442 



COLKOITKKA. 



tant from each other ; the thorax is punctured and pubescent^ 

 the middle coxae slightly separate, while the abdomen is nar- 

 rowed at the tips. Fig. 387 represents the larva of this or a 

 closely allied genus found in a humble bee's nest. PhilontJtus 

 . differs in having the femora unarmed. The species 



^ live in decaying matters and excrement. The spe- 

 cies of Pcederus (Fig. 388, the larva of the European 

 P. tempestivus Erichs.) are found under stones, etc., 

 near water. 



In Stenus, of which S. stygicus .Say and S. ,1mm 

 Fabr. are types, the eyes are large and prominent, so 

 that the head resembles that of Cicindela and the 

 antennae are inserted upon the front between the 

 eyes ; the labrum is entire and rounded anteriorly, the para- 

 glossae are dilated, rounded, and the body is coarsely punctured, 

 while that of its nearest ally Dianous is finely punctured and 

 * the paraglossse are connate and indistinct. 



I 



Another small group of genera is repre- 

 sented by Oxyporus, which is found in fungi, 

 and which has a large head, with 

 large long mandibles crossing each 



T d'"- ' '\\ iVJff other, and five-jointed tarsi ; and 



J. / '/!: [_ | f ' J Oxytelus which is found in wet 



places and in dung, and has three- 

 jointed tarsi, with a row of spines 

 on the front tibiae, and the middle coxae 

 separated. 



rig. 389. Anthophagus ccesusf, Harris Correspond- 



ence (Fig. 389; a, maxilla), is found in wet ground where 

 spearmint grows, of which it diffuses a strong odor. 



In Omalium the antennae are inserted under the lateral 1 mar- 

 gin of the front, the elytra are long, and the tibiae finely spi- 

 nous. Micralymma, is closely allied, but differs in the elytra 

 being very short. The genus Micropeplus is squarish in form 

 and connects the present family with the one following. 



HISTERIDJE Leach. As stated 1>\ Lrconte, "this is a very 

 well defined family of insects, modrnitcly numerous, nearly all 

 of a shining black color, with the flytrn vuriousty sculptured 



