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BRITISH  BEETLES: 


INTEODUCTION    TO    THE    STUDY    OF    OUE 


INDIGENOUS  COLEOPTERA. 


By  E.  C.  rye, 


MEMBER    OF    THE    ENTOMOLOGICAL   SOCIETIES   OF   PRANCE   AND   STETTIN 

AND   EDITOR    (POR   COLEOPTERa)    OF    THE    '  ENTOMOLOCtIST's 

MONTHLY   MAGAZINE.' 


LONDON: 
LOVELL  EEEVE  &  CO.,  5,  HENRIETTA  STREET,  COVENT  GARDEN 

186G. 


v%. 


J.    E.   TATLOE    ATTD    CO.,    PEINTFES, 
LITTLE    QUEEN    STKEET,    LINCOLN'S   INN    PIELDS. 


If  tlie  practical  spirit  of  the  present  age  did 
not  despise  sucli  empty  compliments  as  dedica- 
tions, I  would  inscribe  this  little  Volume  to 

EDWARD   NEWMAN; 

whose  great  and  disinterested  love  for  the 
Insect  World  is  scarcely  excelled  by  his  un- 
wavering attachment  to  the  Cause  of  Truth. 

E.  C.  E. 


PREFACE. 


The  large  amount  of  subject  matter  and  the  compara- 
ively  limited  space  at  my  disposal  render  it  impossible 
that  the  present  volume  should  assume  the  most  useful 
form,  viz.  that  of  a  complete  Dictionary.  Neither  is  it 
desirable  that  it  should  be  a  mere  Grammar,  consisting 
solely  of  dry  rules.  It  must,  therefore,  be  somewhat  on 
the  scheme  of  a  Delectus ;  combining  extracts  from  the 
biographies  of  individual  objects  with  principles  of  clas- 
sification and  hints  for  obtaining  further  knowledge. 

It  is  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  introduce  the 
"  popular  element "  (so  attractive  a  bait  for  study)  into 
a  book  treating  on  Beetles.  Unlike  butterflies  and 
moths,  they  are  not  familiar  objects ;  or,  if  so,  are  not 
considered  friendly  :  nor  is  much  known  of  their  earlier 
stages,  on  account  of  the  difficulty  of  rearing  them  in 


Vm  PREFACE. 

confinement ;  damp,  darkness,  and  quiet  being  neces- 
sities for  their  development.  Neither  do  they,  like  bees, 
ants,  etc.,  exhibit  any  wonderful  instincts  in  their  per- 
fect state :  so  that  little  remains  to  notice  beyond  their 
actual  structure  ;  which  is,  luckily,  so  varied  and  adapted 
to  their  numerous  ways  and  means  of  life  as  to  afford  a 
never-ending  subject  for  discovery,  instruction,  and  de- 
light. Here,  however,  we  are  met  by  fresh  difficulties 
in  the  path  of  investigation ;  since  the  two  points  of 
size  and  colour, — usually  of  primary  importance  to  be- 
ginners in  any  study  of  natural  objects, — are  of  less  help 
than  usual  in  the  Order  Coleoptera,  owing  to  their  fre- 
quent instability ;  and  the  detail  of  minute  differences 
necessitates  the  use  of  peculiar  terms,  incapable  of  con- 
version into  "  plain  English." 

Nevertheless,  the  field  for  observation  is  so  exten- 
sive,— the  cost  of  implements  so  small, — the  collection 
of  material  alike  so  easy  and  so  conducive  to  health, — 
and  the  material  itself  so  readily  manipulated  (owing  to 
the  hard  integuments  of  most  species  of  beetles),  and 
affording  scope  for  so  many  interesting  observations, — 
that  few  who  have  commenced  can  abandon  the  pleasing 
labour. 

The  student  desiring  further  acquaintance  with  the 
principles  of  classification,  etc,  (too  generally  neglected 


PREFACE.  IX 

by  English  Coleopterists),  will  do  well  to  consult  the 
works  of  Lacordaire  and  Westwood  mentioned  in  the 
present  volume  ;  from  which  authors  the  majority  of 
the  characters  in  it  are  taken . 

E.  C.  Rye. 

284,  King's  Road,  Chelsea,  London,  S.  W., 
Fehruary,  1866. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

ON   THE  EELATIONS  AND  DIVISIONS  OF  THE  CLASS   INSECTA  .         1 

CHAPTER  II. 

EEMAEKS    UPON    THE    STErCTUEE,  METAMOEPHOSES,  ETC.,  OF 

COLEOPTERA     9 

CHAPTER  III. 
ON    THE   TEEMS   USED   IN   DESCEIPTIONS   OF   COLEOPTEEA        .      16 

CHAPTER  IV. 

ON  THE  EXTEENAL  ANATOMY  OF  THE  COLEOPTEEA   ...   21 

CHAPTER  V. 

BOOKS   USEFUL   TO   THE   STUDENT   OF   BEITISH    COLEOPTEEA  .      29 

CHAPTER   VI. 

INSTEUMENTS,  ETC.,  EEQUIEED  FOE  COLLECTING,  MOUNTING 

AND  PEESEEVING  COLEOPTEEA 31 

CHAPTER  VII. 

HINTS    ON    COLLECTING 38 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
ON   THE   SECTIONS   AND   FAMILIES   OF   THE   COLEOPTEEA    .      .      41 

CHAPTER  IX. 

THE   GEODEPHAGA,    OE   LAND   CAENIVOEOUS    BEETLES  ...      43 


XU  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    X. 

THE    HYDRADEPHAGA,    OR   AQUATIC    CARNIVOROUS    BEETLES  .      60 

CHAPTER   XI. 

THE    BRACHELYTRA,    OR    "  EOVE-BEETLES  " 68 

CHAPTER  XII. 
THE   NECROPHAaA,   OR   CLAVICORNES 92 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
THE   LAMELLICORNES,   OR   "  CHAFERS  " 110 

CHAPTER   XIV. 

THE   STERNOXI,    OR   "  SKIPJACKS  "   AND   THEIR   ALLIES      .      .    126 

CHAPTER  XV. 

THE    MALACODERMI 135 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE    HETEROMERA 152 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE    EHYNCHOPHORA,    OR   "  WEEVILS  " 174 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
THE    LONGICORNES 201 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE  EUPODA,  OR  PHYTOPHAGA 211 

CHAPTER  XX. 

THE    PSECJDOTRIMERA 226 

CATALOGUE    OF   THE    BRITISH    COLEOFTERA 241 

INDEX 271 


LIST   OF    PLATES. 


Plate  L 

1.  Cicindela  sylvatica. 

2.  Lebia  crux-minor. 

3.  Brachinus  crepitans. 

4.  Clivina  collaris. 

5.  Carabus  nitens. 

6.  Licinus  silphoides. 

Plate  II. 

1.  Callistus  lunatus. 

2.  Anchomemis     sexpuncta- 

tus. 

3.  Pterostichus  piciraanus. 

4.  Amara  fulva. 

5:  Dichirotrichus  obsoletus. 
6.  Bembidiura  pallidipeiine. 

Plate  III. 

1.  Dytiscus  punctulatus 

(niale). 

2.  Agabus  maculatus. 

3.  Hydroporus  rivalis. 


4.  Kaliplus  obliqiius. 

5.  Pelobius  Hernianni. 

6.  Gyrinus  bicolor. 

Plate  IV. 

1.  Atemeles  emai^inatus. 

2.  Bolitobius  atricapillus. 

3.  Quedius  cruentus. 

4.  Creophilus  maxillosus. 

5.  Xantholinus  fulgidiis. 

6.  Psederus  caligatus. 

Plate  V. 

1.  Dianous  cserulescens. 

2.  Oxyporus  rufus. 

3.  Horaalium  planum. 

4.  Phlceobium  clypeatum. 

5.  Prognatha  quadricomis. 

6.  Micropeplus  margaritae. 

Plate  VI. 
1.  Necrophorus  mortuorum. 


XIV 


LIST    OF    PLATES. 


3.  Eiimicvus  tarsatus. 

3.  Aiiisotoma  cimiamomea. 

4.  Hister  bimaculatiis. 

5.  Soronia  punctatissima. 

6.  Cicones  variegatus. 

Plate  VII. 

1.  Cvyptophagus  scanicus. 

2.  Mycetophagus  multipunc- 

tatus. 

3.  Byrrhus  fasciatus. 

4.  Helophorus  rugosus. 

5.  Hydrobius  fuscipes. 

6.  Trichius  fasciatus. 

Plate  VIII. 

1 .  Pliyllopertha  horticola. 

2.  Typhfeus  vulgaris. 

3.  Apliodius  inquinatiis. 

4.  Dovciis  parallelopipedus, 

5.  Agrilus  biguttatus. 

6.  Melasis  buprestoides. 

Plate  IX. 

1.  Elater  sanguiaolentus. 

2.  Dictyopterus  Aurora. 

3.  Drilus  flavesceua  (male). 

4.  Telephorus  clypeatus. 

5.  Clerus  formicarius. 

6.  Hylecaetua     dermestoides 

(male). 

Plate  X. 
1.  Iledobia  impcrialis. 


2.  Crypticus  quisquilius. 

3.  Helops  pallidas. 

4.  Orchesia  undulala. 

5.  Notoxus  monoceros. 

6.  Ehipiphorus  paradoxus 

(jnale). 

Plate  XL 

1.  Sitaris  miu-alis. 

2.  (Edemera  ca^rulea  (male). 

3.  Ehinosimus  viridipeunis. 

4.  Brachytarsus  scabrosus. 

5.  Ehyncliites  tequatus. 

6.  Phytonomus  triliueatus. 

Plate  XII. 

1.  Otiorhynchus  picipes. 

2.  Balaninus  villosus. 

3.  Cryptorhynchus  lapatiii. 

4.  Cleonus  blattariEe. 

5.  Cossonus  linearis. 

6.  Hylesinus  vittatus. 

Plate  XIII. 

1.  Xyloterus  lineatus. 

2.  Platypus  cylindrus. 

3.  Callidium  alni. 

4.  Acaiitliocinusa3(Iilis(/«6r^6'). 

5.  Saperda  scalaris. 

6.  Molorclms  umbellatarum. 

Plate  XIV. 

1.  Strangalia  armata  (car.). 

2.  Heemonia  Curtisii. 


LIST    OF    PLATES. 


XV 


3.  Crioceris  asparagi. 

4.  Cryptocephalus  bilineatus. 

5.  Chrysomela  distinguenda. 

6.  Calomicrus  circumfusus. 

Plate  XV. 

1.  Phyllotreta  ochripes. 
&.  Aptevopeda  graminis. 

3.  Cassida  sanguinolenta. 

4.  Tritoma  bipustulata. 


5.  Coccinella  22-punctata. 

6.  Endomyclius  cocciueus. 

Plate    XVT. 

1.  Corylophus  cassidoides. 

2.  Ptenidium  apicale. 

3.  Lathridius  lardarius. 

4.  Pselaphu3  Heisii. 

5.  Euplectus  nanus. 

6.  Claviger  foveolatus. 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 

[COLEOPTERA.) 


CHAPTER  I. 

ON   THE   EELATIONS   AND   DIVISIONS  OF  THE   CLASS 
INSECTA. 

As  this  volume  is  intended  solely  for  the  use  of  beginners 
in  entomology,  and  especially  those  who  desire  to  be  ac- 
quainted with  the  leading  groups  and  peculiarities  of 
structure,  etc.,  of  Beetles  (or  Coleoptera) ,  as  exhibited 
by  our  British  species, — it  is  perhaps  advisable  to  com- 
mence with  a  brief  statement  of  the  relative  position  in 
the  scale  of  creation  held  by  the  class  Insecta,  in  which 
the  Coleoptera  are  usually  accorded  the  place  of  honour. 
To  begin,  then,  at  the  very  beginning.  The  Animal 
Kingdom  is  divided  into  two  great  sub-kingdoms :  the 
Yertebrata,  or  animals  with  a  spinal  column  (compris- 
ing Mammalia,  Aves,  Reptilia,  and  Pisces;  or  Beasts, 
Birds,  Reptiles,  and  Fishes) ;  and  the  Invertebrata, 
wherein  the  spinal  column  is  wanting.  The  separation 
is  at  once  so  decided,  and  apparently  natural,  tliat  no 

B 


2  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

difficulty  can  well  arise  about  it,  except,  perhaps,  in  the 
case  of  the  Tortoises  {CheJonia)  among  the  Reptiles,  which 
might  puzzle  a  superficial  observer;  their  shell,  however, 
is  merely  an  abnormal  development  of  the  ordinary  ver- 
tebrse,  ribs,  and  chest-bones. 

The  Invertebrata  are  again  composed  of  three  sec- 
tions,— the  Mollusca,  Articulata  (to  which  insects  be- 
long), and  Radiafa,  with  which  the  animal  kingdom 
terminates,  as  far  as  we  know. 

The  Mollusca  (whereof  the  Cuttle-fish,  Nautilus,  Snail, 
Whelk,  Oyster,  and  Ship-Avorm  are  familiar  examples) 
are  comparatively  mere  lumps  of  muscular  fibre,  mostly 
contained  in  a  shell,  which  is  either  single,  bivalve,  or 
tubular;  they  have  no  articulated  limbs  or  solid  lever 
points  except  their  shells ;  their  blood  is  either  devoid 
of  colour,  or  slightly  bluish,  circulation  being  effected  by 
a  muscular  heart,  with  a  system  of  arteries  and  veins ; 
the  nutritive  organs  occupy  the  greater  part  of  the  body, 
through  which  the  nervous  system  is  vaguely  distributed ; 
and  in  habit  they  are  both  terrestrial  and  aquatic,  the 
land  species  breathing  air,  and  those  that  live  in  the 
water  having  branchise,  or  gills ;  the  latter  are  by  far  the 
most  numerous  portion, — some  inhabiting  salt  water, 
others  fresh. 

The  Articulata  have  the  body  and  limbs  composed 
of  different  segments  or  rings,  to  the  inner  side  of  which 
the  muscles  are  attached, — in  short,  they  may  be  said  to 
carry  their  skeletons  outside.  Most  of  them  have  hard 
outer  coverings;  but  in  the  lowest  class  the  body  is  soft, 
formed  of  skin  folded  into  many  rings,  and  sometimes 
not  possessing  any  distinct  head  or  jaws,  wherein  they 
differ  from  the  other  articulated  animals.  It  is  remark- 
able, by  the  way,  that  the  jaws  of  the  Articulata  open 


RELATIONS    AND    DIVISIONS    OF    INSECTA.  6 

from  sid^  to  side  always,  and  not  up  and  down,  as  in  the 
Vertebrata. 

There  is  no  head-brain  in  this  section,  but  a  series  of 
nervous  ganglia  (or  "depots"),  connected  by  thin  double 
cords  of  nerves  running  along  fhe  abdominal  surface, 
and  giving  off  nervous  radiations  on  each  side.  In  the 
lowest  conditions  there  is  a  separate  ganglion  to  each 
segment  (connected  as  above),  so  that  there  is  a  centre 
of  vitality  in  every  division  of  the  body, — hence  the  mar- 
vellous tenacity  of  life  in  worms,  etc.,  and  the  capability 
of  reproducing  limbs,  when  mutilated,  in  the  other 
classes.  From  the  circumstance  of  the  nervous  cords 
running  along  the  ventral  surface  in  the  Articulata,  they 
have  been  said  to  w-alk  on  their  backs,  as  the  spinal  co- 
lumn is  dorsal  in  all  the  Vertebrata.  The  classes  of 
Articulata  are  the  Crwitacea,  Arachnida,  Insecta,  My- 
riapoda,  and  Annelid  i. 

The  Crustacea  have  a  distinct  heart  and  white  blood ; 
they  breathe  through  branchise  or  branchial  plates,  ge- 
nerally situated  at  the  base  of  the  legs  or  lower  jaws ; 
their  body  is  covered  with  an  integument,  varying  from 
an  earthy  hardness  to  a  leathery  texture,  and  in  the  for- 
mer case,  composed  chiefly  of  carbonate  of  lime;  they 
have  jointed  limbs,  and  are  invariably  wingless ;  and  the 
head,  nearly  always  merged  in  the  thorax,  has  four  an- 
tennse  and  two  mandibles,  with  other  jaws  varying  in 
number,  often  ten.  Some  have  but  one  eye,  the  rest 
only  two  (which  are  frequently  elevated  on  a  retractile 
foot-stalk),  and  the  legs  are  generally  ten,  but  sometimes 
more ;  finally,  the  sexes  are  distinct,  in  which  they  differ 
from  some  Mollusca.  The  Crab,  Lobster,  Cray-fish, 
Prawn,  Shrimp,  Wood-louse,  and  Brine-shrimp,  are 
well-known  members  of  this  class,  which  has  inhabitants 
of  the  sea,  fresh  water,  and  dry  land.  b  2 


BHITISH    BEETLES. 


The  members  of  the  next  class,  Arachnida,  have  mostly 
eight  legs,  though  some  have  ten ;  their  body  is  com- 
posed of  two  distinct  parts,  the  head  (or  cephalo -thorax) 
and  abdomen,  in  some  cases  even  these  being  joined  so 
closely  as  scarcely  to  admit  of  distinction.  In  others^ 
the  Scorpions,  etc.,  the  abdomen  is  composed  of  many 
rings,  and  the  palpi  are  developed  so  as  to  look  like  two 
additional  legs.  They  are  all  without  antennae,  and 
wingless,  and  do  not  undergo  the  complete  metamor- 
phoses of  insects,  being  mostly  hatched  at  once  from  the 
egg,  and  growing  afterwards  only  in  size ;  they  breathe 
either  through  internal  air-gills  (pulmonary  sacs),  or  by 
radiated  tracheae,  varying  from  two  to  eight  in  number, 
and  opening  into  spiracles  (or  breath-holes)  on  the  lower 
part  of  the  abdomen  or  sides  of  the  head ;  their  covering 
is  mostly  leathery  (but  harder  in  the  Scorpions),  and 
their  eyes  vary  from  two  to  eight,  being  placed  in  dif- 
ferent positions  on  the  head  (or  cephalo-tliorax)  ;  the 
heart  is  long  and  large,  circulation  taking  place  by 
means  of  arteries  and  veins,  and  the  sexes  are  always 
distinct,  as  in  insects ;  they  mostly  possess  the  peculiar 
faculty  of  reproducing  their  limbs  when  mutilated,  and 
they  engender  more  than  once  during  life,  both  which 
circumstances  assist  in  separating  them  from  the  latter 
class.  Spiders,  Scorpions,  and  JNIites  are  well-known 
representatives  of  the  Arachnida. 

The  Insecta,  by  far  the  most  numerous  in  species  of 
any  corresponding  group  throughout  the  animal  king- 
dom, have  in  their  perfect  state  six  legs  only  (although 
in  these,  as  in  other  organs,  some  are  often  abnormal  or 
undeveloped),  two  antennae,  and  two  compound  eyes, 
composed  of  many  facets.  They  differ  from  the  Crus- 
tacea in  always  breathing  atmospheric  air  through  late- 


RELATIONS    AND    DIVISIONS    OF    INSECTA.  0 

ral  spiracles  by  ramified  tracheai  (or  air-pipes);  from  the 
Arachnida  in  having  the  body  divided  into  three  distinct 
portions, — head,  thorax,  and  abdomen, — and  also  for  the 
reasons  above  given ;  and  from  the  Myriapoda  by  the 
typical  number  of  the  segments  of  the  body  being  only 
thirteen ;  these  segments  really  exist,  and  are  more  easily 
seen  in  the  larval  state,  but  they  are  united  to  form  the 
three  distinct  parts  above  mentioned  in  the  perfect  con- 
dition. Insects  pass  through  different  metamorphoses 
before  arriving  at  the  perfect  state,  and  have  mostly 
wings,  four  being  the  typical  number,  varied  by  the  al- 
teration in  structure  or  imperfect  development  of  either 
the  upper  or  under  pair;  and  lastly,  the  sexes  are  always 
distinct. 

The  Myriapoda  (called  also  Ametabola,  on  account  of 
their  not  undergoing  a  perfect  metamorphosis)  have,  as 
their  name  implies,  many  legs ;  they  are  wingless,  hav- 
ing mostly  hard  cases,  and  always  two  antennse;  they 
merely  cast  their  skins  when  growing,  thereby  acquiring 
an  increased  number  of  legs  and  segments,  but  of  course 
they  all  originally  come  from  eggs. 

The  Centipede  and  Millipede  are  the  best  known 
forms  of  this  class,  in  which  some  naturalists  place  the 
Thysanura  and  Anoplura,  both  of  which  are  only  six- 
legged,  the  former  containing  the  Spring-tails,  Lepismi- 
midee  and  Poduridcn  (of  which  the  Sugar-louse  is  a 
well-known  species),  and  the  latter  being  composed  of 
the  Pediculida  (Lice)  and  Nirmida  (Bird-lice).  Dif- 
ference of  opinion,  however,  exists  as  to  this  arrange- 
ment. 

The  last  class,  Annelida  (Worms,  Leeches,  etc.),  com- 
prises species  without  hard  coverings,  but  possessing  cy- 
lindrical retractile  bodies,  folded  into  many  rings.    Some 


6  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

of  these  have  short  feet  armed  with  hooks ;  others,  merely 
rows  of  minute,  bristling  appendages,  serving  for  foot- 
hold ;  and  in  the  remainder  the  extremities  of  the  body- 
are  furnished  with  suckers.  The  head  is  occasionally 
distinct,  Mitli  antennre  and  eyes;  and  they  have  mostly 
red  blood,  circulating  by  a  double  system  of  complicated 
vessels.  They  live  in  the  ground  (sometimes  in  calca- 
reous tubes),  and  in  fresh  or  salt  water,  some  being  am- 
phibious; and  the  greater  number  lay  eggs  from  which 
the  young  are  hatched,  but  the  leeches  and  earth-worms 
deposit  sacs  containing  many  of  the  young. 

There  remains  one  other  great  division,  the  Radiatn ; 
but,  as  none  of  its  members  can  be  mistaken  for  any  of 
the  Articulata,  we  can  dismiss  it  without  further  notice 
than  that  it  contains  the  very  lowest  of  the  animal  king- 
dom,— such  as  the  Sea-urchin,  Star-fish,  Sea-anemone, 
Polyps,  and  Infusoria.  These  may  be  shortly  charac- 
terized as  composed  of  similar  parts  radiating  from  a 
central  nucleus;  with  circulation  and  nervous  system 
either  absent  or  at  best  very  obscure ;  and  possessing  no 
fixed  standard  as  to  sexes,  growth,  or  organs  of  nutri- 
tion. 

The  word  insect,  meaning  "  divided,"  is  applicable  to 
all  the  Articulata,  so  far  as  a  name  extends,  but  it  has, 
in  all  languages,  been  given  to  the  class  to  which  it  now 
belongs;  the  Latin  insecta,  Greek  entoma,  French  in- 
secte,  and  German  Insecten,  having  all  the  same  signifi- 
cation. At  one  time  the  Crustacea,  AracJmida,  and 
Myriapoda  were  included  with  the  Insecta  under  the 
same  name,  as  they  possess  characters  in  common,  apart 
from  their  articulated  bodies;  both  Insecta  and  Crus- 
tacea being  oviparous,  and  the  circulatory  and  respi- 
ratory systems  nearly  the  same  in  the  Insecta,  Arach- 


RELATIONS   AND    DIVISIONS    OF    INSECTA.  7 

nida,  and  Myriapoda ;  the  complete  metamorphosis  un- 
dergone by  the  former  is,  however,  a  good  distinguishing 
feature  from  the  other  classes.  In  no  other  animals  do 
so  many  external  changes  take  place ;  first  the  egg,  then 
the  caterpillar,  moulting  its  skin  and  changing  appear- 
ance and  size  several  times,  next  the  pupa  or  chrysalis, 
and  finally  the  imago  or  perfect  insect. 

It  may  be  remarked  that  the  great  number  of  species 
of  insects,  their  multiplicity  of  form,  and  the  high  de- 
velopment of  parts  in  some,  accompanied  by  the  habitual 
exercise  of  the  most  profound  instinct,  would  almost 
seem  to  warrant  their  holding  a  better  rank  than  at  pre- 
sent accorded  to  them ;  but  it  must  be  remembered  that 
the  highest  type  of  a  group  is  often  more  developed  than 
many  of  the  lower  examples  of  the  next  above  it,  for  na- 
ture does  not  work  in  a  continuous  and  even  line. 

Many  divisions  of  the  Insecta  have  from  time  to  time 
been  proposed,  but  perhaps  the  following  orders  are  now 
most  usually  recognized,  viz. — Coleoptera,  Euplexoptera, 
Orthoptera,  Thysanoptera,  NeuroiJtera,  Trichoptera,  Hy- 
menoptera,  Strepsiptera,  Lepidoptera,  Hemiptera  (sub- 
orders, Heteroptera  and  Homoptera) ,  Aphaniptera,  and 
Diptera. 

It  will  not  be  necessary  to  notice  any  of  these  but  the 
first,  except  perhaps  the  Strepsiptera,  which  are  by 
many  now  considered  to  belong  to  the  Coleoptera.  The 
insects  composing  this  order  are  small  in  size  (the 
largest  not  being  a  quarter  of  an  inch  long),  and  soft; 
with  forked  antennse ;  large  cellular  eyes ;  mouth  with 
two  rudimentary  jaws,  and  a  pair  of  two-jointed  palpi  ; 
the  prothorax  and  mesothorax  very  small  and  collar- 
like, the  latter  having  two  narrow,  curved  appendages, 
variously  considered  as  balancers  or   false  elyira;    the 


8  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

metathorax  much  developed,  and  bearing  two  very  large, 
fan-like  wings ;  and  the  tarsi  having  from  two  to  four 
joints.  Their  worm-like,  footless  larvae  are  found  in 
the  bodies  of  various  wild  bees,  upon  which  they  are 
parasitic;  and  this  habit  is  one  of  the  chief  .reasons  for 
their  being  considered  coleopterous,  as  there  are  certain 
species  of  the  Meloida  (with  somewhat  abnormal  elytra) 
which  are  also  parasitic  upon  bees,  etc.  The  subject 
is  one  of  great  interest  and  difficulty,  as  these  insects 
have  been  placed  by  various  authors  in  the  Hymenoptera, 
Coleoptera,  and  Diptera,  and  even  considered  by  some  as 
allied  to  the  Hemiptera,  Orthoptei'ci,  and  Lepidoptera. 
Nevertheless,  the  extremely  minute  development  of  their 
prothorax  seems  to  be  much  against  the  correctness  of 
their  location  among  Coleoptera,  in  which  that  part  is 
always  conspicuously  large. 


■  i 


CHAPTER  II. 

EEMAEKS   UPON   THE   STEUCTUEE,   METAMOEPHOSES, 
ETC.,  OF   COLEOPTEEA. 

The  Coleoptera,  or  Beetles^  have  two  horny  or  leathery- 
elytra  (wing-cases),  two  membranous  under-wings,  and 
the  mouth  with  transverse  jaws.  In  their  pupa  state 
they  are  not  covered  by  a  uniform  hard  case,  as  in  the 
Lepidopiera,  nor  active,  as  in  the  Hemiptera,  but  exhibit 
all  the  parts  of  the  future  insect  in  a  rudimentary  con- 
dition, covered  by  a  continuous,  tight-fitting  outer  skin, 
which  renders  them  incapable  of  motion  by  means  of  the 
limbs.  In  the  most  perfect  forms  the  elytra  are  hard, 
reaching  to  the  end  of  the  body,  and,  in  repose,  meeting 
straight  down  the  back,  with  an  evenly-joined  suture, 
— the  wings,  which  are  very  large,  folding  beneath 
them ;  but  in  those  of  less  development,  the  elytra  are 
often  shortened,  lapped  over  each  other  and  soft,  or  hard 
and  soldered  together,  and  tlie  wings  frequently  absent. 
They  pass  through  the  ordinary  metamorphoses  of 
egg,  larva,  and  pupa,  before  arriving  at  the  perfect  state. 
The  eggs,  which  are  usually  oblong,  or  oval,  and  soft, 
are  laid  in  places  where  the  larva,  when  hatched,  will  be 
likely  to  obtain  proper  food,  according  to  the  habits  of 
the  different  species.     The  larvse  are  mostly  worm-like, 


10 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 


with  a  horny  front  and  head,  the 
latter  having   strong  jaws,    rudi- 

,/'    mentary  eyes,  antennae,  and  palpi ; 

y  they  have  mostly  six  hard  front 
legs,  and  appendages  on  the  upper 
side,  with  a  fleshy  tubercle  on  the 
under  side,  of  the  last  segment. 
The  legs  are  sometimes  wanting 
entirely,  or  replaced  by  fleshy  tu- 
bercles. The  body  is  composed  of 
the  head,  and,  usually,  twelve  seg- 
ments, to  the  first  three  of  Avhich 
the  horny  legs  are  attached,  one 
on  each  side ;  and  there  is  usually 
a  spiracle,  or  breathing-hole,  on 
each  side  of  all  the  segments,  ex- 
.    ,.  cept   the  second,   third,  and   last, 

tiscus  maTijinailS,  a   com-  ^  '  ' 

mon  Water  Beetle  (wai.s/rc).  The  number    of  tllCSC  SCgmCUtS    is 

"     ^"oiTeof  t'heeyes™""^    reduced  in    the  perfect  insect,  as 

some  of  them  are  incorporated  in 

the   generative  organs,  etc.     In  some  larvae,  also,  only 

eleven  segments  appear,  owing  to  the  non-development 

of  the  apical  one ;  e.  ff.  in  Dytiscus  mar- 

ginaVis  the  twelfth  segment  is  formed  into 

two  mere  appendages.     I  have  remarked, 

moreover,   in  this  larva,  that  the  lateral 

spiracles  (which  are  not  fully  developed, 

owing  to  respiration  taking  place  at  the 

tail)   are  abnormally  placed,  there  being 

none  on  the  first  segment,   two  on  the 

second,  on  the  under  surface  of  the  body, 

^'S---         in  front  of  the  second  pair  of  legs;  none 

Pupa  of  Z).  «?«)•-  ,  ,    .      1  1-1  o       ^ 

ginaiis  (nat.size).  ou    the  third.  One  ou  cach   Side   or   the 


Fig.  1. 
Full- grown  larva  of  D// 


STRUCTURE,  ETC.,  OF  COLEOPTERA.         11 

fourth,  fifth,  sixth,  seventh,  eighth,  ninth,  and  tenth, 
and  one  on  each  side  of  the  apex  of  the  eleventh,  near 
the  anal  opening.  The  pupa  is  generally  soft,  and  formed 
underground;  often  in  a  cell  or  case ;  but  any  peculia- 
rities in  the  early  conditions  of  species  vrill  be  noticed 
hereafter,  when  the  families  in  which  they  occur  are  de- 
scribed. It  may  be  here  stated  that  the  best  way  to 
rear  either  the  larvpe  or  pupse  of  beetles  is  to  endeavour 
to  keep  them  in  as  nearly  as  possible  the  same  condition, 
etc.,  as  tliat  in  which  tliey  are  found.  They  should  not 
be  kept  in-doors,  but  exposed  to  the  natural  tempera- 
ture; and  are  best  kept  in  large  porous  earthenware 
vessels,  containing  damp  earth,  etc.,  and  covered  either 
with  glass  or  perforated  zinc.  Larvae,  however,  are  hard 
to  rear,  as  they  live  for  so  long  a  time,  in  some  cases 
nearly  three  years. 

Want  of  space  prevents  us  from  detailing  the  nume- 
rous interesting  points  of  the  internal  anatomical  struc- 
ture in  the  Coleoptera :  it  will  perhaps  be  sufficient  to  say, 
that  their  nervous  system  is  composed  of  a  series  of  ner- 
vous ganglia,  united  by  two  cords  of  nerve,  as  in  the 
other  Articulata  {vide  p.  3)  ;  that  their  digestive  or- 
gans consist  of  a  gullet,  pouch,  gizzard,  and  stomach, 
formed  by  different  divisions  of  one  tube  (of  greater  or 
lesser  length)  which  commences  at  the  mouth,  and,  after 
forming  the  stomach,  assumes  the  usual  convoluted  in- 
testinal form,  ending  at  an  orifice  in  the  last  segment; 
that  there  is  a  circulation  of  a  cold,  clear  fluid,  by 
means  of  the  alternate  contraction  and  dilatation  of  se- 
veral reservoirs  or  "  hearts,''^  joined  by  one  canal;  and 
that  air  is  taken  into  the  system  through  spiracles,  or 
breath-holes,  in  the  sides,  which  communicate  with  two 
tubes  running  along  the  bodj^,  one  on  each  side,  and 


12  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

having  numerous  branched,  radiating  vessels,  extending 
internally. 

