84 INSECTS AT HOME. 



these Beetles the spiracles of the prothorax are hidden, the 

 antenna} are set on the sides of the for«liead, and the maxillre 

 have a liorny hook at the tip ; and there are two ocelli, or simple 

 eyes, upon tlie back of the liead, tliis being a very valuable cha- 

 racteristic in arranging these insects. As a rule the Oma- 

 lidiie have flattened bodies, and long slender antennae, and 

 delight in damp places, whetlier wetted by fresh or salt water ; 

 so that they can be found under heaps of decaying sea-weeds on 

 the coasts, and \mder stones on the banks of ponds. Some of 

 them may be found under bark, and some in flowers ; so that 

 they have a very wide range of locality. 



Our first example of tliis family, MicralyTnma brevipenne, is 

 remarkable for its fondness for wet. The genus is known by its 

 very minute elytra, the long and broad abdomen, and the long 

 hairs upon the tarsi. A figure of the insect is given on Woodcut 

 IX. Fig. 5. 



The colour of this tiny Beetle is shining-black, and it may 

 easily be recognised by its size, shape, and colour, and the locality 

 in ^yhich it resides. It takes up its abode under decaying sea- 

 weed, but always selects a spot that is well below high-water 

 mark ; its object being, apparently, to give itself a chance of 

 being drowned or carried away to sea twice in the twenty-four 

 hours. It remains in this singular locality throughout the w^hole 

 of its life, and contrives, in some strange way, to pass through 

 its transformations, subject to the perpetual wasliing of the 

 waves. 



Another example of the same family is showTi on Woodcut 

 IX. Fig. 3, its name being Omallum florale. In this genus 

 the body is rather oval and flattened. The antennae are short 

 and liairy, becoming thicker at the tips. The thorax is short, 

 somewhat heart-shaped, and narrowed behind. The four basal 

 joints of the tarsi are short. 



The species which serves as our example of the typical 

 genus is greyish-black and shining, the surface being thickly 

 punctured, and tlie punctures inclined to form stria3 on the 

 elytra. The legs are reddish, and the antenna> and palpi black. 

 This is one of the flower-loving species, being found in the 

 spring time frequenting the flowers of the hawthorn and sallows. 

 It is distributed over England generally, but does not seem to 



