THE STENI. 71 



genus are strongly formed, having one very large 

 tooth, and four very small teeth. The fourth joint of 

 the tarsi has a slightly double lobe. 



The present species is black, with the exception 

 of a round tawny spot on each elytron, from which 

 the insect has derived its specific name of bimaciilatus, 

 or ' two-spotted.' The surface is thickly and deeply 

 punctured, and is covered with a scanty whitish down. 

 There is a deep furrow along the middle of the 

 thorax. The legs are tawny, with the exception of 

 the knees and tarsi, which are black. 



This is a very good example of the genus, and 

 indeed so well exhibits the characteristics of the 

 family that it is worth a detailed examination. It. is 

 a very common insect, being found all over England, 

 and almost always to be taken on the banks of ponds 

 and rivers among the aquatic plants. In tolerably 

 warm weather it may be taken running about upon 

 the stems of the plants, and on cold days lurking in 

 the muddy soil about their roots. Mr. E. A. Smith, 

 to whom I am indebted for much information con- 

 cerning the smaller Brachelytra, tells me that all the 

 spotted Steni are found in the wettest situations. 

 This genus is a very large one, containing more than 

 fifty species. 



THE next family on our list is that of the Homa- 

 lidae. In these Beetles the spiracles of the prothorax 

 are hidden, the antennae are set on the sides of the 

 forehead, and the maxillae have a horny hook at the 

 tip. There are two ocelli, or simple eyes, upon the 

 back of the head, this being a very valuable charac- 



