Orecfochihis.] adephaga. 217 



habits, but not universally ; they are always found on clear or running 

 Avater ; one species only is European. 



The larva of O. vilhsus is figured by Schiodte (ii., PI. vii., Ficr. 1) : it very closely 

 resembles that of Gyrinus marinus described above; it is, however, a little stouter, 

 and the segments are somewhat differently shaped, being not so much narrowed 

 behind ; the ciliated appendages attached to the sides of the segments are considerably 

 shorter and rather broader; the legs are somewhat longer and the claws stouter ; the 

 prothoracic scutum is broader and more darkly coloured, and the head is more oblong 

 with the ocelli less prominent. 



O. villosus, Miiller. Oblong, rather narrow, very convex, rather 

 shining, of a fuscous colour, the upper surface covered with line 

 yellowish-grey pubescence, and in-egularly punctured ; underside pitch- 

 black ; extreme margins of sides, under surface of body including 

 reflexed margins of elytra, and legs, reddish testaceous. Long. 5^-6, lat. 

 2| mm. 



Local but widely distributed and not uncommon ; it conceals itself under the banks 

 or in half-submerged logs, &c , by day, and comes out at night ; Dr. .Sh:irp says tliat 

 he has seen it gyrating by moonliglit on Loch Ken in Galloway. Loudon district, 

 Lewisham, Red Hill, &c. ; Norfolk; Wicken Fen; Dartmoor; Swansea; Midland 

 districts, common, Bewdley, Tewkesbury, Alcester, river Dove near Burton-on- Trent, 

 &c. ; Yorkshire; Northumberland and Durham district. Scotland, local. Lowlands, 

 Tweed, Forth, Solway, Clyde. Irelaud, near Dublin. 



CLAVICORNIA. 



This division, which includes a large numlier of families, must be 

 considered as more or less artificial, and as adoj^ted for the sake of con- 

 venience, rather than as being scientifically accurate : as Dr. Horn 

 observes (Classif. Col. Xorth America, p. xxx) the Clavicorn and Serri- 

 corn series present "so many exceptional cases that it is very hard to 

 dcBne their members ; in the Clavicorn series the tarsal system has its 

 feeblest value, as every possible variation exists from the pentamerous 

 to the monomerous ; as a general rule, in doubtful cases, any dej)arture 

 from the pentamerous tarsal structure is an indication of Clavicorn 

 relationship." I)r. Sharp prefers to drop these large and somewhat 

 anomalous divisions, and to retain the families only ; this is perhaps more 

 .scientifically correct, but the retention of the large divisions, as long as 

 it is remembered tbat they are more or less artificial, presents many 

 points of advantage to tlie general student. 



HYDROPHILIDiE. 



This family is made up of two distinct sub-families, the Hydrophilino) 

 and the Spluvritliinoe ; both these in the perfect slate feed on tlecom- 

 posing vegetable matter, but the former is composed exclusividy of 

 water-fretpienting insects, while the species belonging to the latter, 

 ilthough in some cases found in damp and marshy localities, are essen- 

 ually land insecl.<. and occur in licaps of decaying vegetable rubbish, the 



