162 



MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



very extensive group, corresponding with the Linneean genus Staphy- 

 linus, a tribe which appears, in point of rank and characters, to be of 

 precisely equal value with the genus Carabus of the Swedish author ; 

 wherefore it ought also to be considered as a single family, for which the 

 name of STAPHYLINIDiE should be retained, and its subdivisions 

 regarded as sub-families, as in the Cai-abidae. The French and German 

 entomologists having, however, preferred distinguishing their sections 

 by names derived from the habits or structure of the contents thereof, 

 have named this group Brachelytra (Latr.), or Microptera (^Gra- 

 venhorst) ; the latter name being, however, inaccurate, as the wings are 

 of a large size, is rejected in preference to the former. From their 

 great numbers and frequent occurrence in England they have ob- 

 tained a distinct English name, that of rove-beetles. 



Fig. 15. 



These insects are long, narrow, and depressed in form ; the ab- 

 domen is much longer than the elytra, beneath which the wings, 



Newman, in Entomol. Mag. vol. ii. (Pseudopsis). 



Boisduval and Lacordaire. Faun. Entomol. de Paris, 12ino. 



Matthews, in Entomol. Mag. No. 22. (Centroglossa and Deinopsis). 



Haliday, in ditto. No. 18. (Diglossa). 



Germar. Ins. Sp. Nov. (Leptocheirus). 



Nicolai. Dissert. Entom. Halle. 



JPerty. Delect. An. art. Brasil. 



Westwood, in Jardine's Mag. Zool. and Bot. vol. ii. (Micralymraa). — Ditto, in 



Royle's Description of the Himalayan Mountains. — Ditto, in Zool. Journ. 



Nos. 9. and 12. 

 Say, in Act. Soc. Roy. Upsal, vol. viii. 



Erichson. Kafer Brandenb. ^tw..^ o'- S/irr-Jt.* .s fe .^^^/t nz>-i/-c.i^^ . * i-^ • /!< 

 And the general works of Stephens, Curtis, GyUenhaJ, Olivier, 8fc. 



Note. — It is understood that Gravenhorst is at present occupied upon a general 

 revision of the Brachelytra. 



