THE YOUNG 



NATURALIST. 



87 



does not materially alter the arrangement 

 if later styles of classification be followed, 

 in which sub-orders are omitted and a large 

 number of families created. These sub- 

 orders are — i, Geodephaga; 2, Hydra- 

 dephaga ; 3, Palpicornes ; 4, Brachelytra ; 

 5, Necrophaga ; 6, Lamellicornes ; 7, Ster- 

 noxi ; 8, Malacoderma ; 9, Heteromera ; 10, 

 Rhyncophora; 11, Longicornes; i2,Eupoda; 

 and 13, Pseudotrimera. 

 Sub-order T. Geodephaga comprises the 

 ground beetles, which are characterized 

 by having their legs formed for walking 

 or running — 7ievey for swimming. The 

 joints of all the tarsi (feet) are five in 

 number, of which two or three of the 

 anterior pair are generally dilated in the 

 males. The insects composing this group 

 are nearly all carnivorous, as the tiger 

 beetles (Cicendelce), Carahi, &c. Some, 

 however, are vegetarians, as Zabrus gibbus, 

 a noted corn feeder. They are chiefly 

 nocturnal in their habits, hiding during 

 the day-time beneath stones and rubbish, 

 in moss, beneath bark, &c. The diurnal 

 species are almost always bright coloured 

 as the tiger beetles Elaphir, Notiophili, 

 A mane, &c. 

 Sub-order II. Hydradephaga have their 

 hind legs fringed with hairs on the inner 

 side to fit them for swimming. The tarsi 

 are jointed; the antennas filiform, except 

 in the genus Gyrinus — the whirlwig beetle 

 — which has the antennae, club shaped at 

 the extremity. These insects are all 

 carnivorous in their habits, in which they 

 differ from the water beetles of the 

 following group. They occur all the year 

 round in ponds and ditches, often in great 

 profusion in very small pools of water in 

 exposed situations. 

 Sub-order III. Palpicornes. — A very small 

 group of beetles characterized by having 

 their palpi (antennules, or jointed organs 

 connected with the jaws and mouth) much 

 looger than the antennae. The latter are 



clubbed at the extremity ; the tarsi five- 

 jointed ; and the legs often spiny. Most 

 of this group live in water, where they 

 are very sluggish in their habits, and 

 where they feed on vegetable substances. 

 The favourite beetle for aquaria. Hydrous 

 piceus, is a good example of this group. 

 Some of its members, however, are terres- 

 trial in their habits, such as Cercyon and 

 Spheeridium, which live in dung: 



Sub-order IV. Brachelytra. — This is 

 the most extensive group of beetles 

 inhabiting temperate climates, and is one 

 which is very easily distinguished by the 

 elytra or wing covers being much shorter 

 than the body, rarely being half the length of 

 the latter. The antennae are generally 

 filiform, and the tarsi are four or five- 

 jointed. The beetles comprised in this 

 sub-order are generally known to collec- 

 tors as "Staphs" (an abbreviation of 

 Staphylini), and to non-entomologists 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 antennae 

 clavate, i.e:, furnished with a knob at the 

 extremity ; some, in addition, have the 

 antennae " elbowed " as in the weevils (see 

 Rhyncophora). 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 Brachelytra, by 

 no means confining themselves to dead 

 animals, as the name of the sub-order 

 would lead one to suppose. Those species 

 with elbowed antennae 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. 



