208 
Bkaohelytra.- 
-INSECTS. 
-P^DERINI. 
Bituations — in carcasses, dung, among fallen leaves, 
mosses, barks, and such localities. Many are only 
found on the coast, and several, as noticed afterwards, 
live in ants’ nescs. 
Fig. 65. 
Fig. 66. 
Soytalinns serpentinns. 
Tanygnathus terminalis. 
In their movements these insects are very active, 
and they fly frequently, though not for any length of 
time. When the larger species are disturbed, they 
emit a most noisome stench, which proceeds from two 
ovoid whitish vesicles they exsert from their cloaca 
Fig. 6T. 
Megalops cephalotes 
They often turn up their abdomen over the back 
when excited. The great mass of the Staphylinidse 
are of dull colours; but some of the exotic species, 
particularly those of South America, have most brilliant 
colours. 
The Stajyliylinus villosus is a common North Ameri- 
can species. It is described by Mr. Gosse as being so 
abundant in Newfoundland as to be quite a pest, for it 
crawls about and devours the drying cod-fish. From 
this habit it has acquired the name of “ the fish-fly.” 
This species seems to enjoy an extensive range, for it 
is met with as far south as Jamaica. 
The Emus liirtus, covered with yellow and black 
hairs like a Bombus, is a rare British insect; Velleius 
dilatatus is a parasite in the hornets’ nests, from which 
it has been often taken. 
Some of the Staphylinidse are almost peculiar to 
the sea-shore. In such localities the different species 
of Cafius are met with under sea-weed, cast up on 
the coast. They are well fitted for rapine by their 
broad heads, and long jaws armed with strong teeth. 
Their voracity does not spare their own species, and 
they sometimes fight for the exclusive possession of 
a common prey. They burrow with great agility 
under the loose sand when alarmed; their flattened 
body and expanded pilose anterior tarsi being admirably 
adapted for making their way through this loose 
material. 
The group Pcederini are much elongated, and have 
a rounded thorax, attenuate in front. The British 
species have often a pretty red 
thorax. A very singular genus Fig. 68. 
of the group is figured here from 
Dr. Erichson’s work. The long 
tapering thorax and strange head 
attenuated behind, much as in 
Casrionia, one of the Carabidse — 
or Raphidia, the Crane-fly, one 
of the Neuroptera — mark this out 
from other genera, as well as its 
broken antennm; the first joint is 
very long, while the others are 
very short. 
Species, small in size, are 
often found in the valleys 
of Columbia. The individual 
figured is of a pitchy-black colour, 
the tip of the short elytra and the 
legs are whitish ; it is named 
Ophites versatilis. 
The genus Stilicus is near this. 
One species, the S. fragilis, is opiiites versatilis. 
beautifully figured in one of Mr. 
Curtis’ exquisite plates ; they are found under tufts of 
grass and fallen leaves. 
The following figure shows the form of the genus 
Oxytelus and its larva (fig. 69), belonging to a group 
Fig. 69. 
Fig. 70. 
Oxytelus carinatus, with larva. 
Male of a cornuted Bledioid 
beetle. 
containing species, the males of which are often armed 
with horns or spines on the head. The genus Bledius 
is particularly marked in this way. There are forty 
