ZOOLOGY. 199 



This like the preceding genus, consists of small animals, 

 but they are gifted with very destructive appetites ; some of 

 the species in their larva and perfect state live in dry animal 

 substances, others in old wooden furniture, or amongst 

 books or papers, which they injure by innumerable perfora- 

 tions. 



i^. Hister. Tips of the Antennce nearly solid, the lowest joint 

 compressed and decurved, plate 3, fig. 5. ; head retrac- 

 tile ; mouth furnished with forceps ; wing'Covers short- 

 er than the body ; fore legs toothed. 



f . Gyrynus. Glimmer-Chaffer. Antennce clavate, stiff, 

 shorter than the head, : plate 3, fig. 6. ; eyes four, two 

 fituated above and two beneath the base of the antennae. 



This is an aquatic genus, and in common vrith all the water 

 Beetles, fly only at night. 



7. Pausus. Antennce of two joints, the upper very large, 

 inflated, hooked, moveable ; plate 3, fig. 7 ; head pro- 

 jecting J wing-covers flexile, deflected, truncate. 



S. Byrrhus. Antennas clavate, nearly solid, compressed; 

 plate 3, fig. 8. 



Some of the species frequent houses, and are equally inju- 

 rious to furniture and collections, with those of the genug 

 Dermestes ; others frequent gardens, and may be found craw- 

 ling about the stems and leaves of plants. 



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