THE BRACHELYTRA. 93 



most beetles is furnished to it by the wing-cases, 

 acquires a horny consistency on the back as well as on 

 the belly, although the segments are so loosely con- 

 nected together, as to give the whole a great amount 

 of flexibility. These insects belong to a most exten- 

 sive group of beetles, to which, from their most 

 striking character, the shortness of the wing-cases, 

 the name of BRACHELYTRA"* has been given. Not- 

 withstanding the shortness of the elytra, however, 

 these insects are by no means unprovided with organs 

 of flight, the membranous wings are of considerable 

 size, often reaching to the extremity of the abdomen 

 when extended, and by their assistance the Brache- 

 lytra are enabled to fly with tolerable rapidity. When 

 not in use the wings are folded under the short elytra 

 in a very complicated manner, and the insects make 

 great use of their flexible abdomen in packing away 

 these appendages beneath their protective sheaths. 

 In their structure they exhibit a close resemblance to 

 the Necrophaga -, their mandibles are usually of con- 

 siderable size, exposed and pointed ; the outer lobe of 

 their maxillae is generally simple, their heads are 

 freely exposed in front of the prothorax, and often 

 connected with that segment by a distinct neck; 

 their antennae are rather short, filiform, or slightly 

 thickened towards the tip ; their limbs are all formed 

 for running, and their tarsi usually composed of five 

 joints, although this character is liable to some excep- 

 tions. They are to be met with in the most various 

 situations : some, as already stated, in dung and car- 

 rion, others in fungi, or in the midst of putrescent 

 vegetable matter, others under the dead leaves in 

 woods, or in the moss upon the roots of trees, whilst 

 * Gr. brachus, short, elutron, a cover. 



