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CHAPTER XL 



THE BEACHELYTEA, OE " EOVE-BEETLES." 



THE Brachelytra, or Staphylini (of which perhaps only 

 one species, the ' ' DeviFs Coach-horse," Ocypus olens, is 

 known to casual observers) constitute a very large group, 

 and are readily distinguished by their elongate abdomen, 

 of which usually six or seven entirely horny segments 

 are exposed, and their extremely short and straightly 

 sutured wing-cases, beneath which the many folds of 

 their ample wings are hidden. The least typical forms 

 have, however, the wing-cases somewhat elongate, and 

 present a considerable likeness to certain of the smaller 

 Geodephaga ; from which, apart from other characters, 

 the absence of a palpiform lobe to their maxillae will 

 separate them. 



Many of them, especially the larger species, are emi- 

 nently predatorial ; and must on no account be placed 

 in the collecting-bottle with other insects. A great 

 number also (including some of those which attack 

 living insects), are carrion feeders, abounding in the 

 dead bodies of small animals, etc. ; very many habitually 

 frequent the dung of our domestic quadrupeds ; others 

 swarm in fungi, especially when rotten ; and the re- 

 mainder may be briefly described as living in decaying 



