234 Transactions of the Academy of Science of St. Louis 
a 
lakes and streams. In short, the behavior is so varied and the 
number of species in the family so large that a simple statement 
of habitat can not be made. 
Metnops. Field observations were made whenever possible 
but the active behavior of both the larval and adult staphylinids 
prevents one from observing them for many minutes at a time. 
Adults and larvae collected for observation were placed in small 
vials with some of the material of the habitat in which they 
were found. Only one larva of a larger species may safely be 
placed in a vial as the insects readily kill one another. foinede: 
ately upon reaching the laboratory the live larvae were trans- 
ferred into tin salve boxes surrounded by the material in which 
they were captured. This material usually contained a consider- 
This brea was Spee sufficient to protect the pupae from 
mites, nematode fungi. The live adults were kept in six 
ounce bottles or eae fruit jars. The bottoms of the jars were 
covered with moist sand, and food material was added from 
time to time. Some of the live adults were placed in cultures 
of Drosophila and as long as the flies were in good condition, 
there was an abundance of food for the staphylinids. Occasion- 
ally the beetles would be trapped in folds of the wet paper and 
would drown or they would work their way thru the cotton 
plug (which was used in place of a cork) and escape. 
Each culture was checked regularly. This necessitated tear- 
eens of time were numerous. Mould aed ee death of a 
number of losses. Mites chewed their way into a few pupae 
and killed them. The most important factor was moisture. If 
there was an excess of water, the larvae were trapped in the 
droplets and were drowned, and if there was not enough, they 
soon dried up. 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. I wish to express my appreciation to 
Indiana University for the aid which has allowed me to pursue 
this work; to the faculty of the Department of Zoology for their 
advice and criticism, especially to Dr. A. C. Kinsey for directing 
this work; to the U. S. Nat’l Museum, Illinois State Natural 
tions of the adult insects mentioned in this paper. 