The  attachments  and  development  of  the  muscles  of 
the  Cockchafer,  a  good  type  of  the  beetle  tribe,  are  ad- 
mirably' described  and  figured  iu  Strauss-Diirckheim's 
"  Considerations  generales  sur  I'Anatomie  comparee  des 
Animaux  articules  '  (Paris,  1828). 

Presuming  that  the  student  now  has  a  general  idea 
of  what  is  signified  by  the  word  Coleoptera,  we  will, 
before  entering  more  fully  into  the  subdivisions  of  that 
order,  proceed  to  make  some  observations  upon  certain 
points  which  it  will  be  necessary  for  him  to  master, — 
such  as  the  definition  of  a  species,  etc.,  the  terms  used 
iu  descriptions,  the  names  of  external  parts  of  the 
body,  the  best  books  of  reference,  and  the  instruments 
required,  etc. 

A  "  species,"  the  most  simple  lasting  alliance  of  spe- 
cimens that  is  usually  recognized  (commonly  termed 
a  "sort"  or  "kind"),  may  be  defined  as  an  imaginarj^ 
congregation  of  individuals,  possessed,  during  all  the 
stages  of  their  existence,  of  an  identity  of  habit  and 
structure,  and  of  which  the  sexes  confine  themselves  to 
each  other  in  breeding.  These  characters,  nevertheless, 
cannot  always  be  strictly  relied  upon;  since,  under  diflfe  rent 
circumstances, — such  as  the  greater  or  less  supply  of  their 
natural  food  or  necessary  temperature, — insects  palpably 
identical  as  species  will  often  exhibit  slightly  unusual 
habits,  and  (apart  from  mere  sexual  variation)  minute 
deviations  from  their  normal  form  in  size,  colour,  out- 
line or  sculpture.  When  presenting  such  accidental  dif- 
ferences (which,  by  the  way,  are  continuous  when  their 
causes  remain)  they  are  termed  "races;"  and  a  single 
specimen  is  called  a  "  variety,"  when  it  has  any  unusual 


STRUCTURE,    ETC.,    OP    COLEOPTERA.  13 

marking  or  development.  It  is  the  evident  possibility 
of  a  change,  however  slight,  being  effected,  that  gives  so 
much  support  to  the  prevalent  theories  as  to  the  '*^ origin 
of  species," — discussions  upon  which  most  interesting 
subject  are  not  in  the  scope  of  the  present  work,  and 
would  certainly  not  be  of  any  use  to  a  beginner,  who 
will  find  work  enough  in  determining  for  himself  points 
upon  which  doctors  do  not  disagree.  One  thing  seems 
sure,  viz.,  that  if  changes  do  commence,  they  require 
more  than  any  man's  lifetime  to  become  permanent; 
and  the  chances  of  any  great  alteration  in  the  tempe- 
rature or  formation  of  our  island  are  luckily  too  remote 
to  cause  any  apprehension  on  this  score.  With  regard 
to  any  departure  from  the  natural  laws  of  breeding,  it 
may  be  observed  tliat  hybrids,  even  of  species  most 
closely  allied,  are  of  excessively  rare  occurrence,  and  are 
never  perpetuated ;  indeed,  most,  if  not  all,  of  the  re- 
corded instances  have  occurred  in  confinement. 

A  "genus"  consists  of  an  assemblage  of  such  species, 
usually  somewhat  alike  in  hal)its,  as  possess  in  common 
either  one  well-defined  structural  character,  or  several  of 
a  minor  nature,  unaccompanied  by  any  radical  points  of 
separation. 

In  a  similar  way,  subfamilies,  families,  tribes,  sec- 
tions, orders,  and  classes  are  constituted ;  the  points  of 
affinity  in  each  become  more  and  more  remote  as  the 
groups  are  wider  in  extent,  but  all  uniting  in  some  par- 
ticular characters  by  which  they  may  be  known  from 
other  portions  of  the  animal  kingdom.  It  is  true  that 
all  these  relations  and  differences  are  purely  artificial, 
and  may  be  upset  at  any  moment  by  the  discovery  of 
new  combinations  of  forms,  also  that  it  is  idle  to  expect 
to  tabulate  creation  correctly ;  nevertheless,  the  divisions 


14  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

are  of  the  greatest  use  for  reference,  and  many  of  the 
characters  detected  by  naturalists  cannot  fail  to  be  very 
nearly  approaching  to  the  truth. 

The  beginner  must  in  a  great  decree  dismiss  size  and 
colour  from  his  mind  in  investigating  Beetles  critically, 
and  rather  rely  upon  structure  and  sculpture, — as  the 
former  are  bad  guides,  though  good  companions.  An 
examination  of  the  number  and  shape  of  the  joints  of 
all  the  tarsi,  and  the  structure  of  the  antennae  and 
palpi,  will  usually  aflPord  a  sufficient  clue  as  to  the  sec- 
tion in  which  any  individual  species  should  be  placed  : 
further  characters  are  to  be  sought  in  the  relative 
length  of  the  thorax  and  elytra,  the  development  of 
the  different  limbs,  the  existence  or  non-existence  of 
wings,  and,  above  all,  in  the  parts  of  the  mouth.  These 
latter  vary  so  much  in  different  genera  even,  as  to  re- 
quire the  strictest  examination.  They  may  be  dissected 
in  a  fresh  specimen,  or  in  an  old  one  which  has  been 
first  left  for  a  day  or  two  in  laurel  (as  hereafter  ex- 
plained) or  soaked  in  cold  water  (or  weak  alcohol  and 
water)  for  a  day  ;  few  instruments  are  needed, — a  cou- 
ple of  fine  pins,  hooked  at  the  point,  and  mounted  in 
thin  holders  (such  as  paint-brush  sticks)  will  be  enough 
for  ordinary  species ;  but  a  dissecting  knife,  with  a  very 
fine  point,  will  be  found  most  useful.  The  head  of  the 
beetle  may  be  removed  from  the  thorax,  and  a  fine  pointed 
piece  of  wood  thrust  into  the  occipital  hole,  to  act  as  a 
firm  basis;  the  jaws  can  then  readily  be  opened,  and 
the  smaller  parts  taken  out  and  gummed  on  card. 
Both  hands  are  needed  for  this,  so  that  it  is  well  to  get 
accustomed  to  Avorking  without  a  glass ;  for  small  in- 
sects, however,  a  lens  mounted  on  a  stage,  so  as  not  to 
require  to  be  held,  is  very  useful;    and,   for  the  very 


STRUCTURE,  ETC.,  OF  COLEOPTERA.         15 

minute  ones,  the  compound  microscope  is  needed, — 
demanding,  nevertheless,  much  practice  and  nicety  of 
touch. 

The  compound  microscope  is  often,  also,  indispens- 
able for  the  mere  superficial  examination  of  exceedingly 
small  beetles ;  and  such  points  as  the  sexual  characters, 
form  and  number  of  the  joints  of  the  tarsi  and  palpi, 
etc.,  are  best  seen  under  it  when  damped  with  clean 
water  or  benzine. 

The  scrutiny  of  specific  characters  is  at  once  more 
general  and  more  close  than  for  any  other  purpose,  and 
necessitates  inspection  and  comparison  of  the  form  of 
many  parts  of  the  body ;  the  relative  length  and  breadth 
of  joints  of  the  limbs,  the  degree  of  punctuation  gene- 
rally, the  amount  of  pubescence,  the  greater  or  less 
elevation,  depression,  angulation  or  rounding  of  the 
thorax  and  elytra,  the  structure  of  the  surface,  and  the 
sexual  characters,  being  the  chief  points  to  be  noticed. 
Species,  also,  that  resemble  each  other  very  much  on 
the  upper  side  frequently  differ  considerably  on  the 
under  surface.  Occasional  differences,  owing  to  want 
of  maturity,  accidental  abrasion,  or  slight  varieties, — 
the  frequent  want  of  similarity  in  sexes  of  the  same 
species, — and  the  absolute  difficulty  of  seeing  minute 
specimens  in  the  same  light  and  level,  do  not  tend  to 
decrease  the  natural  difficulties  of  this  branch  of  the 
study. 


16 


CHAPTEK  III. 

ON  THE  TEEMS  USED  IN  DESCRIPTIONS  OF 
COLEOPTERA. 

Before  acquiring  a  facility  of  noticing  what  are  termed 
the  salient  diagnostic  characters  of  a  Beetle,  it  will  be 
necessary,  for  the  purposes  of  comparing  notes  with 
other  observers,  to  know  the  usual  meaning  given  to 
certain  terms  of  description,  and  the  parts  of  the  ex- 
ternal anatomy  of  the  perfect  insect :  we  will  there- 
fore now  give  a  short  list  of  such  words  as  are  either 
not  usually  met  with  in  common  parlance,  or  have  a 
particular  signification.  These  will  be  kept  separate 
from  the  parts  of  the  body,  which  will  be  sufficiently 
explained  by  the  cuts.  For  a  very  full  dictionary  of 
the  terms  used  in  this  branch  the  student  can  refer  to 
Kirby  and  Spence's  '  Introduction  to  Entomology ' 
(original  edition),  but  the  following  will  be  enough  for 
our  present  purpose. 

Ah,  in  composition,  means  a  departure  from. 
Aciculate.  As  if  scratched  with  a  needle. 
Aculeate.  Produced  to  a  point. 

Alutaceous.  Covered  with  minute  cracks;  like  mud,  or 
mosaic. 


TERMS    USED    IN    DESCRIPTIONS    OF    COLEOPTERA.       17 

Anal.  Relating  to  the  extreme  end  of  the  abdomen. 

Apex.  The  extremity. 

Apical.  Relating  to  the  extremity. 

Apterous.  Wingless. 

Articulation.  Joint. 

Base.  The  root  or  bottom.      In  the  thorax,  that  part 

next  the  elytra ;  and  vice  versa. 
Basal.  Appertaining  to  the  base. 
Bi-,  in  composition,  means  a  reduplication. 
Calcar.  A  spur,  strong  spine,  or  pointed  process. 
Castaneous.  Chestnut-coloured. 
Catenulate.  Chain-like. 
Ciliate.  Fringed  with  hairs ;  as  the  eyelid. 
Clava.  The  club,  knob,  or  apex  of  antennje,   usually 

more  or  less  abrupt. 
Clavate.  Clubbed. 
Concolorous,  Uniform  in  colour ;  used  in  comparison  of 

parts. 
Conic.  Tapering,  like  a  cone,  from  base  to  apex. 
Connate.  Soldered  together. 
Cordate.  Heart-shaped. 
Coriaceous.  Leathery. 
Costate.  With  elevated  ridges. 
Crenate.  Cut  into  segments  of  small  circles. 
Crenulate.  The  diminutive  of  crenate. 
Cretaceous.  Chalky. 
Cursorial.  Adapted  for  running. 
Deflexed.  Bent  down. 
Dentate.  Toothed. 

Disc.  The  middle,  most  elevated  part. 
Emarginate.  Notched. 
Entire.  Without  notch  or  projection. 
Farinose.  Mealy. 


18  BRITISH    BEETLES.       * 

Ferruginous.  Brick-red ;  rust-red. 

Filiform.  Thread-shaped. 

Flabellute.  Fan-shaped. 

Fossorial.  Adapted  for  digging. 

Fovea.  A  large  depression  in  the  surface. 

Funiculus.  The  joints  between  the  base  and  club  of  the 

antennae. 
Fuscous.  Brown. 
Fusiform.  Spindle-shaped. 
Geniculate.  Elbowed,  or  kneed. 
Gibbous.  Hump-backed. 

Glabrous.  Unpunctnred,  smooth,  and  hairless. 
Granulate.  With  small  rounded-off  elevations. 
Gressorial.  Adapted  for  walking. 
Hirsute.  Set  with  thick  long  hairs. 
Hispid.  Set  with  short  bristles. 
Humerus.  The  shoulder. 
Humeral.  Relating,  or  near  to  the  shoulder. 
Hyaline.  Glassy. 
Jncrassate.  Thickened. 

Interstices.  The  spaces  between  punctures  or  striae. 
Iridescent.  Exhibiting  prismatic  colours. 
Laminate.  Plated. 
Lateral.  Appertaining  to  the  side. 
Linear.  Line-like  ;  narrow,  elongate. 
Lineate.  Striped  longitudinally. 
Lobe.  A  lappet  or  division. 
Lumdate.  Crescent-shaped. 

Maculate.  Spotted  (not  necessarily  with  round  marks) . 
Margin.  Outer  edge. 
Monil/form.  Bead-shaped. 
Natatorial.  Adapted  for  swimming. 
Necrophagous.  Feeding  on  dead  animals. 


TERMS    USED    IN    DESCRIPTIONS    OF    COLEOPTERA.    19 

Normal.  Usual  or  natural. 

Ob-,  in  composition^  means  reversed,  the  thickest  part 
in  front. 

Obsolete.  Indistinct. 

Ocellus.  An  eye-like  spot. 

Ocelli.  Small  eyes,  usually  on  the  top  of  the  head. 

Ocellated.  Marked  with  spots  having  a  round  centre 
and  a  lighter-coloured  outer  ring. 

Ochraceous.  Brownish-yellow. 

Ovate.  Egg-shaped. 

Palmate.  Widened  and  divided  like  the  hand. 

Patella.  A  little  cup. 

Pectinate.  Toothed  like  a  comb. 

Phytophagous.  Plant-feeding. 

Pilose.  Hairy. 

Pitchy.  Brown  with  a  tinge  of  black. 

Pubescent.  Downy. 

Punctate.  Impressed  with  punctures. 

Puncture  [or  Punctuation) .  A  small  depression  in  the 
surface,  often  round. 

Pygidium.  The  end  of  the  body,  containing  the  genera- 
tive organs,  usually  not  covered  by  the  wing-cases. 

Quadrate.  Square. 

Raptoi'ial.  Adapted  for  preying. 

Reflexed.  Bent  up. 

Reniform.  Kidney-shaped. 

Rufous.  Red  tinged  with  yellow. 

Rugose.  Wrinkled. 

Rugulose.  Slightly  wrinkled. 

Saltatorial.  Adapted  for  leaping. 

Scansorial.  Adapted  for  climbing. 

Scape.  The  long  joint  at  the  root  of  the  antennae. 

Scutellar.  Appertaining,  or  near  to  the  scutellum. 

Securiform.  Hatchet-shaped. 


20  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

Serrate.  With  teeth  like  a  saw. 

Setaceous.  Gradually  diminishing  to  the  tip. 

Setose.  Set  with  stiff  bristles. 

Simple.  With  no  unvisual  addition ;  un-spined,  un- 
notched,  un-dilated, — as  the  case  may  be. 

Sinuate.  Slightly  waved. 

Spiracle.  Breathing-hole. 

Squamose.  Scaly. 

Stria.  An  impressed  or  elevated  line,  usually  the  former. 

Striate.  With  thin  longitudinal  grooves :  usually  ap- 
plied to  the  elytra. 

Strigose.  Streaked  or  scratched. 

Sub-,  in  composition,  means  almost. 

Subulate.  Suddenly  pointed  and  lessened. 

Sulcate.  Furrowed. 

Superfcies.  Upper  surface. 

Suture.  Junction  of  the  wing-cases. 

Testaceous.  Yellow  with  a  tinge  of  brown ;  not  a  bright 
yellow. 

Tomentose.  Cottony. 

Transverse.  Broader  than  long,  or  across. 

Truncate.  Abruptly  cut  straight  across. 

Tubercle.  A  small  abrupt  elevation  :  usually  like  a  blunt 
tooth. 

Typical.  That  which  presents  the  best  abstract  idea  of 
any  particular  thing. 

Unicolorous.  Of  one  colour. 

Versicolor ous.  Variously  coloured. 

Very  many  of  the  above  terms  are  used  in  conjunc- 
tion with  each  other,  and  then  have  a  modified  mean- 
ing, the  predominating  part  of  which  rests  with  the  last 
word  used  ;  thus  "  pitchy-testaceous "  means  a  yellow 
colour  with  a  tinffc  of  dark-brown. 


21 


CHAPTER  IV. 

ON  THE  EXTEENAL  ANATOMY  OF  THE  COLEOPTEEA. 

It  will  be  necessary  to  enter  somewhat  fully  into  the 
position  and  names  of  the  various  parts  of  the  external 
anatomy  of  Beetles^  as  they  are  constantly  referred  to 
in  all  works,  either  of  description  or  classification ;  and 
the  common  Water-beetle  [Dytiscus  marginalis) ,  before 
alluded  to,  will  act  very  well  as  a  type,  owing  to  its  large 
size,  and  the  well-defined  outline  of  its  component 
parts :  it  cannot,  however,  be  taken  as  a  perfect  stan- 
dard, as  its  paraglossse  and  metathoracic  epimera  are 
obsolete,  and  its  hinder  coxse  are  enormously  developed. 
The  body  is  usually  considered  to  be  divided  into  three 
segments,  with  their  respective  appendages :  viz.  the 
head,  with  the  eyes,  antennae,  and  mouth-apparatus; 
the  thorax,  with  the  elytra,  wings  and  legs;  and  the 
abdomen,  with  the  organs  of  generation.  These  seg- 
ments are  in  reality  composed  of  numerous  separate 
parts,  which  we  will  now  proceed  to  mention ;  there  is. 
however,  no  occasion  to  enter  very  fully  into  the  details 
of  external  structure,  for  which  the  student  can  refer  to 
the  works  of  Burmeister,  Kirby  and  Spence,  etc. :  but 
the  principal  parts  of  the  body,  with  the  names  by  which 
they  are  now  usually  known,  must  be  enumerated, — 


22 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 


mastication,  etc.,   is 


Fig.  3. 

Upper  side  of  head  of  D.  margi 
nalis  {highly  magiiijied). 


it  being  absolutely  necessary  to  understand  tliera   in 
working  from  descriptions. 

The  liead,  bearing  the  eyes,  antennae,  and  organs  of 
the  first  to  be  considered.  The 
accompanying  cut  of  the  head 
of  a  Water- beetle  will  show 
the  chief  points  to  be  no- 
ticed on  the  upper  side  :  here, 
a  is  the  labrum  or  upper 
lip;  h,  the  clypeus  or  shield 
of  the  mouth,  often  bearing 
tubercles  or  even  horns  ;  c 
or  d  are  the  mandibles  or 
upper  jaws  (these  are  dis- 
sected out  in  the  figure,  and 
d  is  reversed)  ;  e  e,  the  eyes ; 
/,  the  base  of  the  antennse; 
g,  the  vertex  or  crown,  and  h  the  occiput. 

The  mandibles  are  hard  and  sharp,  often  (as  in  the 
male  of  the  Stag-beetle)  very  much  developed.  The 
eyes,  which  are  composed  of  many  facets,,  situated  on 
the  side  of  the  head,  and  usually  large,  are  normally 
two  in  number,  being  however  in  some  cases  aberrant ; 
for  instance,  in  Dorcus  (the  small  Stag-beetle),  each 
eye  is  almost  divided  into  two,  being  interrupted  by 
the  lateral  ridge  of  the  head  ;  and  in  the  Gyrini  (the 
'' Whirlwigs^^),  it  is  distinctly  divided  by  a  deep  broad 
channel,  containing  the  antenna,  so  that  the  insect  is 
four-eyed,  having  two  on  the  upper  and  two  on  the 
under  surface, — an  admirable  structure  for  species  that 
pass  their  lives  on  the  top  of  the  water,  and  need  extra 
sharpness  of  vision,  partly  to  save  themselves  from  foes 
above,    and    partly    to    detect    their   own    food    below. 


EXTERNAL  ANATOMY  OF  THE  COLEOPTERA. 


23 


There  are  also  in  some  few  beetles  two  ocelli,  or  addi- 
tional eyes,  small,  and  not  composed  of  facets,  on  the 
back  of  the  head ;  these  are  especially  noticeable  in 
Omalium,  a  genus  of  the  Brachelytra.  The  antennae 
are  long  flexible  instruments,  through  which  the  insect 
certainly  receives  a  considerable  amount  of  sensation, 
either  by  actual  contact  or  atmospheric  influence.  They 
are  nearly  always  composed  of  eleven  joints,  though 
some  of  them  are  often  indistinct,  being  clubbed  to- 
gether, and  in  a  few  species  the  absolute  number  varies ; 
for  instance,  in  the  male  of  Ischnomera  melanura  there 
are  twelve  joints,  though  the  normal  number  is  found 
in  the  female.  They  are  inserted  into  a  cup-like  socket 
in  the  head,  and  have  often  the  first  or  basal  joint  long, 
and  the  second  short ;  but  their  variations  in  structure 
are  too  numerous  to  be  specified  here. 
Fiff.  4  shows  the 


under 
head ; 


side   of  the 
a,  b,  and  c 


forming  the  labium 

or  lower  lip,  where- 
of a  is  the  menium 

or  chin,  b  the  ligula 

or  tongue,  and  c  c 

the  labial  palpi  or 

lip  feelers ;  d  d  are 

the  maxilla  or  lower 

jaws  (which  are 
dissected  out,  and 
show  the  upper  and 
under  sides),  com- 
posed of  the  following  pieces  : — d^,  the  inner  or  palpiform 
lobe;   d^,  the  maxillary  palpus  or  jaw  feeler;  d^,  the 


Fig.  4. 

TJiider  side  of  head  of  D.  marginalis,  {JiigJily 
■magnified). 


24 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 


Fig. 


lacinia  or  blade ;  #,  the  palpifer ;  d^,  the  stipes  or  stalk, 
and  d^,  the  cardo,  base,  hinge,  or  insertion,  by  which 
the  lower  jaw  is  attached  to  the  inner  side  of  the  head. 

There  are  two  small  organs, 
the  paraglossce,  which  in 
Dytiscus  are  soldered  to  the 
sides  of  the  ligula  :  these  are 
very  conspicuous  in  many 
Cohoptera,  and  will  be  seen 
in  Fig.  5  (the  labium,  or  lower 
lip,  of  Pterostichus  nitjer,  a 
very  common  black  ground- 
beetle),   in   which    a   is   the 

Labium  of  Fterostichus  niqer.  ,  17^1         7-7 

mentum,    and    0   the   ligula ; 

c  c  are  the  paraglossse,  and  d  the  labial  palpi. 

The  next  segment  is  the  thorax,  which  is  divided  into 

three  parts,  the  prothorax,  mesothorax,  and  metathorax. 

The  first  of  these,  the  prothorax,  is  considered  to  consist 

of  two  portions, — the  upper  side,  called  jjronohim,  and 

the  under  side,  or  prosternum.  The  pronotum  is  that 
part  to  which  the  word  thorax 
is  exclusively  applied  in  descrip- 
tions, and  is  much  developed  in 
the  Coleoptera.  In  Fig.  6,  a  is 
the  anterior,  b  the  posterior, 
and  c  the  lateral  margin ;  d,  the 
medial  line  (of  which  the  front 
extremity  is  called  the  apex, 
.and  the  hinder  the  base) ;    e  e 

are  the  anterior,  and  /  /  the  posterior  angles,  and  g 

the  disc. 

Both  this  and  the  following  upper  thoracic  segment 

are  considered  each  to  be  normally  composed  of  four 


Fig.  6. 

Pronotum  of  thorax  of 
D.  tnarglnalis. 


EXTERNAL    ANATOMY    OF    THE    COLEOPTERA. 


25 


Fig.  7. 

Prosternum  of  thorax  of 
D.  7narginalis. 


separate  pieces^ — the  prascutum,  scutum,  scutellum,  and 
post-scutellum ;  but  these  are 
all  joined   together,  with  no 
trace  of  suture  in  the  prono- 
tum  of  the  Coleoptera. 

The  prosternum  bears  the 
two  front   (or  anterior)   legs, 
and  is  divided  into  three  parts, 
viz.  (Fig.  7)  a,  the  sternum; 
b   b,  the    episterna,  and   c  c, 
the  epimera.      The  coxa,  or 
hinge-plate  of  the  leg,  is  seen 
oi  d ;  e  is  the  trochanter ;  f,  the  femur,  or  thigh;  g,  the 
tibia,  or  shank ;    and  h,  the 
tarsus,  or  foot,  of  which  the 
joints    are   separately  num- 
bered.   The  first  three  joints 
in  the  male  of  Dytiscus  mar- 
ginalis  are  widened    into  a 
round  plate,  provided    with 
suckers  beneath,  as  will  be 
seen   by  Fig.   7 ;   in  which, 
with  the   other  cuts  of  the 
thoracic  segments,  only  one 
of  the  limbs  is  represented. 
All    these    figures    are,    of 
course,     considerably    mag- 
nified. 

The  mesothorax,  which 
bears  the  wing-cases,  or  ely- 
tra, and  the  intermediate 
or  middle  pair  of  legs,  is 
also   divided   into  two   por- 


Fig.  8. 

A.  Mesothorax  of  D.  marginalis, 

seen  .vertically. 


B.  Ditto,  seen  from  above. 


26 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 


tions — the  upper^  or  mesonotum,  and  lower,  or  mesoster- 
num.  In  Fig.  8,  b  is  the  mesonotum,  seen  from  above, 
a  being  the  scutellum  referred  to  in  descriptions.  Strictly 
speaking,  there  is  a  scutellum  to  each  of  the  three  seg- 
ments of  the  thorax ;  but  it  is  the  scutellum  of  the 
mesonotum  which  is  invariably  meant  by  this  word,  when 
no  other  reference  is  made.  The  mesonotum  is  also  seen 
sideways  at  /,  in  Fig.  8,  a,  with  one  of  the  elytra,  of  which 
g^  is  the  base,  g~  the  apex,  y'^  the  lateral  margin,  g^  the 
suture,  and  g^  the  disc.  On  the  other  side  is  the  alula,  or 
winglct,  h,  Avhich  is  attached  to  the  body  and  the  under 
side  of  the  base  of  the  wing-case  :  it  is  a  thin  membrane, 
exposed  in  flight,  and  either  covering,  or  a  continuation 
of,  the  mesothoracic  spiracle. 

"The  mesosternum,  to  which  the  middle  pair  of  legs  is 
attached,  is  composed  of  similar  pieces  to  the  proster- 
num,  viz.  (8,  a),  a,  sternum  ;  b  b,  episterna  ;  and  c  c, 
epimera  (the  two  last  being  the  thin  side-pieces  of  b  in 
Fig.  8)  ;  d  is  the  coxa,  and  e  the  trochanter  of  one  of  the 
legs. 

The  metathorax,  likewise  divided  into  upper  [metano- 
tum)  and  lower  [metasternuni)  surfaces,  carries  the  wings 
and  hinder  legs. 


Fig.  9. — Metanotiim  of  thorax  of  J),  marginalls. 

The  metanotum  (Fig.  9)  is  composed  of  the  usual  four 
dorsal  pieces,  and  bears  one  of  the  wings  on  each  side  ; 


EXTERNAL  ANATOMY  OF  THE  COLEOPTERA. 


27 


these  wings  are  membranaceous,  often  very  large,  aud 
lie  in  a  small  compass  under  the  elytra  when  not  required 
for  flight,  the  membrane  being  thickened  where  contact 
takes  place  on  the  wing  being  folded. 

The  metasternimi  (Fig.  10)  is  usually  composed  of  the 
sternum  (a),  the  episterna 
{b  b) ,  and  the  epimera ;  but 
in  Dytiscus  (and  some  Geocle- 
phaga)  the  latter  are  want- 
ing, being  replaced  by  the 
largely  developed  cox(b  [d  d) 
of  the  hinder  legs,  of  one  of 
which  e  is  the  trochanter. 
The  parapleura,  or  paraptera 
{c  c),  are  side-pieces,  which 
in  some  beetles  are  very  con- 
spicuous. 

The  remaining  part  is  the 
abdomen,  the  upper  side  of 
which,  being  covered  by  the 
elytra,  is  softer  than  the  lower, 
or  ventral  surface ;  the  apical 
segments  on  the  upper  side, 
however,  where  not  covered 
by  the  wing-cases,  are  much  harder  than  the  protected 
portion  of  the  abdomen,  and  are  called  the  pyyidiiim. 
The  entire  abdomen  is  divided  into  rings  or  segments, 
fitting  like  those  of  a  telescope,  and  usually  nine  in 
number;  in  Fig.  11  only  six  are  visible,  the  extreme 
apical  one,  comprising  the  generative  organs,  being  re- 
tracted within  the  sixth  (which,  in  the  male,  is  usually 
notched,  or  otherwise  altered  in  outline  and  surface), 
aud  the  remainder  being  only  seen  on  the  upper  side.    The 


Fig.  10. 

Metasterniun  of  tliorax  of 

D.  marginalis. 


28 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 


abdomen  also  contains  the  greater  number  of  spiracles, 

or  breathing-holes^  situated  in 
a  row  on  the  upper  surface  of 
the  sides ;  these  spiracles^  nine 
or  ten  in  number,  are  placed 
as  follows : — one,  the  largest, 
between  the  prothorax  and 
mesothorax ;  another  between 
the  mesothorax  and  metathorax, 
covered  in  repose  by  the  wing- 
cases,  but  exposed  in  flight  j 
a  third  between  the  metatho- 
rax and  first  segment  of  the 
abdomen,  and   the   remainder 

between  every  two  of  the  other  abdominal  rings,  with 

the  exception  of  the  last  pair. 


Pig.  11. 

Under  side  of  abdomen  of 
D.  marffiiiaUs. 


29 


CHAPTER  V. 

BOOKS  USEFUL  TO  THE   STUDENT   OF  BEITISH 
COLEOPTEEA. 

With  regard  to  the  books  likely  to  be  of  real  use  to 
the  student^  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  there  are  none  on 
British  Coleoptera  exclusively,  or  in  English,  that  can  be 
recommended.  There  is,  indeed,  a  '  Manual  of  British 
Coleoptera,'  by  J.  F.  Stephens  (London,  1839,  one  vol.), 
purporting  to  describe  all  our  species;  but  it  is  so  full 
of  error,  and  the  nomenclature  is  so  confused,  as  to  be 
of  little  or  no  use.  The  'Illustrations  of  British  En- 
tomology :  Mandibulata,'  (1828,)  by  the  same  author, 
with  plates,  comes  under  the  same  heading;  and  there 
only  remains  the  'Genera  of  British  Insects,'  by  Curtis, 
of  which  the  letter-press  is  of  little  use,  but  the  figures 
remain  unrivalled  for  beauty  of  finish.  There  are,  how- 
ever, many  scattered  papers  by  English  authors,  of 
great  value;  and  these,  with  descriptions  of  limited 
groups  by  foreign  writers,  will  be  noticed  hereafter. 

For  general  information  and  reference,  the  '  Intro- 
duction to  the  Modern  Classification  of  Insects,*  by 
J.  O.  Westwood  (London,  1839),  is  still  unequalled,  and 
must  be  consulted  by  all  beginners;  and  Burmeister's 
'  Manual  of  Entomology,'  translated  by  Mr.  Shuckard 
(London,  1836),  will  be  found  of  great  service  on  struc- 


30  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

tural  points,  uhilst  descriptions  of  all  the  known  genera 
of  Beetles  are  being  published  in  Lacordaire's  '  Genera 
des  Coleopteres'  (in  the  'Nouvelles  Suites  a  BuflPon^), 
Paris,  of  which  four  volumes  have  been  published  as  yet. 

The  standard  works  on  the  Coleoptera  of  the  northern 
parts  of  the  Continent  must  be  consulted  for  descriptions 
both  of  the  species  recorded  as  British,  and  of  those 
likely  to  occur  here ;  this  course  requires  a  knowledge 
of  French,  Latin,  and  German,  but  is,  unfortunately, 
indispensable.  The  following  are  most  useful : — 
'  Insecta   Suecica :    Coleoptera    sive    Eleuterata,'    by  L. 

