COLEOPTERA. 
413 
from each filament. The last ring is very small, and is termi- 
nated by four long and parallel hooks, this larva inhabits the 
water, from which it issues in the beginning of August to 
become a chrysalis. It encloses itself in a little oval cocoon, 
pointed at the ends, formed of a material drawn from its body 
resembling grey paper, which it fixes to the reeds. Very 
common in Europe a). 
FAMILY 11. 
BRACHELYTRA. 
In the second family of the Pentamerous Coleoptera we find but 
one palpus to the maxillm, or four in all ; the antennae, sometimes of 
equal thickness, and at others slightly enlarged at the end, are usually 
composed of lenticular or graniform joints ; the elytra are much 
shorter than the body, which is narrow and elongated, and the coxae 
of the two anterior legs are very large ; near the anus are two vesicles 
which the animal protrudes at will. 
These Coleoptera compose the genus 
Staphvlinus, Lin . 
The Staphylini have been considered as forming the passage from the 
Coleoptera to the Forficulce, the first genus of the following order. 
They also approximate, in some respects, to the Insects of the pre- 
ceding family, and to the Silphse and Necrophori, (genera of the 
fourth), in many others. They commonly have a large, flattened 
head, stout mandibles, short antennae, a thorax as wide as the abdo- 
men, and the elytra truncated at the extremity, but still covering the 
wings, which preserve their usual extent. The semi-annuli of the 
top of the abdomen are as scaly as those of the venter. The vesicles 
of the anus consist in two conical and pilose points, which are pro- 
truded and retracted at the will of the animal ; a subtile vapour 
escapes from them, which, in some species, has a strong odour of 
sulphuru; ether. M. Leon Dufour, Ann. des Sc. Nat. VIII, j:). 16 , 
has described the apparatus which produces it. The last segment of 
the abdomen, that which contains the anus, is prolonged and termi- 
nates in a point. 
* For the other species see Oliv., Col. Ill, No. 41, and Schoenh., Synon. Insect., 
II, No. 55. The Gyr. minidus and bicolor. Fab., are also found in the vicinity of 
Paris. The largest of the species, all of which are foreign to Europe, have no ap- 
parent scutel and but four palpi. 
M. Mac-Leay, Jun. — Annul. Javan. I, p. 30 — forms a particular genus, Dixeu- 
TES, with those in which the labrum is not ciliate, the palpi are clavate, the ante- 
rior legs the length of the body, and the termination of the antennae is partly pointed. 
He quotes but a single species, the D. poUtus. 
(a) Add to species of Gyrinus, the Gyr. americanus, emargimtm, analis and 
Umbatus . — Eng. Ed. 
