THE HETBROMERA. 
237 
are most abundant at the seaside, but are often com- 
mon inland in heaps of garden refuse, &c. One of 
them (A. instabilis) has the hinder tibiae in the male 
suddenly enlarged into a rounded plate at the apex. 
The Xylorhilidje contain our two genera, Euglenes 
and Xylophilus, which are often classed as one genus ; 
they may be distinguished by having the penultimate 
joint of the tarsi minute, and hidden within the lobes 
of the preceding joint, which is strongly bilobed ; the 
head is constricted immediately behind the eyes, which 
are largo and notched; in Euglenes the male has very 
large eyes and long antennae ; from which circum- 
stance, added to general facies and habits, it some- 
times calls to mind certain of the smaller Flinidse. 
The Meloidas have a very abrupt neck to the head, 
and each ol the hooks of the tarsi divided into two, as 
if with an additional and slender hook on its lower 
surface. 
In Meloii (the Oil-beetles) the metasternum is very 
short, with the intermediate coxa) overlapping those 
of the posterior legs, the elytra strongly reflected at 
the sides, short, overlapping, and gaping at the apex, 
and no wings. 
One or two of the species are well known, being 
often seen in very early spring on heaths, commons, 
and lanes, especially on the buttercup. They are 
large, blue-black, heavy, bloated-bodied creatures, 
crawling slowly, and exuding a clear yellow oil from 
their joints when handled, which was formerly used 
for medicinal purposes. When dried, the normal dis- 
tension of the body disappears, the abdomen shrinking 
up beneath the elytra in a wrinkled unsightly knot : 
specimens for the cabinet should, therefore, be stuffed 
