﻿BRACHELYTRA. 75 



Tlie true Aleocha7'ce feed in animal matter (hence their 

 name), or in the dung of animals or putrifying seaweed ; 

 but perhaps the most curious habit of any of the family 

 is that of parasitism ; Thiasophila, Homceusa, Dinarda, 

 Lomechusa, Atemeles, Myrmedonia, and some OxypodcB 

 and Homalotee, being constantly found in the nests of 

 certain species of ants, and Haploglossa in those of the 

 sand-martin. 



These Myrmecophilous (or ant-loving) species occur 

 not only in the " runs " and purlieus of the nests, but 

 also in the most inner sanctuaries, where they appear 

 perfectly at home, and are never molested by their mul- 

 titudinous hosts. The terms of the agreement between 

 these landlords and tenants have never yet been satisfac- 

 torily determined ; nevertheless, it is certain that the 

 ants must be much attached to the beetles. I have seen 

 Atemeles emarginatus (not uncommon in nests of For- 

 mica fusca) being carried about tenderly in the mouth 

 of an ant much less than itself. This curious species 

 (Plate IV, Fig. 1), like others of its allies, coils itself 

 up almost into a ball; and one is much astonished to see 

 the length of leg and antenna which it unfolds on en- 

 deavouring to escape. Myrmedonia funesta, abundant 

 in nests of F. fuliginosa, is strikingly like that ant in 

 appearance ; and, with others of its genus, acquires a 

 very pungent odour, from constantly living in an atmo- 

 sphere impregnated with formic acid. It is possibly 

 from this cause that these species so often stain with 

 purple the card on which they are mounted. 



The species of Ilyobates, Callicerus, etc., are specially 

 remarkable for the development of their antennae, of 

 which the terminal joint is often of great length in the 

 male. They occur rarely in sand-pits, etc. 



