BEETLES. 21 



antennae than most of its allies, and measures about half an inch in 

 length. Both the larva and the beetle feed on corn, and sometimes 

 commit great ravages, but the beetle will devour its companions, 

 if pressed by hunger, and is therefore not exclusively herbivorous. 



Several of the small species of CaraUdce placed towards the 

 end of the family are interesting in their habits. Bembidium, 

 Latr., is a very extensive genus of minute Carabidce, very few of 

 which reach the length of a quarter of an inch, while many are 

 only half that size. They are generally of a black or bronzy 

 colour, with yellowish spots and markings. They are very active 

 in their movements, and although not exactly aquatic, are always 

 found in marshy places, under stones, or running among sand, mud, 

 and refuse, in the immediate neighbourhood of water. A few 

 species, however, are found in mountainous districts, or under 

 bark. They generally appear in spring ; and, in fact, most of the 

 CaraUdce are more numerous in spring and early summer than 

 later in the year. 



The genus Aepus, Leach, only includes three very small apterous 

 yellowish beetles, two of which are found on the shores of Eng- 

 land, France, and Denmark, and the third in Madeira. They are 

 met with only at low-water mark, and as they are covered by 

 the tide for several hours every day, they may fairly be regarded 

 as true marine insects. They are sometimes accompanied by 

 AepopTiilus Bonnairei, Sign., a small insect much resembling them 

 in appearance and habits, but which belongs to the order Hemiptera. 



The last genera of the CaraUdce which we shall notice are 

 Anophthalmus, Schmidt, and Aphcenops, Bonv. They are small 

 reddish or brownish eyeless beetles, which are found under stones 

 in the great caves of South-Eastern Europe and North America, 

 which, as is well known, possess a very peculiar fauna of their 

 own. 



SUB-SECTION II. Hydradephaga. 



Antennae slender ; long or short ; mandibles concealed by the 

 upper lip ; eyes not remarkably prominent ; body broad and often 

 flattened legs formed for swimming. 



The Hydmdephaga are entirely carnivorous, and are almost 

 wholly aquatic insects, but, as their wings are well developed, 

 many of the species leave the water at night, and fly to great 

 distances. They are divided into two families the Dytiscidce and 

 the Gyrinidce. 



