88 BRITISH BEETLES. 



three longitudinal furrows, and the abdomen shining; 

 the males have the apical segments of the abdomen be- 

 neath sinuated, notched,, and tuberculated ; the females, 

 also, exhibiting a tendency to similar irregularities. 



The species of Trogophlceus, diminutive, cylindrical, 

 dull-black, pubescent insects, with very short tarsi, 

 occur in mud-banks and wet places, and have usually a 

 deep impression at the back of the thorax. Syntomium 

 (Bneum, a small, metallic, " stumpy " beetle, very strongly 

 punctured and slow of foot, and with three apical joints 

 of its antennae suddenly thickened, may be found under 

 dead leaves in sandpits. Lastly, the rare Acrognathus 

 and Deleaster, larger, rufo-testaceous species, live in 

 very wet places, in rotting leaves at the edges of ponds ; 

 the former is very sluggish, and seems swollen with the 

 water in which it soaks, but the latter flies readily, and 

 runs with great swiftness. 



The OMALID^; have five-jointed tarsi; the protho- 

 racic spiracles hidden; the thorax membraneous be- 

 neath, behind the anterior coxae; the antennae inserted 

 under the lateral margin of the forehead, which margin 

 is not elevated ; the anterior coxae almost conic and ex- 

 serted, and the posterior transverse ; the maxillae armed 

 with a horny hook at the apex ; the elytra reaching be- 

 yond the metathorax, and rounded at the outer hinder 

 corners ; and two ocelli on the middle of the head. They 

 are mostly somewhat depressed, with long, slender 

 antennae ; and live in wet places, under seaweed, stones, 

 and bark, and in flowers. 



The species of Anthophagus, Geodromicus, and Lesteva, 

 on account of their long slender legs, long elytra, and 

 somewhat heart-shaped thorax, present considerable re- 

 semblance to certain of the smaller Lebiides in the Geode- 