Gyllenhal,  1808-27,  4  vols.     {Latin.) 
'  Die  Kafer  der  Mark  Brandenburg,'  by  W.  !F.  Erichson  : 

Berlin,  1837, 1  vol.    [Latin  and  German^     This  work 

was  never  completed. 
'  Naturgeschichte  derlnsectenDeutschlands:  Coleoptera,' 

by  Dr.  Erichson,  Dr.  Schaum,  Dr.  Kraatz,  and  H.  von 

Kiesenwetter  :  Berlin.     Still  in  progress.     {Latin  and 

German.) 
'  Skandinaviens  Coleoptera,'  by  C.  G.  Thomson :  Laind, 

1850.     Still  in  progress;  6  vols,  published.     [Latin 

and  Swedish.) 
'  Eauna  Austriaca :    Die  Kafer,'   by  L.   Redtenbacher  : 

Vienna,  1858,  1  vol.,  2  plates.     [Germaii.) 
'  Eaune    Entomologique    Eraufaise :    Coleopteres,'     by 

MM.  Eairmaire  and  Laboulbene :  Paris,  1854.     Not 

completed ;  3  vols,  published.     [French.) 

(N.B. — Most  foreign  publications  can  be  obtained  of 
Messrs.  Williams  and  Norgate,  Henrietta  Street,  Covent 
Garden.) 

]\Iany  descriptions  occur  also  in  the  Berliner  and 
Stettiner  Entomologische  Zeitschriften;  the  '  Annales' 
of  the  French,  and  Transactions  of  the  English,  Ento- 
mological Societies. 


31 


CHAPTER  VI. 

INSTEUMENTS,   ETC.,     EEQUIEED    FOE    COLLECTING, 
MOUNTma,  AND   PEESEEVING   COLEOPTEEA. 

The  instruments  required  by  the  Coleopterist  for  cap- 
turing his  game  are  very  few,  and  may  be  briefly  summed 
up  as  follows  : — 

A  stout  folding  "^  umbrella"  net^  to  fit  in  a  glazed 
cover.  This  may  be  purchased  at  any  of  the  dealers  in 
objects  of  natural  history^ — Cooke,  of  New  Oxford  Street, 
being,  perhaps,  the  most  trustworthy.  A  net  of  this 
kind  is  indispensable  for  beating  into ;  and,  if  the  side- 
pieces  are  made  of  metal,  instead  of  whalebone,  will 
also  serve  for  sweeping. 

A  small  round  sweeping-net  should,  however,  be  ob- 
tained also.  Its  frame  may  be  of  stout  iron  wire,  and 
made  to  screw  into  a  strong  stick.  As  the  screw  is  apt 
to  become  worn  out  before  long,  it  is,  perhaps,  better  to 
have  the  ends  of  the  frame  soldered  together  into  a  plug, 
which  fits  into  a  stout  hollow  ferule  or  tube  fitted  on  the 
stick ;  a  hole  can  then  be  drilled  through  the  ferule  and 
plug,  and  the  net  secured  by  a  piece  of  copper  wire  being 
passed  through  both, — the  wire  having  one  end  twisted 
into  a  knob,  and  the  other  bent  round  a  little  after  being 
passed  through.     By  these  means  the  net  can  be  taken 


32  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

out  and  carried  in  the  pocket  or  bag.  The  net  itself 
(and  also  the  beating-net)  should  be  made  of  stout 
"  Irish,"  or  sheeting,  or  the  canvas-like  material  used  for 
"  crinoline,"  and  be  sufficiently  long  to  avoid  the  un- 
pleasantness of  turning  inside  out,  with  its  contents^ 
when  trailed  along  the  ground. 

A  water  net,  larger  than  the  sweeping- net,  of  much 
stouter  wire,  and  with  a  flat  front  for  scraping  close 
along  the  bottoms  and  sides  of  ponds,  etc.  This  may- 
be fastened  to  the  stick  as  above  described,  and  should 
be  made  of  very  strong  "  sampler  canvas."  The  friction 
is  so  great,  and  decay  is  so  much  assisted  by  the  water, 
that  it  is  a  good  plan  to  sew,  or  otherwise  fasten,  the  net 
to  a  thin  wire  of  the  same  size  as  the  stout  frame,  and 
attach  it  to  the  latter  on  its  lower  edge  with  rings  of 
wire.  The  stick  used  should  be  both  long  and  very 
strong. 

A  stick  to  beat  with,  which  can  be  cut  out  of  any 
hedge  when  the  hunting-ground  is  reached. 

A  strong  knife,  with  blade  fixed  to  the  handle,  and 
carried  in  a  sheath,  for  cutting  tufts  of  grass,  etc. 

A  very  stout  steel  "  pick ;"  or,  if  that  cannot  be  got, 
a  long  and  strong  chisel — for  ripping  off  bark  and  pene- 
trating wood.  If  the  collector  really  meditate  doing 
any  good  with  Avood-feeding  beetles,  no  weapon  of  at- 
tack is  too  large  or  strong. 

A  sheet  or  two  of  stout  brown  paper,  upon  which  tufts, 
etc.,  can  be  shaken. 

A  square  piece  of  mackintosh  or  India-rubber  cloth, 
to  kneel  upon  when  working  in  w'ct  places. 

A  collecting  bottle  or  two  of  stout  clear  glass,  w'ith 
no  internal  bottom  elevation,  and  wide-mouthed.  If 
one  side   be  pasted   over  with   paper,    it   considerably 


INSTRUMENTS,    ETC.,    REQUIRED.  33 

lessens  the  chance  of  fracture.  It  should  have  a  good 
cork,  which  must  be  perforated  by  tAvo  or  three  inches 
of  a  wide  quill ;  this  quill  may  project  slightly  below 
the  lower  end  of  the  cork,  and  of  course  very  much  on 
its  upper  side,  and  may  be  kept  tight  by  sealing-wax 
round  its  insertion.  Through  the  quill  a  soft  wooden 
plug  is  passed,  not  reaching  below  the  lower  end,  and 
having  a  knob  ait  the  top,  which  can  be  seized  in  the 
teeth  when  both  hands  are  occupied  :  specimens  can 
then  be  bottled  without  the  risk  of  losing  those  already 
captured ;  and  it  is  best  to  give  the  quill  a  tap  before 
withdrawing  the  plug,  so  as  to  dislodge  any  would-be 
fugitives.  The  safest  way  in  taking  small  insects  is  to 
touch  them  with  a  wet  finger,  transfer  them  to  the  back 
of  the  hand,  and  get  the  mouth  of  the  quill  (which  may 
be  cut  obliquely)  over  them  while  they  are  drying  their 
legs,  etc.  One  bottle  of  the  sort  above  mentioned 
should  have  blotting-paper  or  a  piece  of  muslin  put  into 
it,  so  as  to  afford  foot-hold  and  hiding  places  for  the 
captives ;  if  this  be  done,  they  will  seldom  attack  each 
other.  Another  and  rather  larger  bottle  should  be  also 
taken ;  this  should  be  half  filled  with  the  bruised  and 
cut-up  leaves  of  the  young  shoots  of  the  laurel,  which 
will  almost  instantly  kill  most  of  the  larger  and  more 
rapacious  species.  Great  caution  must  be  taken  in  col- 
lecting, for  any  of  the  Geodephaga,  or  larger  Brache- 
lytra,  or  Telephori,  if  put  into  the  bottle  w^ithout  laurel, 
would  maim  or  destroy  all  its  other  occupants.  Both 
bottles  are  best  secured  by  fastening  one  end  of  a  long 
piece  of  string  round  their  necks,  and  tying  the  other 
to  the  button-hole  of  the  coat.  Collectors  usually  also 
take  with  them  one  or  two  strong  little  test-tubes,  with 
corks  fitted,  in  which  to  place  any  very  choice  captures. 

D 


34  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

A  depot  of  the  above-mentioned  laurel  leaves  should 
be  kept  in  a  wide-mouthed  tightly  corked  bottle,  or 
earthenware  jar,  or  in  a  tin  canister,  into  which  the 
beetles  are  put,  after  being  killed,  on  returning  from 
an  excursion.  Those  in  the  first-mentioned  bottle  can 
be  turned  into  boiling  water,  taken  out  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble with  a  wide  camel's-hair  brush,  and  laid  to  dry  on 
blotting-paper.  It  is  as  well,  also,  to  put  the  beetles  out 
of  the  other  bottle  into  the  boiling  water;  as  some  of 
the  larger  species,  and  many  of  the  weevils,  etc.,  are  not 
always  effectually  killed  by  the  laurel,  especially  if  it  be 
not  fresh.  The  more  delicate  specimens,  and  especially 
those  with  long  pubescence,  should  be  mounted  at 
once ;  the  remainder  can  be  placed  in  little  muslin  bags 
or  screws  of  paper,  and  placed  in  tlie  laurel  depot  or 
relaxing-jar,  with  a  note  of  the  localities,  etc.,  of  capture. 
The  effect  of  the  laurel  is  to  preserve  them  from  decay, 
and  in  a  good  condition  for  mounting,  for  a  long  period  ; 
but,  if  left  too  long,  they  get  discoloured,  half  rotten, 
and  too  weak  to  handle  with  safety.  It  should  be  re- 
marked that  beetles  killed  in  laurel  become  very  stiff, 
and  impossible  to  mount,  until  they  have  been  kept  for 
three  or  four  days  in  laurel,  when  the  rigidity  of  their 
muscles  relaxes. 

For  mounting  or  setting  out  the  specimens,  the  fol- 
lowing apparatus  is  necessary  : — 

A  frame  with  canvas  or  perforated-zinc  back  and 
door  for  setting-boards,  which  are  oblong  pieces  of  wood 
covered  with  cork  and  fitting  into  grooves ;  in  the  bottom 
may  be  a  drawer  for  pins,  etc. 

A  bottle  of  gum  tragacanth  (called  also  "  gum  dra- 
gon ") .  The  thin  clear  pieces  are  the  best,  and  can  be 
obtained  at  any  chemist's.     Two  or  three  bits,  of  the 


INSTRUMENTS,    ETC.,    REQUIRED.  35 

size  of  the  thumb-nail,  with  a  very  few  small  pieces  of 
clear  gum-arabic  to  give  consistency,  if  put  into  a  wide- 
mouthed  bottle  and  covered  with  cold  water,  will  swell 
to  a  very  large  bulk ;  more  water  can  be  added  at  dis- 
cretion, and  the  gum  stirred  until  it  appears  melted ; 
it  should  be  quite  white,  and  too  stiff  to  come  out  of  the 
bottle  readily.  By  making  a  little  at  a  time,  it  keeps 
its  colour,  not  having  time  to  get  dirty  or  sour  before  it 
is  used. 

Some  camel's-hair  brushes,  fine-pointed  but  stiff. 

"  Setting-needles,^'  made  either  of  fine  pins  slightly 
hooked  at  the  tip,  or  "  bead  "  needles.  These  may  be 
stuck  into  paint-brush  sticks,  or  have  a  knob  of  sealing- 
wax  at  their  upper  end  for  a  handle. 

Small  pins,  and  good  white  card  of  moderate  stout- 
ness ;  if  too  thin,  it  curls  up  with  the  gum,  and  should 
then  be  damped  on  the  under  side. 

When  setting  out  specimens,  a  glass  of  cold  water 
and  some  clean  blotting-paper  should  be  kept  handy,  to 
be  used  in  cleaning  them.  They  should  be  placed  on 
their  backs,  and  their  legs  brushed  out  with  a  clean 
brush ;  some  gum  is  then  to  be  put  on  the  card  (which 
can  be  either  cut  into  long  narrow  strips  of  the  required 
depth,  or  into  straight-sided  narrow  pieces,  one  for  each 
beetle)  and  the  insect  placed  on  it,  when  the  legs,  au- 
tennse,  and  palpi  must  be  put  into  the  desired  position 
with  a  clean  brush  or  the  setting-needle.  The  body 
should  not  be  touched  with  the  gum  brush,  and  care 
taken  to  get  the  head,  thorax,  and  elytra  straight  on  the 
card ;  the  limbs  ought  to  be  properly  set  out,  but  no 
part  should  be  pulled  to  an  unnatural  extent.  After 
being  mounted,  the  specimens  must  be  left  on  the  setting- 
board  for  at  least  a  fortnight ;  thorough  drying  being 


36  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

essential  for  their  preservation.  The  larger  insects  can 
be  pinned  throngh  the  right  wing-case,  and  their  legs 
kept  in  position  with  smaller  pins  whilst  drying.  Some, 
such  as  the  Oil-beetles,  require  stuffing ;  and  many 
others  of  the  very  large  species  dry  all  the  better  for 
having  the  contents  of  the  abdomen  removed,  and  the 
cavity  dried  with  bits  of  blotting-paper  and  filled  up 
with  cotton  wool.  Each  specimen  should  have  a  number 
written  on  the  under  side  of  the  card  or  on  a  small 
label  attached  to  the  pin,  by  means  of  which  a  record 
can  be  kept  in  a  journal  of  the  date,  place,  and  circum- 
stances of  its  capture. 

Examples  of  both  sexes  of  each  species  should,  where 
practicable,  be  mounted  on  their  backs,  to  show  the  un- 
der side ;  it  is,  however,  very  easy  to  float  off  specimens 
set  in  the  ordinary  way,  and  reverse  or  recard  them  as 
desired. 

When  the  insects  are  quite  dry,  they  should,  if 
mounted  in  a  row,  be  separated,  and  all  superfluous 
card  cut  away  from  each  specimen, — care  being  taken, 
however,  to  leave  ample  room  behind  for  the  pocket- 
glass  to  go  all  round  the  body.  Not  more  than  one 
example  should  be  allowed  on  one  card,  and  the  cards 
(which  look  best  when  those  on  which  the  specimens  of 
any  one  species  are  mourited  are  all  of  the  same  size) 
should  be  oblong,  with  parallel  ends  and  sides;  and  pinned 
in  the  middle  of,  and  close  to,  the  hinder  margin.  If 
elevated  about  three  parts  up  the  pin,  they  are  more 
secure  from  dirt  and  mites,  and  easier  to  examine ;  and 
No.  8  pin  (Edelsten  and  Williams,  Crown  Court,  Cheap- 
side)  is  perhaps  the  most  useful  size. 

For  examining  specimens,  a  good  pocket-glass  of  two 
or  three  powers  is  necessary,  and  a  Stanhope  or  Codding- 


INSTRUMENTS,    ETC.,    REQUIRED.  37 

ton  lens  will  be  required  for  the  very  minute  species. 
A  square  bung  to  stick  the  pins  into  is  very  handy,  and 
a  pair  of  insect  pliers  almost  indispensable. 

Insects  that  have  become  dry,  or  old  specimens,  may 
be  relaxed  in  a  jar  of  damp  sand ;  they  can  then  be  set  by 
gumming  them  on  card,  and  as  soon  as  the  gum  is  dry, 
damping  one  side  only,  and  putting  the  limbs  out ; 
afterwards  serving  the  other  side  in  the  same  way.  If 
required,  the  body  or  any  of  the  limbs  can  be  kept  in 
position  by  small  card-braces  with  pins  through  them. 

"  Benzine "  is  most  useful  in  cleaning  old  beetles, 
restoring  their  colours,  and  removing  grease;  which 
latter  is  very  apt  to  appear  in  imperfectly  dried  speci- 
mens, especially  if  they  have  been  left  for  too  long  a 
time  in  laurel. 

The  collection  should  be  arranged  in  corked  store 
boxes  (containing  a  little  camphor  to  keep  away  mites), 
until  sufficient  material  is  acquired  to  render  the  pur- 
chase of  a  cabinet  necessary ;  and  a  catalogue  of  our 
British  species,  printed  on  one  side  for  labelling,  can  be 
obtained  of  Mr.  Waterhouse,  at  the  British  Museum, 


38 


CHAPTER  VII. 

HINTS  ON  COLLECTINa. 

In  the  body  of  this  work  the  most  usual  haunts  of  the 
different  families  will  be  pointed  out ;  but  a  few  general 
remarks  on  collecting  may  also  be  of  service. 

The  best  time  for  beating  is  at  the  end  of  May  and 
beginning  of  June,  and  the  most  productive  trees  are 
young  oaks,  hazels,  poplars,  and  sallows.  Sweeping 
commences  when  the  beating-net  is  no  longer  useful, 
and  continues  all  through  the  summer  and  autumn ; 
patches  of  wild  flowers  on  the  edges  of  woods  and  fields, 
damp  meadows,  and  water  plants,  being  ail  good  for 
this  work.  In  early  spring  and  summer  many  good 
things  are  to  be  found  in  sand-pits,  especially  if  they 
have  straight  cut  sides;  the  reason  being  that  the  in- 
sects fly  in  the  evening  wildly,  hit  against  the  steep 
banks  and  fall  half-stupefied. 

The  very  best  times  in  the  year  for  collecting  are  in 
the  early  warm  days  of  spring  up  to  the  middle  of  June, 
and  late  in  the  autumn,  at  the  cud  of  September  :  this 
is  easily  accounted  for,  as  most  insects  come  out  of  the 
pupa  condition  about  the  latter  time,  hybernate  during 
the  winter  months,  and  come  out  again  in  the  next 
spring.     Hence  there  are  absolutely  more  beetles  to  be 


HliVTS    ON    COLLECTING.  39 

had  in  December  (though  of  course  in  a  state  of  inac- 
tivity) than  in  July;  during  which,  and  the  other  hot 
months,  the  spring  insects  die  away,  and  those  coming 
to  maturity  are  either  in  the  pupa  state  or  not  yet  suffi- 
ciently hardened. 

In  the  winter,  very  many  beetles  can  be  obtained  by 
cutting  isolated  tufts  of  grass,  pulling  moss,  etc.,  and 
shaking  them  over  brown  paper ;  the  proceeds  need  not 
be  examined  on  the  spot,  but  can  be  taken  home  in  a  bag 
and  carefully  investigated  indoors  at  leisure.  In  this 
way,  by  a  judicious  selection  of  likely-looking  spots,  a 
few  hours'  work  out  of  doors  will  often  furnish  occupa- 
tion for  several  evenings. 

In  the  autumn,  examining  fungi  and  puff-balls,  and 
sweeping  among  dead  leaves  under  trees  are  very  pro- 
ductive ;  and  later  still,  the  leaves  (especially  the  black, 
damp,  bottom  layers)  may  be  sifted  or  shaken  over  the 
lirown  paper  with  great  results.  On  the  sea-shore, 
heaps  of  decaying  seaweed  harbour  many  species,  and 
dead  fish  or  birds  become  capital  traps  ;  but  a  "  keeper's 
tree "  in  a  wood,  with  dead  vermin  nailed  to  it,  is  the 
luckiest  thing  to  find.  Many  species  come  to  the 
running  sap  of  the  stumps  of  felled  trees,  and  a  great 
number  haunt  the  wet  burrows  of  the  caterpillar  of  the 
Goat  Moth  in  the  solid  wood ;  whilst  ants'  nests,  both  in 
woods,  tree  trunks,  and  sandy  places,  produce  an  enor- 
mous number  both  of  specimens  and  species,  many  of 
them  being  very  rare. 

Tapping  rotten  twigs  and  sticks,  and  shaking  the 
damp  bottom  layers  of  grass  and  rubbish  heaps  and 
hay-stacks,  will  produce  many  species  in  profusion. 

It  is,  however,  manifestly  impossible  to  give  full  di- 
rections, in  our  limited  space,  for  the  pursuit  of  a  race 


40  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

SO  numerous  and  varied  in  habit :  the  young  collector 
will  soon  acquire  the  requisite  "cunTiiug"  by  diligent 
observation,  and  the  natural  habitats  of  the  different 
groups  vpill  be  alluded  to  in  their  proper  places. 

Finally,  with  regard  to  localities,  it  may  be  remarked 
that  a  chalky  or  sandy  soil  is  very  productive,  whilst  a 
clay  basis  is  usually  quite  the  reverse ;  that  woods, 
marshes,  mountains,  and  heaths  are  far  better  for  col- 
lecting purposes  than  cultivated  lands ;  and  that  beetles 
are  more  plentiful  in  the  extreme  south,  north,  and 
coast-lines  of  our  island,  than  in  the  midland  counties. 


41 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

ox  THE  SECTIONS  AND  FAMILIES  OF  THE  COLEOPTEEA. 

As  an  order,  the  Coleoptera  are  generally  placed  at  the 
head  of  the  Insecta,  owing  to  their  highly  developed 
organs,  complete  metamorphosis,  and  great  number  of 
species ;  some  idea  of  which  may  be  obtained  from  the 
fact  that  in  Great  Britain  alone  there  are  about  3000, 
to  which  additions  are  steadily  being  made. 

Many  systems  of  classification  have  been  propounded 
for  them,  based  upon  all  imaginable  points  of  structure, 
etc.,  but  perhaps  that  most  usually  adopted,  under 
various  modifications,  is  founded  on  the  number  of 
joints  of  the  tarsi ;  thus  many  allied  families,  the  most 
fully  developed,  possessing  five  joints  to  all  the  tarsi, 
have  been  termed  the  Pentamera  ;  those  with  five  joints 
to  the  front  and  middle  legs,  and  only  four  to  the 
hinder,  Heieromera ;  those  with  apparently  only  four  to 
all  the  tarsi,  Tetramera  ;  and  those  with  apparently  only 
three  to  all  the  tarsi,  Trimera. 

This  arrangement,  although  well  marked,  and  in 
most  cases  apparently  natural,  cannot  be  strictly  ad- 
hered to;  as  in  the  first  section  there  are  numerous 
species  not  possessing  five  joints  to  all  the  tarsi,  and  in 
the  two  last  there  is  really  a  small  joint  at  the  articula- 


42  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

tion  of  the  apical  joint  of  the  tarsi,  which  escaped  the 
notice  of  the  original  founders.  Nevertheless,  nearly 
every  one  of  the  species  in  the  arrangement  followed  in 
this  work,  from  Cicindela  to  Octotemnus,  will  be  found 
to  be  pentamerous;  the  Heteromerous  section  is  pre- 
served ;  the  species  of  the  Rhynchophora,  Longicornes, 
and  Eupoda  answer  to  the  Tetramera,  and  the  remainder 
constitute  the  Pseudotrimera  of  Westwood,  equivalent 
to  the  three-jointed  beetles  above  mentioned. 

It  will  be  seen,  then,  that  our  Coleoptera  are  divided 
into  eleven  great  sections,  viz.  the  Adephaga  or  Carni- 
vorous Beetles ;  the  Brachelytra,  "  Rove-Beetles  "  or 
"Devil's  Coachhorses j"  the  Necropliaga,  or  Carrion- 
feeders  (equivalent  to  the  Clamcornes  and  Palpicornes 
of  French  authors)  ;  the  Lamellicornes,  or  Chafers  and 
their  allies  ;  the  Sternoxi ;  the  M alacodermi ;  the  Hete- 
romera ;  the  Rhynchophora ;  the  Longicornes  ;  the  Eu- 
poda, and  the  Pseudotrimera.  These  again  are  divided 
into  subsections,  families,  etc.,  whose  characters  will  be 
given  in  due  order. 


43 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE    GEODEPHAaA,    OR   LAND   CAENIVOROUS 
BEETLES. 

Section  I.  The  ADEPHAGA  possess  an  inner  or 
palpiform  lobe  to  the  maxillse,  in  addition  to  the  four- 
jointed  maxillary  palpi  (Fig.  4,  d^,  p.  23),  and  are  readily 
separated  into  two  subsections;  the  first  of  which,  the 
Geodephaga,  contains  terrestrial,  and  the  second,  the 
Hydradephaga,  aquatic  species. 

Subsection  1.  Geodephaga,  M'Leay. 

This  subsection,  although  not  employed  in  the  most 
recent  Continental  systems  of  classification  (wherein  its 
families  are  not  distinguished,  as  a  group,  from  those  of 
the  H]idradej)haga,  its  aquatic  representative),  will  be 
retained  in  the  present  work,  being  generally  used  in 
British  catalogues,  etc.,  and  forming  a  natural  division, 
of  which  the  members  are  readily  separated  from  other 
beetles. 

It  consists,  as  the  name  imports,  of  the  predaceous 
ground-beetles, — recognizable  by  their  hard  well-deve- 
loped mandibles  or  jaws;  their  legs  eminently  con- 
structed for  rapid  movement  combined  with  strength, 
and  with  all  the  tarsi  five-jointed ;  and  by  their  antennae 


44  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

being  slender,  nearly  always  lessened  towards  the  tip, 
and  rarely  inclined  to  be  moniliform  {i.e.  with  the  joints 
like  beads)  :  they  have,  also,  the  mentum  (or  chin)  more 
or  less  deeply  notched  (Fig.  5,  a,  p.  24) ;  an  inner  or  pal- 
piform  lobe  to  the  maxillae  divided  into  two  joints ;  and 
the  coxse  of  the  hinder  legs  extended  inwards,  and  be- 
coming transverse  on  approaching  the  middle  legs.  In 
the  males,  the  basal  joints  of  the  front  tarsi  (i.  e.  those 
nearest  to  the  tibiae)  are  nearly  always  widened. 

Snperficially,  the  Geodephaga  may  be  known  by  their 
active  habits,  slaughtering  propensities,  thin  legs  and 
antennae,  and  hard  outer  covering.  They  are  the  highest 
in  development,  and  may  be  considered  as  the  Carnivora 
of  the  beetle  race ;  passing  their  lives,  both  in  the  larval 
and  perfect  state,  in  the  pursuit  and  destruction  of  their 
weaker  insect  brethren.  Their  chief  haunts  are  wet 
marshy  places,  salt  and  fresh ;  on  the  banks  of  streams 
and  ponds;  under  stones,  bark,  and  felled  trees;  in  the 
cracks  of  mud-banks  and  chalky  cliffs,  and  on  sands 
and  dry  heaths. 

The  greater  part,  and  the  larger  species,  are  nocturnal 
feeders,  prowling  about  on  the  ground  and  up  the  trunks 
of  trees  in  search  of  their  victims  and  victual,  and  con- 
cealing themselves  by  day :  some  few,  however,  are 
pure  lovers  of  sunshine,  being  most  active  in  the  greatest 
heat.  They  are  usually  provided  with  ample  wings, 
which  are  readily  used  by  those  of  diurnal  habits;  but 
several  of  the  dark-loving  species  (especially  the  true 
Carabi)  are  apterous,  and  in  that  case  often  have  the 
wing-cases  soldered  together.  It  may  be  remarked  that 
this  wingless  condition  does  not  always  afford  an  indica- 
tion of  the  habits  of  the  members  of  a  genus ;  since,  of 
two  species,  closely  allied,  and  found  under  similar  con- 


GEODEPHAGA.  45 

ditions,  one  will  often  be  apterous  and  the  other  winged  : 
as  a  rule,  the  former  may  be  known  by  the  sloping 
shoulders  and  flattened  upper  surface  of  its  wing-cases. 

Such  species  as  live  under  bark  or  in  the  cracks  of 
dried  mud  or  cliffs  are  very  thin  and  flat;  others  fre- 
quenting plants  (in  pursuit  of  vegetable-feeding  insects), 
have  their  tarsi  widened  and  adapted  for  climbing; 
some,  again,  whose  life  is  passed  in  wet  sands,  are  nar- 
row, cylindrical  and  smooth,  with  strongly  toothed  and 
widened  front  legs  for  burrowing; — briefly,  nature  in 
all  has  fitted  the  instrument  for  the  purpose  in  a  degree 
more  or  less  evident  to  our  limited  perceptions. 

Most  of  the  active  day-feeding  species  are  metallic, 
shining  and  brightly  coloured,  some  also  being  prettily 
banded  or  spotted ;  a  few  are  clothed  with  scales  or 
scanty  hairs,  but  the  majority  have  plain  suits  of  ar- 
mour, more  or  less  polished,  and  in  some  cases  elegantly 
sculptured  longitudinally  :  the  prevailing  tints  are,  how- 
ever, black,  dark  brown,  obscure  red  and  dull  green, 
with  occasional  metallic  reflections. 

For  detailed  English  descriptions  of  the  species  of 
this  section  found  in  our  islands,  the  student  must  re- 
fer to  Dawson's  'Geodephaga  Britannica'  (1854,  Van 
Voorst),  and  notices  of  those  added  since  that  work  will 
be  found  in  the  '  Entomologist's  Anmials  '  (Van  Voorst) 
for  the  subsequent  years. 

There  are  descriptions  (in  Latin  and  German)  of  most 
of  the  North  European  species  in  Dr.  Schaum's  '  Cara- 
bici,'  forming  part  of  the  '  lusecten  Deutschlauds;'  and 
also  in  the  beginning  portions  of  the  other  works  al- 
luded to  at  p.  30. 

The  larvae  of  the  Geodephaga  are  but  little  known; 
they  are,  however,  mostly  found  in  the  same  places  as 


46  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

the  perfect  insects,  and  are  equally  carnivorous  and 
active.  A  singular  exception  is  nevertheless  afforded 
by  Zabrus  jAyer,  the  larvae  of  which  have  been  stated 
to  feed  during  the  night  upon  young  shoots  of  wheat, 
burying  themselves  by  day.  It  is,  however,  somewhat 
doubtful  whether  their  normal  food  may  not  be  the 
grubs  of  a  species  of  Cockchafer  found  at  the  roots  of 
the  wheat. 

A  Geodephagous  larva  is  usually  flat,  elongate,  pa- 
rallel-sided, fleshy,  with  the  head  and  first  segment  hard  ; 
the  eyes  are  rudimentary,  usually  being  compounded 
of  six  small  ocelli  grouped  together ;  the  legs  are  horny, 
six  in  number,  and  situated  on  the  first  three  segments ; 
there  are  short  jointed  antennae  and  palpi,  and  powerful 
sickle-shaped  jaws,  and  the  apex  of  the  body  has  usually 
two  horny  or  fleshy  appendages  on  its  upper  surface,  the 
lower  part  being  lengthened  into  a  membranous  supple- 
mental leg. 

The  pupa  is  generally  (if  not  always)  formed  in  a  cell 
imderground,  and  is  rarely  met  with. 

The  Geodephaga  are  divided  into  two  families,  the 
Cicindelidce  and  Carabidce ;  the  former  being  represented 
by  one  English  genus,  and  the  latter  separated  into  eight 
sub-families,  to  be  noticed  hereafter. 

1.  The  CICINDELIDyE  (commonly  called  "Tiger- 
beetles,"  on  account  of  their  rapacity)  are  distinguished, 
among  other  characters,  by  having  their  maxillae  ending 
in  a  small  moveable  hook,  the  ligula  very  short,  hidden 
beneath  the  mentum,  with  the  labial  palpi  free,  and  the 
front  tibiae  not  notched  on  the  inner  side.  The  sole 
English  genus,  Cicindela,  may  be  known  by  its  strongly 
arched  and  pointed  jaws,  prominent  eyes,  and  very 
slender  legs  and  antennae.     All  our  species  are  mode- 


GEODEPHAGA.  47 

rately  large,  averaging  half  an  inch  in  length,  of  rather 
flattened  appearance,  and  more  or  less  bright  in  colour, 
being  green  or  olive-brown  with  metallic  reflections ; 
their  elytra  are  shagreened  in  texture,  with  white  or 
cream-coloured  spots,  or  interrupted  bands,  and  their 
legs  long  and  hairy. 

The  larva  of  the  common  green  Tiger-beetle  [C.  cam- 
pestris)  is  found  during  the  summer  months  in  the  same 
situation  as  the  perfect  insect,  viz.  hot  sandy  places. 
It  is  a  whitish,  soft-skinned  grub,  with  a  darker,  horny, 
flat,  broad  head  and  first  segment,  the  former  being 
armed  with  strong  sickle-shaped  mandibles.  The  eighth 
segment  of  its  body  is  larger  than — and  considerably 
elevated  above — tlie  rest ;  with  two  curved,  hook-like, 
spines,  surrounded  by  stiff  bristles  on  the  top :  this 
gives  the  entire  larva  a  zigzag  shape,  and  affords  a  strong 
support  when  it  is  on  the  look-out  for  prey  in  its  cylin- 
drical burrow,  which  is  a  foot  deep  (or  more)  in  the  sand, 
and  perpendicular  at  the  entrance.  The  larva  digs  with 
its  flat  head ;  and,  as  the  work  gets  below  the  surface 
scrambles  up  the  shaft,  by  its  hooked  segment,  to  eject 
the  dirt :  when  the  pit  is  completed,  it  takes  a  firm  hold 
with  the  hooks  inside,  and  fills  up  the  mouth  with  its 
broad  head  and  first  segment,  which  are  kept  level  with 
the  surface,  the  sharp  jaws  ready  to  seize  any  passing 
insect.  The  victim,  when  captured,  is  immediately 
dragged  to  the  bottom  of  the  den  and  devoured,  the 
larva  finally  closing  the  mouth  of  the  burrow,  and 
turning  into  a  pupa. 

