503 INSECTA. 



' THE SECOND FAMILY OF THE COLEOPTERA PENTAMERA,— 



Brachelittra, Ca\. (Microptera, Grav.), — 

 Have only one palpus to each maxilla, or four in all, [two maxillary ; the outer lobe of the maxilla; not 

 being palpiform, as in the foregoing tribes, and two labial] ; the antennae, either of equal thickness 

 throughout, or a little thickened at the tip, are generally composed of oval or lenticular joinis ; the 

 elytra are very much shorter than the body, which is narrow and elongated, with the coxae of the fore- 

 legs very large, and two vesicles near the anus, which the insect protrudes at will. 

 These Coleoptera compose the genus 



Staphylinus, Linn., — 

 Which have been regarded as forming the passage from the Beetles to the Earwigs, the first genus in 

 the following order. In some respects, they approach the insects of the preceding family, and in many 

 others, the Silphae, &c., belonging to the fourth family. They have in general the head large and flat, 

 strong mandibles, antennae short, the thorax as broad as the abdomen, the elytra truncate at the tip 

 but still covering the wings, which are of the ordinary size ; the dorsal semi-segments of the abdomen 

 are as scaly as the ventral ones ; from the anal vesicles a subtle vapour is discharged, which in some 

 species smells very strongly of sulphuric ether. M. L. Dufour {Ann. Sci. Nat., vol. viii. p. 16.), has 

 described the apparatus by which it is secreted. 



These Beetles [one of the largest of which is well known under the name of the Devil's Coach-horse], 

 when touched turn up the end of the body, bending it in all directions ; they also use it for the 

 purpose of assisting in folding up their wings under the short elytra. The tarsi of the fore-feet are 

 often broad and dilated, and the coxae of the four fore-legs are very broad. The majority live in the 

 earth, on manure and excrement ; others are found in boleti, rotten wood, under stones ; and others 

 only are met with near water ; some again, of small size, are only found in flowers. All are very 

 voracious, run with great quickness, and take flight with ease. 



Their larvae greatly resemble the perfect insects, being of an elongated conical form, of which the 

 base, or the widest part, is occupied by the head, which is very large ; the terminal segment of the body 

 is prolonged into a tube, and accompanied by two conical hirsute appendages. These larvae feed upon 

 the same substances as the perfect insects. 



The genus being very numerous, we divide it into five sections. 



The first section, that of the Fmilabra, has the head entirely exposed and separated from the thorax, 

 (which is sometimes square or semi-oval, and sometimes rounded, or in the shape of a reversed trun- 

 cated heart)by a neck or evidently narrowed part. The upper lip is deeply slit, and divided into two lobes. 

 Oxyporus, Fab., has the maxillary palpi fihform, and the labial terminated by a large crescent-shaped joint ; 

 antennfe short and compressed, and fore-tarsi not dilated. T>'i)e, Staph, rufus, Linn., about one-third of an inch 

 long-, varied with red and black ; [a not uncommon British species.] 



Astrapteiis, Grav., has all the palpi terminated by a large, nearly triangular joint, and fore-tarsi much dilated. 

 Staph, ulmi, Clairv. 



Staphylinus, Fabr., has all the palpi filiform, and the antennae inserted between the eyes. Some of these, 

 especially the males, have the fore-tarsi very much dilated, the antennaj wide apart at the base, the basal joint not 

 exceeding one fourth of their entire length, and the head slightly elongated ; these compose the restricted genus 

 Slaphylinus of some systems. Another species, S. dilatatus, Fabr., has been separated on account of its dilated 

 serrated antennae, to form another [ Velleins, Leach] . According to M. Chevrolat, this species feeds upon caterpillars, 

 which it seeks upon trees. [It is now known to feed in Hornets' nests.] 



[This genus, Staphylinus as here restricted, is very numerous, and has been divided by Kirby, Leach, Stephens, 

 and others, into several genera, such as Emus, Creophilus, Goerius, Ocypus, Philonthus, Gabrins, &c.] 



Staphylinus erythropterus, Linn., is from two-thirds to one inch long, of a velvety black colour, 

 with the elytra, base of the antennae, and feet fulvous, [and with golden hairs on the side of the 

 thorax and abdomen. It is very abundant in the spring.] 



The others are of a more linear form, with the head and thorax elongate-quadrate ; the antenna; 

 close at the base, strongly elbowed ; and the fore-tarsi but slightly dilated. These form the 

 genus Xantholimis, Stop, fulgens, &c. 



Pinophilus, has filiform palpi, and the antennae inserted behind the eyes. P. latipes, North 

 America. 



Lathrobium, Grav., has the palpi terminated suddenly by a minute pointed joint, often indis- 

 tinct ; the antennae are inserted before the eyes ; the fore-tarsi are dilated in both sexes. Staph, 

 elungatus, Linn. 

 '''^'er^hrop'terus"'" Thc socoud scction, Longipalpi, has, also, the head entirely exposed, but tlie labrum 



