78 INSECTS ABROAD. 



and size, green and purple being the prevailing hues ; while in 

 dimensions many of them are but dwarfs compared with the 

 present species. 



The head and thorax of StercuHa fulgens is deep shining 

 metallic blue, the head having a tendency to pink on the edges, 

 and being covered with deep punctures. The elytra are also 

 blue, but with a purple gloss, and deeply punctured, though not 

 so boldly as the head. The abdomen is shining coppery bronze, 

 and the whole of the under surface is blue, like that of the blue- 

 bottle fly, and the limbs are of the same hue. Tt belongs to the 

 family Xantholinidre. 



Another of these Beetles belongs to the typical family 

 Staphylinidse. This is Staphylinus versicolor, a native of Para. 



Though not as splendid as the preceding insect, it is yet far 

 handsomer than any British species of the same genus, and 



deserves its name of versi- 

 color, i.e. changeable colour. 

 Tt is chiefly remarkable for 

 the enormous size of the 

 mandibles and the peculiar 

 shape of the head, which 

 is large, and has a bold keel 

 running along its centre. 

 The head of the male, indeed. 



is much larger and wider than 

 Via. 33 — Staphylinus versicolor. ,i ,-, .■< , ■, 



(Black, with yeuow hair.) tne thorax, the great de- 



velopment of the jaws ren- 

 dering a corresponding development of the head necessary. 

 In the female the head is comparatively small, and the jaws 

 feeble. 



The jaws themselves are black, but in their inside there 

 is a membrane covered with yellow hair. The head is dull 

 black, mottled with yellow down, and so .are the elytra, the 

 down on them containing a slightly greener hue. The abdomen 

 is black except the tip, which is covered with bright golden down. 

 The insect is found in wet weeds, generally in decaying vege- 

 table manure : indeed, it has a look as if it were meant to dwell 

 in such plaees, its flattened body and drooping head showing 

 thai it is one of the darkling insects, meant to crawl into narrow 