The  Cicindelce  frequent  hot  sandy  banks  and  shores, 
flying  and  running  alternately  with  great  rapidity. 

One  species  only,  C.  germanica,  the  smallest  and  most 
elongate,  is  found  in  marshy  places  (especially  at  Black 


48  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

Gang  Chine^  Isle  of  Wight)  ;  it  never  takes  to  the 
wing,  but  runs  with  great  rapidity  over  the  wettest 
places,  like  an  Elaphrus.  The  commonest  is  the  above- 
mentioned  C.  campestris,  plentiful  round  London,  and 
indeed  almost  everywhere,  in  sandy  places  :  it  is  half  an 
inch  long,  with  the  head  and  thorax  much  narrower  than 
the  wing-cases ;  bluish-green  above,  with  six  round  white 
spots  on  each  elytron.  When  handled,  it  often  emits  a 
smell  of  roses.  The  largest  species,  C.  sylvutica  (Plate 
I.,  fig.  1)  is  found  on  the  "  Bagshot  sand,"  and  at 
Bournemouth. 

2.  The  CABABID^,  distinguished  from  the  Cicin- 
delidce  by  the  maxillae  not  having  any  articulation  at  the 
tip,  may  be  divided  into  the  following  subfamilies : — 
Lebiides,  Scaritides,  Carabides,  Chlaniides,  Feroniides, 
Harpalides,  Ti'echides,  and  Bembidiides,  which  will  now 
be  noticed  sernathn.  INTany  others  are  sometimes  em- 
ployed, but  these  will  be  found  sufficient  for  the  classifi- 
cation of  our  species. 

The  Lebiides  have  a  constant  character  in  their  wing- 
cases  not  reaching  to  the  end  of  their  abdomen,  and 
being  cut  straight  off  at  the  apex.  Their  front  tibise 
are  notched  on  the  inner  side.  In  most  of  them  the 
ligula  and  paraglossse  are  united,  and  the  basal  joints  of 
the  front  tarsi  are  not  widened  in  the  male;  and  in 
some  the  first  joint  of  the  antennae  is  very  elongate. 
The  body  is  never  very  convex,  but  usually  more  or  less 
depressed ;  none  are  very  large,  and  most  of  them  small. 
Their  chief  habitats  are  in  and  under  reeds,  etc.,  in  clay 
and  mud-cracks,  under  bark,  and  beneath  stones  and 
shingle.  The  type,  and  most  elegant  of  the  family, 
Lebia  crux-minor,  is  very  rare;  only  occasional  speci- 
mens having  been  found,  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 


GEODEPHAGA.  49 

until  some  numbers  were  taken  in  moss  at  Holme  Bush, 
near  the  Devil's  Dyke,  Brighton.  It  is  about  a  quarter 
of  an  inch  long,  with  the  thorax,  legs,  l)ase  of  antennae 
and  the  elytra  (which  are  broad)  orange-red,  and  the 
head  and  a  broad  cruciform  mark  on  the  wing-cases 
black  (Plate  I,  Fig.  2). 

Another  allied  species,  L.  chlorocephala,  is  not  uncom- 
mon about  the  broom-plant  at  times ;  it  is  rather  smaller 
than  crux-minor,  and  has  brilliant  blue  or  green  elytra 
and  head,  the  thorax  and  legs  being  red.  The  Dromii, 
small,  elongate,  flattened  beetles,  often  ornamented  with 
four  white  spots,  are  found  mostly  under — or  in  the 
chinks  of — bark,  where  they  subsist  upon  other  sub- 
cortical insects. 

Odacantha  melanura,  a  narrow,  cylindrical  species, 
with  head  and  thorax  bluish-green,  and  reddish  elytra 
and  legs  (the  apex  of  the  former,  and  joints  and  feet  of 
the  latter,  being  blue-black),  is  found  in  the  stems  of 
reeds  in  the  Cambridgeshire  fens  and  elsewhere ;  Drypta 
dentata,  occasionally  taken  in  some  numbers  out  of  clay- 
banks  at  Alverstoke,  Hants,  is  conspicuous  for  its  lovely, 
silky,  azure  clothing,  and  the  very  long  basal  joint  of 
its  antennae ;  and  Lionychus  quadrillum,  an  obscure  little 
bronze-black  insect,  with  two  dull  lighter-coloured  spots 
on  each  wing-case,  is  noteworthy  from  its  haunting  wet 
shingle  and  stones  on  the  coast,  in  Devonshire  and  at 
Southend. 

The  species  most  likely  to  have  been  seen  by  casual 
observers  is  the  tiny  Blechrus  maurus,  which  may  be 
noticed  darting  rapidly  over  sun-dried  pathways,  remind- 
ing one  of  an  animated  grain  of  gunpowder;  and  the 
one  which  has  made  most  noise  in  the  world  is  the 
'  Bombardier/  Brachinus  crepitans,  a  moderately  small 


50  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

rusty-red  fellow,  Avith  dull  blue-black  wing-cases,  and  a 
narrow  head  and  thorax  (Plate  I,  Fig.  3) .  It  is  abun- 
dant on  the  south  coast,  especially  under  chalk,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Thames  below  Gravesend  ;  Avhere,  in  the 
month  of  August,  a  dozen  may  be  found  under  one 
stone,  the  explosion  of  whose  'stern-chase'  guns  sounds 
like  a  Lilliputian  battery.  The  noise  is  caused  by  a 
peculiar  acid  secreted  by  the  insect,  which,  being  emit- 
ted from  its  lower  extremity,  volatilizes  on  coming  into 
contact  with  the  atmosphere.  On  being  irritated,  the 
Bombardiers  will  repeat  their  rear-volleys  for  some  few 
times,  but  with  diminishing  noise. 

The  ScARiTiDES  (represented  in  England  by  a  few 
small  species)  may  be  distinguished  by  their  elongate, 
cylindrical  shape ;  the  separation  of  their  thorax  from 
the  elytra  by  a  neck;  the  enlargement  and  palmation  of 
their  front  tibiaj,  which  are  toothed  on  the  outer  edge ; 
the  non-dilatation  of  the  basal  joints  of  the  front  tarsi 
in  the  male ;  and  the  shortness,  and  comparatively  bead- 
like joints,  of  their  antennae.  We  possess  only  two 
genera  of  this  family ;  one,  CUv'nia  (Plate  I,  Fig.  4,  C. 
collaris),  the  species  of  which  frequent  garden  refuse; 
and  the  other,  Dyschirius,  consisting  of  minute,  brassy, 
cylindrical,  sand-burrowing  beetles.  None  of  these  are 
either  conspicuous,  likely  to  be  casually  observed,  or 
peculiar  iu  habits ;  except,  perhaps,  that  some  of  them 
live  in  large  colonies  on  the  seashore,  and  appear  to 
be  often  found  with  Bledius  (a  genus  of  Brachehjtra), 
upon  small  species  of  which  they  are  supposed  to  prey. 
An  exhaustive  monograph  has  been  written  by  Mons. 
J.  Putzeys  (Mon.  des  Clivina,  etc.,  18 16)  upon  these 
insects. 

The  Carabides  are  known  by  their  anterior  tibiae  not 


GEODEPHAGA.  51 

being  notched  on  the  inner  side, — differing  from  the 
Cicindelidce,  the  only  other  family  which  exhibits  a 
similar  structure  in  this  rsspect,  in  not  having  their 
maxillae  terminated  by  a  moveable  hook.  It  is  worthy 
of  notice,  also,  that  in  both  the  Cicindelidce  and  Cara- 
bides  the  unnotched  anterior  tibiae  are  accompanied  by 
the  absence  of  the  metathoracic  epimera;  whereas  all 
the  other  Geodephaga,  in  which  the  anterior  tibiae  are 
notched,  possess  both  episterua  and  epimera  to  the 
metathorax. 

This  family  contains  the  giants  of  the  section,  some 
of  them  being  very  large  and  convex,  and  a  few  small  and 
flat.  Two  or  three  of  the  species  of  the  genus  Cai'abus, 
often  called  "  garden  '^  or  "  ground  "  beetles,  are  well 
known,  being  abundant  in  gardens  and  cultivated  grounds, 
where  they  should  be  encouraged  (and  not  destroyed),  as 
they  devour  all  manner  of  insect  pests,  and  never  touch 
vegetable  produce.  On  being  handled  they  emit  a  pecu- 
liarly acrid  black  liquor,  which  is  sometimes  squirted  for 
a  considerable  distance.  Perhaps  the  most  often  noticed 
are  C.  violaceus,  monilis,  and  nemoralis,  all  of  which  are 
about  an  inch  in  length,  and  of  a  long  oval  shape. 
Violaceus  is  nearly  smooth,  dull  blue-black,  with  the 
sides  of  the  thorax  and  elytra  bright  purple;  monilis, 
coppery- green,  with  three  series  of  slightly  elevated  and 
interrupted  lines,  separated  by  three  elevated  striae,  on 
each  wing-case ;  and  nemoralis  (rather  broader  and 
shorter  than  the  other  two)  has  a  purplish  thorax  and 
coppery  or  brassy  elytra.  All  three  of  these  may  be 
seen  dead  on  pathways  in  the  suburbs  early  in  the 
morning,  having  been  trodden  upon  in  the  dark,  in  the 
course  of  their  nocturnal  roamings,  seeking  what  they 
may  devour.     Another,  and  much  rarer  species,  C.  nitens, 


52  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

found  in  mossy  bogs,  and  on  the  Lancashire  sands,  is 
brilliant  golden-copper  on  the  head  and  thorax,  with 
silky  green  wing-eases,  each  of  which  has  three  elevated 
ridges,  and  the  margins  reddish-copper.  It  is,  perhaps, 
the  most  brilliant  and  effectively  coloured  beetle  we 
possess  (Plate  I,  Fig.  5). 

Calosoma  sycophanta,  the  largest  Geodephagous  insect 
taken  in  England,  has  blue-black  or  violet  head  and 
thorax  (the  latter  with  the  margins  greenish),  and  very 
broad,  rich  metallic  green  wing-cases,  the  green  changing 
into  gold  and  orange-red  as  the  position  of  the  beetle  is 
altered.  It  is  found  on  our  shores  occasionally,  but  can 
scarcely  be  considered  a  true  British  species,  though  one 
or  two  instances  have  occurred  of  its  being  found  inland. 
In  Silesia,  and  elsewhere  on  the  Continent,  it  frequents 
pine  forests,  feeding  on  the  caterpillars  of  various  moths, 
and  being  especially  attached  to  colonies  of  the  "  pro- 
cessionary  "  and  "  gipsy "  moths,  of  which  it  devours 
both  the  larvae  and  pupse  in  the  most  gluttonous  manner. 
It  has  ample  wings ;  and,  being  a  robust  insect,  is  thought 
to  come  across  the  Channel. 

Tbe  species  of  BletJiisa  and  Cychrus  have  both  been 
observed  to  make  a  squeaking  noise,  caused  probably  by 
the  friction  of  the  tip  of  the  abdomen  against  the  under 
side  of  the  elytra.  Cychrus  rostratus  also,  is  remarkable 
on  account  of  its  elegant  shape;  having  a  slender 
stretched -oiit  head  (with  the  last  joints  of  its  palpi  verv 
large  and  hatchet-shaped),  delicate  antennse,  contracted 
waist,  and  convex,  oval,  finely  granulated  wing-cases. 
It  is  about  three-quarters  of  an  inch  in  length,  dull- 
black  in  colour,  relieved  by  its  polished  black  legs, 
suture  and  margins;  and  is  found  under  dead  leaves, 
among  stones,  but  not  very  commonly. 


GEODEPHAGA.  53 

The  Elaphri  exhibit  a  likeness  in  miniature  to  the 
Cicindelce,  owing  to  their  thin  legs,  large  eyes,  and 
general  build ;  they  frequent  very  wet  places,  running 
daintily  almost  in  the  water,  and  are  curiously  marked 
with  circular  depressions ;  and,  lastly,  the  Noiiophili 
may  be  worthy  of  notice,  as  some  of  the  species  are 
likely  to  be  seen  running  over  dry  hot  paths,  even  in 
the  metropolis;  they  are  the  smallest  of  this  family,  of 
obscure  copper  or  bronze  colours,  with  shining  flattened 
bodies,  very  large  eyes,  and  strongly  wrinkled  fore- 
heads. 

The  Chlceniides  have  usually  three  (sometimes  only 
two)  basal  joints  of  the  front  tarsi  in  the  male  widened ; 
and  these  widened  joints  are  almost  square  in  shape, 
with  slightly  rounded  corners  (never  heart-shaped  or 
elongate),  and  densely  spongy  beneath.  Many  of  the 
species  are  gaily  coloured,  being  variegated  with  red  and 
black  markings ;  some  are  clothed  with  short  silky  down, 
and  all  are  more  or  less  elegant  either  in  shape  or  struc- 
ture. The  majority  live  in  wet  places,  under  reeds,  etc., 
but  a  few  are  to  be  found  under  chalk-stones  in  exposed 
situations. 

The  species  of  the  typical  genus  Chlanius  are  very 
beautiful,  presenting  somewhat  the  appearance  of  oxi- 
dized metal ;  reddish-copper  or  bluish-green  being  their 
prevailing  tones  about  the  head  and  thorax,  and  their 
elytra  being  more  or  less  shagreened  or  granulated, 
generally  rich  green  or  brown,  with  thick  golden  pubes- 
cence, Avhich  imparts  a  "  shot-silk"  like  lustre.  They 
are  of  moderate  size,  and  ratlier  robust  in  the  body. 
The  commonest,  C.  vestitus,  has  the  sides  and  apex  of  the 
elytra,  and  the  legs  and  antennae  yellow;  it  is  about  five 
lines  in  length,  and  may  be  found  abundantly  in  very 


54i  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

wet  places,  such  as  reedy  spots  on  canal  banks,  etc., 
near  London. 

The  palm  of  beauty  must,  however,  be  conceded  to 
Callistus, — as  its  name  implies,  "  the  fairest  of  the 
fair."  Our  single  species,  C.  lunatus,  is  about  a  quarter 
of  an  inch  long ;  its  head  metallic,  bluish  or  greenish- 
black ;  its  thorax  heart-shaped,  orange-red;  its  elytra 
oval,  oriange-yellow  (when  alive,  rose-pink),  with  a 
shoulder  spot  and  two  transverse  bands  deep  black ;  its 
legs  are  yellow  tipped  with  black,  and  the  entire  insect 
has  a  delicate  velvety  appearance  (Plate  II,  Fig.  1).  It 
frequents  chalky  districts,  and  may  sometimes  be  found 
under  stones  on  the  downs  near  Croydon.  Under  simi- 
lar circumstances  at  Box  Hill,  and  on  the  south-coast 
downs,  the  species  of  Licinus  may  be  taken.  One  of 
them  was,  I  believe,  at  first  only  known  to  be  a  Brit- 
ish species  from  a  single  specimen  having  been  caught  in 
Cheapside,  whither  it  must  have  had  a  long  flight  from 
its  chalky  haunts.  This  insect,  L.  silphoides  (Plate  I, 
Fig.  6),  superficially  resembles  certain  members  of  the 
genus  Silpha  in  the  Necrojjhaga  :  from  which  the  be- 
ginner may  distinguish  it  by  its  long  slender  antennae, — 
those  organs  in  Silpha  being  short,  with  an  abrupt  knob 
at  the  tip.  It  is  about  half  an  inch  in  length ;  broad, 
flat,  deep  dull-black  in  hue,  and  distinctly  wrinkled, 
punctured  and  striated.  The  two  basal  joints  of  the  fi'ont 
tarsi  in  the  male  are  very  strongly  and  widely  dilated. 

Loricera,  a  small  bronze-coloured  insect,  is  remark- 
able for  its  antennse  being  adorned  with  long  stiff"  hairs ; 
the  Panagm  have  red  elytra,  marked  ^Aith  a  large  black 
cross ;  and  the  species  of  Badister,  found  usually  in  the 
cracks  of  wet  mud  or  clay  banks,  are  recognizable  by  the 
rounded  front  of  their  heads. 


GEODEPHAGA,  55 

The  Feroniides  have  the  elytra  nearly  always  sinuate 
at  the  apex ;  the  paraglossee  almost  always  free ;  and 
the  dilated  basal  joints  of  the  front  tarsi  in  the  male 
almost  heart-shaped  or  elongate,  and  set  beneath  with 
two  rows  of  short  bristles. 

This  family  comprises  several  species,  the  most  often 
seen  (and  the  most  puzzling  to  the  young  student)  being 
the  "  Sunshiners,"  which  are  members  of  the  genera 
Pterostichus  (subgen.  Pcecilus)  and  Amara  (Plate  II, 
Fig.  4;  A.  fulva,  found  in  sandy  places). 

These  insects  may  often  be  seen  running  rapidly  over 
hot  paths  in  the  early  summer,  and  are  frequently  to  be 
met  with  on  the  wing,  and  even  darting  about  the  pave- 
ment in  London,  on  the  first  really  warm  spring  day ; 
■when  the  sun's  rays  tempt  them  from  their  winter 
quarters,  and  incite  them  to  search  for  food  and  their 
mates.  The  species  of  Amara  (to  kill  one  of  which,  ac- 
cording to  childish  superstitions,  is  to  call  into  operation 
the  drum  and  cone  of  the  late  Admiral  Fitzroy)  exude 
a  peculiar  acrid  fluid  when  handled ;  a  strong-smelling 
habit,  common  (though  in  a  less  disagreeable  degree)  to 
most  of  the  Geodephaga,  and  intended  doubtless  to  be  a 
weapon  both  of  defence  and  offence  :  the  secretion  is 
probably  owing,  also,  to  the  constantly  carnivorous  pro- 
pensities of  the  beetles  in  question. 

To  the  Feroniides  belong  the  "  Cellar- beetles," — not 
the  lazy,  foul-smelling  Blaps,  which  will  be  mentioned 
in  the  section  Heteromera, — active,  black  insects  of  the 
genera  Sphodrus  and  Pristonychus ;  the  former  having 
its  hind  trochanters  prolonged  in  the  male  into  a  spike. 
Pterosticlms  .  picimanus  (Plate  II,  Fig.  3)  is  found  in 
cracks  of  tanks,  and  under  stones,  near  water. 

The  Pogoni,  narrow,  brassy  species,  delight  in  salt  or 


56  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

semi-saline  marshes;  and  the  Anchomeni — mostly  gre- 
garious, small,  and  of  elegant  shape — frequent  very  wet 
spots,  abounding  at  the  roots  of  old  willows,  etc.,  near 
watercourses.  One  of  them,  A.  sexpunctatus,  is  found 
in  boggy  places  on  heaths,  sometimes  being  plentiful  on 
Wimbledon  Common ;  it  is  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch 
long,  with  its  head  and  thorax  very  bright  green,  and  wing- 
cases  coppery-red  with  green  margins  (Plate  II,  Fig.  2). 
It  is  a  most  brilliant  creature,  and  darts  about  in  the 
hot  sunshine  over  the  wet  peat,  looking  like  a  live  coal. 
A  great  contrast  to  this  elegant  insect  is  afforded  by 
the  heavy  hippopotamo'id  Zabrus  gibbus,  whose  broad, 
convex,  black  carcase  may  sometimes  (especially  near 
Brighton  and  Croydon)  be  found  trodden  on,  in  the 
paths  of  cornfields.  It  has  been  accused  of  devouring 
wheat,  owing  in  all  probal)ility  to  its  having  been  seen 
on  or  near  that  plant,  where  its  instinct  leads  it  to 
pursue  vegetable-feeding  insects.  Allied  to  this  species 
is  the  giant  Broscus,  an  opaque  black,  elongate  monster ; 
with  large  head,  and  thorax  contracted  behind  :  it  is 
found  rarely  inland,  but  abundantly  on  the  coast,  where 
it  burrows  under  stones  and  tidal  rubbish,  devouring 
ruthlessly  everything  that  comes  in  its  way,  even  its 
own  species.  Lastly,  Miscodera  arctica,  a  near  but 
small  relation  to  the  above  savage,  dwells  on  our  highest 
moors  and  mountains,  and  is  but  rarely  taken.  It  is 
very  shining  and  entirely  brassy,  with  its  globose  thorax 
and  dilated  elytra  separated  by  a  neck.  The  two  last- 
mentioned  genera  have  much  the  appearance  of  Dys- 
chirius  in  the  Scaritida ;  from  which  the  dilatation  of 
the  basal  joints  of  the  front  tarsi  in  the  males,  and  the 
want  of  a  tooth  on  the  outer  side  of  their  anterior  legs, 
will  serve  to  separate  them. 


GEODEPHAGA.  57 

The  Harpalides  have  usually  the  four  basal  joints  of 
the  front  and  middle  tarsi  (but  sometimes  only  those  of 
the  front  tarsi)  dilated  in  the  male,  and  densely  spinose. 
Their  para2:loss8e  are  free  at  the  apex,  the  first  and 
second  joints  of  the  antennse  quite  smooth,  and  the 
mentum  obsoletely  toothed.  Several  of  the  species  are 
slightly  pubescent ;  and  in  the  genera  Diachromus,  Di- 
chirotrichus  (Plate  II,  Fig.  5  ;  D.  obsoletus,  a  salt-marsh 
insect)  and  Anisodactylus  the  widened  joints  are  densely 
hairy  beneath,  this  hair  being  replaced  in  the  others  by 
slightly  elevated  transverse  ridges. 

Very  few  are  likely  to  obtrude  themselves  upon  the 
notice  of  the  casual  observer,  on  account  of  their  hiding 
by  day,  and  generally  frequenting  retired  places,  viz. 
bottoms  of  cliffs,  sand-pits,  stones  on  moors  and  sea- 
shores, etc.  Harpalus  ruficornis,  the  most  abundant  of 
the  tribe,  is,  however,  found  commonly  in  gardens^  and 
may  be  seen  when  mould  is  dug  up,  etc. ;  it  is  rather 
more  than  half  an  inch  long,  robust,  dull  black,  with 
reddish  legs  and  autenna3,  and  its  wing-cases  covered 
with  a  very  short  greyish-yellow  down. 

Visitors  to  Hastings  should  look  about  for  the  very 
rare  Diachromus  germanus,  which  is  occasionally  found 
running  on  paths  in  that  part  of  the  south  coast.  It  is 
not  quite  half  au  inch  long,  ovate,  with  very  short  downy 
hairs;  its  head,  legs,  and  antennpe  are  reddish-yellow, 
thorax  dark-blue  or  green,  and  elytra  reddish-yellow, 
with  a  large  blue  or  green  patch  at  the  apex. 

The  Tkechides  are  closely  allied  to  some  of  the 
smaller  members  of  the  preceding  family,  but  have  only 
two  of  the  basal  joints  of  the  front  tarsi  in  the  male 
widened,  and  triangular  in  shape ;  the  ligula  and  para- 
glossse  are  ciliated,  the  latter  being  much  longer  than 


OO  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

the  former,  which  is  wide ;  the  last  joint  of  their  palpi 
also  is  conic,  acute,  and  scarcely  smaller  than  the  pre- 
ceding, which  is  nearly  conic. 

This  family  contains  only  three  British  genera  of 
small  species;  one,  Trechus,  not  in  any  way  remarkable; 
the  next,  jEjjys,  being  composed  of  two  very  minute, 
flat,  yellowish  insects,  found  absolutely  under  the  tide- 
mark  at  mouths  of  rivers,  under  stones,  and  in  salt- 
marshes,  in  Scotland,  Ireland,  Devon,  Isle  of  Wight, 
etc. ;  and  the  last,  Blemus,  represented  by  a  single 
species,  areolatus,  another  very  small  pitchy-black  beetle, 
which  is  found  rarely  on  sands  at  the  mouths  of  rivers, 
in  Wales,  etc. 

The  last  of  the  Geodephaga,  the  Bembtdiides,  may 
readily  be  known  by  the  end  joint  of  their  palpi  being 
acute,  needle-shaped,  and  extremely  small,  the  preced- 
ing joint  being  large  and  club-shaped.  The  two  first 
joints  of  the  front  tarsi  are  sometimes  Avidcned  in 
the  male ;  but  often  the  front  tarsi  are  simple  in  both 
sexes. 

The  members  of  this  family  are  all  very  small,  the 
largest  not  being  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  length,  and  one 
of  them,  Bembidium  bistriatum,  three-quarters  of  a  line 
long,  is  the  smallest  British  Geodephagous  insect.  They 
occur  generally  in  very  wet  places,  such  as  the  seashore, 
banks  of  ponds,  rivers  and  streams ;  in  reedy  marshes, 
and  under  stones  in  bogs,  etc.  Their  prevailing  colour 
is  brassy-green  or  bronze,  many  being  black ;  and  there 
is  a  tendency  in  the  majority  to  assume  a  pattern  of  four 
white  or  yellow  spots  on  the  wing-cases.  Several 
species  emit  an  acrid,  nasty-smelling,  milky  fluid,  on 
being  captured. 

jB.  flammulatum,  found  commonly  in  marshes,  is  one 


GEODEPHAGA.  59 

of  the  prettiest  in  marking,  being  greenish-bronze,  with 
variegated  yellow  transverse  zigzag  bands ;  and  B.  palli- 
dipenne  (Plate  II,  Fig.  6),  which  occurs  in  great  numbers 
on  the  Lancashire  coast,  though  not  met  with  often  else- 
where, is  also  worthy  of  observation ;  having  a  metallic 
head  and  thorax,  and  straw-coloured  wing-cases,  with 
a  transverse  indented  darker  fascia,  which  varies  in  in- 
tensity of  colour  and  extent  in  different  specimens.  The 
species  placed  last  in  our  lists,  B.  paludosum,  aud^  Tacky  pus 
flavipes  and  pallipes,  present  a  considerable  likeness  to 
the  Elaphri  and  Cicindelce,  at  the  beginning  of  the 
section;  their  large  eyes,  slender  legs,  elegant  shape, 
and  semi-aquatic  habits,  encouraging  the  notion  of  their 
relationship,  which  is,  however,  prevented  by  their 
structural  differences,  the  needle-pointed  apical  joint  of 
the  palpi  in  Bembidiuni  being  sufficient  for  a  diagnostic 
character. 


60 


CHAPTER   X. 

THE    HYDEADEPHAGA,    OE    AQUATIC    CAENIVOEOUS 
BEETLES. 

Subsection  2.   Hydradephaga,  M'Leay. 

The  members  of  this  subsection,  the  predaceous  Water- 
beetles,  are  the  aquatic  representatives  of  the  Geodephaga, 
exhibitini^,  in  many  respects,  a  similarity  of  structure, 
with  modifications  adapted  to  the  change  of  element. 
Their  body  is  nearly  always  smooth,  depressed  or  ovate, 
with  a  continuous  outline ;  the  parts  not  being  conspi- 
cuously separate,  but  for  the  most  part  fitting  into  each 
other  closely.  The  eyes  do  not  project;  the  antennae 
are  mostly  slender,  and,  Avith  the  front  and  middle  legs 
(which  are  close  to  each  other),  pack  securely  against 
the  body.  The  hinder  legs  are  removed  from  the  middle 
pair,  so  as  to  allow  of  an  extended  "  fore  and  aft''  move- 
ment in  rowing;  they  are,  in  nearly  all,  strong,  broad, 
and  shallow — their  width  being  in  a  transverse  direction, 
— and  strongly  fringed  with  hairs  on  the  inner  side. 
The  hinder  coxae  are  much  enlarged,  and  soldered  to  the 
metasternum,  thus  allowing  a  greater  internal  surface 
for  the  attachment  of  the  propelling  muscles  (Fig.  10, 
dd;  p.  27). 

The  mentum  is  emarginate,   and,  in  nearly  all  the 


HYDRADEPHAGA.  6l 

species,  strongly  toothed  in  the  middle ;  the  ligula 
horny,  quadrate,  with  the  paraglossse  soldered  to  its 
sides ;  the  palpi  are  mostly  thread-like ;  the  maxillae  are 
fringed  on  the  inner  side;  the  scutellum  is  either  very 
small,  or  not  visible :  the  basal  joints  of  the  front  tarsi 
are  widened  in  the  males,  and  all  the  species  have  stout 
and  large  wings. 

Their  larvse  are  also  aquatic,  and  very  predaceous ; 
they  are  mostly  elongate,  somewhat  cylindrical,  and 
tapering  to  the  tail,  and  with  a  broad  head  armed  with 
two  strong,  pointed  jaws.  They  generally  construct 
hollow  cells  in  banks  of  ponds,  etc.,  and  turn  into  pupae 
underground,  near  their  native  element. 

Our  species  may  be  divided  into  two  families,  the 
Dytiscida  and  Gyrinidcs ;  in  the  former  of  which  the 
antennse  are  either  thread-like  or  straight,  and  in  the 
latter  broad,  short,  and  elbowed. 

1.  The  DYTISCID^  are  separated  into  four  sub- 
families, the  HalipUdes,  Pelobiides,  Hydroporides,  and 
Dytiscides. 

Of  these,  the  Haltplides  form  a  good  connecting  link 
with  the  Bembidiides  in  the  Geodephaga,  their  legs  not 
being  widened,  and  formed  for  swimming,  as  in  the  othei 
Hydradephaga,  but  thin,  slender,  and  adapted  for  walk- 
ing; indeed,  the  species — though  of  aquatic  habits — swim 
but  feebly,  frequenting  weeds,  etc.,  and  running  readily, 
with  an  alternate  motion  of  the  legs.  The  basal  joints 
of  their  front  tarsi,  also,  are  not  dilated  in  the  males, 
a  character  found  in  some  of  the  Bembidiides,  and  very 
rare  in  the  Hydradephaga,  some  members  of  which 
afford,  perhaps,  the  greatest  known  development  of  this 
structure.  Their  head  is  not  so  sunk  in  the  thorax  as 
in  the  majority  of  their  allies ;  and,  lastly,  in  the  genus 


62  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

Haliplus,  the  apical  joint  of  the  palpi  is  very  small  and 
needle-poiutedj  as  in  Bembidium. 

Their  antenute  are  ten-jointed,  and  the  coxse  of  the 
hinder  legs  not  enlarged  in  front,  but  produced  behind 
into  a  semicircular  flat  plate,  which  in  Haliplus  covers 
three  (and  in  Cnemidotus  six)  segments  of  the  abdomen. 

They  are  all  small,  ovate,  and  convex ;  mostly  light- 
yellow  in  colour,  varied  with  obscure  darker  patches. 
One  species,  H.  elevatus,  is  more  elongate  and  flatter  than 
the  rest,  and  is  also  more  distinctly  marked ;  it  has  strong 
longitudinal  ridges  on  its  elytra,  and  long  straggling 
legs,  and  may  be  found  in  running  streams,  clinging  to 
stones  and  weeds.  Another,  //.  obliquus  (Plate  III,  Fig. 
4),  is  prettily  spotted;  it  occurs  in  stagnant  water. 

Descriptions  of  our  species  are  to  be  seen  in  a  paper 
by  Dr.  Power,  published  in  an  early  number  of  the 
'  Zoologist.' 

The  Pelobiides,  represented  by  one  species,  Pelobius 
Hermanni  (Plate III. Fig. 5), have  the  antennae  11 -jointed, 
the  hinder  coxae  not  produced  into  a  plate,  but  enlarged 
in  front,  the  scutellum  distinct,  tarsi  all  five-jointed,  the 
head  stretched  out,  and  the  legs  adapted  more  for  walk- 
ing than  swimming.  This  insect,  commonly  known 
as  "  the  Squeaker "  (about  half  an  inch  long,  convex, 
dull  black  and  red  in  colour)  is  found  somewhat  plenti- 
fully in  stagnant  ponds  near  London,  clinging  to  weeds, 
and  grovelling  in  mud ;  it  makes  a  sharp  noise  by 
rubbing  the  hard  reflected  margin  of  the  last  segment 
of  its  abdomen  in  a  groove  under  each  wing-case. 

