98 THE BRACHELYTRA. 



to a certain extent of some forms of Geodephagous 

 Beetles allied to Brachinus. They are, however, 

 distinguished both from these and from the other 

 Brachelytra by the great length of their maxillary 

 palpi, which are often nearly as long as the antennae*, 

 and exhibit the most extraordinary swellings of their 

 joints. These curious little beetles are found in moss, 

 and in grassy places, where they are said to prey 

 upon small mites. One remarkable species, however, 

 the Clavigerfoveolatus, in which the antennae are only 

 composed of six joints, the maxillary palpi very small, 

 and the eyes and wings entirely deficient, is found in 

 the nests of the common yellow ant (Formica flava) , 

 where these curious guests appear to be the objects 

 of the most anxious care of their hosts. The latter, 

 in fact, feed the little beetles from their own mouths, 

 and are said, in return, to suck a peculiar fluid secre- 

 tion from a pair of minute tufts of hair, with which 

 the elytra of the Claviger are terminated. Some 

 other species belonging to the true Brachelytra 

 (Dinar da dentata, Atemeles paradoxus, &c.) are also 

 found in ants' nests, but their connexion with those 

 industrious little insects does not appear to be very 

 clearly ascertained. Two or three other small insects 

 of this group (Diglossa mersa, Hesperophilus arena- 

 rius, and Micralymma Johnstoni) are found on various 

 parts of our sea -coasts below high-water mark, and, 

 like the Aepus referred to amongst the Geodephaga, 

 are capable of passing a considerable time immersed 

 in the sea. It is probable that a careful examination 



* On account of the remarkable structure of these Beetles, 

 they have been regarded by many authors as forming an inde- 

 pendent group, to which Latreille gave the name of Palpatores. 



