Dytifcus. COLEOPTERA. Si 



oblong, and the head obtufe; the mouth of the 

 Hydrophilus, according to the fame author, is 

 armed with jaws, and has four palpi, two of 

 which are longer, and two fhorter than the an- 

 rennce. 



Scopoli obferves that the Dytifcus is a dull 

 and fluggifh infect. 



The plants, or under fide of the fore feet of 

 the male Dytifci are hemifpherical. The elytra 



of the females are generally furrowed. The 

 firfl: refemble the Dermeftides ; the females are 

 more like the Carabi : It is very difficult to diftin- 

 guifli the fex or fpecies. Their larv^ are fre- 

 quently met with in ditches^ they are not to be 

 bred, or do not go through their metamorphofis 

 when confined, without great difficulty $ and if 

 two or three are kept together in a fmall place, 

 never fail to devour one another. Many fpecies 

 of the compleat infect are very common in ftag- 

 nated waters, which they quit in the evening to 

 fly about. They are known by the name of 

 Water Beetles. 



Gb0J 



