BRACHELYTRA. 77 



outer hinder margin of its elytra. Lastly, Mylltena and 

 its allies, very much contracted behind, and clothed with 

 a short, dense, silky pubescence, are noteworthy from 

 the anomalous jointless structure of their labial palpi, 

 before alluded to. 



The TACHYPORID^ (so named on account of their 

 rapid movements) are composed of usually bright- 

 coloured species, found principally in fungi, moss, or 

 dung, and considerably contracted at both extremities, 

 especially behind, the front being more obtuse. The ab- 

 domen is usually elongate and pointed ; but, when the in- 

 sects are dead, the segments run up frequently, as in a 

 telescope, so that it is by no means easy to preserve the 

 correct facies of the insect in a dried specimen. The best 

 way in mounting them is to put gum arabic (with which 

 a little white sugar has been melted) under the tail ; and, 

 as soon as that is dry, gum the entire last segment over 

 with tragacanth, keeping the abdomen from contracting 

 (if you can) with a card brace. They should not be dried 

 quickly. 



Their prothoracic spiracles are conspicuous, and their 

 antennae inserted towards the hinder part of the side 

 margin of the forehead, before the eyes. Their maxillary 

 palpi have the apical joint subulate in some species ; 

 and the antennae are filiform and eleven -jointed in most, 

 but ten-jointed and thickened in one genus, Hypocyptus, 

 comprised of very small shining globular insects, which 

 have somewhat the appearance of the Agathidia, in the 

 next section. The legs are usually spiny, and the tarsi 

 have five joints in all except Hypocyptus, which has but 

 four. The anterior tarsi are widened at the base in the 

 male, and both sexes often exhibit very striking cha- 

 racters at the apex of the abdomen, both on the upper 

 and under sides. 



