ROVE BEETLES. $27 
rustics generally call it the Devil’s Coach-horse. It has, moreover, the power 
of throwing out a most disgusting odour, which is penetrating and persistent 
to a degree, refusing to be driven off even with many washings. 
These beetles are termed Staphylinide, or Brachelytra, the latter term 
signifying short elytra, and being a very apposite name, as the elytra are short, 
square, and not more than one-fourth the length of the abdomen. If we 
watch one of these beetles settling after its flight, we shall see the object of 
its flexible tail. The wings are so large, and the elytra so small, that the 
process of folding the delicate membranes could not be completed without 
some external aid. When the insect alights, it suddenly furls its wings into 
loose folds, and then, by means of its tail, it pushes the wings under the 
elytra, which are then shut down. This process, although rather elaborate, 
is effected in a very rapid manner. 
(Ocypus olens.) ROVE BEETLES. (Creophilus maxillosus.) 
The two species which are represented in the illustration are common in 
England. The lower figure represents the Creophilus maxillosus, which is 
plentiful in and about drains or dead animal matter, and may be known by 
the grey hairy look of the elytra. : 
_ The upper figure represents the Devil’s Coach horse, shown of the natural 
size. 
NEXT to the Staphylinidz are placed some insects that have become quite 
famous for their curious and valuable habits. These are the Necrophaga, 
popularly and appropriately termed Burying Beetles. 
It is owing to the exertions of these little scavengers that the carcases of 
birds, small mammals, and reptiles are seldom seen to cumber the ground, 
being buried at a depth of several inches, where they serve to increase the 
fertility of the earth instead of tainting the purity of the atmosphere. These 
beetles may easily be captured by laying a dead mouse, mole, bird, frog, or 
even a piece of meat on the ground, and marking the spot so as to be able 
to find the place where it had been laid. It will hardly have remained there 
for a couple of hours before some Burying Beetle will find it out, and straight- 
way set to work at its interment. The plan adopted is by burrowing under- 
