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BRITISH BEETLES. 
CHAPTER XII. 
THE STAPHYLINIDyE, OR "ROVE-BEETLES.” 
The Staphylinidce, or “ Rove-Beetles ” (of which per- 
haps only one species, the “ Devil’s Coach-horse,” 
Ocypus olens, is known to casual observers), constitute 
a very large group, and are readily distinguished by 
their elongate abdomen, — of which usually six or 
seven entirely horny segments are exposed, — and 
their extremely short and straightly sutured wing- 
cases, beneath which the many folds of their ample 
wings are hidden. The least typical forms have, how- 
ever, the wing-cases somewhat elongate, and present 
a considerable likeness to certain of the smaller Geode- 
pliaga ; from which, apart from other characters, the 
absence of a palpiform lobe to their maxillae will 
separate them. 
Many of them, especially the larger species, are 
eminently predatorial; and must on no account be 
placed in the collecting-bottle with other insects. A 
great number also (including some of those which 
attack living insects) are carrion feeders, abounding 
in the dead bodies of small animals, &c. ; very many 
habitually frequent the dung of our domestic quad- 
rupeds ; others swarm in fungi, especially when 
rotten ; and the remainder may be briefly described as 
living in decaying vegetable matter, or haunting very 
