402 STAPHYLINUS* 



Genus XXIX. — Staphylinus, 



J HE antenna of this fingular tribe are moniliform : The 

 elytra, by which they are readily diftinguiflied, feem as if 

 cut through by the middle, and do not extend half the 

 lengfh of the abdomen. Under thefe cafes tl>e wings are 

 folded up, and concealed. The extremity of the abdo- 

 men is unarmed, but provided with two oblong veficles 

 which the infeft can fhoot out or retraft, at pleafure. 



The ftaphylini are fometimes feen upon flowers ; but 

 their principal refort is to the dung of cows. All of 

 them when touched turn up the tail, as if with an inten- 

 tion to fling They are, however, unprovided with that 

 inltrument, but bite feverely with their jaws when laid 

 hold of. In tiieir larva ftate, thefe infecls fo much re- 

 femble the perfed animal, that they cannot eafily be di- 

 ftinguiflied *. 



Staphylinus maxillofus, is the largell Britijh infeft of 

 this genus. The javv,i, from which it obtains its Liniueaii 

 name, are fliarp, hard, and rather longer than the head. 

 The whole infecl, both above and below, is of a deep 

 black : The elytra do not cover more than one third of 

 the abdomen, which appears beyond them, rough and 

 hairy. The legs are long ; each of the tarfi is provided 

 "with a tuft of hair referabling a brufla. This and the 

 other fpecies can fly by means of large wings, which uu" 

 fold from under the elytra f . 



* Barbut, p. 95, f Rai Inf. p. 109. n. I. 



