505 
INSECTA. 
THE SECOND FAMILY OF THE COLEOPTERA PENTAMERA,— 
Brachel^tra, Cm’. {Microptera, Grav.), — 
Have only one palpus to eacli maxilla, or four in all, [two maxillary ; the outer lobe of the maxillse not 
being palpiform, as in the foregoing tribes, and two labial] ; the antennae, either of equal thickness 
throughout, or a little thickened at the tip, are generally composed of oval or lenticular joints ; the 
elytra are very much shorter than the body, which is narrow and elongated, with the coxae of the fore- 
legs very large, and two vesicles near the anus, which the insect protrudes at will. 
These Coleoptera compose the genus 
Staphylinus, Linn., — 
Which have been regarded as forming the passage from the Beetles to the Earwigs, the first genus in 
the following order. In some respects, they approach the insects of the preceding family, and in many 
others, the Silphae, &c., belonging to the fourth family. They have in general the head large and flat, 
strong mandibles, antennae short, the thorax as broad as the abdomen, the elytra truncate at the tip 
but still covering the wings, which are of the ordinary size ; the dorsal semi-segments of the abdomen 
are as scaly as the ventral ones ; from the anal vesicles a subtle vapour is discharged, which in some 
species smells very strongly of sulphuric ether. M, L. Dufour {^Ann. Sci. Nat., vol. viii. p. 16.), has 
described the apparatus by which it is secreted. 
These Beetles [one of the largest of which is well known under the name of the Devil’s Coach-horse], 
when touched turn up the end of the body, bending it in all directions ; they also use it for the 
purpose of assisting in folding up their wings under the short elytra. The tarsi of the fore-feet are 
often broad and dilated, and the coxae of the four fore-legs are very broad. The majority live in the 
earth, on manure and excrement ; others are found in boleti, rotten wood, under stones ; and others 
only are met with near water ; some again, of small size, are only found in flowers. All are very 
voracious, run with great quickness, and take flight with ease. 
Their larvae greatly resemble the perfect insects, being of an elongated conical form, of which the 
base, or the widest part, is occupied by the head, which is very large ; the terminal segment of the body 
is prolonged into a tube, and accompanied by two conical hirsute appendages. These larvae feed upon 
the same substances as the perfect insects. 
The genus being very numerous, we divide it into five sections, 
The first section, that of the Fissilabra, has the head entirely exposed and separated from the thorax, 
(which is sometimes square or semi-oval, and sometimes rounded, or in the shape of a reversed trun- 
cated heart)by a neck or evidently narrowed part. The upper lip is deeply slit, and divided into two lobes. 
Oxyporus, Fab., has the maxillary palpi filiform, and the labial terminated by a large crescent-shaped joint ; 
antennae short and compressed, and fore-tarsi not dilated. Type, Staph, rufus, Linn., about one-third of an inch 
long, varied with red and black ; [a not uncommon British species.] 
Astrapceus, Gray., has all the palpi terminated by a large, nearly triangular joint, and fore-tarsi much dilated. 
Staph, uhni, Clairv. 
Staphylinus, Fabr., has all the palpi filiform, and the antennee inserted between the eyes. Some of these, 
especially the males, have the fore-tarsi very much dilated, the antennae wide apart at the base, the basal joint not 
exceeding one fourth of their entire length, and the head slightly elongated ; these compose the restricted genus 
Staphylinus of some systems. Another species, S. dilatatus, Fabr., has been separated on account of its dilated 
serrated antennae, to form another [ Velleius, Leach] . According to M. Chevrolat, this species feeds upon caterpillars, 
wdiich it seeks upon trees. [It is now known to feed in Hornets’ nests.] 
[This genus, Staphylinus as here restricted, is very numerous, and has been divided by Kirby, Leach, Stephens, 
and others, into several genera, such as Emus, Creophilus, Goerius, Ocypus, Philonthus, Gabrius, &c.] 
Staphylinus erythropterus, Linn., is from two-thirds to one inch long, of a velvety black colour, 
with the elytra, base of the antennas, and feet fulvous, [and with golden hairs on the side of the 
thorax and abdomen. It is very abundant in the spring.] 
The others are of a more linear form, with the head and thorax elongate-quadrate ; the antennae 
close at the base, strongly elbowed ; and the fore-tarsi but slightly dilated. These form the 
genus XanthoUnus, Stap. fulgens, &c. 
Pinophilus, has filiform palpi, and the antennae inserted behind the eyes. P. latipes, North 
America. 
Lathrobium, Grav., has the palpi terminated suddenly by a minute pointed joint, often indis- 
tinct ; the antennae are inserted before the eyes ; the fore-tarsi are dilated in both sexes. Staph, 
elongatus, Linn. 
Fig. 57. — Staphylinus 
erythropterus. 
The second section, Longipalpi, has, also, the head entirely exposed, but the lahrum 
