HISTER. HISTER. 



Generic Character. 



Antenna capitate capitulo 

 solidiusculo ; infimo arti- 

 culo cornpresso, decur- 

 vato. 



Caput intra corpus retrac- 

 tile. Os forcipatum. 



Elytra corpore breviora. 



Tibi<p anticae dentatae. 



Antenna headed by a some- 

 what solid tip; lowest 

 joint compressed and de- 

 curved. 



Head retractile. Mouth for- 

 cipated. 



Wing-sheaths shorter than 

 the body. 



Fore-legs toothed. 



JL HE most common European species of this 

 genus is the Hister unicolor of Linnasus. It is 

 entirely of a glossy coal-black colour, and of a 

 slightly flattened shape; varying considerably in 

 size, but usually measuring about the third of an 

 inch in length, and is often seen in gardens, sandy 

 fields, &c. Its larva seems to be unknown. 



Hister quadrimaculatus. Lin. has much the ap- 

 pearance of a small beetle; its shape is strongly 

 convex, and its colour black, with two dull-red 

 bars on each wing-shell; viz. one at the base, and 

 the other, smaller, at the tip. It is found about 

 dunghills, &c. 



