166 MONOGRAPH OF THE 
&c., they reside in ants’ nests. Afzelius states of P. sphcerocerus, 
that having (in January, 1796) entered upon a newly-erected 
residence, “one evening, having just lighted my candle, and 
begun to write, I observed something dropping down from the 
ceiling before me upon the table. It remained for a little while 
quite immovable, as if stunned or frightened, but soon began to 
crawl very slowly and steadily.” Several others were obtamed by 
him in like manner, whence he ‘‘ concludes that it is a nocturnal 
animal, that it becomes benumbed by candlelight, that it lives in 
wood, and prefers new-built houses.”* None were taken after 
February. Since the days of Afzelius, other captures, under 
similar circumstances, have been recorded. 
Captain Boys, whose attention has been especially directed to 
the Indian species, and who has detected eight species, states, in 
his memoir above alluded to, that “in flight the Paussi are 
exceedingly easy and agile; the lower wing, when expanded, 
being in comparison to the size of the insect, of large dimensions ; 
and when they alight, the movement is so sudden, and the elytra 
are closed so instantaneously over the lower wings, that they 
appear as having dropped down to the spot on which they rest, 
and where they generally remain several seconds previous to again 
attempting to move (facts which I have also remarked as practised by 
many Carabici), Its walk, however, entirely differs from that of 
this last-mentioned genus ; for instead of being nimble, and occa- 
sionally rapid, I have never seen it moving but in a slow and 
sedate manner, at which time the antenne are extended to the 
front of the head, and to these is occasionally given an upward 
vibratory motion. On being seized, they emit from the anus 
a very acrid liquid, accompanied by an explosion, and attended 
with a strong scent, resembling that produced by Brachini and 
other allied genera when similarly treated; and although in 
minuter quantities, it is abundantly sufficient to produce a very 
sensible heat, and the crepitation may be distinctly heard and felt. 
Wherever the skin has been subjected to its action, discoloration 
immediately ensues, of a reddish-brown colour, which soon after 
turns to a brownish black, resembling the’ stain produced by the 
touch of caustic, and which remains permanently fixed for many 
days after. The explosion is repeated three or four times succes- 
* Linn. Trans. iv., p. 261. 
