C OLE OP TER A. 
*35 
family; two ocelli being present in Homalium and its allies, and a single ocellus 
in the genus Phloeobium. The mandibles vary in form according to the habits of 
the species; they are usually strong, often sharply curved and pointed at the end, 
and of a distinctly carnivorous type. Attached to the base and running a little 
way alongside the inner margin of each mandible, there is to be seen in many 
species a narrow flexible plate fringed, or not, with hairs at the end. This piece, 
first made known by Kirby, who called it the prostheca, is rarely met with 
except in the Staphylinidce. The ligula is narrow, and bears distinct para- 
glossae; and the outer lobe of the maxilla is never palpiform. The rove-beetles are 
for the most part carnivorous, and prey upon all kinds of larvae and other insects, 
as well as upon slugs, snails, and worms, but they feed largely on carrion, and to 
some degree on vegetable matter. Several species live in fungi, some in flowers, 
others under bark and in‘rotten wood, while in the case of certain genera, such as 
BRITISH ROVE-BEETLES. 
1, The devil’s coach-horse (Ocypus olens ); 2, Staphylinus pubescens ; 3, Philonthus census ; 4, Oxyperus rufus ; 
5, Pcederus riparius ; 6, Staphylinus ccesareus. (Nos. 3, 4, and 5, slightly enlarged.) 
Lomechusa and Atemeles, the species are to be sought for in or about ants’ nests. 
Some of these latter species are welcome guests, since, like the Aphides, they 
secrete a liquid which is eagerly swallowed by the ants; others may possibly act as 
scavengers. Amongst the species of the genera Spircichtha and Corotoca, which 
live with the Termites in South America, some are very remarkable from the fact 
that the females give birth to living young. 
Many of the British species of beetles belong to this family. Every one has 
seen the devil’s coach-horse, that long, black, ugly-looking but useful insect which 
is to be found under stones and earth, or roving about in gardens, and which when 
you attempt to stay its progress, b}i pointing with a stick or finger, stands with 
threatening jaws and upturned tail as if ready to accept the challenge. This species 
which, with a few others, is represented in the figure, is scientifically known as 
Ocypus olens, and is one of the largest of the rove-beetles. Its habit of turning 
up the tip of the abdomen is not peculiar to it, but is common to nearly all the 
beetles of the family, which on that account are sometimes called cock-tail beetles. 
We come now to a series of small families, forming the group known as the 
Clavicornia or Necrophaga. This group, however, rests on no true scientific basis. 
