4-2o INSECTS. COLEOPTERA. 45. Hydrophilus. 



Picla. BralTy fhining : {hells violet-black \vith yellowifh fpots. 



Inhabits Ural. Pall. It. Append, n. 46. 



Ungarica. Fine green ; beneath, front and fides of the thorax red- 

 gold. 

 Inhabits Hungary. Scopol. Ann. Hifl. Nat. $. p. 104. n. 85. 

 Hefs than B. ruftica. Shells rounded at the tip. 



*Granularis Above clouded braiTy, beneath black: antennas clavate. 

 Inhabits Europe, is probably not of this genus. 

 Size of a flea: thorax with 5 grooves : JJiells ftriate. 



45. HYDROPHILUS. Antennas clavate, the 

 club perfoliate: feelers 4, filiform: 

 hind-legs formed for fwimming, fringed 

 on the inner fide, and nearly unarmed 

 with claws. 



The Infects of this and the next genus Dytifcus are inhabitants 

 of ponds and ftagnant waters, where they fivim with much 

 dexterity turning round with great -velocity ; they fly abroad 

 by night in fearch of other waters : the males are diftinguifhed 

 from the females, by having a horny concave flap or fhicld on 

 the fore-legs, near the fetting on of the feet : the hind-legs are 

 peculiarly fitted for their aquatic fituation, being furniflied 

 on the inner-ride with a feries of long and clofe-fet filaments, 

 refembling a fin, by which they are enabled to iwim with 

 great eafe and celerity : the lar*va remain about 2 ~ years 

 before they change into pupa, forming a convenient cell and 

 fecreting themfelves in iome bank; are extremely voracious 

 and deftructive to the more tender aquatic infects, worms and 

 young fifh, which they ravenoufly fcize with their forked 

 jaws, and deftroy by fucking out their juice. 



*Piceus. Gloffy-black ; fternum channelled, with alongfpine point- 

 ing backwards, Water- clock. 

 Inhabits Europe. Naturalifts Mi fcellany. viii. plate. 298. 

 The larva appears to have the legs feated on the upper part of the 

 body near the back, but this is occasioned by the peculiar 

 fhape and pofition of the legs : the female fpins a flattifh circu 

 lar kind of web, terminated by a long taperring horn, frum 

 whieh the young efcape, as foon as they are hatched. 



Olivaceus. 