The  Hydroporides  are  all  small,  with  no  visible  scu- 
tellum, only  four  joints  to  the  front  and  middle  tarsi 
(often  much  widened)  and  the  posterior  coxaj  enlarged 
in  front.     Some  gaily-spotted  species  [Hyroporus  rivalls, 


HYDRADEPHAGA.  63 

Plate  III,  Fig.  3)  are  found  in  running  waters, but  the  ma- 
jority frequent  ponds  and  lakes.  Many  have  pubescent 
elytra ;  and  the  surface  is  usually  bright  in  the  males 
and  dull  in  the  females,  a  character  also  found  in  many 
Geodephaga. 

Hyphydrus  ovatus,  common  near  London,  affords  a 
good  link  to  Pelobius,  on  account  of  its  globose  form, 
and  the  basal  joints  of  its  tarsi  being  very  long,  as  well 
as  wider  than  the  •  apical  joints.  I  have  noticed  that 
fresh  specimens  of  this  insect  have  a  smell  something 
like  that  of  honey. 

The  Dytiscides  have  the  antennae  eleven -jointed,  and 
all  the  feet  five-jointed,  the  basal  joints  of  the  front  legs 
in  the  male  being  widened  either  simply  or  into  round 
plates,  and  the  coxse  of  the  hinder  legs  very  large  in 
front  and  reaching  sideways  to  the  elytra.  In  the 
genera  Dytiscus,  Cybister,  Hydaticm,  and  Acilius,  the 
three  basal  joints  of  the  front  tarsi  in  the  males  assume 
the  form  of  a  round  sucker,  fringed  with  hairs,  with 
little  cups  on  the  under  side ;  and  in  the  first  and  last, 
also,  the  females  have  the  wing-cases  deeply  furrowed 
longitudinally,  the  furrows  reaching  in  Dytiscus  half- 
way down,  and  in  Acilius  to  the  apex  of  the  elytra. 
These  two  peculiarities  of  structure  are  evidently  to 
assist  the  sexes  in  pairing.  The  females  of  Dytiscus  are, 
however,  sometimes  found  without  these  dorsal  furrows ; 
and  somewhat  analogous  instances  of  what  is  termed 
"  sexual  di-morphism  "  occur  rather  frequently  in  the 
genus  Hydroporus,  etc. 

The  true  Dytisci  are  well  known,  being  "  the  Water- 
beetles  "  of  the  aquarium.  They  are  large,  olive-brown, 
with  a  yellowish  side-band,  and  very  rapacious,  attacking 
all  that  comes  in  their  way.     They  swim  rapidly,  diving 


64  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

with  great  quickness,  and  may  be  often  seen  at  the 
snrface  of  the  water,  with  their  tail  upwards,  taking  in 
air,  which  thus  reaches  the  spiracles.  D.  punctulatus 
(Plate  III,  Fig.  1)  is  entirely  black  beneath. 

When  ponds,  etc.,  are  dried  np  in  the  summer,  the 
Dyliscides  take  to  the  wing,  flying  by  night  or  at  the 
evening  in  search  of  fresh  waters ;  it  is  astonishing,  how- 
ever, with  what  a  small  supply  of  damp  they  Avill  exist, 
and  the  greatest  "  hauls  ^'  of  specimens  are  often  made 
out  of  the  merest  cupful  of  muddy  water,  tbe  residue 
of  some  large  pond,  in  which  all  the  beetle  occupants 
are  congregated.  They  have  been  known,  in  flight,  to 
dash  against  glass  or  lights,  possibly  mistaking  them  for 
water. 

Water-beetles,  as  a  rule,  are  fond  of  gathering  round 
reeds  and  water-plants  in  the  middle  of  ponds;  and,  in 
dragging  for  them,  the  net  should  be  scraped  along 
banks,  round  any  projecting  wood  or  stones,  and  through 
and  under  weeds.  After  doing  so,  it  is  a  good  plan  to 
go  over  the  same  water  again,  in  a  reverse  direction,  as 
many  specimens  get  dislodged,  but  not  captured,  by  the 
first  operation.  Tn  running  streams,  the  beetles  often 
congregate  in  little  pools  caused  by  eddies  and  back- 
waters, and  shelter  themselves  on  the  quiet  sides  of 
arches.  To  show  how  readily  they  fly,  it  may  be  re- 
marked that  holes  in  gravel  pits,  when  converted  into 
pools  by  heavy  rain,  are  soon  tenanted  by  the  large 
Dytisci. 

The  species  of  Dytiscus  exhibit  a  great  family  like- 
ness, but  are  separated  chiefly  through  the  greater  or 
less  width,  length,  and  sharpness  of  the  forked  pro- 
cesses of  the  coxse  at  the  base  of  the  two  hinder  legs. 
They  are  mostly  found  in  stagnant  waters,  but  many  of 


HYDRADEPHAGA.  65 

their  allies  delight  in  running  streams,  and  these  latter 
are  usually  more  metallic  and  variegated  with  light  spots 
[Agabus  maculatus,  Plate  III,  Fig.  2) . 

The  larva  of  the  common  D.  marginalis  (Fig.  1,  p.  10) 
is,  when  full-grown,  about  two  inches  long,  dirty  brown 
in  colour,  and  tapering  to  the  tail,  which  is  provided 
with  two  thin  appendages  fringed  with  hairs.  The 
larva  suspends  itself  in  the  water,  head  upv.ards,  with 
these  appendages  at  the  surface,  and  thus  obtains  air ; 
for  the  ordinary  breathing-holes  on  the  sides  are  closed 
up,  and  the  air-vessels  are  reached  by  means  of  two 
spiracles  at  the  apex  of  the  eleventh  segment  near  the 
fringed  extremity.  Its  head  is  large  and  oval,  with  com- 
posite eyes  (Fig.  1  a,  p.  10),  rudimentary  antennae,  and 
very  long,  sickle-shaped,  pointed  jaws,  which  are  chan- 
nelled so  as  to  allow  the  larva  to  extract  the  juices  of 
its  prey,  there  being  no  opening  at  the  mouth.  It  is 
very  rapacious,  and  is  often  called  "Fresh-water  Shrimp." 

Cybister,  reputed  British,  has  its  wi^ig-cases  widened 
behind,  and  not  furrowed  in  the  female.  Acil'ms  sul- 
catus,  a  moderately  large,  common,  flat,  grey  species, 
has  been  observed  to  make  a  considerable  humming- 
noise,  apparently  produced  by  the  action  of  the  air  upon 
the  alula  or  winglets,  two  small  circular  membraneous 
plates  at  the  base  of  the  elytra  (Fig.  8  h,  p.  25). 

The  genera  Laccophilus  and  Noterus,  which  have  no 
visible  scutellum,  appear  to  point  towards  the  next 
family,  their  hind  legs  being  much  widened.  Noterus, 
also,  has  the  antennae  short,  and  much  thickened ;  being, 
moreover,  of  a  somewhat  similar  build  to  Gyrinus,  and 
having  similar  "jerky^'  habits.  Species  of  both  genera, 
also,  occur  in  brackish  water,  a  habitat  of  some  of  the 
Gyrini. 


66  BUITISH    BEETLES. 

2.  The  GYRINID.E  differ  vastly  in  structure  from 
all  the  above.  They  have  four  eyes ;  two  on  each  side, 
one  above  and  one  below  (Plate  III,  Fig.  6*)  ;  the  ordi- 
nary single  eye  being  divided  by  the  cup  formed  for  the 
articulation  of  the  antennse :  the  palpiform  outer  lobe  of 
their  maxillae  is  wanting,  except  in  the  genus  Gyrinus, 
where  it  is  extremely  small,  slender,  and  rudimentary ; 
their  antennse  are  short,  robust,  and  stiff,  the  second 
joint  being  very  large  and  ear-like,  with  the  third  and 
remaining  joints  jammed  together  and  inserted  in  its 
middle  (Plate  III,  Fig.  6'').  The  anterior  legs  are  long 
and  slender,  and  the  intermediate  and  hinder  pair  close 
together,  removed  from  the  front,  and  extremely  com- 
pressed, with  the  femora,  tibiae,  and  basal  joint  of  the 
tarsi  very  broad  and  triangular  (Plate  III,  Fig.  6'").  The 
Gyrini,  commonly  known  as  "  water-fleas,"  "  whirlwigs," 
or  "  whirligigs,"  may  be  seen  in  fine  weather  forming  end- 
less "  figures  of  8  "  on  the  surface  of  both  running  and 
still  waters.  Tiiey  are  small,  metallic,  shiniug  black, 
elongate  beetles,  exceedingly  wary  and  quick  in  their 
movements,  and  with  a  power  of  exuding  a  very  nasty- 
smelling  acrid  milky  fluid,  from  nearly  all  parts  of  the 
body  apparently,  when  handled.  This  fluid  is  analogous 
to  that  secreted  by  some  Geodephaga,  which  it  resembles 
in  evil  odour.  The  female  lays  small  cylindrical  eggs, 
end  to  end,  in  level  rows,  on  water-plants,  the  larvse 
proceeding  from  which  are  very  peculiar,  being  narrow 
and  flattened,  with  a  long  slender  filament  rising  out  of 
each  side  of  all  the  segments  except  those  bearing  the 
legs.  These  filaments  act  as  air-conductors,  and  give 
the  animal  the  look  of  a  Centipede.  When  full-grown, 
it  ascends  water-plants,  and  forms  a  small  oval  cocoon, 
of  a  substance  like  grey  paper,  in  which  it  assumes  the 
pupa  state. 


HYDRADEPHAGA.  67 

Gyrinus  bicolor  (Plate  III,  Fig.  6),  the  narrowest  and 
most  elongate  of  our  "  whirlvvigs/^  is  found  plentifully 
in  brackish  water  at  Southend,  and  elsewhere  on  the 
coast. 

Orectochilus  villosus,  one  of  this  family,  differs  from 
the  others  in  being  hairy :  it  is  supposed  to  be  less 
gregarious  than  the  true  Gyrini,  though  instances  occur 
when  it  is  found  in  great  numbers.  Unlike  the  light- 
loving  whirlwigs,  it  hides  itself  in  banks  by  day,  and 
mostly  performs  its  evolutions  on  the  water  by  dark. 
Its  larva  forms  a  white  silky  cocoon,  which  has  been 
found  under  willow-bark,  and  in  a  freshwater  shell. 

Good  Latin  descriptions  of  most  of  our  Hyclradephaga 
will  be  found  in  Erichson's  '  Kafer  der  Mark  Branden- 
burg' ;  and  M.  Aube's  '  Species  Gen.  des  Hydrocan- 
thaires  et  des  Gyriniens,'  published  at  Paris  in  1838, 
comprises  all  the  then  known  species  in  this  subsection. 


68 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE  BRACHELYTEA,  OR  "ROVE-BEETLES." 

The  Brachelytra,  or  Staphylini  (of  which  perhaps  only 
one  species,  the  "  Devil's  Coach-horse/'  Ocyjms  olens,  is 
known  to  casual  observers)  constitute  a  very  large  group, 
and  are  readily  distinguished  by  their  elongate  abdomen, 
— of  which  usually  six  or  seven  entirely  horny  segments 
are  exposed, — and  their  extremely  short  and  straightly 
sutured  wing-cases,  beneath  which  the  many  folds  of 
their  ample  wings  are  hidden.  The  least  typical  forms 
have,  however,  the  wing-cases  somewhat  elongate,  and 
present  a  considerable  likeness  to  certain  of  the  smaller 
Geodephaga ;  from  which,  apart  from  other  characters, 
the  absence  of  a  palpiform  lobe  to  their  maxillse  will 
separate  them. 

Many  of  them,  especially  the  larger  species,  are  emi- 
nently predatorial ;  and  must  on  no  account  be  placed 
in  the  collecting-bottle  with  other  insects.  A  great 
number  also  (including  some  of  those  which  attack 
living  insects),  are  carrion  feeders,  abounding  in  the 
dead  bodies  of  small  animals,  etc. ;  very  many  habitually 
frequent  the  dung  of  our  domestic  quadrupeds ;  others 
swarm  in  fungi,  especially  when  rotten ;  and  the  re- 
mainder may  be  briefly  described  as  living  in  decaying 


BRACHELYTRA.  69 

vegetable  matter,  or  haunting  very  wet  places.  Among 
the  exceptions  to  these  habitats,  it  may  be  remarked 
that  a  few  species  live  under  bark,  in  flowers,  in  sand 
or  shingle,  sometimes  beneath  the  tide-mark,  or  as  pa- 
rasites upon  insects  of  the  order  Hymenoptera. 

Many  authors  place  this  section  at  the  extreme  end 
of  the  Coleoptera, — either  with  the  idea  of  a  circular 
system,  coming  back  to  the  Geodephaga  at  the  begin- 
ning through  Dro7nius  and  Omalium,  or  wishing  to 
establish  a  link  with  the  Dermapiera,  or  Earwigs.  Such 
a  position,  however,  if  only  by  removing  it  from  its  close 
ally,  the  section  of  Necrophaga,  seems  directly  opposed 
to  the  natural  affinities  of  its  members. 

The  Brachelytra  are  nearl)''  always  of  an  elongate, 
linear,  and  flattened  shape ;  rarely  convex ;  moderate  in 
size,  the  majority  being  very  small,  and  some  exceedingly 
minute ;  dull,  or  slightly  metallic  in  colour,  occasionally 
ornamented  with  red  or  yellow  spots  on  the  elytra,  and 
but  rarely  exhibiting  bright  tints.  Some  are  very  po- 
lished and  destitute  of  hairs,  but  the  greater  part  are 
clothed  with  a  fine  short  pubescence,  which  is  in  a  few 
instances  long  and  thick. 

Among  the  points  to  be  noticed  in  discriminating  be- 
tween closely  allied  forms,  the  following  will  be  found 
most  worthy  of  attention : — the  relative  length  and 
•width  of  the  joints  of  the  antennae  and  tarsi,  the  degree 
of  punctuation  and  pubescence,  the  length  of  the  elytra, 
the  markings  (if  any)  on  the  thorax,  and  the  sexual 
characters  afforded  by  the  sculpture,  etc.,  of  the  under 
side  of  the  terminal  segments  of  the  abdomen  in  the 
males  of  very  many  species. 

This  sculpture  usually  takes  the  form  of  a  more  or 
less  angulated  or  deeply  impressed  notch  in  the  hinder 


70  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

margin  of  the  last  segment  but  one,  which  notch  is  in 
some  families  much  increased,  and  armed  with  lateral 
teeth,  etc.,  on  the  ante-penultimate  segment ;  the  greater 
part  of  the  lower  surface  of  the  abdomen  being  some- 
times affected  by  somewhat  similar  alterations  of  struc- 
ture, and  in  a  few  cases  adorned  with  curls  of  hairs. 

In  some  of  the  smaller  species  the  penultimate  seg- 
ment of  the  male  exhibits  a  notch,  or  one  or  more 
tubercles  or  ridges  (or  both)  on  its  upper  side. 

The  tarsi  of  the  BracKelytra  are  for  the  most  part  five- 
jointed,  though  there  are  many  of  them  in  which  the 
Heteromerous  character  is  reproduced  and  reversed,  the 
posterior  and  intermediate  tarsi  having  five  joints,  and 
the  anterior  only  four;  some  also  are  entirely /o^<r-,  and 
a  few  /Aree-jointed. 

The  coxse,  especially  of  the  anterior  legs,  are  much 
increased  in  size,  and  capable  of  extension  from  the 
body ;  thus  allov.ing  considerable  freedom  of  action  to 
those  limbs. 

Their  antennae  are  nearly  always  composed  of  eleven 
joints,  and  filiform,  sometimes  a  little  thickened  towards 
the  tip,  or  even  slightly  clavate  ;  and  in  one  genus, 
Micropepfus  (a  very  aberrant  form,  which  has  been 
placed  by  some  authors  among  the  Clavicornes) ,  deci- 
dedly abruptly  knobbed.  The  basal  joint  is  occasionally 
elongate,  the  antennae  then  somewhat  resembling  those 
of  the  Rhynchophoi'ci. 

The  remark  before  made,  as  to  the  development  of 
the  eyes  in  such  species  of  Geodephaga  as  frequent  very 
wet  places,  applies  also  to  Brachelytra  of  similar  habits ; 
and  in  the  OmaJidce,  besides  the  ordinary  compound  la- 
teral eyes,  there  are  two  small  simple  eyes,  or  ocelli,  on 
the  back  of  the  head  (as  in  the  Hymenoptera)  ;  but  it  is 


BRACHELYTRA.  71 

doubtful  whether  tliese  are  of  any  assistance  to  the  sight. 
One  of  the  Proteinidce  [Pkloeobiwn)  has  a  single  ocellus 
in  the  same  position. 

The  parts  of  the  mouth  are  well  developed,  though 
not  quite  so  highly  as  in  the  Adephaga ;  the  labrum 
very  often  has  a  membraneous  margin,  and  is  sometimes 
furnished  with  appendages,  or  fringed  or  clothed  with 
hairs;  the  mandibles  vary  according  to  the  habits  of 
their  possessors,  but  are  often  strong,  curved,  and  sharp ; 
the  maxillse  have  no  outer  palpiform  lobe,  and  are  not 
toothed  at  the  apex,  their  palpi  being  four-jointed,  with 
the  apical  joint  often  very  small  and  subulate;  the  la- 
bium is  well  defined  ;  the  ligula  being  distinct,  narrow, 
and  linear,  often  bifid  at  the  extremity,  and  with  its 
paraglossse  frequently  conspicuous. 

The  abdomen  is  often  furnished  at  the  apex  with  two 
fleshy  papillse,  from  which  a  disagreeable  odour  is  emitted 
when  the  insect  is  handled.  It  is,  in  nearly  all,  so  long 
as  to  be  capable  of  being  bent  forward  and  used  in  ar- 
ranging the  folds  of  the  wings  under  the  elytra.  There 
are  usually  seven  segments  distinctly  visible  on  the  lower 
surface,  but  there  is  also  another,  by  which  it  is  articu- 
lated to  the  metathorax,  and  which  is  only  visible  on 
the  upper  side,  when  the  elytra  and  wings  are  removed. 
In  Erichson's  descriptions  the  sixth  segment  means  the 
last  but  one,  which  is  termed  the  seventh  by  Dr.  Kraatz ; 
the  latter  being  in  reality  correct,  though  the  former 
seems  to  be  right. 

The  larvse  of  the  Brachelytra  somewhat  resemble  the 
perfect  insects,  being  of  elongate,  narrow  shape ;  and 
are  found  under  similar  circumstances.  They  differ  but 
little  in  general  structure  among  the  different  species, 
and  may  be  distinguished  from  those  of  the  Geodephaga 


72  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

by  their  mandibles  not  being  toothed  on  the  inner  side, 
their  closed-up  mouth,  the  sinyle  claw  at  the  apex  of 
their  tarsi,  and  their  two  double-jointed  anal  forks, 
which  are  beset  with  stiff  hairs.  The  extremity  of  the 
body  is  also  produced  into  a  fleshy  tubular  support. 
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  larvae 
of  the  Hydradephaga. 

Descriptions  of  the  European  species  of  Brachelytra 
are  to  be  found  in  the  works  of  Kraatz,  Thomson,  and 
Fairmaire  above  alluded  to  ;  and  an  indispensable  help 
to  the  student  of  this  group  is  afforded  by  the  '  Genera 
et  Species  Staphylinorum '  of  Dr.  G.  F.  Erichson  (1839- 
1840).  This  book  contains  descriptions,  entirely  in 
Latin,  of  all  the  then  known  Brachelytra ;  and  is  con- 
spicuous 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  differences  of  structure  and  colour. 

The  beginner  will  find  the  insects  of  this  group  diffi- 
cult both  to  determine  and  to  set  out  properly.  Care 
must  be  taken  in  mounting  them,  not  to  rub  off  the  pu- 
bescence, 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  manipulated.  It  is  neces- 
sary to  have  the  abdomen  displayed  in  its  proper  pro- 
portions ;  and  this  is  no  easy  matter,  as  the  rings  usually 
contract  within  each  other  at  the  instant  of  death  :  the 
best  way  to  counteract  this,  is  to  gum  only  the  head, 
thorax,  and  breast  on  the  card  at  first,  and,  when  these 


BRACHELYTRA.  73 

are  securely  dried  (which  may  be  in  about  a  quarter  of 
an  hour,  or  less)  to  damp  the  abdomen  slightly  on  its 
upper  and  under  sides ;  the  setting  needle  may  then  be 
inserted  into  the  opening  at  the  extremity  of  the  body, 
and  the  segments  gradually  and  gently  pulled  out  by  its 
slightly  hooked  point.  Another,  and  less  secure  way 
is  to  drag  out  all  the  segments  by  piercing  the  last  one 
through  its  under  surface  after  inserting  the  point  of  the 
needle;  but  this  is  apt  to  destroy  or  distort  the  end  of 
the  abdomen.  In  either  case  the  abdomen  must  not  be 
left  with  the  articulating  surfaces  of  the  segments  ex- 
posed, or  unduly  elongated  ;  and  a  good  supply  of  thick 
gum  on  each  side,  after  the  first  gum  is  dried,  is  neces- 
sary to  retain  it  in  its  place.  Sometimes  even  a  small 
card  brace  is  required  to  prevent  it  from  again  contract- 
ing, or  losing  its  hold  on  the  card. 

A  level  position  of  the  head  and  thorax  is  best  ob- 
tained by  placing  the  two  front  legs  rather  backwards 
than  forwards,  otherwise  the  great  development  of  the 
anterior  trochanters  often  gives  trouble  in  setting. 

A  specimen  of  each  sex  should  be  mounted  on  its 
back,  to  show  the  abdominal  characters  beneath. 

The  British  species  of  Brachelytra  (nearly  700  in 
number)  may  be  considered  as  divided  into  thirteen 
families,  viz.  the  Aleockarid^e,  Tachyporida,  QuediideB, 
Staphylinid(S,  XanthoUnida,  Paderida,  Stenida,  Oxyte- 
lidce,  Omalid(S,  Proteinidce,  Phlceocliarida,  Piestidee,  and 
MicropeplidcB.  These  families,  the  members  of  which 
(except  perhaps  in  the  Aleocharidce)  preserve  a  certain 
family  likeness  amongst  themselves,  are  chiefly  sepa- 
rated by  the  place  of  insertion  of  their  antennae,  and  by 
the  hidden  or  conspicuous  position  of  their  first  (or  pro- 
thoracic)  pair  of  stigmata  or  spiracles,  which  are  situated 


74  BllITlSII     BEETLES. 

on  the  under  side  of  the  "  thorax/'  behind  the  coxse  of 
the  front  pair  of  legs. 

The  Aleocharid/i:,  extensive  in  numbers  and  puzzling 
to  determine,  have  the  prothoracic  spiracles  eonspicuous^ 
and  the  antennae  inserted  in  front,  close  to  the  inner  an- 
terior margin  of  the  eyes.  The  apieal  joint  of  their 
maxillary  palpi  is  very  small  and  needle-pointed,  and 
the  labial  palpi  have  mostly  3,  though  in  some  {Aleo- 
chara)  4,  in  others  [Autalia,  Gyrophcena,  etc.)  but  2, 
and  in  a  few  [Silusa,  Myllmia,  etc.)  no  joints. 

Their  front  coxse  are  conic  and  prominent,  being  only 
joined  to  the  prosternum  at  their  upper  extremity,  and 
the  posterior  trochanters  are  somewhat  elongate,  run- 
ning along  the  base  of  the  femur. 

Their  tarsi  vary  in  the  number  of  joints,  having  either 
5  or  4  joints  to  all  the  feet,  or  4  to  the  front  pair  and  5 
to  the  intermediate  and  hinder;  and  the  anterior  tarsi 
are  never  dilated  in  the  male,  which  may  be  known  from 
the  other  sex  generally  by  the  penultimate  segment  of 
the  abdomen  on  the  upper  side  having  a  tubercle  or 
ridge,  or  an  assemblage  of  tubercles,  or  a  thickened  or 
notched  hinder  margin.  There  is,  sometimes,  in  the 
male  a  tubercle  on  the  anterior  part  of  the  abdomen, 
and  the  penultimate  segment  beneath  is  often  produced 
in  the  middle :  the  antennse,  also,  are  frequently  more 
elongate  and  robust. 

In  habits  they  are  very  varied,  mostly,  however,  fre- 
quenting decayed  vegetable  matter.  Some  species  [Au- 
talia, Bolitochara,  Gyrophana,  etc.),  are  found  in  fungi; 
others  {Ocyusa,  Tachyusa,  Myllana,  etc.),  haunt  very 
wet  places;  many  [Isdinoylossa,  Phlmopora,  etc.),  occur 
under  bark,  and  some  in  sandy  localities ;  members  of 
the  great  genus  Homahta  are  found  in  all  these  habitats. 


BRACHELYTRA.  75 

Tlie  true  Aleocha7'ce  feed  in  animal  matter  (hence  their 
name),  or  in  the  dung  of  animals  or  putrifying  seaweed  ; 
but  perhaps  the  most  curious  habit  of  any  of  the  family 
is  that  of  parasitism ;  Thiasophila,  Homceusa,  Dinarda, 
Lomechusa,  Atemeles,  Myrmedonia,  and  some  OxypodcB 
and  Homalotee,  being  constantly  found  in  the  nests  of 
certain  species  of  ants,  and  Haploglossa  in  those  of  the 
sand-martin. 

These  Myrmecophilous  (or  ant-loving)  species  occur 
not  only  in  the  "  runs "  and  purlieus  of  the  nests,  but 
also  in  the  most  inner  sanctuaries,  where  they  appear 
perfectly  at  home,  and  are  never  molested  by  their  mul- 
titudinous hosts.  The  terms  of  the  agreement  between 
these  landlords  and  tenants  have  never  yet  been  satisfac- 
torily determined ;  nevertheless,  it  is  certain  that  the 
ants  must  be  much  attached  to  the  beetles.  I  have  seen 
Atemeles  emarginatus  (not  uncommon  in  nests  of  For- 
mica fusca)  being  carried  about  tenderly  in  the  mouth 
of  an  ant  much  less  than  itself.  This  curious  species 
(Plate  IV,  Fig.  1),  like  others  of  its  allies,  coils  itself 
up  almost  into  a  ball;  and  one  is  much  astonished  to  see 
the  length  of  leg  and  antenna  which  it  unfolds  on  en- 
deavouring to  escape.  Myrmedonia  funesta,  abundant 
in  nests  of  F.  fuliginosa,  is  strikingly  like  that  ant  in 
appearance ;  and,  with  others  of  its  genus,  acquires  a 
very  pungent  odour,  from  constantly  living  in  an  atmo- 
sphere impregnated  with  formic  acid.  It  is  possibly 
from  this  cause  that  these  species  so  often  stain  with 
purple  the  card  on  which  they  are  mounted. 

The  species  of  Ilyobates,  Callicerus,  etc.,  are  specially 
remarkable  for  the  development  of  their  antennae,  of 
which  the  terminal  joint  is  often  of  great  length  in  the 
male.     They  occur  rarely  in  sand-pits,  etc. 


76  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

Tachyusa  constricta,  a  slender,  graceful  insect,  found 
in  wet  shingle  on  the  banks  of  rivers  (especially  the 
Mole,  near  Leatherhead),  has  a  peculiar  appearance, 
owing  to  its  very  "pinched-in"  waist;  when  alive,  like 
the  greater  part  of  this  family,  it  curls  its  abdomen  up- 
wards and  forwards,  and  runs  with  great  quickness. 
Perhaps,  however,  the  most  curious  instance  of  this 
curling  propensity  is  afforded  by  Encephalus  complicans, 
a  small  black  species  found  in  rotten  fungi,  etc.,  and 
about  as  unlike  the  insect  last-mentioned  as  possible, 
being  extremely  "  squab ''  and  flat  :  it  is  not  very  com- 
mon, and  may  be  easily  passed  over  by  a  novice,  on  ac- 
count of  its  turning  its  abdomen  entirely  over  its  back, 
and  thus  (when  not  in  motion)  looking  more  like  a  small 
black  seed  than  a  beetle.  The  species  of  Gj/ropfKena, 
minute  bright-coloured  insects,  also  occurring  (gre- 
gariously) in  fungi,  and  very  closely  allied  to  Encephalus, 
have  a  similar  habit,  though  in  a  rather  less  degree  : 
they  are  difficult  to  determine,  but  may  generally  be 
distinguished  intei'  se  by  the  rows  of  punctures  on  the 
thorax.  Full  English  descriptions  of  our  species,  by 
Mr.  G.  R.  Waterhouse,  are  to  be  found  in  the  Trans- 
actions of  the  Entomological  Society  of  London,  3rd 
series,  vol.  i.  (1861). 

The  genera  Oxypoda  and  Homalota,  comprising  many 
small  species,  and  very  troublesome  to  beginners,  exhibit 
a  considerable  likeness  to  each  other :  the  former  may, 
however,  be  known  by  all  its  tarsi  being  five-jointed  (the 
front  tarsi  in  Homalota  having  only  four  joints)  ;  the 
more  elongate  basal  joint  of  its  hind  tarsi  (except  in  the 
instance  of  Homalota  yregaria,  which  has  a  similar  for- 
mation in  that  respect) ;  its  usually  more  convex  form 
and  stouter  antennaj;   and  the  greater  sinuation  of  the 


BRACHELYTRA.  Tt 

outer  hinder  margin  of  its  elytra.  Lastly,  Myllana  and 
its  allies,  very  much  contracted  behind,  and  clothed  with 
a  short,  dense,  silky  pubescence,  are  noteworthy  from 
the  anomalous  jointless  structure  of  their  labial  palpi, 
before  alluded  to. 

The  Tachyporid.e  (so  named  on  account  of  their 
rapid  movements)  are  composed  of  usually  bright- 
coloured  species,  found  principally  in  fungi,  moss,  or 
dung,  and  considerably  contracted  at  both  extremities, 
especially  behind,  the  front  being  more  obtuse.  The  ab- 
domen is  usually  elongate  and  pointed ;  but,  when  the  in- 
sects are  dead,  the  segments  run  up  frequently,  as  in  a 
telescope,  so  that  it  is  by  no  means  easy  to  preserve  the 
correct  facies  of  the  insect  in  a  dried  specimen.  The  best 
way  in  mounting  them  is  to  put  gum  arable  (with  which 
a  little  white  sugar  has  been  melted)  under  the  tail ;  and, 
as  soon  as  that  is  dry,  gum  the  entire  last  segment  over 
with  tragacanth,  keeping  the  abdomen  from  contracting 
(if  you  can)  with  a  card  brace.  They  should  not  be  dried 
quickly. 

Their  prothoracic  spiracles  are  conspicuous,  and  their 
antennae  inserted  towards  the  hinder  part  of  the  side 
margin  of  the  forehead,  before  the  eyes.  Their  maxillary 
palpi  have  the  apical  joint  subulate  in  some  species ; 
and  the  antennae  are  filiform  and  eleven -jointed  in  most, 
but  ten -jointed  and  thickened  in  one  genus,  Hypocyptus , 
comprised  of  very  small  shining  globular  insects,  which 
have  somewhat  the  appearance  of  the  Agathidia,  in  the 
next  section.  The  legs  are  usually  spiny,  and  the  tarsi 
have  five  joints  in  all  except  Hypocyptus,  which  has  but 
four.  The  anterior  tarsi  are  widened  at  the  base  in  the 
male,  and  both  sexes  often  exhibit  very  striking  cha- 
racters at  the  apex  of  the  abdomen,  both  on  the  upper 
and  under  sides. 


78  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

Trichophya  aud  Habrocerus  are  conspicuous  from 
their  hair-like  antennse,  which  are  adorned  with  slender 
rings  of  hairs^  resembling  microscopic  Equisetum  :  the 
former  is  found  plentifully  in  the  corridors  of  the  Crystal 
Palace  at  Sydenham,  wdiither  it  flies  from  its  haunts 
among  the  fir-trees  at  Shirley,  etc. 

