66 



COMMON BRITISH INSECTS. 



OUR first example of the Staphylinidae is one of 

 the finest in my opinion the very finest of that 

 family. It is called scientifically 

 Creophilus maxillosns, but has, unfor- 

 tunately, no popular name, probably 

 because it is confounded in the 

 popular mind with the common black 

 species, which will be presently 

 described. Its name is more appro- 

 priate and expressive than is gene- 

 rally the case with insect names. 

 Creophilus maxiiiosus. j^g worc j Creophilus is of Greek 

 origin, and signifies 'flesh-lover/ while the specific 

 title of maxiiiosus signifies ' large-jawed.' Both names 

 show that those who affixed them to the insect were 

 thoroughly acquainted with its character and form, 

 for the Beetle is a most voracious carrion eater, and 

 has jaws that are of enormous size in proportion to its 

 body. The colour of this Beetle is shining-black, 

 but it is mottled with short grey down. 



In some places this Beetle is tolerably plentiful, 

 but in others it is seldom if ever seen. It can gene- 

 rally be captured in the bodies of moles that 

 have been suspended by the professional mole- 

 catchers and, indeed, these unfortunate moles are 

 absolute treasure-houses for the coleopterist, as we 

 shall see when we come to the next group of Beetles. 

 It is the only British species of its genus, and can be 

 distinguished by having short and thickened antennae, 

 smooth head and thorax, and the latter rounded. 



Now comes an insect that is very familiar to us, 



