420 Parasitic Beetles. 



curious habit of packing themselves up when not in motion ; 

 the head being deflected, the abdomen rolled up over the 

 thorax and elytra, and the antennee and legs cramped, together ; 

 so that, when they suddenly stretch their body and limbs to 

 their fullest extent, the difference in size is very conspicuous. 

 They also readily counterfeit death; and scamper off with 

 marvellous celerity on the approach of danger. Many other 

 Brachelytra are found mfuliginosa nests ; Haploglossa gentilis, 

 Oxypoda vittata, Homalota confusa, Thiasophila inguilina, 

 Omalium pygmceum, and Falagria thoracica (the latter, how- 

 ever, being often seen in other situations) constantly occurring 

 in them, with beetles of other sections, such as Amphotis margi- 

 nata, Batrisus venustus, Abrceus globosus, Atomaria ferruginea, 

 etc. I have taken the rare Leptinus (above mentioned as a 

 Bombus -parasite) with this ant ; and the very rare Oxylcemus 

 variolosus has been recorded on the continent as also dwelling 

 in its nests. This is not unlikely to be the case, as I have 

 found Gicones variegatus, one of its close allies, in the sodden 

 wood-dust at the mouth of the burrow; but in both these 

 instances it is probable that the visits are only accidental, for 

 Gryptophagus scanicus, and other certainly non-myrmecophilous 

 species, may be often found in these places. In the runs near 

 the nests above alluded to, and which are from time to time 

 changed by the ants, a new and conspicuous species of Oxypoda 

 (0. glabriventris, mihi) has recently been discovered at 

 Mickleham. 



The little yellow ant, Formica flava, abundant all over the 

 country, appears, in the construction of its nests, to adapt itself 

 to circumstances ; for in woods or green meadows it raises 

 little mounds to keep the rain away from its cells, having, 

 indeed, been remarked to utilize mole-heaps for this purpose ; 

 but in hilly or chalky districts it simply constructs passages 

 and cells under large stones. These latter are the residences 

 of that most curious little yellow bettle, Claviger testaceus, 

 which, on account of its want of eyes, and otherwise general 

 debasement of structure, is usually placed at the end of the 

 Goleoptera, being the opposite extreme to the highly organized 

 Gicindelidce, or tiger-beetles. There can be no doubt, from the 

 number of times that Formica flava has been observed to evince 

 the greatest care over this beetle, hurrying it away to the 

 inmost recesses of the burrows, on the surface stone being lifted, 

 that it is an object of importance to the community ; for to 

 suppose that the somewhat similar appearance of beetle and 

 ant in size and colour deludes the latter into taking these pre- 

 cautions, under the supposition of the Claviger being one of 

 the family, is not only an insult to its intelligence, but is not 

 warranted by usual practice, for the ants only carry away their 