The  Tachini,  moderately  large,  flat,  and  stout-looking 
(but  fragile),  abound  in  rotten  fungi  and  dung,  being  also 
often  taken,  at  the  fermenting  sap  of  cut-down  trees. 

They  present  admirable  characters  for  specific  dia- 
gnosis in  the  very  pronounced  teeth  and  notchings  of  the 
upper  and  under  sides  of  the  sub-apical  segment  of  the 
abdomen,  which  is  dififerent  in  the  two  sexes.  In  order 
to  obtain  a  clear  outline  of  this  structure,  it  is  as  well  to 
remove  the  extreme  apical  segment  of  specimens  showing 
the  upper  and  under  surface  of  each  sex. 

The  species  of  Tachijporus,  small,  shining,  flattish, 
and  more  or  less  yellow  marked  with  black,  exhibit  some- 
what similar  sexual  characters.  They  are  difficult  to  de- 
termine, owing  to  their  want  of  punctuation,  and  are 
generally  abundant  in  moss  and  wet  places.  The  Boli- 
tobii,  gaily  coloured  (Plate  IV,  Fig.  2,  Bolitobius  airica- 
pillus)  and  very  active  species,  occur  in  profusion  in 
fungi  in  the  autumn.  English  descriptions  of  all  our 
species  will  be  found  in  the  first  volume  of  the  '  Ento- 
mologist's Monthly  Magazine,'  by  the  present  writA*. 
Lastly,  the  members  of  the  genus  Mycetoporus,  smaller 
and  narrower  than  the  Bolitobii,  are  found  sometimes  in 
moss,  but  more  usually  in  sand-pits,  etc.,  during  the 
early  spring.  The  position  and  number  of  certain  deep 
punctures  on  the  elytra  and  sides  and  front  of  the  thorax 
will  assist  in  determining  the  species  of  this  genus. 

The  Q.UEDIID.E  (usually  considered  a  subfamily  of  the 


BRACHELYTRA.  79 

Staphylinida)  have  the  mandibles  not  very  prominent ; 
the  labial  palpi  filiform  (with  two  exceptions)  ;  and  all 
their  tarsi  five-jointed.  They  present  a  certain  resem- 
blance to  the  Philonthi,  in  the  next  family,  but  have  the 
sides  of  the  thorax  simple  (with  no  marginal  line),  and 
more  rounded;  and  their  head  is  broader  at  the  base. 
Their  antennae  are  inserted  at  the  front  of  the  side  mar- 
gin of  the  head,  and  their  prothoracic  spiracles  conspi- 
cuous^ as  in  the  former  families. 

Euryporus  and  Asti'apceus  have  the  third  joint  of  the 
labial  palpi  hatchet-shaped  (the  enlargement  being  more 
evident  in  the  male)  ;  and  the  anterior  tarsi  are  dilated 
in  the  latter,  and  simple  in  the  former,  in  both  sexes. 
They  are  both  very  rare,  Astrapceus  being,  indeed,  du- 
bious as  British,  and  Euryporus  (in  which  the  head  is 
small)  occasionally  occurring  in  moss. 

Acylophorus,  taken  under  cut  reeds,  etc.,  at  Merton, 
by  Dr.  Power,  is  conspicuous  as  well  from  its  rarity  as 
the  band  of  testaceous  colour  near  the  apex  of  its  abdo- 
men, the  elongate  basal  joint  of  its  antennae,  and  its 
cylindrical  anterior  tarsi,  of  which  the  apical  joint  is  as 
long  as  the  four  preceeding,  and  armed  with  strong 
claws;  the  posterior  tarsi  having  the  basal  joint  the 
longest,  and  the  apical  with  small  claws. 

The  species  of  iJeto'o^Aops  closely  resemble  the  smaller 
Quedii,  from  which  they  may  be  known  by  the  subulate 
apical  joint  of  their  palpi.  They  are  found  at  the  bot- 
toms of  haystacks,  under  seaweed,  etc. 

Qwe^^ms  comprises  several  species,  of  varied  habits  and 
sizes,  and  is  divided  into  two  sections ;  the  first  having 
the  part  of  the  presternum  behind  the  anterior  coxae 
horny,  and  the  second  having  the  same  part  membra- 
neous.    The  number  of  punctures  in  the   dorsal  rows 


80  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

of  the  thorax  (never  exceeding  three  in  each)  also  assists 
in  separating  these  insects.  Q.  dilatatus,  a  very  large, 
broad,  black  species,  with  slightly  iridescent  abdomen 
and  serrated  antennae,  is  found  occasionally  in  hornets' 
nests,  and  also  in  the  burrows  of  the  larva  of  the  goat- 
moth,  being  evidently  parasitic  in  its  habits.  Another 
(and  much  smaller)  species,  Q.  brevis,  with  red  elytra, 
tail,  antennae,  and  legs,  is  of  similar  social  propensities, 
being  found  in  ants'  nests.  Q.  lateralis,  next  in  size  to 
Q.  dilatatus,  found  in  rotten  fungi  and  dung  in  the 
autumn,  is  shining-black,  with  the  reflexed  side-margins 
of  its  elytra  yellowish.  Q.  truncicola,  cruentus  (Plate 
IV,  Fig.  3),  scitus,  and  Icevigatus,  are  all  subcortical 
species  ;  the  latter,  a  flattened,  polished  insect,  occurring 
under  pine-bark  in  Scotland. 

The  remaining  species  (with  the  exception  of  the 
little  Q.  auricomus,  conspicuous  from  its  abdomen 
being  striped  with  rows  of  fine  golden  or  silvery  pu- 
bescence, and  which  is  found  in  wet  moss,  etc.,  near  or 
in  waterfalls)  offer  no  peculiarity  of  structure  or  habit : 
they  are  mostly  dull  in  colour,  though  sometimes  having 
red  elytra,  and  occur  in  moss,  haystacks,  dead  leaves, 
dung,  etc. 

The  StaphyliniD;E  (the  giants  of  the  section)  have 
the  prothoracic  spiracles  conspicuous  ;  the  antennae  dis- 
tant at  the  base  and  inserted  in  front,  within  the  base  of 
the  mandibles ;  and  the  thorax  w  ith  a  lateral  marginal 
line,  both  on  the  upper  and  under  side.  Their  man- 
dibles are  generally  large,  the  maxillary  palpi  filiform, 
the  ligula  small  and  rounded,  entire  in  Philonthus,  but 
emarginate  in  the  other  genera,  and  with  the  paraglossse 
always  long.  The  males  are  usually  known  by  their 
larger  heads  and  dilated  anterior  tarsi,  and  by  the  penul- 


BRACHELYTllA,  81 

timate  segment  of  their  alxlomen  being  slightly  notched 
on  the  under  side.  The  different  species  are  found  under 
stones,  in  dung,  carrion,  or  decaying  vegetable  matter, 
or  flying  in  the  hot  sunshine. 

Oreophilus  maxillosus,  a  common  large  carnivorous 
insect,  may  often  be  seen  in  dead  animals.  It  runs 
rapidly  and  flies  strongly,  and  is  elegantly  mottled  with 
short  grey  pubescence ;  the  head  and  mandibles  some- 
times attaining  a  very  large  size  in  the  males  (Plate  IV, 
Fig.  4).  A  variety  {cUiaris,  Leach)  with  golden-brown 
hairs  is  found  sometimes  in  Scotland. 

The  very  rare  Emus  kirtus,  so  thickly  clothed  with 
long  yellow  hairs  as  to  look  somewhat  like  a  humble- 
bee  on  the  wing,  flies  in  the  hot  sunshine,  and  has  been 
captured  in  cow-droppings,  where  it  is  supposed  to  feed 
on  dung-loving  beetles. 

The  true  Staphylini  are  (with  the  exception  of  S.  cee- 
sareus,  which  may  often  be  seen  settling  on  hot  path- 
ways in  the  spring)  of  rare  occurrence,  and  have  mostly 
red  wing-cases,  their  abdomen  being  often  adorned  with 
golden  spots.  S.  erythrnplerus ,  found  in  the  north  of 
England,  closely  resembles  the  above-mentioned  ^.  C(ssa- 
reus,  from  which  it  may  be  known  by  its  golden-haired 
scutellum.  Ocypus  contains  several  large  (and  mostly 
black)  species,  one  of  which,  0.  olens,  is  well  known, 
being  the  "  Devil's  Coach-horse  "  par  excellence.  This 
rapacious  monster,  of  fetid  smell,  with  extended  jaws, 
elevated  head,  and  turned-up  tail  (from  which  two  yel- 
lowish vesicles  protrude),  may  often  be  seen  in  pathways 
or  gardens ;  its  larva  seems  to  be  equally  savage,  having 
somewhat  similar  habits  to  that  of  Cicindela,  and  not 
sparing  even  its  own  species.  The  perfect  insect  is  quite 
fearless,  and  will  seize  upon  anything,  however  large, 

G 


82  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

that  is  placed  in  its  path.  The  pupa  appears  to  have  a 
fringe  of  long  hairs  on  the  front  of  its  thorax. 

Two  species  of  this  genus,  morio  and  compressus,  are 
distinguished  hy  the  want  of  any  inner  tooth  to  their 
mandibles,  which  are  simply  sickle-shaped. 

The  great  number  of  Phllonthi,  black  or  brassy  in- 
sects, with  the  elytra  sometimes  spotted  or  suffused  with 
red,  are  divided  into  sections,  characterized  by  the  longitu- 
dinal I'ow  of  punctures  on  each  side  of  the  middle  of  the 
thoi'ax  ;  those  of  the  first  section  having  the  disk  smooth, 
and  the  others  increasing  from  two  rows  of  three  punc- 
tures each,  until  the  thorax  is  entirely  thickly  punc- 
tured, with  the  exception  of  a  smooth  middle  line.  Some 
little  caution,  however,  is  required  in  separating  speci- 
mens by  this  character,  as  there  are  sometimes  irregular 
punctures,  interfering  with  the  proper  dorsal  rows,  and 
often  not  alike  on  both  sides. 

The  Xantholinid.e  have  the  prothoracic  spiracles  as 
in  the  Staphylinidce  ;  but  their  antennae  are  inserted  be- 
fore the  base  of  the  mandibles,  and  are  not  more  distant 
from  each  other  than  they  are  from  the  eyes.  The 
species  are  mostly  very  long  and  narrow,  with  the  basal 
joint  of  the  antennae  elongate  {whereby  the  antennae 
become  elbowed,  as  in  the  Bhr/ncophora),  the  middle  legs 
rather  longer  than  the  others,  and  the  elytra  uneven 
and  rather  lapped  over  at  the  suture ;  the  genus  Othius, 
however,  has  the  antennae  of  the  usual  structure  and  the 
suture  straight. 

The  members  of  this  family  are  found  in  moss,  decay- 
ing vegetable  matter,  sandpits,  etc., — one  species,  Lepta- 
cinus  formicetorum,  occurring  in  ants'  nests ;  and  they 
are  not  conspicuous  for  variety  of  colour,  being  at  most 
black,  slightly  relieved  by  yellow  or  red. 


BRACHELYTRA.  83 

The  species  of  Xantholinus  have  a  peculiar  habit  of 
curling  (or  rather  "  doubling  ")  themselves  up  in  repose, 
their  linear  shape  and  free  joints  allowing  numerous 
angular  bends ;  their  head  is  very  elongate,  not  con- 
tracted at  the  base,  with  small  eyes  placed  near  the 
front,  which  is  deeply  furrowed  and  connected  with  the 
thorax  by  a  small  cylindrical  neck,  and  they  may 
generally  be  separated  by  the  dorsal  punctuation  of  the 
thorax,  which  varies  considerably  in  amount  and  degree. 
A  variety  (with  the  thorax  entirely  reddish)  of  the  pret- 
tiest species,  X.  tricolor,  occurs  not  rarely  at  the  seaside 
in  the  south  ;  and  the  type-form, — which  is  rufo-testa- 
ceous,  with  the  head,  base  of  the  thorax,  and  the  abdo- 
men pitchy, — has  been  taken  under  refuse  in  Scotland, 
where  (and,  indeed,  all  over  the  countrj^,  also)  Baptolinus 
alternans,  a  flat,  broad-headed,  gaily-coloured  insect,  is 
found  under  bai'k. 

Xantholinus  fulgidvs  (Plate  IV,  Fig.  5),  a  shining  black 
species,  with  bright  red  elytra,  lives  in  hotbeds,  vege- 
table refuse,  dead  wood,  etc. 

The  P.EDERiD/E  have  the  prothoracic  spiracles  hidden, 
and  the  antennae  inserted  under  the  apex  of  the  lateral 
margin  of  the  forehead  ;  the  space  behind  the  anterior 
coxse  is  membranous,  and  the  posterior  coxse  are  conic. 
Their  maxillary  palpi  are  more  or  less  elongate,  with  the 
apical  joint  subulate  or  pointed  and  very  small;  the 
labrum  and  ligula  both  bilobed  (the  apex  of  the  latter 
being  tridentate  in  Scopaus),  the  apical  joint  of  the 
labial  palpi  small  and  pointed,  and  the  paraglossai  linear 
and  ciliated  on  the  inner  side.  The  mandibles  are 
slender,  sharp,  and  long ;  the  heaxl  either  attached  to 
the  thorax  by  a  slender  neck,  or  distinctly  pedunculated; 
and  the  tarsi,  which  are  all  five-jointed,  have  the  fourtli 

G  2 


84  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

joint  simple,  except  in  Pcederus  and  Sunius,  where  it  is 
bilobed. 

The  species  of  Ptederus  are  all  very  brightly  co- 
loured;— red,  bluish-  or  greenish-black,  and  yellow,  in 
sudden  contrast,  being  their  usual  tints;  and  they  are 
especially  noteworthy  for  the  very  deep  notching  of  the 
penultimate  segment  of  the  abdomen  beneath  iu  the 
male. 

P.  caligatus  (Plate  IV,  Fig.  6),  hitherto  exceedingly 
rare,  has  recently  been  found  in  profusion  iu  very  wet 
mossy  places  on  Wimbledon  Common. 

Laihrohium  comprises  certain  elongate,  fiattish,  marsh- 
loving  insects  (some,  also,  occurring  in  sand-pits),  of 
which  the  most  gaily  coloured  have  merely  half  the  elytra 
stained  with  red,  and  which  afford  no  subject  of  remark, 
except  that  good  characters  for  their  specific  discrimi- 
nation are  to  be  found  in  the  notching,  etc.,  of  the  under 
surface  of  the  penultimate  abdominal  segment  in  the 
males. 

Acheniwn,  found  in  the  cracks  of  mud-banks  and  under 
stones,  has  a  wide,  but  very  thin  body,  eminently  adapted 
to  its  habitat ;  and  a  departure  from  the  normal  form  of 
antenna,  in  this  family,  is  afforded  by  the  light-footed 
Crypiobimn  fructicorne  (in  which  the  basal  joint  is  much 
elongated),  found  in  thick  wet  moss. 

The  species  of  StUicus,  living  iu  dead  leaves  and  moss, 
present  a  considerable  family-likeness  to  each  other,  on 
account  of  their  slender  long  legs,  and  dull  head  and 
thorax,  the  former  of  which  is  wide  and  orbiculate,  and 
separated  by  a  neck  from  the  latter,  which  is  narrowed 
in  front.  The  males  in  this  genus  exhibit  strong  diffe- 
rences, as  in  Luthrobium ;  and  the  coloration  of  the 
apex  of  the  elytra  and  legs  assists  materially  in  making 


BRACHELYTRA.  85 

out  the  species^  one  of  which  only,  the  "  reel-neck  " 
{S .  fragUis) ,  departs  from  a  level  obscurity  of  tone. 

The  Stenid^e  have  the  prothoracic  spiracles  hidden, 
with  the  space  behind  the  anterior  coxse  horny ;  the  an- 
tennae inserted  between  the  eyes  or  at  the  anterior  mar- 
gin of  the  forehead ;  the  anterior  coxse  minute,  and  the 
posterior  conic;  the  basal  joint  of  the  maxillary  palpi 
elongate,  and  the  apical  joint  so  small  as  to  be  scarcely 
perceptible;  the  paraglossse  membraneous,  soldered  to 
the  ligula  in  Evasthetus  and  Dianous,  and  free,  with 
rounded  endsin  Stenus  ;  and  the  tarsi  five-jointed,  except 
in  the  former  genus,  wherein  they  are  four-jointed. 

They  live  in  wet  places  for  the  most  part,  sometimes 
occurring  in  the  water  itself;  Dianous  carulescens  (Plate 
V,  Fig.  1)  being  taken  under  stones  and  in  moss  in 
waterfalls,  etc. 

The  quadrate  raentum,  longer  antennae,  smaller  eyes, 
and  finer  punctuation  of  this  species,  added  to  the  vesi- 
cles at  the  extremity  of  its  abdomen,  at  once  distinguish 
it  from  any  of  the  Steni,  to  some  of  which  it  bears  con- 
siderable resemblance. 

Stenus  (in  which  the  ligula  with  the  paraglossfe  and 
labial  palpi  are  so  slightly  articulated  to  the  mentum, 
which  is  triangular,  that,  when  suddenly  killed,  they  are 
often  thrust  out  adhering  to  the  end  of  the  gullet,  and 
form  a  kind  of  proboscis)  comprises  a  great  number  of 
species,  of  great  family-likeness,  owing  to  their  cylin- 
drical shape,  strong  punctuation,  dull  colour,  and  promi- 
nent eyes;  in  the  latter  point  affording  another  instance 
of  the  remark  before  made  as  to  a  similar  development 
in  water-frequenting  Colcoptera.  They  are  divided  into 
two  sections,  in  which  the  fourth  joint  of  the  tarsi  is  re- 
spectively simple  or  bilobed ;  and  these  are  again  formed 


86  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

into  subdivisions,  having  the  abdomen  (seven  segments 
of  wiiich  are  distinctly  exposed)  either  with  or  without 
a  lateral  marginal  ridge.  Some  of  the  species  in  both 
sections  are  also  spotted  on  the  elytra,  and  the  males 
exhibit  good  distinctive  characters  in  the  notching,  etc., 
of  the  terminal  segments  beneath ; — S.  Rogeri  having  a 
strong  row  of  curled  yellow  hairs  turned  inw^ards,  on 
each  side  of  the  middle  of  the  lower  surface  of  the  abdo- 
men, besides  certain  notches  and  elevations  at  the  apex. 

Those  with  bilobed  tarsi  are  often  found  crawling 
slowly  on  plants,  whilst  many  of  the  other  section  run 
quickly  in  dry  places ;  S.  Guynemeri,  found  in  the  north 
and  west  of  England,  lives  almost  (if  not  entirely)  in  the 
water,  especially  in  mountain  streams. 

English  descriptions  (by  the  present  writer)  of  all  our 
species  will  be  found  in  the  first  volume  of  '  The  Ento- 
mologist's Monthly  Magazine.' 

The  OxYTELiD-i;  have  the  prothoracic  spiracles  hid- 
den ;  the  antennae  (which  are  more  or  less  elbowed,  on 
accoui:it  of  the  elongation  of  the  basal  joint)  inserted 
under  the  elevated  lateral  margin  of  the  forehead ;  the 
thorax  beneath  membraneous  behind  the  anterior  coxse, 
which  are  elongate,  subconic,  and  prominent,  the  poste- 
rior pair  being  transverse ;  the  ligula  membraneous, 
with  the  paraglossse  either  soldered  to  it  or  entirely 
absent  {Oxyporus  and  Bledius)  ;  the  apical  joint  of  the 
maxillary  and  labial  palpi  generally  subulate;  the  an- 
terior and  intermediate  tibige  spinose  in  all  except  Tro- 
gophloeus ;  and  the  tarsi  with  only  three  joints  (of  which 
the  apical  one  is  much  the  longest),  except  in  Oxyporus, 
which  has  five. 

This  genus  seems  to  be  not  satisfactorily  placed  in 
its  present  position  ;  its  five-jointed  tarsi,  the  bicuspid 


BRACHELYTllA.  87 

apex  of  its  mentum^  the  lunated  apical  joint  of  its  labial 
palpi,  and  filiform  maxillary  palpi,  absent  paraglossse  (in 
which,  however,  it  resembles  Bledius),  porrect  mandibles, 
one  of  which — the  left — is  toothed  on  the  lower  side, 
and  the  articulation  of  its  middle  legs  to  the  sides  of  the 
mesothorax,  appearing  to  remove  it  from  any  of  the 
OxytelidiS. 

Oxyporus  riifus  (Plate  V,  Fig.  2)  is  conspicuous  for 
its  robust  build,  bright  colours,  sharp  elongate  jaws,  and 
the  large  size  of  the  head  in  the  male :  it  is  found  on 
fungi,  eating  transverse  galleries  through  the  "  gills  ^'  on 
the  lower  side,  and  runs  with  great  swiftness. 

The  species  of  Bledius  are  mostly  gregarious,  fre- 
quenting the  sea-sands,  banks  of  rivers,  sandpits,  etc. 
They  are  elongate  and  cylindrical  in  shape,  as  might  be 
expected  from  their  burrowing  habits,  and  have  the 
front  tibise  thickened  and  strongly  spined.  In  the  males 
of  some,  the  head  bears  two  erect  horns,  and  the  thorax 
also  has  one  in  the  middle,  pointing  forwards :  these  horns 
are  much  developed  in  the  large  males ;  but,  in  the 
smaller  specimens,  are  of  more  feeble  build.  The  Bledii 
pass  all  the  stages  of  their  existence  in  the  sand,  and  are 
often  preyed  upon  by  some  of  the  Dyschirii  {Geode- 
phaga) ;  they  fly  readily  towards  the  evening,  and  have 
been  observed  to  remain  in  their  burrows  beneath  the 
tide  for  some  time. 

Platystethushas  the  apical  joint  of  the  labial  palpi  not 
subulate,  and  its  members  (all  of  which  are  small,  black, 
and  shining)  live  in  dung  or  the  cracks  of  mud-backs. 

The  true  Oxyteli  abound  in  dung,  at  the  fermenting 
sap  of  felled  trees,  under  rotten  seaweed,  etc. ;  they  are 
all  more  or  less  flat,  dull-black,  with  the  parts  of  the 
body  somewhat   loosely  articulated ;    the   thorax   with 


88  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

three  longitudinal  furrows^  and  the  abdomen  shining; 
the  males  have  the  apical  segments  of  the  abdomen  be- 
neath sinuatedj.  notched,  and  tuberculated  ;  the  females, 
also,  exhibiting  a  tendency  to  similar  irregularities. 

The  species  of  TrogopliloBUs, — diminutive,  cylindrical, 
dull-black,  pubescent  insects,  with  very  short  tarsi, — 
occur  in  mud-banks  and  wet  places,  and  have  usually  a 
deep  impression  at  the  back  of  the  thorax.  Syntominm 
(Biieum,  a  small,  metallic,  "  stumpy  "  beetle,  very  strongly 
punctured  and  slow  of  foot,  and  with  three  apical  joints 
of  its  antennae  suddenly  thickened,  may  be  found  under 
dead  leaves  in  sandpits.  Lastly,  the  rare  Acroynathus 
and  Deleaster,  larger,  rufo-testaceous  species,  live  in 
very  wet  places,  in  rotting  leaves  at  the  edges  of  ponds ; 
the  former  is  very  sluggish,  and  seems  swollen  with  the 
water  in  which  it  soaks,  but  the  latter  flies  readily,  and 
runs  with  great  swiftness. 

The  OmaliDjE  have  five-jointed  tarsi;  the  protlio- 
racic  spiracles  hidden ;  the  thorax  membraneous  be- 
neath, behind  the  anterior  coxse;  the  antennse  inserted 
under  the  lateral  margin  of  the  forehead,  which  margin 
is  not  elevated  ;  the  anterior  coxse  almost  conic  and  ex- 
serted,  and  the  posterior  transverse  ;  the  maxillse  armed 
with  a  horny  hook  at  the  apex ;  the  elytra  reaching  be- 
yond the  mctathorax,  and  rounded  at  the  outer  hinder 
corners ;  and  two  ocelli  on  the  middle  of  the  head.  They 
are  mostly  soinewhat  depressed,  'with  long,  slender 
antennae ;  and  live  in  wet  places,  under  seaweed,  stones, 
and  bark,  and  in  flowers. 

The  species  of  AntJiopluigns,  Geodromicus,  and  Lestevu, 
on  account  of  their  long  slender  legs,  long  elytra,  and 
somewhat  heart-shaped  thorax,  present  considerable  re- 
sembkmce  to  certain  of  the  ^xw^Xev  Lebiides  in  the  Geode- 


BRACHELYTKA.  89 

phaga ;  and  one  of  the  former  genus,  A.  alpinus,  has  the 
head  of  the  male  (which  sex  is  very  rare)  enlarged,  with 
a  spine  on  each  side  in  front,  and  strong,  curved,  promi- 
nent mandibles. 

Acidota,  found  under  pine-bark  and  in  moss,  has  very 
stoutly  built  legs,  and  spiny  tibise;  the  species,  also,  are 
somewhat  larger,  linear  and  shining.  Olophrum  and 
Lathrimceum,  on  the  contrary,  are  convex  and  short; 
and  the  little  black  Micralymma  brevipenne,  with  very 
short  elytra,  is  noteworthy  from  living  far  below  high- 
water  mark  on  the  coast  in  all  its  stages.  Eusphalerum 
and  Anthobiwn  sometimes  abound  in  flowers,  the  latter 
occurring  on  UmbeUifer(e  in  woods,  and  the  former  in 
primroses. 

The  species  of  Omalium,  in  which  the  four  basal  joints 
of  the  tarsi  are  equal,  and  scarcely  so  long  as  the  apical 
joint  alone,  are  varied  in  habits ;  many  are  found  under 
bark,  others  in  flowers,  some  at  sap,  or  in  marshy  places, 
and  one  or  two  in  profusion  under  decaying  seaweed. 
0.  planum  (Plate  V,  Fig.  3)  is,  perhaps,  as  good  a  type 
of  a  subcortical  insect  as  could  be  seen. 

The  Proteinics  have  the  prothoracic  spiracles  hidden; 
the  antennae  inserted  under  the  lateral  margin  of  the  cly- 
peus  ;  the  anterior  coxse  cylindrical,  not  prominent  (some- 
what like  those  of  the  N'Uidalides),  and  the  posterior 
transverse;  the  tarsi  five-jointed;  the  thorax  horny 
beneath,  behind  the  anterior  coxse ;  the  paragiossse  dis- 
tinct, and  in  Megarthrus  longer  than  the  ligula. 

The  species  of  Froteinus,  which  are  very  small,  flat- 
tish-oval,  and  black,  are  found  in  rotten  fungi,  etc., 
often  in  great  numbers  ;  they  may  be  distinguished  inter 
se  by  their  antennae,  of  which  the  basal  portion  varies  in 
the  number  of  its  light-coloured  joints. 


90  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

The  Megarthri,  living  iu  fungi,  under  bark,  and  in 
vegetable  refuse,  have  the  thorax  deeply  channelled  and 
notched  at  the  sides  and  hinder  angles ;  the  hinder  and 
intermediate  femora  and  tibife  are  also  more  or  less 
curved,  thickened  or  toothed  in  the  males. 

PhloBobium  clypeatum  (Plate  V,  Fig.  4),  found  in  tufts 
of  grass,  etc.,  has  similar  sexual  differences,  and  is  worthy 
of  remark  on  account  of  its  possessing  a  single  ocellus  on 
the  back  of  the  head. 

The  Phlceocharid^  have  the  prothoracic  spiracles 
hidden ;  the  antennae  inserted  under  the  lateral  margin 
of  the  forehead ;  no  ocelli ;  the  anterior  coxse  conic  and 
prominent,  the  posterior  transverse  and  the  tarsi  five- 
jointed  ;  the  thorax  membraneous  beneath,  behind  the 
anterior  coxse ;  and  the  abdomen  widely  margined. 

We  posses  but  two  genera,  each  containing  a  single 
species.  Phloeocharis  sabiUissima,  a  very  small  dark- 
brown,  dull-looking  insect,  with  the  maxillary  palpi  subu- 
late, found  in  dry  dead  sticks  and  wood  ;  and  Pseu- 
dopsis  sulcatus,  occurring  rarely  in  haystacks  and  vege- 
table refuse  near  London,  and  conspicuous  on  account  of 
its  elongate  shape,  dull  black  colour,  and  very  strong 
longitudinal  furrows  and  elevations. 

The  PiESTiD^,  represented  in  England  by  one  genus 
and  species,  Prognulha  quadricornis,  have  the  prothoracic 
spiracles  hidden ;  the  thorax  entirely  horny  below ;  the 
anterior  coxse  globose,  not  prominent,  and  the  posterior 
transverse  ;  the  tarsi  five-jointed ;  and  the  apical  seg- 
ment of  the  abdomen  inconspicuous. 

P.  quadricornis  (Plate  Y,  Fig.  5)  is  found  under  bark, 
sometimes  in  considerable  numbers  ;  it  is  elongate,  flat, 
and  narrow,  pitchy-black  and  shining,  with  the  elytra, 
antennae,  legs,  and  apex  of  abdomen  reddish.     In  the 


BKACHELYTRA.  91 

male  the  head  is  much  enlarged,  the  forehead  hollowed, 
with  a  horn  on  each  side  stretching  forwards,  and  the 
mandibles  also  armed  each  with  another  horn,  larger  than 
itself. 

Occasionally  specimens  of  the  male  occur  in  which 
these  characters  are  developed  to  an  inordinate  extent. 

Lastly,  the  MiCROPEPLiOiE,  also  represented  by  a  single 
genus,  have  the  spiracles  hidden  and  thorax  horny,  as  in 
the  last  family ;  the  anterior  coxae  not  prominent,  and 
the  posterior  globose ;  the  front  and  hind  legs  distant  at 
the  base  ;  the  tarsi  three-jointed ;  and  the  antennae  nine- 
jointed,  knobbed,  and  fitting  into  grooves. 

Their  sculpture  is  very  remarkable,  the  entire  upper 
surface  being  strongly  costated  or  divided  by  longitu- 
dinal ridges ;  on  account  of  which,  added  to  their  knobbed 
antennae  and  short  compact  form,  they  have  often  been 
classed  among  the  NitiduUda,  somewhat  resembling  also 
certain  species  of  Onthophilus. 

Micropeplus  margarita  (Plate  V,  Fig.  6),  found — like 
its  congeners — in  vegetable  refuse,  is  not  uncommon ; 
and  M.  tesserula,  the  rarest  species,  taken  in  Scotland^ 
may  be  known  by  its  polished  appearance. 


93 


CHAPTEE   XII. 

THE   NECEOPHAGA,    OE   CLATICOENES. 

This  section  comprises  groups  of  very  different  appeai'- 
ance  and  habits,  answering  for  the   most  part  to  the 
genera  Silpha,  Dermestes,  and  Byrrhus  of  old  authors, 
and  including  the  PInlhydrida  [Palpicornes  of  the  French 
entomologists),  the  aquatic  representatives  of  the  Lamel- 
licornes.     Its  members  (which  feed  principally  upon  de- 
caying animal  or   vegetable  matter)  have  the  antennse 
clubbed  or  incrassate  at  the  apex,  sometimes  elbow^ed  or 
with  a  longer  basal  joint,  and  inserted  near  the  mandi- 
bles, which  are  usually  strong ;    the  inner  lobe  of  the 
maxilla  is  not  palpiform  ;  the  tarsi  are  mostly  5-jointed, 
and  the  tibise  spurred;    the  scutellum  large,   and  the 
elytra  nearly  always  covering  the  sides  of  the  abdomen 
(the  apical  segments  of  ^yhich  are  often  exposed),  and 
occasionally  truncate.     It  may  be  considered  as  divided 
into  eighteen  families,  the  SilpJddce,  ScydriKemda,  Aniso- 
tomidce,  Scaphidiidce,  Hister'uke,  Nitidididce,  Troyositidce, 
Golydiidce,     Cucnjidce,     Crytophagida,    Mycetophagidoe, 
Dermestidce,  Byrrhidce,  Heterocerid(B,  PurnidcB,  Georys- 
sidce,  Hydrophi/idce,  and  Sph(eridiidcs ;  but  it  must  be 
acknowledged   that    there  is  considerable  difference  of 
opinion  as  to  tlic  affinities  of  these  insects. 


