15 



Genus V. H1STER. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Antenna clavated, the club solid ; the lowest 

 articulation compressed and bent ; the head 

 drawn within the body, so that the jaws only 

 appear. Mouth armed with jaws like forceps. 

 Elytra shorter than the body; legs com- 

 pressed, toothed, or spiny. 



General Observations. 



These insects are found in dung, in carcases 

 and shambles ; some species live under the bark 

 of dead and rotten trees. They are met with 

 in spring, summer, and indeed in most parts of 

 the year. Sometimes they are found running 

 on the sand by the road-sides. Like the Der- 

 mestides, Sic. when touched they counterfeit 

 death, till they think the danger past. 



SPECIFICATION. 



Hister unicolor. H. ater,elytris oblique striatis. 



Linn. Syst. Nat. p. 567. Gmel. p. 1609. Fabr. 



Syst. Ent. p. 52. Spec. Ins. l.p. 60. Mant> Ins. 1, 



p. 32. 



C£ 



