322 ARTICULATA. INSECTA. 



scaly head, and monstrous jaws ; they devour even 

 tadpoles, and young fishes. Allied to these, is that 

 merry little creature the Whirl-beetle (Gyrinus*\ 

 which in little parties skims round and round in tor- 

 tuous figures, with a velocity that the eye cannot 

 follow. Diving on the slightest approach, each car- 

 ries with him a bubble of air, sparkling like a little 

 pearl. 



As the preceding may be considered to represent 

 the Cats and the Falcons, so we may find such as 

 answer to the Hyaenas and Vultures in two families 

 which feed on decomposing animal matters. They 

 form the two Linnaean genera, Staphylinus^ and 

 Silpha,^ with others which we cannot notice. The 

 former, often called Rove-beetles, are of repulsive 

 appearance, the body lengthened, and generally deep 

 black, the elytra very short, not nearly covering the 

 abdomen : they diffuse an intolerable odour. Some 

 of the large species, when disturbed, turn up the 

 body perpendicularly over the back, and stretch 

 wide open their formidable jaws in a most threat- 

 ening attitude. They frequently feed on maggots, 

 worms, &c., as well as the decaying flesh which 

 they frequent. The larva much resembles the per- 

 fect insect, except in the want of elytra and wings. 



, gyro, to move in circles. 

 f 2<ra<pyX7, staphyle, a perpendicular. 

 , a cockroach. 



