ORDER COLEOPTERA. 289 



vapour thence escapes, and which in some species has a strong 

 scent of sulphuric ether. M. Leon Dufour {Annales des 

 Sciences Natur. t. viii. p. 16.) has given a description of the 

 apparatus which produces it. The last segment of the abdo- 

 men, that in Avhich the anus is situated, is prolonged into, 

 and terminates in a point. 



These coleoptera, when they are touched, or when they 

 run, raise the end of their abdomen, and give it all kinds of 

 inflexions. They also employ it to push their wings under 

 the cases, and cause them to re-enter there. The two ante- 

 rior feet have often the tarsi broad and dilated. Their 

 branches, as well as those of the intermediate feet, are very 

 large. They live for the most part in the earth, in dung- 

 hills, in excrementitious matters. Others are found under 

 mushrooms, the rotten parts of trees, holes, and under 

 stones. Some inhabit only aquatic places. Some again are 

 known, but very small, which attach themselves to flowers. 

 All are voracious, run with great swiftness, and take flight 

 very promptly. 



Their larvae very much resemble the perfect insect ; they 

 have the form of an elongated cone, the basis or the thickest 

 part of which is occupied by the head, which is very large. 

 The last ring is prolonged, in the manner of a tube, and is 

 accompanied by two conical and hairy appendages. These 

 larvae feed upon the same matters as the insect in the perfect 

 state. The first stomach of the Staphylinus is small and 

 without folds. The second is very long and very hairy. The 

 intestine is very short. 



According to M. Leon Dufour, their alimentary canal does 

 not differ essentially from that of the carnivorous coleoptera, 

 but by the absence of a crop. Their biliary vessels are in- 

 serted on one and the same lateral point, and in some species, 

 at least, offer, towards their middle, a knot or vescicle not 



VOL. XIV. u 



