COLEOPTERA— STAPHYLINIDiE. 31 



the cave, but has not been found where the cave does not have at least 

 a fair degree of moisture. It has been observed a number of times in 

 twihght, but never quite near the mouth of the cave. It is seen quite 

 commonly at "6" and seems about equally abundant throughout the cave 

 from "6" back, where conditions 'are favorable. These beetles are 

 attracted by bait of whatsoever sort and feed upon all sorts of decaying 

 animal and vegetable matter. They burrow into and dig up the ground 

 to some extent under the stones where bait is left. Larvae often appear 

 at the bait after it has been left two weeks or longer. The larva is 

 described by Wickham (1896, 196) and is easily distinguished from 

 other larvae found in the cave by its general staphylinidous form and 

 its large size. I have found the larvae in abundance, and have attempted 

 to rear them, but for some reason have been unable to keep them alive. 

 The eggs and pupae were not found. 



Some variation is noted in the amount of dark color on the head and 

 elytra. More noticeable is the variation in the shade of the rufous- 

 brown color of the body. The body color ranges from quite dark 

 rufous-brown to leathery rufous. There is no correlation between the 

 variation in general body color and in the color of elytra and head, some 

 of the lighter individuals having dark elytra and some of the darker 

 ones having relatively light colored elytra. The variation in size is 

 considerable, the length ranging from about 9.5 mm. to 14.5 mm., with 

 an average of near 12 mm. This species seems entitled to be classed 

 as a true cave form. It has been found in twilight as well as in remote 

 parts of the cave, but has not been found in strong light. Besides the 

 localities mentioned above a single specimen has been recorded from 

 Colorado. 



Quedius fulgidus Fabricius. 



Quedius fulgidus Fabricius, Mantissa Insectorum, I, 220. 



Staphylinus iracundus Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc, iv, 449; Ent. Works, ed. Le 

 Conte, n, 564. 



Qiiedius fulgidus Horn, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, vii, 158. Hamilton, Trans. Am. 

 Ent. Soc, XXI, 366. Packard, Am. Nat., x, 1876, 286; Mem. Nat. Acad. Sci., 

 IV, 1888, 74 (Weyer's Cave, Virginia, and Dixon's Cave, Kentucky). WlCK- 

 HAM & Blatchley, Rep. Ind. Geol. Surv., xxi, 1896, 195 (Donnehue's and 

 Marengo caves). 



Not common. Only 4 specimens were found. This beetle was not 

 found beyond twilight in Mayfield's Cave. One of the specimens taken 

 was found at bait under a stone at the first bend in direct rays of light 

 from the outside. Another was found crawling on the roof at "6," 

 where the reflected rays of daylight reach. The two others were found 

 as pupae in loose earth under a stone at the first turn. They were taken 



