this, 

 except the condition of blindness ; and 

 until recently the Insects were classified 

 amongst Silphidae. Leptin^is testaeeus 

 (Fig. 103) is a British Insect, and besides occurring in Europe 

 is well known in North America. In Europe it has been found 



Fig. 103.- 



-Lrptums testaeeus. 

 Britain, 



