BRACHELYTRA. 87 



apex of its mentum, the lunated apical joint of its labial 

 palpi, and filiform maxillary palpi, absent paraglossse (in 

 which, however, it resembles Bledius), porrect mandibles, 

 one of which the left is toothed on the lower side, 

 and the articulation of its middle legs to the sides of the 

 mesothorax, appearing to remove it from any of the 

 Oxytelidcs. 



Oxyporus rufus (Plate V, Fig. 2) is conspicuous for 

 its robust build, bright colours, sharp elongate jaws, and 

 the large size of the head in the male : it is found on 

 fungi, eating transverse galleries through the " gills " on 

 the lower side, and runs with great swiftness. 



The species of Bledius are mostly gregarious, fre- 

 quenting the sea-sands, banks of rivers, sandpits, etc. 

 They are elongate and cylindrical in shape, as might be 

 expected from their burrowing habits, and have the 

 front tibiae thickened and strongly spined. In the males 

 of some, the head bears two erect horns, and the thorax 

 also has one in the middle, pointing forwards : these horns 

 are much developed in the large males; but, in the 

 smaller specimens, are of more feeble build. The Bledii 

 pass all the stages of their existence in the sand, and are 

 often preyed upon by some of the Dyschirii (Geode- 

 phaga) ; they fly readily towards the evening, and have 

 been observed to remain in their burrows beneath the 

 tide for some time. 



Platystethushas the apical joint of the labial palpi not 

 subulate, and its members (all of which are small, black, 

 and shining) live in dung or the cracks of mud-backs. 



The true Oxyteli abound in dung, at the fermenting 

 sap of felled trees, under rotten seaweed, etc. ; they are 

 all more or less flat, dull-black, with the parts of the 

 body somewhat loosely articulated; the thorax with 



