COLEOPTERA. 257 



once from all others by their square, short fore wings, naked 

 body, elongate form, and disgusting manner of turning up 

 the tail like a scorpion. Inhabits and devours all putrefying 

 substances, also living insects. Staphylinus. 



Short-winged moss-beetles or Pselaphites. Larva and 

 pupa unknown. Imago with acute dentate mandibles; 

 maxilla obtuse ; galea rounded, exarticulate, though some- 

 what palpiform ; maxillary feelers clavated, immensely de- 

 veloped, often equalling the antenna in size ; antennas with 

 ten or eleven joints, the last joint incrassated, forming a 

 club; fore wings quadrate and abbreviated; hind wings 

 usually wanting; tarsi two-jointed. Very minute; slow in 

 its movements. Inhabits moss and the roots of grass, feed- 

 ing on the Acari which occur in those situations. Pselaphus. 



Long-winged moss-beetles or Scydmanites. Larva and 

 pupa unknown. Imago with antenna eleven -jointed, mo- 

 niliform, incrassated exteriorly ; the basal joint rather long, 

 the apical one ovate and together with the two preceding, in- 

 crassated; maxillary feelers very large, the third joint stout 

 and conical, the fourth and terminal one small, acute ; fore 

 wings completely covering the body ; tarsi five-jointed. 

 Inhabits moss, and under planks near cucumber frames ; 

 feeds on Acari. Scydmanus^ Eutheia. 



Fungus-beetles or Endomychites. Larva with six distinct 

 articulate legs ; head small ; middle of the body stout, 

 gradually attenuated to the tail. Principally inhabits and 

 feeds on the interior of fungi. Pupa changes in the same 

 situations. Imago with moniliform antenna, incrassated 

 externally; mandibles acute; tarsi three-jointed; form 

 very convex, oval, glabrous. Inhabits fungi. Lycoperdina, 

 Endomychus. 



Lady-birds or Coccinellites. Larva in structure like 

 that of the preceding order, but rather more elongate and 

 active. Inhabits the leaves of vegetables, feeding on the 



