This curious and extensive genus was first established by La- 
treille, who in his Histoire Naturelle has pointed out the dif- 
ferences between it and Pee derm. Having given at folio 107 
the characters of Dianous we shall only make an observation 
upon the lip, which is as remarkable as any amongst the Cole - 
optera : When the lip (which does not appear to be articulated) 
is exserted, the maxillae are so remote that it is deprived of 
their combined assistance ; nature has therefore provided the 
lip with similar lobes to those of the maxillae, which are by 
analogy a second pair of palpi. The appearance of a minute 
joint in the figure, if correct, will make the maxillary palpi 
4-jointed, but we may have been deceived. 
The Steni are found at all seasons in damp situations, upon 
moist banks, sides of rivers and ditches, under rejectamenta 
and stones, upon aquatic plants, &c. Mr. Bainbridge has 
remarked, that individuals he has thrown upon the water, 
darted (like Velia or Gerris) 18 or 20 inches upon the surface. 
There are probably 50 British species of this genus, for our 
own cabinet contains nearly 40 species ; but a great portion of 
them being undescribed, we can only record the following. 
A. Elytra with a pale spot on each. 
1. S. biguttatus Marsh., Samouelle , pi. 4. f. 13. — bima- 
culatus Gyll. — Juno Grav. 
2. bipustulatus Linn., Marsh.— biguttatus Pah., Panz . 
11. 17 .—Don. 16. 573. 
3. bipunctatus Kirby’s Mss. 
4. Kirbii Leach., Steph., Nob. 
B. Elytra immaculate. 
I. Abdomen marginated. 
* feet pale. 
5. boops Gr., Gyll. 
6. fuscipes Gr., Gyll. 
7. circularis Gr., Gyll. — im munis Marsh, var. 
feet black. 
8. Juno Fab., Payk., Gyll. 
9. binotatus Gr., Gyll. 
II. Abdomen immarginate. 
10. cicindeloides Gr., Gyll. 
1 1 . clavicorn i s Marsh . — similisiT?r5s£. — oculatus Gr., Gyll. 
12. tarsalis Gyll. — clavicornis Gr. 
13. pallipes Gr., Gyll. 
S. Kirbii inhabits the banks of the Croydon Canal, and may 
prove to be the male, or a small variety of S. bipunctatus; but 
as this is a MS. species of the learned author whose name our 
insect bears, should such be the case, it will not disturb the 
title by which we have the pleasure of distinguishing it. 
The plant is Lysimachia nemorum (Yellow Pimpernel). 
