colour often not being mentioned. Some years ago, realizing this difficvilty, and 

 also that many species were liable to be introduced to Australia in ships, I. com- 

 menced the formation of an European collection of the family ; these specimens, 

 together with those owned by the late Rev. T. Blackburn, by the late Mr. Aug. 

 Simson, and some from other sources, are now in the South Australian Museum, 

 and have proved of great assistance. 



I have examined all of the Australian types of Macleay and OUiff, and many 

 of Blackburn's ; also many cotypes of Blackburn and Fauvel, and of species 

 identified by them. Some of the specimens collected in Australia by Mjoberg 

 and identified or named by Bernhauer, were received from the Stockholm 

 Museum ; some years ago I also saw a few specimens belonging to the Western 

 Australian Museum, taken by Michaelsen and Hartmeyer, and identified by 

 Bernhauer. So that with few exceptions authentic specimens of most of the 

 previously named species have been examined. To Mr. G. J. Arrow I am par- 

 ticularly indebted for the examination of some of Fauvel's cotypes, belonging 

 to the British Museum, these enabling synonymy to be confidently noted that 

 in several cases might otherwise have been dubious, or overlooked. The 

 examination of long series of many species has also enabled notes on variation 

 and synonymy to be made, and to extend the known ranges of many species. 

 Specimens were received from the British, Queensland, Australian, Macleay, 

 and National Museums; from Drs. M. Cameron and E. W. Ferguson, and 

 from Messrs. E. Allen, H. J. Carter, J. Clark, H. W. Davey, A. H. Elston, 

 E. Fischer, J. C. Goudie, H. H. D. Griffith, R. F. Kemp, C. Oke, and F. E. 

 Wilson. 



The numbers of species and specimens of the family that may be obtained 

 by sieving a few square yards of fallen leaves in gulleys and other damp places 

 is amazing. Mosses and tussocks often shelter them in abundance, and some 

 curious wingless, slow-moving species have only been taken from mosses. More 

 species of the family are to be taken from nests of ants, than of all other kinds 

 of beetles, and some of the inquilines have very curious habits, as well as 

 being structurally abnormal. Others are to be taken under bark, under seaweeds, 

 and other beach debris. During floods they may often be seen in countless 

 thousands. At dusk on warm days they may often be seen flying in great 

 numbers, their bodies held at about 45 degs. from the ground-line, and their 

 elytra held parallel with it. Curious slow-moving species are to be taken in 

 brown cores in pipes of trees. Considerable numbers of thin and minute, 

 subterranean, blind species have been taken in Europe by very careful special 

 methods, but in Australia the only blind species known, Typhloblediits cylin- 

 dricus, and Tripectenopus caecus, are fairly large, although of each only one 

 specimen is known. Of one curious species, Cryptommatiis jansoni, several 

 specimens have been taken in Tasmania, from the anal region of bush rats. A 

 few species frequent flowers, and in the tropics many are arboreal. Many 

 are attracted to lights. 



In general the species may be regarded as scavengers, feeding on decaying 

 animal and vegetable substances. In parts of the world where large animals 

 are abundant, dung-frequenting species are far more numerous than in Australia. 

 Many have been introduced all over the world, in commerce ; they are readily 

 transported in hay and straw ; dung-frequenting species frequently travel in 

 ships with horses, cattle, and other animals. 



Subfamily PAEDERIDES. 



This subfamily, although not the largest, contains perhaps a greater number 

 of interesting species than any other of the family. A few species of the typical 

 genus Paederus are abundant and widely distributed, but most of them are rare. 



