5* 
The Hiftory 0/ A N I M A L S, 
Dytifcus antennis fufcis perfoliatis . 
The Dytifcus , with brown , perfoliated antennae . 
This is one of the largeft of the European beetles: the body is an inch and half 
long, and all over of a deep and fomewhat glofty black: the eyes are moderately 
large 5 the antennas are fhort, and the exterior wings are fmooth on the furface : the 
body grows fmaller, and becomes almoft pointed at the extremity. 
It is very common in our ponds and ditches: in it’s worm-ftate it is very large, and 
very deftrudive among the fmaller water Infeds. Authors call it Hydrocantharu« 
maximus. 
Dytifcus niger elytrorum marginibus dilatatis , flavis . 
The black Dytifcus , with the edges of the exterior wings dilated and 
yellow . 
This is equal to the former fpecies in fize : the head is fmall in proportion to the 
body ; the eyes are large ; the legs long and ftrong ; the edge of the exterior wings is 
very prominent, efpecially about the middle, and is there of a yellow colour, which* 
as all the reft of the Infed is black, has a very lingular appearance. 
It is common with us in brooks and rivers. 
Dytifcus elytris Jlriis viginti dimidiatis. 
The Dytifcus , with twenty dimidiated firice 
on the exterior win?s. MKMW TBtttlt* 
o> 
This is a very large beetle, but fomewhat inferior to the two preceding ones in ftze t 
the head is large; the eyes are very prominent; the exterior wings have each ten 
ftrise, but they do not run the whole entire length of the wing 5 there is a fmooth 
fpace near the extremity. 
It is frequent in our ponds and ditches: the ftrise are very deep, and the colour of 
the whole a blackifh brown. 
Dytifcus cinereus margine elytrorum flavo , thoracis medietate flava. 
The grey Dytifcus y with half the thorax and the edges of the wings yellow, 
Th is is a fmall fpecies, fcarce exceeding the common blue flelh-fly in bignefs: it’s 
thorax is yellow in the middle, but black at the top and bottom, not at the tides: the 
exterior wings are of a greyifh colour, and have on them a vaft number of fmall, 
lucid fpecks, of a yellowifh colour; their edges are entirely yellow : there is alfo a 
yellow fpot of a cordated form, with black edges on the fummit $ and the apex of the 
fternum is bifurcated but obtufe. 
The other fpecies are, 1. The common, black, water Beetle. 2. The great, black 
Dytifcus, with black, perforated antennas. 3. The great Dytifcus, with a yellow tho¬ 
rax. 4. The fmall water Beetle, with brown wings and a black belly. 5. The 
fmaller, round-bodied Dytifcus, with ten longitudinal ftrise on the wings. 6. The 
ovato-oblong-bodied Dytifcus, with the thorax and wings black, and the head and 
legs reddifh. 7. The brown, oval Dytifcus, with the legs, and the head, and thorax 
reddith. 8. The fmooth, fhort-horned Dytifcus, with obtufe points. This is called 
by fome Pulex aquaticus, the water Flea ; it plays very nimbly about the furface of 
the water, and at all times plunges to the bottom. 
E L A T E R. 
rip, H E antennse of the Elater are fetaceous ; the body is oblong: the creature* 
J[ when laid on it’s back, has a power of leaping with great force and agility. 
3 
Elater 
