SUPPLEMENT 



PALPICORNES. 



The first tribe of this family, the Hydrophilii, is com- 

 posed of the great genus Hydhophilus, which Geoffroy 

 separated under this name from the Dytiscus of Linnaeus. 

 They form a genus composed of a good many species, the 

 major part of whicii inhabit Europe. Some of them are of 

 large size ; others under the middle size. The colours of all 

 are obscure, or of no great brilliancy. 



These insects are found in fresh waters, in lakes, rarely in 

 rivers, but most frequently in marshes and ponds. They 

 swim tolerably quick, but with less celerity than the Dytisci. 

 It is usually at the approach of night that they issue from 

 the water to fly and transport themselves from one marsh or 

 pond to another. Accordingly these insects are found, as 

 well as all those of the tribe of Hydrocanthari^ in the 

 smallest collections of water, even in those which are formed 

 by rain in the inequalities of the soil. They make a hum- 

 ming sound as they fly along, similar to that made by the 

 Scaraboei. 



Degeer has informed us, that the Hydrophili, as well as 

 the Dytisci, are carnivorous, and very voracious, and that 

 they live on such other aquatic and terrestrial insects as they 

 can catch. This fact, which the examination of the internal 



VOL. XIV. 2 r 



