COLEOPTERA. BRACHELYTRA. 169 



Dr. Johnston of Berwick-upon-Tweed has communicated to me 

 specimens of the hu'vse i^Jig. 16. 15.) and pupae {Jig. 16. IG.) of a Sta- 

 phylinideous insect, which I have not the least hesitation in considei-- 

 ing as those of Micralymma Johnstonae (having been found in com- 

 pany with that species far below high-water mark on the sea coast), 

 and of wliich I have published figures and descriptions in the Mag. 

 Zool. and Bot. vol. ii. 



M. E. Blanchard has published a good description and figures of the 

 larva and pupa of Goerius olens [Guer. Mag. Zool. pi. 165.). The 

 former is carnivorous, very bold, attempting to seize whatsoever ap- 

 proaches, and attacking its own species, which it always seizes be- 

 tween the head and first segment, and then sucks the juices, and 

 afterwards devours the whole body. They are to be found in this 

 state during the winter months, till May, when they form a cell in the 

 gi-ound, in which they become pupae, which state lasts about fifteen or 

 sixteen days. Dr. Heer has also published a still more elaborate ac- 

 count of the structure and habits of the same larva and puj^a {Jig. 

 16. 9. Observ. Entomolog. 1836) ; the former of which constructs a cell 

 sometimes a foot deep, in which it takes up its abode, for the purpose 

 of seizing insects which may happen to creep over its aperture, or fall 

 into it. When about to cast its skin, it closes the mouth of its hole 

 with earth. Dr. Ratzeburg (^Die Forst-Insccten, Kafer, pi. I. f. It.} 

 has also figured the larva, pupa, and imago of the same insect, with 

 various details. 



M. Lacordaire {Ati?i. Sac. Ent. France, i. p. 358.) has described a 

 larva, supposed to be that of Zirophorus longicornis, found beneath 

 moist bark in a state of decomposition, in which the larvae were very 

 abundant. It was of a contracted form, somewhat conical at each 

 end ; the mandibles very strong, and bifid at the tips, the su[)eriyr 

 tooth being elevated, as in the imago. Each segment of the body 

 supported a pair of tubercles, placed transversely. Its movements 

 were slow. This description scarcely, however, appears to me to 

 accord with that of a Staphylinideous larva. 



In the 31ag. of Nat. Hist. (No. 2;3.) is an account of a specimen of 

 Staphylinus hirtus, having a slender horn growing out of one of the 

 eyes. Acxe\ {Nov. Act. Upsal, \o\.\i. ^. Wo.) has given an account 

 of various species of Staphylinida", which had been ejected by a female 

 patient. 



In the first edition of the Rcgne Animal, Latreille divided this fa- 



