92 
BRITISH BEETLES. 
species, and may be distinguished from those of the 
Geodephaga by their mandibles not being toothed on 
the inner side, their closed-up mouth, the single claw 
at the apex of their tarsi, and their two double-jointed 
anal forks or “ cerci,” which are beset with stiff hairs. 
The extremity of the body is produced into a fleshy 
tubular support, which often serves as a pro- leg. They 
are very active and voracious, using their sharp jaws 
with great effect, and sucking the juices of their prey 
through them, after the same fashion as the larvte of 
the Rydradephaga. 
Descriptions of the European species of Brachelytra 
are to be found in the works above alluded to (pp. 87, 
&c.) ; and an indispensable help to the student of this 
group is afforded by the “ Genera et Species Staphylino- 
rum” of Dr. G. F. Erich§on (1839-1840). This book 
contains descriptions, entirely in Latin, of all the then 
known Brachelytra; and is conspicuous for the way 
in which its lamented author seizes, as if by intuition, 
upon those characters most useful in comparison, and 
for the exact application of his varied terms for differ- 
ences of structure and colour. 
The beginner will find the insects of this group 
difficult both to determine and to set out properly. 
Care must be taken in mounting them, not to rub off 
the pubescence, gum the upper side, or distort the 
parts, as a specimen thus maltreated is additionally 
hard to make out. They are best set out soon after 
being killed ; and must not be left in laurel, or else 
their limbs come to pieces very readily on being mani- 
pulated. It is necessary to have the abdomen displayed 
in its proper proportions ; and this is no easy matter, 
as the rings usually contract within each other at the 