THE    NECROPHAGA,    OR    CLAVICORNES.  93 

The  S1LPHID.E  exhibit  a  considerable  affinity  to  the 
Brachelytra ;  having  the  elytra  more  or  less  truncate, 
with  the  apex  of  the  abdomen  exposed  and  the  coxae 
free,  the  anterior  pair  being  exserted.  Their  larvae, 
also,  are  much  alike,  differing  principally  in  the  posses- 
sion of  a  labrum  by  those  of  the  Silphidce.  They  are 
divided  into  two  subfamilies,  the  Silphides  and  Cholevides; 
having  the  mandibles  strong  and  reaching  beyond  the 
labrum,  which  is  distinct ;  the  antennae  not  elbowed ; 
the  tarsi,  with  one  exception,  five-jointed,  and  mostly 
with  the  front  pair  widened  at  the  base  in  the  male ; 
and  the  posterior  coxae  approximated,  with  the  trochan- 
ters projecting.  The  Silphides  comprise  the  well- 
known  "  Sexton  "  or  "  Burying  "  beetles,  found  in  dead 
animals ;  which,  if  not  too  large,  they  contrive  to  drag 
beneath  the  ground,  several  individuals  of  both  sexes 
often  uniting  in  the  work,  and  tli^e  females  laying  their 
eggs  in  the  buried  carcase.  Some  of  them  are  also 
occasionally  found  in  fungi,  or  in  decaying  fish  on  the 
seashore.  They  belong  to  the  genus  Necrojihorus,  the 
largest  in  size  of  all  the  section  (except  Hydrous),  and 
have  strongly-clubbed  ten -jointed  antennae,  being  often 
adorned  with  orange-coloured  bands  (Plate  VI,  Fig.  1, 
N.  mortuorum).  They  fly  strongly,  smell  somewhat  of 
musk,  and  exude  a  fetid  black  fluid  from  the  mouth. 
Their  larvae,  also  carrion-feeders,  have  cylindrical  fleshy 
bodies  and  weak  legs. 

The  Silphce  are  smaller,  flat,  with  less  strongly  clubbed 
eleven-jointed  antennae,  and  broad,  flat,  horny,  active, 
strong-legged  larvae. 

The  Cholevides  are  all  smaller  and  narrower  insects, 
occurring  gregariously  in  decaying  animal  or  vegetable 
matter.     Their  tibiae  are  not  armed  with  spines  on  the 


94  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

outer  side^  and  their  head  is  short  and  sunk  in  the  tho- 
rax. Our  species  of  Choleva  (having  the  antennse  but 
little  clubbed,  and  with  the  eighth  joint  very  small)  are 
described  in  Murray's  monograph  of  the  genus  Caf.ops 
(Annals  and  Magazine  of  Nat,  Hist.,  July,  1856),  and 
the  members  of  the  rarer,  smaller,  and  closely  allied 
genus  Colon  (in  which  the  antennse  have  the  eighth  joint 
nearly  as  large  as  the  ninth,  and  the  hinder  femora  of 
the  males  are  often  very  strongly  and  sharply  toothed  on 
the  lower  side)  are  described  by  Dr.  Kraatz,  in  the 
Stettin  Ent.  Zeit.,  1850,  and  also  by  M.  Tournier  in 
the  French  Annales,  1863  :  in  this  genus  tlie  front  tarsi 
are  not  always  widened  in  the  male.  The  little  Adelops 
and  Leptinus  are  conspicuous  from  their  want  of  eyes  ; 
the  former,  also,  having  but  four  joints  to  the  anterior 
tarsi.  Both  of  our  single  species  of  these  genera  are 
very  rare,  and  live  in  rotten  vegetable  matter.  The 
metallic,  Hister-\\ke  Sphcerites  has  the  basal  joint  of  the 
antennse  long,  and  is  found  in  the  north  of  Scotland,  in 
dead  animals,  etc. 

The  ScYDM.^NiD.E  are  all  extremely  small,  and  more 
or  less  pubescent,  living  in  vegetable  refuse  and  muck- 
heaps  :  the  largest,  Eumicrus  tarsatus  (Plate  VI,  Fig. 
2)  is  common  in  cucumber  frames,  etc.  They  are  ap- 
terous, Avith  the  elytra  covering  the  abdomen  (which  has 
six  segments)  ;  the  tarsi  five-jointed;  the  coxse  conic; 
the  hinder  legs  widely  separated;  the  maxillary  palpi 
long,  and  the  eyes  strongly  granulated.  Descriptions 
and  figures  of  most  of  our  species  are  to  be  found  in 
Denny's  '  Monographia  Pselaphidarura  et  Scydmrenida- 
rum  Britannise,'  1825,  Norwich. 

The  Anisotomid.e  differ  from  the  Silp/iida  chief!}'' 
in  having  the  posterior  trochanters  small  and  not  pro- 


THE    NECROPHAGA,    OR    CLAVICORNES.  95 

jecting  from  the  femora ;  they  are  also  more  convex 
(some,  indeedj  being  quite  globular),  with  short  legs  and 
antennse,  the  posterior  coxae  close  together,  the  tarsi 
variable  in  number  of  joints,  and  the  mandibles  with  a 
blunt  tooth  at  the  base.  They  are  never  found  in  ani- 
mal matter,  but  chiefly  in  fungi  and  dead  leaves  and  under 
rotten  bark,  being  mostly  commoner  towards  the  north, 
and  more  readily  found  in  the  evening  about  autumn, 
especially  near  fir-trees.  The  males  frequently  have  the 
hinder  femora  dilated  and  toothed,  the  hinder  tibis 
elongated  and  curved,  the  basal  joints  of  the  front  tarsi 
widened,  or  the  left  mandible  elongated,  hooked,  or  even 
bearing  a  horn ;  in  all  these  cases,  however,  individuals 
of  smaller  development  often  exhibit  intermediate  con- 
ditions, sometimes  not  even  differing  from  the  females 
in  these  particulars. 

The  number  of  joints  in  the  tarsi  is  very  variable  :  thus, 
in  Hydnobius  all  the  tarsi  are  five-jointed ;  in  Anisotoma 
and  Cyrtvsa  the  two  front  pairs  have  each  five  joints, 
and  the  posterior  only  four ;  Colenis  has  the  four  hinder 
pairs  four-jointed  and  the  anterior  five-jointed  ;  and  in 
Agaricophagus  the  front  pair  are  four-jointed,  whilst  the 
two  hinder  pairs  have  only  three  joints.  All  the  above 
genera  have  the  same  number  of  joints  in  both  sexes,  but 
in  Liodes,  Amphicyllis ,  and  Agathidium,  the  males  have 
five  joints  to  the  two  front  pairs  and  four  to  the  hinder 
pair  ;  the  females  of  Liodes  and  Agathidium  having 
either  four  joints  to  all  the  tarsi,  or  five  to  the  front 
pair  and  four  to  the  two  hinder  pairs, — and  of  Amphi- 
cyllis, four  joints  to  all  the  tarsi.  The  club  of  the  an- 
tennae, also,  varies  from  five  to  three  joints. 

Anisotoma  cinnamomea  (Plate  VI,  Fig.  3,  male),  the 
largest  of  the  family,  is  found  in  truffles,  and  by  sweeping 


96  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

under  trees  among  dead  leaves;  the  species  of  Liodes  arc 
not  uncomraou  in  the  black  dust  of  old  fungoid  growth  on 
trunks  of  trees^  etc.,  in  the  north  of  England ;  and  the 
Agatliidia  are  conspicuous  from  their  habit  of  rolling 
themselves  up  into  black  shining  balls. 

The  ScAPHiDiiD^  are  represented  in  England  by  three 
species  of  two  genera,  Scaphidium  and  Scaphisoma,  the 
former,  found  under  logs  of  wood,  in  fungoid  growth ; 
and  the  latter  in  agarics  and  decomposing  wood.  Botli 
are  very  agile,  convex  on  the  upper  and  under  sides;  rather 
boat-shaped  ;  hard,  shining,  with  very  long  and  slender 
legs,  the  intermediate  and  hinder  pairs  of  which  are  far 
apart ;  the  antennae,  also,  are  exceedingly  delicate  in  the 
latter  genus,  the  members  of  which  are  very  small  and 
black ;  Scctphidium  being  larger,  with  four  red  spots. 

The  parts  of  the  moutli  are  not  conspicuously  deve- 
loped, the  palpi  (especially  the  labial  pair),  mandibles, 
and  labrum  being  small ;  both  lobes  of  the  maxillae  are 
membraneous ;  the  head  is  small  and  deflexed ;  the 
thorax  fitting  close  to  the  elytra,  and  in  Scaphisoma  en- 
larged behind  in  the  middle  so  as  to  cover  the  scutellum  ; 
the  elytra  truncated  obliquely  at  the  tip,  leaving  the 
apex  of  the  abdomen  exposed,  having  a  sutural  and 
lateral  stria,  and  being  covered  with  irregular  scratches ; 
the  anterior  coxse  exserted  and  approximated,  the  tarsi 
5-jointed,  and  the  first  segment  of  the  abdomen  very 
large. 

The  HisTERiD.E  are  hard,  polished  insects,  usually 
square  and  stout  in  build,  thick,  Ijut  flat,  or  at  most 
slightly  convex ;  never  pubescent ;  generallj'  black,  though 
sometimes  spotted  with  red;  and  having  the  head  re- 
tractile, and  the  antennae  and  legs  capable  of  being  closely 
packed  to  tbe  body.     The  antennae  have  the  basal  joint 


THE    NECROPHAGA,    OB    CLAVICORNES.  97 

very  long,  and  are  strongly  clubbed ;  the  mandibles  are 
very  strong,  and,  with  the  labrum  above,  and  mentum 
below,  nearly  close  up  the  mouth  ;  the  paraglossse  long 
and  divergent ;  the  elytra  truncate  at  the  apex,  leaving 
two  segments  of  the  abdomen  exposed ;  and  the  legs  wide 
and  flat,  the  separate  parts  packing  one  upon  another, 
and  the  tibise  being  strongly  dentate  or  spinose  exter- 
nally ;  the  middle  and  hinder  pair,  moreover,  are  widely 
apart^  and  the  tarsi  in  all  (except  Acritus,  which  has  four- 
jointed  posterior  tarsi)  are  five-jointed.  The  abdomen  has 
five  segments,  of  which  the  first  is  usually  much  the 
widest,  and  the  wings  are  ample.  The  true  Histers, 
from  Plafysoma  to  Paromalus  inclusive^  have  the  proster- 
num  produced  into  a  chin-piece,  for  the  protection  and 
reception  of  the  head,  which  is  wanting  in  Saprinus  and 
the  rest  of  the  family. 

They  are  found  chiefly  in  dung  or  decaying  vegetable 
mattery  some  species,  however,  preferring  dead  animals, 
others  frequenting  ants'  nests,  and  a  few  living  under 
bark  or  in  wood.  They  fly  strongly^  and,  when  handled, 
often  simulate  death,  from  which  habit  their  name 
Ulster  [histrio,  a  mimic)  is  derived. 

One  of  the  prettiest  species,  Hister  bimaculatus  (Plate 
VI,  Fig.  4),  is  not  uncommon  in  cow-dung,  under  stones, 
etc.;  and  with  it  the  rounded,  deeply  sculptured,  Ontho- 
philus  striatus  may  be  found. 

The  larvae  appear  to  be  found  in  similar  situations  to 
the  perfect  insects;  they  are  linear,  depressed^  nearly 
smooth,  soft,  and  dirty  white  in  colour,  except  the  head 
and  first  segment,  which  are  harder  and  darker ;  the 
legs,  antennse,  and  palpi  are  short,  and  mandibles  sickle- 
shaped  and  prominent ;  there  appear,  also,  to  be  various 
impressions  and  transverse  rows  of  hairs  on  the  ventral 

H 


98  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

segments^  with  a  fleshy  tubercle  on  the  uuder  side  of  the 
apex. 

M.  de  Marseul  has  published  an  admirable  monograph 
of  this  family  in  the  Annales  of  the  French  Ent.  Soc. 
(ser.  3,  i.  p.  131  et  seq.). 

The  NiTiDULiD^  have  the  head  (except  in  Rhizo- 
phagus)  much  sunk  in  the  thorax ;  the  antennae  not 
elbowed ;  composed  of  eleven  (except  in  Rhizophagus, 
which  has  ten)  joints,  of  which  the  two  or  three  last 
form  a  knob  ;  the  tarsi,  with  five  joints  (rarely  with  only 
four  to  the  posterior  in  the  male),  of  which  the  last  but 
one  is  very  small  -,  the  elytra  usually  truncate  behind, 
and  the  abdomen  with  five  or  six  segments,  free.  The 
species  are  mostly  small,  flat,  and  rather  wide,  a  few 
being  convex,  and  one  genus  (Rhizophagus)  linear.  They 
chiefly  frequent  flowers,  but,  dead  animals,  sap  of  trees, 
fungi,  decaying  vegetable  matter,  and  ants'  nests  are 
also  haunted  by  many  species.  They  may  be  divided 
into  six  sub-families, — the  Bradiypterides,  Curpoplulides, 
Nitidulides,  Cychr amides,  Phalacrides,  and  Ipides. 

The  BaACHYPTERiDEs  have  the  two  or  three  apical 
segments  of  the  abdomen  exposed,  and  two  lobes  to  the 
maxillae.  Our  species  occur  in  the  flowers  of  Antirrhi- 
7ium,  Spiraea,  etc.,  and  are  in  no  way  remarkable,  except 
that  the  male  of  Cercus  pedicularius  has  the  two  basal 
joints  of  the  antennse  much  enlarged. 

The  Carpophilides  have  the  abdomen  exposed,  as  in 
the  last  subfamily,  but  possess  only  one  lobe  to  the 
maxillffi.  One  genus,  Carpophilus,  is  found  in  Europe ; 
and  we  possess  but  two  species ;  one  of  which,  hemipte- 
rus,  an  oblong,  depressed  insect,  with  very  short  elytra, 
which  are  spotted  with  yellow  at  the  apex,  is  pro- 
bably imported,  being  cosmopolitan^  and  mostly  occur- 


THE    NECROPHAGA^    OR    CLAVICORNES.  99 

ring  in  houses;    and  the  other  rests  on   very  slender 
grounds. 

The  NiTiDULiDEs  have  the  pygidium  (or  apical  seg- 
ment) alone  exposed,  and  that  sometimes  only  in  part ; 
a  single  lobe  to  the  maxillse ;  and  the  base  of  the  elytra 
not  covered  by  the  thorax.  The  genera  from  Epuraa 
to  Omosita  (inclusive)  have  no  elongation  of  the  proster- 
num  between  the  anterior  coxse,  which  prolongation  is 
found  in  the  remainder  of  this  sub-family ;  the  furrows 
for  reception  of  the  antennae  are  also  different  in  certain 
of  the  genera.  The  species  of  Epurcea,  mostly  yellowish 
in  colour,  chiefly  frequent  flowers  and  the  exuding  sap 
of  trees,  and  also  live  under  bark  :  whilst  the  Meligethes 
are  exclusively  to  be  found  in  flowers.  The  latter  are 
very  puzzling  to  determine,  owing  to  their  uniformity 
of  size  and  build,  and  want  of  difference  of  colour  and 
sculpture;  they  may,  however,  be  separated  by  the  varia- 
tion in  pattern  and  degree  of  the  toothing  on  the  outer 
edge  of  the  front  tibiae,  especially  near  the  apex.  Soronia 
punctatissima  (Plate  VI,  Fig.  5)  is  found  in  and  about  the 
burrows  of  the  larva  of  the  goat-moth  in  willow-trees, 
feeding  on  the  frass  and  exuding  sap  caused  by  the 
ravages  of  the  latter  in  the  solid  wood.  The  larva  of 
S.  grisea,  a  commoner  willow-bark  species,  is  dirty  white, 
nearly  oval,  narrowed  behind  and  rather  flat,  with  a 
small  horny  head,  bearing  three  simple  eyes  on  each 
side,  two  large  horny  prothoracic  plates,  and  a  transverse 
row  of  small  plates  on  each  of  the  remaining  segments, 
which  have  also  a  lateral  projection  terminating  in  a 
bristle ;  the  last  segment  has  two  pairs  of  horny  hooks 
on  the  upper  side,  and  a  cylindrical  anal  tube. 

The  (British)  Cychramides  have  the  prosternal  elon- 
gation very  short,  the  prothorax  covering  the  base  of  the 


100  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

elytra,  and  the  three  basal  joints  of  all  the  tarsi  widened. 
We  possess  one  genus  only,  Cychramus ;  the  species  of 
which, — brown,  broad,  and  very  pubescent, — abound  in 
May-blossom  and  fungi. 

The  Phalacrides  (by  many  authors  entirely  removed 
from  the  Nitidulidce)  differ  from  the  other  sub-families 
in  having  their  coxse  approximated ;  the  anterior  being 
globose  instead  of  nearly  oval  and  transverse,  and  the 
posterior  transverse,  semicylindric,  and  close  together, 
instead  of  being  separated  by  an  elongation  of  the  first 
ventral  segment  of  the  abdomen.  Their  tarsi,  also,  have 
the  three  basal  joints  velvety  beneath ;  their  palpi  are 
filiform,  instead  of  short;  they  have  two  lobes  to  the 
maxillpe  (as  in  the  Brachypterides)  ;  and  the  elytra  are 
convex,  covering  the  whole  of  the  abdomen.  Our  species 
are  all  small,  shining,  and  found  chiefly  on  flowers. 

The  Ipides  have  a  single  lobe  to  the  maxillae;  the 
front  of  the  head  produced  so  as  to  cover  the  labrum ; 
and  the  fourth  joint  of  the  tarsi  very  small ;  the  elj^tra 
(except  in  Cryptarcha)  not  entirely  covering  the  abdo- 
men; the  antenuffi  (except  in  RMzophagus)  eleven-jointed, 
and  the  tarsi  five-jointed,  except  in  the  male  of  the  last- 
named  genus,  of  which  the  posterior  tarsi  have  only  four 
joints. 

Cryptarcha  (which  very  much  resembles  certain  of 
the  Nitidulides,  and  is  found  at  the  sap  of  trees,  espe- 
cially if  Cossus-mieciQOi)  has  its  mesosternum  covered 
by  an  elongation  of  the  prosternum ;  which  elongation  is 
not  so'  evident  in  other  genera.  Ips,  flat,  elongate, 
shining,  and  mostly  black  with  red  spots,  frequents 
freshly- cut  pine-trees,  etc.,  beneath  the  bark  of  which 
its  larvse  are  found.  M.  Perris  ('Annales,'  ser.  3,  i. 
p.  598  et  seq.)  states  that  /.  ferrugineus  enters  into  the 


THE    NECROPHAGA,    OR    CLAVICORNES.  101 

holes  made  in  tlie  wood  of  fir-trees  by  certain  species  of 
Xylophaga,  and  lays  eggs  in  their  galleries;  its  larvae 
feeding  on  those  of  the  latter  insects,  and,  being  of 
slower  development,  taking  more  than  a  year  to  trans- 
form. 

The  females  in  this  genus,  as  in  Cryptarcha,  have  the 
elytra  rather  pointed  at  the  apex. 

The  species  of  Rhizophagus  appear  from  the  differences 
above  mentioned  to  be  very  aberrant  from  the  others  of 
this  sub-family  ;  the  cavities  into  which  their  coxae  fit  are, 
moreover,  completely  closed  behind,  and  the  male  has 
a  small  additional  segment  to  the  abdomen.  They  are 
small,  linear  insects ;  chiefly  found  under  bark,  though 
some  occur  in  ants^  nests,  and  others  in  bones,  etc.  The 
larva  appears  to  be  like  that  of  Soronia  grisea  above 
described,  in  miniature.  M.  Perris  states  that  he  has 
observed  the  larvse  of  R.  depressus  to  have  similar  habits 
to  those  of  Ips  ferrugineus ;  and  that  more  than  once  he 
has  seen  two  or  three  of  the  larvae  with  half  their  bodies 
plunged  into  the  larvae  or  pupae  of  Hylesinus  or  Hylastes, 
devouring  them.  He  has  also  taken  home  the  larvae  of 
both  Rhizophagus  and  Hylesinus,  and  often  not  one  of 
the  latter  escaped  being  eaten. 

The  Rhizophagus  appeared  to  turn  to  pupa  in  the 
ground,  and  not  under  the  bark. 

The  TrogositidvE  have  two  lobes  to  the  maxillae; 
the  tarsi  five-jointed,  simple,  and  with  the  first  joint 
veiy  small ;  and  the  elytra  covering  the  abdomen.  The 
apical  joint  of  the  tarsi  is  also  very  long,  and  has  between 
its  claws  a  small  and  slender  styliform  lobe,  terminated 
by  two  diverging  bristles.  The  tibiae  are  unspined  on 
the  outer  side,  but  have  a  more  or  less  hooked  spur  at 
the  apex  of  the  anterior  pair.     Nemosoma  elongata,  a 


103  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

linear  narrow  species  (with  ten  joints  to  the  antennae), 
very  rare  in  England,  is  found  on  the  Continent,  under 
bark,  with  Hylesinus  varms  and  vitiatus;  which,  with 
their  larv£e,  it  appears  to  destroy.  Trogosita  maurlta- 
nica,  a  flat,  black  insect,  has  evidently  been  imported  in 
merchandise ;  and  Thymalus  Umbatus,  almost  a  Cassida 
in  shape,  found  under  bark  in  the  New  Forest,  has  a 
horny  hook  at  the  apex  of  its  maxillse,  and  all  its  tibiae 
armed  at  the  tip  with  very  small  simple  spines. 

The  CoLYDiiD^  are  composed  of  a  somewhat  hete- 
rogeneous alliance  of  species,  with  the  parts  of  the 
mouth  but  little  developed :  their  antennae  have  either 
ten  or  eleven  joints,  and  are  not  elbowed,  being  either 
clavate  or  knobbed;  the  front  and  middle  coxae  are 
globose,  and  the  hinder  transverse  and  semicylindric; 
the  tarsi  four-jointed  and  simple,  and  the  abdomen  com- 
posed of  five  segments,  of  which  only  the  last,  or  the 
last  two,  are  free.  They  principally  affect  wood,  but 
also  occur  in  vegetable  refuse,  ants'  nests,  and  sandy 
places.  Cicones  variegatus  (Plate  VI,  Fig.  6)  is  found 
under  bark  of  beech,  but  is  very  rare  :  it  has  been  taken 
at  Bromley,  Mickleham,  and  elsewhere.  Sarrotrium  has 
strong  spindle-shaped  antennae;  Colydium,  found  in 
burrows  of  Platypus  in  the  New  Forest,  is  very  elongate ; 
Anommatus  is  eyeless ;  Cerylon  very  much  resembles  a 
small  Hister,  and  has  the  penultimate  point  of  the  palpi 
large,  and  the  apical  point  needle-pointed ;  and  Mono- 
tonia, of  which  the  species  are  mostly  gregarious,  and 
especially  abound  at  the  wet  bottoms  of  haystacks,  can 
scarcely  be  said  to  be  certainly  located  in  its  correct 
position;  avithors  differing  as  to  the  number  of  joints  in 
its  tarsi.  Its  antennae,  also,  which  are  usually  consi- 
dered to  be  ten-jointed,  have  only  the  last  joint  clubbed ; 


THE    NECROPHAGA,    OR    CLAVICORNES.  103 

but  this  club  appears  to  be  a  compound  of  two  joints,  so 
that  the  normal  number  of  eleven  is  accounted  for. 

The  CucujiD^  have  five  ventral  segments  to  the  ab- 
domen^ all  of  which  are  free ;  the  tarsi  either  all  five- 
jointed  in  both  sexes,  or  with  four  joints  to  the  posterior 
in  the  male,  and  their  antennse  filiform  or  with  a  club 
at  the  apex.  They  mostly  live  under  bark,  and  are  ge- 
nerally rare ;  the  little  spotted  Psammcechus,  however, 
occurs  commonly  in  marshy  places ;  and  Silvanus  and 
Nausibius  (both  very  like  Monotonia)  comprise  species 
for  the  greater  part  introduced  here  from  abroad.  The 
diminutive  LcEinophlcei  (in  which  the  maxillae  are  hooked) 
are  found  (often  gregariously)  in  small  twigs,  and  under 
bark. 

The  Cryptophagid^  have  the  antennse  eleven-jointed 
and  clubbed ;  the  legs  far  apart,  with  the  anterior  coxae 
globose,  and  the  posterior  cylindric;  the  tarsi  either 
five-jointed  in  both  sexes,  or  with  those  of  the  hinder 
legs  four-jointed  in  the  male  ;  the  elytra  entire;  and  the 
abdomen  composed  of  five  segments,  all  of  which  are 
free,  the  first  being  rather  longer  than  the  others. 

The  species  are  all  small,  mostly  oblong  or  elliptic,  and 
generally  pubescent.  The  Crypio^jhugi  (Plate  VI,  Fig. 
1,  Cryj)tophagus  scanicus)  are  found  in  vegetable  refuse, 
fungi,  and  flowers;  they  are  difficult  to  determine,  but 
good  characters  are  to  be  found  in  the  anterior  angle  of 
the  thorax,  and  in  the  position  and  development  of  a 
tooth  on  the  side  between  that  angle  and  the  base.  The 
species  of  Atomaria  are  very  small :  they  also  occur  in 
vegetable  refuse,  often  harbouring  in  dry  dung,  and 
have  been  described  by  Mr.  T.  V.  Wollaston  in  the 
Transactions  of  the  Entomological  Society  of  London 
(vol.  iv.  n.  s.,  part  iii.  1857). 


104  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

The  MycetophagidyE  are  either  oblong  or  oblong- 
oval,  moderately  convex,  and  clothed  with  a  depressed 
pubescence,  being  also  mostly  gaily  coloured  or  prettily 
variegated.  Their  anterior  coxae  are  subglobose  and 
free,  the  posterior  being  subcylindric  and  transverse; 
they  have  no  paraglossse  to  the  ligula ;  the  segments 
of  the  abdomen  (5)  are  all  free,  and  the  tarsi  are  four- 
jointed,  the  anterior  pair  in  the  males  having  only  three 
joints. 

The  species  are  all  found  in  fungi  or  fungoid  growth, 
and  are  generally  abundant  when  discovered.  Mycetopha- 
gus  multipunctatus  (Plate  VII,  Fig.  2)  is  one  of  the  pret- 
tiest, occurring  in  fungi  on  rotten  oak,  etc.  The  irregu- 
larly-punctured genus  Triphyllus  has  the  club  of  the 
antennse  distinctly  formed  of  three  joints,  and  the  little 
yellow  delicately-striated  Typhaa  is  found  in  profusion 
at  the  bottoms  of  haystacks. 

The  Dermestid.e  have  straight,  short,  clubbed  an- 
tennse, inserted  in  front  and  sometimes  fitting  (in  re- 
pose) into  grooves  in  the  sides  of  the  prothorax ;  the 
head  small  and  retractile,  and  often  received  into  a  pro- 
longation of  the  prosternum ;  the  parts  of  the  mouth 
little  prominent ;  the  anterior  coxse  conic  and  exserted ; 
the  tarsi  five-jointed,  and  the  elytra  covering  the  abdo- 
men. All  of  them,  except  Dermestes,  have  a  smooth 
eye-like  spot  on  the  forehead. 

They  are  found  in  dry  dead  animals  and  skins  for  the 
most  part,  the  "  bacon  beetle,"  Dermestes  lardarius, 
being  well  known  as  a  ravager ;  some,  however,  occur  in 
flowers.  They  partially  retract  the  legs,  and  counterfeit 
death  on  being  frightened.  The  larva  of  Deimestes  is 
long,  with  leathery  plates  on  the  upper  side,  which  is 
clothed  with  long  scattered  hairs ;  and  there  is  a  pair  of 


THE    NECROPHAGA,    OR    CLAVICORNES.  105 

short  spines  on  the  last  segment,  which  has  also  a  fleshy 
protuberance  on  the  under  side.  The  dry  cast  skins  of 
this  larva  may  often  be  seen. 

The  Byrrhid^  are  conspicuous  from  their  faculty 
of  packing  up  their  limbs ;  the  head  (except  in  Noso- 
dendron)  being  retractile,  and  immersed  in  the  thorax, 
against  the  sides  of  which  the  antennae  are  placed ;  the 
tarsi  are  received  into  the  tibise,  which,  again,  pack  tight 
to  the  femora,  the  entire  legs  fitting  into  excavations  on 
the  lower  side  of  the  body.  The  antennae  have  eleven 
joints,  except  in  Limnichus,  which  has  only  ten  ;  the 
parts  of  the  mouth  are  not  prominent,  the  ligula  having 
no  paraglossae,  and  the  maxillae  not  being  toothed.  The 
species  are  usually  oval  and  very  convex,  clothed  with 
short  silky  pubescence,  and  sometimes  apterous.  The 
Byrrhi  {B.  fasciatus,  Plate  VIT,  Fig.  3)  are  not  uncom- 
mon in  sandy  places,  etc.,  in  the  spring  :  the  other  genera 
are  principally  found  in  moss,  and  under  stones  on  sandy 
banks. 

They  simulate  death  readily,  and  are  hard  to  set, 
owing  to  their  retractile  limbs. 

The  Heterocerid^,  comprising  a  single  genus,  Hete- 
rocerus,  have  the  antennae  short,  the  last  seven  joints 
forming  a  flattened  club;  the  parts  of  the  mouth 
not  hidden,  the  ligula  being  very  projecting;  the  legs 
adapted  for  digging,  with  four  simple  joints  to  the  tarsi; 
and  the  elytra  covering  the  abdomen,  which  has  five 
segments,  the  apical  one  only  being  free.  The  species 
are  all  depressed,  broad,  and  clothed  with  short  thick 
silky  pubescence,  which  probably  keeps  the  water  near 
which  they  live  away  from  their  body.  Their  head  is 
very  robust,  and  the  prothorax  capable  of  considerable 
freedom  of  motion.     They  live  in  mud-banks,  etc.,  at  the 


106  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

sides  of  rivers  and  ponds,  and  will  frequently  come  up 
out  of  the  damp  mud  in  great  numbers  on  the  collector 
treading  about ;  and  if  the  sun  be  shining,  will  fly  readily. 
Some  species  form  galleries  under  stones,  etc.,  near  semi- 
saline  waters,  and  most  of  them  appear  to  be  gregarious. 

All  those  found  in  Britain  have  been  described  by 
Mr.  G.  R.  Waterhouse,  in  the  Trans.  Ent.  Soc,  vol.  v. 
n.  s.,  part  4,  1859. 

ThePARNiDiE  are  aquatic  or  sub-aquatic  in  their  habits, 
and  are  divided  into  two  sub-families,  the  Parnides  and 
Elmides,  both  having  the  head  received  into  a  prolon- 
gation of  the  presternum,  and  the  anterior  segments  of 
the  abdomen  soldered  together;  differing,  however,  in 
their  anterior  coxse,  which  are  cylindrical  and  transverse 
in  the  first,  and  almost  globular  in  the  latter.  In  the 
Parnides  the  body  is  clothed  thickly  with  short  hairs, 
and  the  second  joint  of  the  antennie  assumes  a  widened, 
ear-like  form  :  the  species  are  found  near  or  in  running 
water,  on  stones  or  water  plants. 

The  Elmides  (which  are  much  smaller)  have  the 
antennse  very  little  thickened  at  the  apex,  no  tooth  to 
the  mandibles  (which  are,  however,  bifid)  ;  scarcely  any 
pubescence  on  the  body,  which  is  often  metallic  and 
frequently  caked  with  dirt ;  and  the  last  joint  of  the 
tarsi  very  long,  with  exceedingly  strong  claws.  They 
cling  to  the  rough  undersides  of  large  stones  in  strongly- 
running  waters,  especially  delighting  in  such  as  are  un- 
der or  close  to  a  fall  of  any  kind ;  and  may  be  found  at 
a  considerable  depth  from  the  surface.  They  are  grega- 
rious in  habit,  many  examples  of  different  species  (or 
even  genera)  being  sometimes  found  together. 

