COLEOPTERA. 4l3 



from each filament. The last ring is very small, and is termi- 

 nated by four long and parallel hooks. This larva inhabits the 

 water, from which it issues in the beginning of August to 

 become a chrysalis. It encloses itself in a little oval cocoon, 

 pointed at the ends, formed of a material drawn from its body 

 resembling grey paper, which it fixes to the reeds. Very 

 common in Europe *faj. 



FAMILY II. 



BRACHELYTRA. 



In the second family of the Pentaraerous Coleoptera we find but 

 one palpus to the maxillae, or four in all ; the antennae, sometimes of 

 equal thickness, and at others slightly enlarged at the end, are usually 

 composed of lenticular or graniform joints ; the elytra are much 

 shorter than the body, which is narrow and elongated, and the coxee 

 of the two anterior legs are very large ; near the anus are two vesicles 

 which the animal protrudes at will. 



These Coleoptera compose the genus 



Staphylinus, Lin. 



The Staphylini have been considered as forming the passage from the 

 Coleoptera to the Forjicidce, the first genus of the following order. 

 They also approximate, in some respects, to the Insects of the pre- 

 ceding family, and to the Silphse and Necrophori, (genera of the 

 fourth), in many others. 1'hey commonly have a large, flattened 

 head, stout mandibles, short antennae, a thorax as wide as the abdo- 

 men, and the elytra truncated at the extremity, but still covering the 

 wings, which preserve their usual extent. The semi-annuli of the 

 top of the abdomen are as scaly as those of the venter. The vesicles 

 of the anus consist in two conical and pilose points, which are pro- 

 truded and retracted at the will of the animal; a subtile vapour 

 escapes from them, which, in some species, has a strong odour of 

 sulphuric ether. M. Leon Dufour, Ann. des Sc. Nat. YllI, p. 16, 

 has described the apparatus which produces it. The last segment of 

 the abdomen, that which contains the anus, is prolonged and termi- 

 nates in a point. 



* For the other species see Oliv., Col. Ill, No. 41, and Schcsnh., Synon. Insect., 

 II, No. 55. The Gyr. minuius and bicolor, Fab., are also found in the vicinity of 

 Paris. The largest of the species, all of which are foreign to Europe, have no ap- 

 parent scutel and but four palpi. 



M. Mac-Leay, Jun. — Annul. Javan. I, p. 30 — forms a particular genus, Dineu- 

 TES, -with those in which the labrum is not ciliate, the palpi are clavate, the ante- 

 rior legs the length of the body, and the termination of the antennae is partly pointed. 

 He quotes but a single species, the D. poUlus. 



1^ (a) Add to species of Gyrinus, the Gyr. americanus, emarginatus, analis and 

 limbatus. — Eng. Ed, 



