Manners, Sfc. of some of the British Brachelytra. 109 



Linnaean genus SlophyUims, almost every cabinet of any extent 

 contains Brachelytrous species unnoticed by Stephens : and the 

 recent discovery of such singular forms as the genus Pseudopsis* 

 of Newman, and the anomalous genera Centroglossa and Deinopsis, 

 detected last year by my friend A. Matthews, Esq., are indications 

 of the novelties which may be expected from researches in this 

 quarter. Still, the Brachelytra have not hitherto met with that 

 degree of attention from British Entomologists which might have 

 been expected : the minuteness of many of the species has occa- 

 sioned their being overlooked, and the want of a good English 

 monograph, with magnified figures, and outlines of the trophi of 

 each genus,'}- combined with the small size of the insects, and the 

 great number of closely allied species contained in some genera, 

 has attached a discouraging degree of difficulty to the investiga- 

 tion of these insects, and in too many instances has caused the 

 drawers containing the Brachelytra to be left a confused crowd of 

 specimens, without any attempt at nomenclature or arrangement. 

 It is to be hoped that the daily increasing zeal with which Ento- 

 mology is now cultivated in these islands will soon remove from 

 our naturalists the stigma of having neglected a group which its 

 geographical distribution places so especially under their charge. 



The habits, food, and localities frequented by the various genera 

 and species of this extensive division, present so much diversity, 

 that I trust I may be excused by the Entomological Society for 

 submitting to their notice the following rough Notes on such 

 points as have fallen under my own notice in my entomological 

 rambles, in the course of which I have always paid particular 

 attention to the manners of these insects. I do not flatter myself 

 that my remarks will contain much new matter, but I shall be 

 amply satisfied if they give an impulse in the same path to the 

 curiosity of some more keensighted observer. I have arranged 

 my remarks in the order of genera given in the last edition of 

 Stephens's Nomenclature. 



The minute species composing the curious family Pselaphidce 

 seem, as far as my observation on them extends, to be the most 

 retiring and subterraneous in their habits of all Brachelytra, being 

 rarely found fairly above ground, or even immediately under 



* A second specimen of the Pseudopsis has been taken by Mr. Matthews at 

 Shotover Hill, near Oxford. 



t The beautiful figures of Curtis, as far as they go, leave nothing to be wished 

 for in this respect ; but unfortunately they include but few genera, and among 

 these but a small proportion are from the minute Aleochaia: and Stenidtr, which 

 most require illustration. 



