The Hijlory of ANIMALS. 
57 
STAPHYLINUS. 
T he antennte of the Staphylinus are flender and filiform y there are two veficles 
fituated above the tail : the exterior wings are dimidiated and ihort 3 the interior 
ones are covered by them. 
Staphylinus ater glaber maxillis longitudine capitis. 
The blacky fmooth Staphylinus , with the jaws of the 
length of the head. 
common 
This is an inch in length: the head, thorax, and exterior wings are of a deep fhining 
black and fmooth 3 but the exterior wings are fometimes variegated with grey3 they 
are fhort and obtufe : the body is of a deep, but lefs gloffy black than the head • the 
legs are long and black : there are two hard, firm, long, and very fharp horns in 
the front of the head. 
It is frequent with us under fhady hedges. Authors call it Staphylinus, and Staphy» 
linus major. 
Staphylinus rufus elytris cceruleis capite abdominifque apice nigris. 
The reddifh brown Staphylinus , with blue wings, and the head and tail 
black. 
This is a very elegant though fmall Infedt3 it is about the fize of a common ant: 
the whole body is of a pale red, with an admixture of brown in it3 but the head, and 
the three or four laft rings of the body, are black : the exterior wings are of a ffrong 
blue, without any variegation 5 the legs are reddifh, but their joints black: the an¬ 
tennas confifi: of eleven joints, and are of a pale colour, except at the extremity, where 
they are black. 
It is a fcarce fpecies 3 we fometimes meet with it among the water-plants, at the 
edges of brooks and rivers. 
Staphylinus pubefcens cinereus nigro-nebulofus. 
!'The hoary Staphylinus , of a grey ifh colour , clouded with black. 
This is a moderately large fpecies: it’s body is oblong, and in great part naked 3 it 
is ot a greyish colour, with a braffy tinge, and with clouded (pots of black vifible 
through it, in considerable numbers: the head is large and flatted • the mouth is forci- 
pated 3 the antennas are compofed of nine joints: the exterior wings are fhort, and of 
a greyifh-black, with a braffy caff: the tail is furnifhed with two plumofe hairs 3 and, 
on preffing the body, two white hooks are protruded from the fame part. 
It is not unfrequent with us on dunghils. 
Staphylinus niger thorace eeneo, elytris atro-cceruleis. 
The black Staphylinus , with a braffy thorax , and blackifh-blue wings. 
• This is about half an inch in length5 the body is {lender and flatted: the bead is 
black and gloffy 3 the wings are of a deep blue, with an admixture of black, and are 
alio bright and gloffy 3 they are of a metalline hue, and have a number of very minute 
dark fpots: the antennte confifi: of nine articulations 5 the colour of the whole Infeiff 
fometimes varies into a yellowifh or braffy one, but the fpots on the thorax, when ac¬ 
curately examined, will always diftinguifh it 3 they are ten in number, and are 
hollowed. 
We meet with it among the decayed timber in our woods, but not frequently. 
The other fpecies of Staphylinus are, 1. The black, hairy Staphylinus, with the 
thorax and the under part of the belly yellow. 2. The black Staphylinus, with red 
legs, and red exterior wings. 3. The reddifh Staphylinus, with a black head. 4. 
i he ferrugineous Staphylinus, with a black head. 5. The brown Staphylinus, with 
the lower part of the body, and the legs ferrugineous. 6. The fmooth, black Sta- 
phylinus^ 
