THE BLIND BEETLE. 101 



The family of tlie Colydiidse have the antennae nearly straight, 

 and not bowed as in the preceding family, and the tarsi are 

 fom'-jointed. Most of them are found in wood, but they may 

 be found among grass heaps, in sandy places, and other localities. 

 One of the most curious examples of this family is the insect 

 which is represented on SVoodcut XI. Fig. 2, and called by the 

 name of Colydium elongatum. A glance at the figure will 

 show the appropriateness of this name, the whole body, and 

 especially the abdomen and elytra, being elongated in a most 

 extraordinary manner, really looking as if the Beetle had been 

 drawn out like wire. The colour of this curious Beetle is 

 •smooth shining-black, the elytra being reddish at the base, and 

 deepening into black at the apex, near which is an oval reddish 

 spot, varying in colour and size in different specimens. This 

 insect lives chiefly in the burrows of wood-eating Beetles, 

 especially those of Sinodertdron or Hylesinus, and therefore 

 is so seldom seen that it is considered a valuable addition to 

 the cabinet. But, when one of its haunts is detected, a number 

 of the Beetles can generally be found. Mr. Ingall, for example, 

 took a quantity of these insects out of an old elm rail near 

 Sydenham. By some authors the generic name of Nemosoma 

 is prefixed to this Beetle. This is a very appropriate name, 

 signifying ' thread-bodied.' It is the only British species of 

 Hs genus. 



The larva of this Beetle is shown at Fig. e on the same 

 woodcu-t. Mr. Westwood went to visit the elm rails at Syden- 

 ham, and there succeeded in procuring many examples of 

 larvse and perfect insects. He remarked that the perfect 

 insects were sluggish during the day, but that at night they 

 became more active, trying to bite each other if they met. 

 The larvse, like many other creatures which inhabit burrows, 

 can run backwards as easily as they can forwards, and this 

 they do by means of a clasper on the end of the body. They 

 are sluggish except when excited, and then move about very 

 much after the manner of the Kove Beetles, moving theii 

 head fi'om side to side, and opening their strong jaws ap 

 if in menace. 



Another member of this family is remarkable for being 

 without eyes. This is Anommatus duodecim-striatus, which 



