46 THE YOUNG COLLECTOR'S 



exposed ; in fact, they much resemble an earwig in shape, except 

 the forceps. This and the succeeding groups are divided into 

 so many families that our limits will only permit us to mention 

 some of the most important. Many of the species of Brachely- 

 tra are black, often with a bluish or greenish reflection, but 

 others have the elytra, or their whole bodies, reddish or yel- 

 lowish. 



The Akocharidcs are a very large family, including many 

 small species, which are found under stones and bark, in 

 marshy places among rushes, in fungi, under dead leaves, etc. 

 Many species are found in or near ants' nests, and we have 

 figured Myrmedonia Collaris in illustration, though it is not 

 a very common species. It is a small insect, about one-sixth 

 of an inch in length, and is black, with the thorax and abdo- 

 men, except the tip, black. What relation the beetles which 



Myrmedonia Collaris. VelleinsDilatahts. 



(Mag.) Nat. Size. 



inhabit ants' nests bear" to the ants, is not certainly known ; but 

 it is probable that they are employed in some manner as 

 domestic animals. Velldus Dilatatus, which we have figured 

 as a representative of the Quediida, is a black insect, about 

 three-quarters of an inch in length, with reddish-brown antennae. 

 It is nowhere common, but is generally met with in hornets' 

 nests, though found occasionally in the hollows of rotten trees 

 where no hornets are present ; its larva has some resemblance 

 to that of the hornet. 



The largest of the Brachelytra is a large black beetle, popu- 

 larly called the Devil's Coach Horse (Ocyfus Olens). It often 



