272 NATURAL AKRANGEMENT OF INSECTS. 



insect, densely pubescent, its clothing being party-co- 

 loured, black and bright yellow ; and the Devil's coach- 

 horse, the common Goeriiis, is the frecjuent occupant of 

 our gardens. Oxyporus is remarkable for its moon- 

 shaped palpi ; and a modification of this form occurs in 

 Axtrapceus, Tasgius, and Pelecyphorus. Achenium and 

 Skigoiiium, lastly, have porrected horns upon the head 

 and thorax. 



(2,'>9.) The second family, the Sten'Hl(P,h-a.ve greatly 

 the appearance of Elaphri, and, indeed, participate 

 with them in their attachment to humid situations. 

 They are nearly cylindrical ; have very prominent eyes, 

 long exserted palpi, and antennae subclavate at the tip. 

 They are very active insects, and seem very predaceous. 



(240.) The third family are the Oxytelidoe : these 

 are depressed, have very large heads, very serrated 

 tibiae, and usually but three joints to their tarsi, — the 

 terminal one being longer than the rest together. I'here 

 is nothing peculiar in their natural history, beyond the 

 circumstance of their being, perhaps, the most gre- 

 garious of the group, associating in the multitudes we 

 have instanced above, and occurring in dung and putrid 

 substances. 



(241.) The fourth family are formed by the Oma- 

 lidee, which, as their name indicates, are exceed- 

 ingly depressed ; their tarsi are pentamerous ; and the 

 terminal joint of their palpi is frequently subulated. 

 These insects are often found in flowers, and are in- 

 teresting, from presenting instances of the rare occur- 

 rence of ocelli in the Coleoptera. 



(242.) The Tachynidce form the fifth family, and 

 are distinguished by their convex tapering forms ; their 

 tarsi are also pentamerous ; and they have, likewise, the 

 habit of frequenting flowers. They are excessively 

 agile, and readily escape capture by the velocity of their 

 motions. There is nothing strikingly distinguishing in 

 them to require notice in a work thus general. 



(243.) The Aleocharidce constitute the sixth fa- 

 mily : their antenna are inserted below their eyes, 



