a2 Orprr—COLEOPTERA. Srction—PENTAMERA. 
Fammity—PAUSSID. 
Puates XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, and XIX. 
In the second volume of my Arcana Entomologica, 1843-5, is published a complete series of descriptions and 
coloured figures of the species of this remarkable family known up to that period, eleven plates being devoted to 
the fifty-two species therein illustrated. Since that time our knowledge of the family has been greatly extended, 
especially as regards the species which are natives of South Africa, by the labours of Herr Gueinzius, in Ceylon 
by those of Herr Neitner, and in those of New Holland; so that T am now enabled to more than double their 
number : the five accompanying plates containing illustrations of fifty-four hitherto unfigured species. 
The economy of the Pausside is very peculiar, as appears by various communications made to the Entomo- 
logical Society, of which the following is a summary :— 
The late Mr Benson succeeded in capturing two species of Merismoderus Bensoni Westw. under stones in 
ants’ nests in India. He also took specimens of P. nawceras and P. Baconis by sweeping grass and herbage in 
India. His notes on the habits of P. Parrianus, which I published in the Transactions of the Entomological 
Society, vol. v. p. 30, satisfactorily shew that that species ordinarily lives amongst ants, under stones and 
decaying bark, and that it emits a fluid, when handled, sufficiently powerful to stain the fingers. 
The late Major Champion, also, detected three species of Pausside, near Hong Kong, under stones in the 
nests of a minute species of ant. Crepitation was distinctly observed in these insects, the noise resembling the 
ticking of a watch, and the finger being discoloured as by the discharge of a Brachinus. From the locality 
where these insects are found, it scarcely seems probable that they are lignivorous, as had been supposed ; and 
further observations will, he thinks, prove their affinity to the Carabide. (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. N. 8. vol. ii, 
p- 86.) 
Mr. Roland Trimen (Trans. Ent. Soc. Proe. 1870, part iti) states that he captured a specimen of Paussus 
Burmeister’ Westw. resting on a leaf of Protea mellifera, but that Pentaplatarthrus Paussoides Westw. was taken 
in the nests of a moderate-sized black ant, under stones, where it is seen either motionless or walking slowly 
among the excited ants along one of their galleries, and it did not appear to him that the ants, when disturbed, 
shewed any anxiety about the safety of the beetles, or, indeed, paid them any notice whatever. Dr. Becker had, 
however, told him that he believes he saw some ants mi/é a specimen, in the same manner as they treat the 
aphides ; and Mr. Harrison brought him a pair taken in copula in the nest, leading to the opinion that the 
beetles seldom, if ever, leave the formicarium. The same gentleman had also taken another small species in a 
nest of small reddish ants. 
Herr Gueinzius, who has been very successful in collecting the species of Pausside at Port Natal, states 
(Proce. Ent. Soc. Lond. Sept. 1, 1851) that all the species observed by him (14 in number) are night-creatures, 
flying during the Spring (i.e. from the middle of October to December), especially in thundery weather, from 9 
to 11 o’clock in the evening. They are dazzled and attracted by light, flying through open windows and doors on 
still, warm nights. Their flight is swift, and with a peculiar shrill sound. All the species contain a caustic liquid, 
which they eject in an audible manner from the abdomen on being seized. This hquid from Pentaplatarthrus 
Paussoides stains one’s fingers blood-red for several days; from the larger species of Cerapterus, the purplish- 
brown of iodine; from the Plewropterus alternans Westw., it burns the epidermis, forming white spots. The 
odour of this liquid is extremely pungent, like ammonia, and reminds one also of iodine. The explosion is 
repeated three or four times, becoming gradually weaker when it becomes exhausted. Herr Gueinzius further 
observed on several occasions the Pentaplatarthrus Paussoides made prisoner by the ants, the specimen being 
gently led by its antennz by several ants which accompanied it in procession. 
From the statements of Mr. R. W. Plant, on the Pausside of Natal (Proc. Ent. Soc. Lond. Dee. 3, 1855), 
it is evident that these beetles are strictly guarded and kept prisoners by the ants, he having observed a string 
of the latter seizing one of the beetles and dragging it off to their nest. The beetles struggle, and endeavour 
to get out of the holes, but they are soon overtaken and brought back again. The ants do not kill them on the 
spot, as they do some other creatures. And Mr. Plant asks, ‘for what other purpose should the ants toil in 
their capture, but in the pursuit of their natural instinct to secure food wherever it is offered ?? 
