174 JNIODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



23. Boletobius atricapillus) ; the thorax is broadest behind ; the 

 maxillary palpi are 4-jointed, ami generally acute {fig- 15. 24.) ; the 

 body is short and thick, approaching towards an elliptic form ; the 

 elytra often cover more than half the abdomen ; the tarsi are 5- 

 jointed, and the antenna? are never inserted beneath the lateral or 

 elevated margin of the head. These insects are of small size, and are 

 very numerous ; they frequent fungi, boleti, and other decaying vege- 

 table matter ; some are found in dung, and others amongst bones. 

 The species of Lomechusa Grew, are found in the nests of ants. 

 (Nicolai, Dissert, inaug. p. 43. ; and Silberm., Rev. Ent. No. 17.) 



The chief character by which Mannerheim distinguishes the Ta- 

 chinides from the Aleocharides {fig. 15. 25. maxilla of Aleochara 

 fuscipes) is the place of insertion of the antennae, which in the 

 former is in front of the eyes, and in the latter between the anterior 

 part of the eyes ; in the former, moreover^ the legs are spined, and 

 the abdomen deflexed or straight, and in the latter the legs are simple, 

 and the abdoa'^en turned upwards. The genera Diglossa, Deinopsis, 

 and Centroglossa exhibit some singular modifications of form in the 

 parts of the mouth (vide my observations thereon in the Ent. Mag, 

 No. 22.). Dr. Erichson has recently submitted the Aleocharides to 

 a careful revision in his Kafer der Mark Brandenburg. 



The sixth and last subfamily of the Brachelytra is the Psel aphides* 

 (corresponding with the section Dimera of Latreille's early works, 



* BiBLioGR. Refer, to the Pselaphides. 



Reichenhach. Monogr. Pselaphorum Lips. 1816. 



Schmidt. Dissert. Inaug. Zoolog. de Pselaphis Faunce Pragensis cum Anatomia 



Clavigeri, 8vo. Prag. 1836. 

 Victor de M. {Motchoidsky), in Guerin's Mag. Zool. 1836 ; and in Nouv. Mem. Soc. 



Imp. Mosc. vol. iv. 

 Erichson. Kafer Brandenb. 



St. Fargeau and Serville. Encyclop. Methodique, vol. x. 

 Leach, in Zool. Misc. vol. iii. — Ditto, in ZooL Journal, No. 8. 

 Denny. Monograpliia Pselaph. et Scydmcen. Norwich, 1825. 

 Dumeril. Consid. Gen. 

 Sturm. Catal. Mein. Ins. Samml. 

 Illiger. Kafer Preussens. 



