Staphylini) , and to non-entoinologists as rove-beetles, devil's coach-horses, 

 and cock -tail beetles. They occur everywhere, in flowers, beneath stones, 

 in dung, and in putrid animal or vegetable substances. 



Sub-order V. Necrophaga or Clavicornes are so called because all the 

 members of this extensive sub-order have the antennas clavate, i.e., fur- 

 nished with a knob at the extremity ; some, in addition, have the antennae 

 " elbowed" as in the weevils (see jRhynchophora) '. The tarsi are variable, and 

 the elytra are often slightly shorter than the abdomen. The insects of this 

 group — among which are the burying beetles (Necrophori) and their allies 

 — are found in similar situations to the JBrachelytra, by no means con- 

 fining themselves to dead animals as one name of the sub-order would 

 lead one to suppose. Those species with elbowed antennse are often 

 separated as a distinct group — Helocera, among which are the Histers 

 or mimic beetles, so called from their habit of feigning death when alarmed. 



Sub-order VI. Lamellicornes have the antennas terminated by a club 

 which is composed of flat plates, joined together so as to open like leaves 

 of a book. This group comprises the giants of the beetle world, the 

 Dynastes and Goliaths of tropical climates, the stag beetle, the dung beetles 

 (Ap/wdius and GeotrupesJ, and the chafers of temperate climates. 



Sub-order VII. Sternoxi are characterized by having on the underside of 

 the first piece of the thorax (pro-sternum) a sharp spine or " mucro," 

 which fits into a cavity in the meso-sternum between the middle pair of legs, 

 by means of which the insect is enabled to leap vertically upwards when 

 laid on its back — whence the popular name " skip-jacks " given to this 

 group. This sub-order is only poorly represented in England by the 

 Elaters of the New Forest, Agriotes (wire worms), &c. ; but in tropical 

 countries they abound, comprising among them some of the most beautiful 

 of insects as well as some of the most wonderful, as the fireflies of many 

 countries. 



Sub -order VIII. Malacodermi. A group of beetles, some of which are 

 characterized by having their elytra soft and leathery, the antennas 

 generally filiform, and the tarsi generally five-jointed. Some few, however, 

 as the death-watches (dnobii), &c, have the bodies very hard, but the 

 antennas terminated in a club, composed of three long flat joints, and the 

 thorax is so developed as to almost hide the head when the insect is viewed 

 from above. The typical representatives of this sub-order are the soldier- 

 beetles (Telephori), and the glow-worm (the female of which is destitute of 

 wings and elytra.) 