The  Georyssid.e  (comprising  one  genus  and  species, 
which   is   very  small,    apterous,   and    almost   globular)- 


THE    NECROPHAGA,    OR    CLAVICORNES.  107 

have  the  antennse  of  nine  joints,  of  which  the  three  last 
form  a  club ;  the  prosternum  membraneous ;  the  front 
and  middle  legs  close  to  each  other ;  the  anterior  coxae 
projecting  and  approximated,  the  intermediate  oval,  and 
the  posterior  transverse,  the  two  latter  pairs  being 
widely  separated  between  themselves;  and  the  tarsi 
slender  and  four-jointed. 

Georyssus  pygmceus  is  found  in  wet  places,  especially 
on  the  seacoast;  it  often  burrows  in  the  ground,  and  nearly 
always  bears  a  little  heap  of  dry  mud  or  caked  sand  upon 
its  back.  When  cleaned,  the  elytra  exhibit  very  coarse 
punctuation  for  so  small  an  insect. 

In  the  Hydrophilid^  (often  called  Philhydrida) , 
— which,  with  the  next  family^  constitute  the  Palpi- 
comes  of  the  French  entomologists, — the  palpi  are  as 
long  as,  or  longer  than,  the  antennae,  which  have  from 
six  to  nine  joints,  the  basal  one  being  elongate  and  the 
apical  (usually  three)  forming  a  club;  the  mentum  is 
large  and  unnotched,  the  maxillae  terminate  in  two  un- 
toothed  lobes,  and  the  mandibles  are  very  short.  The  tarsi 
are  always  five-jointed,  and  the  hinder  legs  formed  for 
swimming  in  some  species :  in  short,  the  members  of 
this  family,  which  are  all  found  either  in  or  about  water, 
and  are  not  carnivorous  in  the  perfect  state,  are  the 
aquatic  representatives  of  the  Lamellicornes ,  and  pro- 
bably of  other  families.  They  are  fully  described  by 
Mulsant,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Col.  de  France;  Palpicornes : 
Paris,  1844. 

In  Spercheus  emarginatus,  the  inner  lobe  of  the 
maxillae  is  coriaceous,  and  the  outer  horny,  slender,  and 
ending  in  a  pencil  of  hairs ;  the  antennae  are  six-jointed  ; 
the  thorax  is  narrower  than  the  elytra,  and  the  hind 
lesrs  arc  not  natatorial.     The  female  makes  a  small  bajr 


108  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

containing  eggs,  which  she  carries  attached  to  her  ab- 
domen, and  from  which,  in  about  ten  days,  the  larvse 
are  disclosed;  in  a  few  hours  another  sac  being  formed. 
This  insect  is  now  supposed  to  be  extinct  in  England, 
formerly  occurring  at  Whittlesea  Mere.  It  appears  to 
be  rare  on  the  Continent,  in  spite  of  the  fertility  of  the 
female.  It  lives  in  stagnant  water,  at  the  roots  of 
aquatic  plants. 

In  Helophorus  and  its  allies  the  tarsi  are  not  natato- 
rial, and  have  the  first  joint  very  short  and  often  scarcely 
distinct  from  the  second.  Some  of  them  are  slightly 
metallic,  and  most  of  the  species  live  close  to  the  water, 
among  stones,  etc. ;  one  or  two,  however,  often  occur  in 
dry  places  [H.  rugosus,  Plate  VII,  Fig.  4) .  The  Hydranae 
and  their  allies,  in  which  the  last  joint  of  the  maxillary 
palpi  is  shorter  than  the  penultimate,  frequent  stones 
half  immersed  in  the  water  or  the  water-line  of  muddy 
banks;  the  species  of  the  remaining  genera  living  ab- 
solutely in  the  water.  One  of  these.  Hydrous  piceus, 
often  seen  in  aquaria,  and  known  as  the  "  harmless 
water- beetle,"  is  perhaps  the  largest  British  beetle ;  the 
female  makes  a  paper-like,  pear-shaped  sac,  containing 
eggs,  which  is  fixed  on  some  aquatic  plants  at  the 
surface  of  the  water.  The  larva  is,  when  full  grown, 
extremely  long  and  stout,  of  a  leathery  texture,  wrinkled 
transversely,  and  dirty-brown  in  colour ;  the  head  is 
horny,  flat  on  the  upper  side,  and  with  strong  projecting 
sharp  mandibles;  the  legs  are  short,  and  the  body  con- 
tracts behind,  having  two  openings  at  the  extremity  of 
the  last  segment,  being  the  terminations  of  two  great 
lateral  tracheal  tubes,  through  which  the  insect  breathes. 
These  larvse  are  very  voracious,  feeding  on  other  insects, 
etc. ;  they  swim  well,  bending  themselves  into  an  arch. 


THE    NECROPHAGA,    OR    CLAVICORNES.  109 

and  often  placing  the  head  backwards  on  to  the  body : 
when  handled,  they  become  flaccid,  and  emit  a  fetid 
black  fluid  from  the  end  of  the  abdomen.  The  papa  is 
formed  in  a  cell  in  the  wet  earth  of  the  banks  of  ponds. 

A  smaller  species,  Hydrobius  fuscipes  (Plate  VIT, 
Fig.  5),  is  very  common  in  stagnant  waters. 

The  SpHiERiDiiD^  are  mostly  terrestrial  in  their 
habits,  though  many  frequent  damp  situations ;  the  ma- 
jority, however,  are  found  in  the  dung  of  cattle. 

Their  tarsi  are  not  natatorial,  and  have  the  first  joint 
of  the  posterior  pair  much  longer  than  the  others ;  their 
antennae  have  either  eight  or  nine  joints,  and  the  second 
joint  of  their  maxillary  palpi  is  more  or  less  inflated. 
The  species  are  nearly  all  very  small,  black,  and  convex, 
being  at  most  variegated  with  dull  red  spots.  Cyclono- 
tum,  the  largest,  is  aquatic  and  very  globose ;  and  the 
species  of  Cercyon  abound  in  cow-droppings,  etc.  The 
allied  Megasternum  and  Cryptopleurum  are  distinguished 
by  their  very  large  prosternum  and  metasternum  ;  and 
the  former  may  be  known  from  Cercyon  by  the  notch  at 
the  apex  of  the  outer  edge  of  its  front  tibise. 


110 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE   LAMELLICOENES,  OR  "  CHAFERS." 

The  Lamellicornes,  which  (with  the  exception  of  the 
Trogidce)  are  exclusively  vegetable  or  dung-feeders,  are 
divided  into  ten  families — the  Cetoniidce,  Rutelidee, 
Melolonthidce,  Sericidce,  Hoplida,  Geotrupida,  Cojjridcs, 
AphodiidiB,  Trogida,  and  Lucanida.  It  should,  how- 
ever, be  remarked  that  these  (and  similar)  divisions,  and 
the  characters  given  for  them  in  the  present  volume, 
apply  for  the  most  part  only  to  the  British  species. 

They  are  chiefly  distinguished  by  the  club  of  their 
antennae,  which  is  composed  of  transverse  lamellated 
joints,  varying  from  three  to  seven  in  number ;  and,  ex- 
cept in  the  Lucanida,  moveable  like  the  leaves  of  a  book. 
Their  antennse  are  short,  usually  nine  or  ten  jointed 
(the  Geotrupidce  alone  having  eleven  joints),  with  the 
basal  joint  enlarged  or  lengthened,  and  always  inserted 
in  front  of  and  near  the  eyes,  under  a  reflected  margin 
of  the  head. 

Their  legs,  and  especially  the  anterior  pair,  are  formed 
for  digging ;  with  all  the  tarsi  five-jointed,  the  posterior 
coxae  moveable,  and  the  front  acetabula  (or  pits  for  the 
reception  or  articulation  of  the  anterior  coxee)  enclosed 
by  a  rim  on  every  side. 


THE    LAMELLTCORNES,    OR    "  CHAFERS/^  111 

Internally,  they  appear  to  be  distinguished  by  the 
peculiar  disposition  of  their  central  nervous  system; 
which,  as  far  as  has  been  yet  observed,  consists  of  a 
large  ganglion  (or  depot)  situated  in  the  thorax,  without 
any  trace  of  abdominal  ganglia;  the  Lucanidce,  how- 
ever, possess  these  latter,  as  well  as,  and  distinct  from, 
the  thoracic  mass. 

They  exhibit,  also,  a  difference  in  their  respiratory 
organs  from  the  other  Coleoptera,  in  the  possession  of  a 
multitude  of  vascular  tracheae  annexed  to  the  main 
canals  of  the  ordinary  tracheal  tubes.  It  is  (as  M. 
Lacordaire  remarks)  doubtless  owing  to  these  reserves 
of  air  that  these  insects,  in  spite  of  their  heavy  build, 
take  so  easily  to  the  wing. 

Their  larvse, — which  are  found  in  dung,  at  the  roots  of 
plants,  in  decaying  vegetable  matter,  or  rotten  mould  in 
old  trees, — are  fleshy,  cylindrical,  recurved  behind  in  an 
arch,  with  the  last  segment  much  enlarged ;  so  that, 
except  when  very  young,  they  cannot  extend  themselves 
into  a  straight  line,  but  lie  on  their  sides.  They  are 
usually  yellowish  or  bluish-white,  with  a  transparent 
skin,  through  which  the  dark  intestinal  canal  can  often 
be  seen,  especially  at  the  apex;  and  the  segments  ex- 
hibit very  evident  transverse  folds,  and  have  the  anal 
orifice  also  transverse,  except  in  the  Lucanidce,  wherein 
these  folds  are  almost  entirely  absent,  and  the  orifice  is 
longitudinal. 

Their  head  is  brownish  or  yellow,  horny,  rounded, 
with  the  forehead  directed  forwards,  and  the  mouth  on 
the  lower  surface ;  the  mandibles  are  robust  and  arched ; 
the  antennae  five-jointed  ;  and  the  eyes  entirely  wanting, 
except  in  the  instance  of  Trichius  fasciatus,  which  (ac- 
cording to  the  observations  of  M.  Ferris,  a  distinguished 


113  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

French  entomologist)  possesses  a  smooth,  spherical,  red- 
dish eye  a  little  behind  each  antenna.  The  legs  are 
rather  long,  and  composed  normally  of  five  joints,  of 
which  the  coxa  is  much  developed,  and  the  apical,  or 
tarsus,  is  sometimes  wanting ;  the  hooks  which  it  bears 
in  that  case  being  transferred  to  the  fourth  joint,  though 
sometimes  entirely  wanting. 

The  pupse  are  formed  in  cocoons  or  cells,  constructed 
(usually  underground)  of  portions  of  the  food  of  the 
larva,  often  mixed  with  particles  of  dirt ;  and  in  which 
the  perfect  insect,  after  its  exclusion,  remains  for  some 
time  until  its  integuments  are  hardened. 

The  Lamellicornes  are  divided  into  two  sub-sections, 
founded  on  the  position  of  the  abdominal  spiracles, 
which  are  always  seven  in  number  on  each  side;  the 
first  being  at  times  easily  seen  (as  in  Copris  and  Geo- 
trupes),  and  at  times  hidden  between  the  metathorax 
and  abdomen, — and  the  remainder  varying  as  follows  : 
— in  the  Pleurosticti  (including  the  Cetoniida,  Rute- 
lid<B,  Melolonthidce,  SericidcB,  and  Hoplido!)  some  of 
them  are  placed  in  the  membrane  connecting  the  ventral 
and  dorsal  segments  of  the  abdomen,  but  the  greater 
number  are  situated  on  the  upper  side  of  the  ventral 
segments  themselves,  with  the  last  spiracle  at  least  un- 
covered when  the  elytra  are  closed ;  and  in  the  Laparo- 
sticti  (including  the  Geotrupidee,  Copridee,  Aphodiid<s, 
TrogidcB,  and  Lucanidce)  they  are  all  placed  in  the  con- 
necting membrane,  and  consequently  covered  entirely  by 
the  closed  elytra.  There  is  this  further  difference,  that 
in  the  Pleurosticti  (with  the  exception  of  certain  of  the 
exotic  Huplidce)  the  ligula  is  horny,  and  soldered  to  the 
mentum ;  and  in  the  larva  the  two  lobes  of  the  maxillae 
are  soldered  together;    whilst  in  the  Laparosticti  the 


THE    LAMELLICORNES,    OR    "  CHAFERS."  113 

ligula  is  leathery  or  membraneous,  and  distinct  from 
the  mentum,  and  the  lobes  of  the  maxillse  are  not 
soldered  in  the  larva.  In  the  Pleurosticti,  also,  the 
Cetoniida  and  Rutelida  have  the  three  last  pairs  of 
abdominal  spiracles  diverging  strongly  outwards ;  whilst 
in  the  Melolonthidce,  Sericida,  and  Hoplid(S  the  diver- 
gence outwards  is  very  slight. 

The  Cetoniid/E,  of  which  the  exotic  species  are  nu- 
merous, large,  and  beautiful,  are  here  represented  by 
a  very  few  (but  not  inconspicuous)  insects.  Their  man- 
dibles and  labrum  are  hidden  under  the  clypeus,  the 
former  being  composed  of  an  outer  horny  and  inner 
membraneous  plate ;  the  antennae  are  short,  with  ten 
joints,  the  club  being  composed  of  three ;  the  elytra  are 
somewhat  depressed,  not  reflected  at  the  sides,  and 
leaving  the  pygidium  exposed;  the  anterior  coxse  are 
ovate-conic  and  projecting ;  and  the  hooks  of  the  tarsi 
equal  and  simple. 

In  Gnorimus  and  Trichius  the  elytra  are  not  sinuated 
near  the  shoulder,  at  the  sides,  and  the  mesothoracic 
epimera  are  not  visible  from  the  upper  side.  The  species 
of  the  former  occur  in  all  their  stages  in  the  rotten 
mould  of  oak  and  cherry  trees ;  and  one  of  the  latter 
{T.  fasciatus,  Plate  VII,  Fig.  6),  found  in  Perthshire, 
where  it  is  called  "  bee-beetle,"  is  conspicuous  for  its 
banded  body,  and  long,  bright-yellow  hairs:  it  flies  round 
thistle-tops,  in  the  hot  sunshine,  like  a  Bombus. 

In  Cetonia  the  mesosternum  is  produced  forwards 
into  a  rounded  knob;  the  elytra  are  deeply  sinuated 
externally,  below  the  shoulder;  the  mesothoracic  epi- 
mera are  enlarged,  carried  upwards,  and  conspicuous 
between  the  hinder  angles  of  the  thorax  and  shoulders 
of  the  elytra :  the  metathoracic  epimera,  also,  are  en- 

I 


114  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

larged,  visible  from  above,  and  joined  to  the  outer 
margin  of  the  laminated  hinder  coxae  (of  which  the  pos- 
terior angles  are  acute),  which  form  a  strong  tooth 
about  the  middle  of  the  sides  of  the  elytra,  and  slightly 
turned  outwards,  when  viewed  from  the  upper  side. 
This  development  of  the  mesothoracic  epimera  acts  as  a 
"  skid  "  or  "  break  "  upon  the  base  of  the  elytra,  and  is 
accompanied  by  a  departure  from  the  ordinary  method 
of  flight ;  for,  in  Cetonia,  the  elytra  are  scarcely  sepa- 
rated, and  only  elevated  a  little,  so  as  to  give  room  for 
the  wings  to  expand  :  in  flight,  also,  a  humming  noise 
is  made.  In  Gnorhnus  and  Trichius  the  elytra  are,  as 
usual  in  Culeoptera,  widely  separated,  and  much  elevated. 

Cetonia  aurata,  the  common  "  llose-beetle,"  is  too 
well  known  to  require  description  :  besides  being  found 
in  roses  it  occurs  on  elder-flowers  and  thistles,  and  at 
sap,  or  on  rotten  pear  blossom;  another  species  (C. 
(snea),  duller  in  colour,  is  found  in  Perthshire,  where  its 
larva  has  been  found  in  ants^  nests,  feeding  on  the  eggs; 
the  perfect  insect,  also,  has  been  seen  burying  itself  in 
the  nests. 

The  RuTELiD.E,  apart  from  the  greater  divergence 
of  the  last  abdominal  spiracles,  differ  chiefly  from  the 
Melolonthida  (to  wliich  they  are  allied)  in  always  having 
the  ligula  horny  and  soldered  to  the  mentum ;  the 
mandibles  horny;  the  labrum  distinct,  and  free  from 
the  clypeus  ;  and  the  club  of  the  antenna  three-jointed, 
and  alike  in  both  sexes.  Their  tarsi  are  robust,  rigid, 
prehensile,  with  the  terminal  hooks  unequal,  the  outer 
one  being  often  forked  at  the  apex ;  and  the  metatho- 
racic  epimera  always  visible.  In  our  species  (belonging 
to  the  sub-family  Anomalides)  the  antennae  are  nine- 
jointed  ;  the  mesothoracic  epimera  do  not  ascend  to  the 


THE    LAMELLICORNES^    OR    "  CHAFERS."  115 

anterior  part  of  the  elytra ;  the  clypeus  has  no  projection 
in  front;,  and  the  prosteruura  no  elongation  behind  the 
coxae ;  the  elytra,  also,  are  lined  with  membrane,  which 
projects  behind  in  the  form  of  a  thin  rim, 

Phyllopertha  horticola,  the  small  "June-bug"  (Plate 
VIIT,  Fig.  1),  is  often  very  destructive  to  plants. 

The  Melolonthid^  have  the  outer  lobe  of  the 
maxillae  strongly  toothed ;  the  -mandibles  robust,  with 
no  inner  membraneous  border ;  the  labrum  very  promi- 
nent, and  deeply  notched  ;  the  anterior  coxse  transverse ; 
the  scutellum  rounded;  the  body  cylindrical,  and  the 
ventral  segments  of  the  abdomen  soldered  together,  with 
the  points  of  junction  effaced  in  the  middle. 

In  Melolontha  (the  common  "cockchafer")  the  ab- 
domen is  produced  behind  into  a  strong  point  (this 
structure  being,  however,  not  constant  in  the  genus)  ; 
and  the  club  of  the  antennae  is  composed  of  seven  joints 
in  the  male,  and  six  in  the  female.  The  habits  of  this 
species  and  its  larvae  are,  unfortunately,  too  well  known. 
The  smaller  Rhizotrogus  solstitialis  (belonging  to  the 
section  of  the  genus  which  has  but  nine  joints  to  its 
antennae,  for  which  Latreille  founded  the  now  abandoned 
genns  Amphimallns) ,  the  "summer-chafer,"  has  a  three- 
jointed  club  :  it  is  conspicuous  for  the  long  hairs  in  the 
front  of  its  body,  and  for  its  habit  of  wheeling  in  flight 
towards  evening  round  any  solitary  tree. 

The  Sericid.e  have  the  labrum  entirely  confused 
with  the  clypeus ;  the  outer  lobe  of  the  maxillae  toothed  ; 
the  scutellum  triangular  ;  the  posterior  coxae  very  large 
and  much  widened  outwards  ;  the  metasternum  obliquely 
truncated  on  each  side  behind;  the  segments  of  the  ab- 
domen not  soldered  together ;  and  the  tarsi  long  and 
slender. 

I  2 


116  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

In  Serica  the  antennae  are  nine-jointed,  but  the  club 
varies  in  number ;  our  British  species,  <S.  brimnea,  having 
three  joints,  which  are  very  long  and  conspicuous  in  the 
male.  This  insect,  cylindrical  in  shape,  with  long  and 
slender  (but  stiff)  legs,  of  a  light  testaceous-red  colour 
with  opaline  or  silky  reflections,  is  nocturnal  in  its  ha- 
bits; and  may  be  found  in  spiders'  webs,  sand-pits, 
water-troughs,  etc,  frequently  "  coming  to  grief"  on  ac- 
count of  its  delicate  structure.  I  have  seen  a  red  ant 
dragging  a  disabled  but  living  specimen  along  the  bot- 
tom of  a  sand-pit. 

The  little  Homaloplia,  shorter  and  darker  in  colour, 
is  diurnal  in  its  habits,  and  may  be  found  (but  rarely) 
settled  in  flowers  near  woods.  It  has  shorter  front  tarsi, 
and  is  clothed  with  more  decided  pubescence. 

The  HoPLiDiE  are  here  represented  by  a  single  ge- 
nus and  species,  Hoplia  philanthus,  a  small,  robust, 
dark-coloured  insect,  with  scanty  bluish-silvery  scales, 
remarkable  for  its  habit  of  flying  for  only  a  short  time 
in  the  hottest  part  of  the  day,  and  then  hiding  in 
flowers,  etc.  This  family  is  subject  to  considerable  va- 
riations in  form  and  structure,  but  has  the  labrum  in- 
distinct ;  the  club  of  the  anteuute  three-jointed ;  the 
anterior  coxse  projecting  ;  the  hooks  of  the  tarsi  unequal ; 
and  the  ventral  segments  soldered  together,  the  sixth 
being  generally  indistinct.  The  genus  Hoplia  has  the 
hooks  of  the  posterior  tarsi  simple ;  and  the  males  are 
generally  narroAver  than  the  females,  with  one  tooth  less 
in  the  anterior  tibiae,  which  are  more  slender,  and  the 
hinder  legs  stronger,  with  more  robust  hooks  to  the 
tarsi.     H.  philanthus  has  ten  joints  to  the  antennae. 

The  Geotrupid/E  have  the  antennae  eleven- jointed 
(the  club  having  three  joints)   the  eyes  entirely  divided 


THE    LAMELLICORNES,    OR    "  CHAFERS."  117 

into  two  by  the  side  margin  of  the  head;  the  abdomen 
short,  with  six  free  ventral  segments  ;  the  mandibles  and 
labrum  not  hidden  by  the  clypeus ;  the  body  convex, 
the  thorax  being  very  large ;  the  intermediate  coxae  ob- 
liqne  and  the  anterior  transverse  ;  and  the  pygidium  not 
quite  covered  by  the  elytra.  \ 

Geotrupes  stercorarius,  the  well-known  "  shard-born 
beetle/'  '^  Clock/'  or  "  Dumble-dor"  (the  last  possibly 
an  inflection  of  the  American  "  Tumble-dung/'  a  name 
given  on  account  of  certain  of  these  insects  rolling  pel- 
lets of  the  excrement  of  cattle,  in  which  they  deposit 
the  eggs),  is  common  all  over  the  country;  flying 
strongly,  though  in  a  blundering  sort  of  way,  towards 
evening ;  and  often  simulating  death,  by  keeping  motion- 
less and  stretching  out  its  legs  like  pieces  of  wire,  when 
handled.  Sometimes  it  is  observed  on  the  wing  in  the 
hot  sunshine,  suggesting  the  idea  of  an  owl  under  similar 
circumstances.  This  insect  is  sometimes  called  ''  Lousy 
Watchman "  among  the  vulgar ;  the  qualifying  epithet 
being  deserved  from  its  being  frequently  infested  on  the 
lower  surface  by  several  of  a  species  of  Gamasus ;  though 
it  is  not  easy  to  comprehend  hoAV  so  delicately  constructed 
a  parasite  can  extract  a  meal  through  the  stout  armour 
of  the  beetle  in  question. 

The  strength  of  the  Geotrupes  is  very  great,  so  much 
so,  that  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  retain  one  in  the  hand  : 
this  is  caused  by  the  great  development  of  the  thorax, 
containing  the  muscles  of  the  anterior  spinose  digging 
legs.  The  female,  usually  in  the  autumn,  digs  a  bur- 
row, about  a  foot  deep,  into  the  earth  beneath  patches 
of  cow-dung,  a  portion  of  which  is  carried  down  as  food 
for  the  larva  to  be  hatched  from  the  egg  she  deposits  at 
the  bottom. 


118  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

The  larvse  afterwards  ascend  to  the  surfacCj  having 
eaten  the  contents  of  tlie  burrow. 

Typhmis  vulgaris  (Plate  VIII,  Fig.  2),  an  allied  insect, 
found  in  dung,  or  crawling  about  pathways,  on  sandy  com- 
mons in  early  spring  and  autumn,  has  the  thorax  in  the 
male  armed  with  three  strong  horns,  of  which  the  outer 
pair  are  the  longest ;  the  female  having  a  rudimentary 
sketch  of  a  similar  structure,  and  small  or  feebly  deve- 
Joped  males  exhibiting  but  a  weak  edition  of  the  normal 
projections. 

All  these  insects  hum  considerably  in  flight,  and  pos- 
sess the  power  of  making  a  stridulating  noise,  which  is 
caused  by  the  friction  of  a  transversely  striated  elevation 
on  the  posterior  border  of  the  hinder  coxa  against  the 
hinder  margin  of  the  acetabulum  into  which  it  fits. 

Although  naturally  feeders  on  animal  excrement,  some 
species  (e.  g.  Geotrnpes  vernalis)  are  often  found  in  rotten 
fungi. 

The  CoPRiD^  (to  which  family  the  "sacred  beetle^' 
of  the  Egyptians  belongs)  have  the  organs  of  the  mouth 
invisible  from  above,  being  concealed  by  the  clypeus, 
which  is  semicircular,  enlarged,  and  notched.  Their 
intermediate  coxse  are  widely  separated,  those  of  the 
posterior  legs  (which  are  near  the  apex  of  the  body) 
being  approximated ;  the  four  hinder  legs  have  the  tibiije 
dilated  at  the  tip,  and  the  posterior  pair  are  armed  with 
only  one  long  terminal  spur ;  the  tarsi  usually  diminish 
gradually  in  width  from  the  base  to  the  apex,  the  basal 
joint  being  always  very  long ;  the  eyes  are  half  divided 
by  tlie  side  of  the  head ;  the  scutellum  is  hidden,  and  the 
pygidium  exposed. 

They  are  of  squarer  outline  and  more  "squab"  shape 
than    the    Geotrupidce ;    the   thorax    being   convex   and 


THE    LAMELLICORNES,    OR    "  CHAFERS/^  119 

wide, — and,  as  usual  in  fossorial  species,  capable  of  great 
freedom  of  motion, — and  the  front  tibise  widened  and 
strongly  toothed  on  the  outer  side. 

In  Copris  the  basal  joints  of  the  labial  palpi  are  dilated 
with  the  third  joint  distinct ;  and  the  metasternum  is 
large,  flat,  and  in  the  shape  of  a  parallelogram.  C.  lunaris, 
a  large,  shining,  deep-black  species,  clothed  with  scanty 
reddish-brown  hairs  beneath  and  on  the  sides,  has  a  long 
erect  horn  on  the  head  in  the  male ;  the  thorax,  also,  in 
this  sex  is  somewhat  squarely  truncated  in  front,  and 
excavated  and  toothed  externally  on  each  side.  The 
female  exhibits  a  very  slight  tendency  to  a  somewhat 
similar  structure ;  having,  also,  the  thorax  more  closely 
punctured :  and  it  is  needless  to  repeat  that  the  small 
males  are  intermediate  between  the  two  extremes  of  de- 
velopment. 

This  insect  burrows  a  foot  or  more  down  into  the  hard 
ground  beneath  cow-dung,  two  specimens  being  often 
found  at  the  bottom  of  the  burrow.  It  flies  but  seldom, 
and  produces  a  considerable  noise  by  rubbing  the  ab- 
domen against  the  hinder  margin  of  elytra.  It  occurs 
near  Greenwich  Park. 

The  species  of  Onthophagus  have  nine-jointed  an- 
tennae, some  of  the  joints  of  the  club  being  concave  j 
the  last  joint  of  the  labial  palpi  scarcely  visible  j  and 
slender  tarsi.  They  are  mostly  small  and  flattened ; 
with  the  thorax  greenish-black,  and  the  elytra  lurid - 
brown  chequered  with  black ;  and  are  found  gregariously 
in  dung,  especially  in  sandy  places  and  near  the  coast, 
but  they  never  dig  burrows  deep  below  the  surface. 
At  times  certain  of  them  have  been  observed  in  dead 
animals. 

The  back  of  the  head  in  the  male  is  often  armed  with 


120  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

a  broad  thin  horn,  bent  backwards  ;  of  Avbich  there  are, 
as  usual,  modifications  in  size. 

The  ApHODiiuiE  are  all  small,  oblong,  and  cylin- 
drical ;  with  the  organs  of  the  mouth  (except  the  apex 
of  the  palpi)  hidden  by  the  clypeus ;  the  antennte  nine- 
jointed  ;  the  abdomen  with  six  free  ventral  segments ; 
the  scutellura  visible ;  the  metasternum  of  ordinary 
size ;  the  intermediate  coxse  oblique,  and  approximated 
behind ;  two  spurs  to  the  apex  of  the  tibise ;  and  the 
club  of  the  antennae  flat.  Their  eyes  are  only  slightly 
divided  by  the  side  of  the  head,  and  their  elytra  almost 
always  entirely  cover  the  apex  of  the  body. 

The  males  difier  from  the  females  in  the  greater  de- 
velopment of  certain  tubercles  on  the  clypeus  ;  in  the 
greater  bulk  and  lesser  amount  of  punctuation  of  the 
thorax;  in  the  longer  spine  at  the  apex  of  the  front 
tibiffi ;  or  in  the  presence  of  a  more  decided  channel  in 
the  middle  of  the  metasternum. 

The  species  of  Aphodius  are  very  abundant,  especially 
in  spring  and  autumn ;  flying  readily,  and  occurring  in 
profusion  in  the  droppings  of  our  domestic  animals. 
They  are  usually  black  and  shining,  but  sometimes  livid 
yellow  or  red,  or  spotted.  A.  hiquinatus  (Plate  VIII, 
Fig.  3),  one  of  the  prettiest,  is  found  in  profusion  on  the 
Lancashire  sandhills.  In  this  genus  the  anterior  margin 
of  the  eyes  is  visible,  when  viewed  from  above,and  the  lobes 
of  the  maxillse  are  leathery  or  membraneous,  and  un- 
armed ;  in  Ammoecius  (more  globose  behind)  no  part  of 
the  eye  is  to  be  seen  from  above  in  repose ;  in  Psammo- 
dius  (of  which  the  thorax  is  strongly  transversely  fur- 
rowed) the  outer  lobe  of  the  maxillae  is  horny  and  hooked ; 
and  in  jEyialia  (found  in  sandy  places)  the  mandibles 
and  labrum  project  slightly  beyond  the  clypeus. 


THE    LAMELLICORNES,    OR    "  CHAFERS."  121 

Several  genera  have  been  founded  by  French  entomo- 
logists at  the  expense  of  Aphodius ;  but  they  are  gene- 
rally abandoned^  as  being  dependent  more  upon  facies 
than  any  structural  differences. 

The  TROGiDiE  have  five  ventral  segments  to  the  ab- 
domen (except  in  some  species  of  Trox,  where  there 
is  an  indication  of  a  sixth),  but  slightly  moveable;  the 
anterior  legs  are  not  fossorial,  the  tibite  not  being  en- 
larged, or  strongly  toothed ;  the  antennae  ten-jointed ; 
scutellum  small;  the  coxse  contiguous,  those  of  the 
front  and  intermediate  legs  being  very  short  (the  latter 
almost  globose,  and  scarcely  at  all  oblique)  ;  the  elytra 
entirely  cover  the  abdomen;  and  the  mandibles  and 
labrum  are  uncovered  by  the  clypeus. 

We  possess  but  one  genus,  T^'ox ;  of  which  the  species 
are  rather  rare.  They  are  dull  black,  moderately  large, 
oblong,  of  strong  integuments,  and  usually  with  inter- 
rupted rows  of  short  pencils  of  bristles  on  the  elytra. 
When  seized  they  make  a  squeaking  noise  by  rubbing 
the  abdomen  against  the  elytra,  and  contract  their  limbs. 
They  are  found  in  sandy  places,  in  half  dry  carcases,  of 
which  they  consume  the  harder  portions ;  in  rams'  horns, 
etc.  Some  of  them  have  imperfectly  developed  wings, 
the  others  appearing  to  fly  only  in  the  evening;  and 
certain  exotic  species  possess  the  faculty  of  contracting 
themselves  into  a  ball,  after  the  manner  o^  Agathidium. 

The  LucANiD^  have  the  club  of  the  antennae  com- 
posed of  lamellae  or  plates,  which  assume  a  pectinated 
form,  and  are  not  capable  of  being  closed  up  together, 
or  widely  separated,  as  in  the  other  families. 

For  this  reason,  added  to  the  above-mentioned  differ- 
ences of  the  nervous  system  and  structure  of  the  larvae, 
and  the  strong  sexual  characters  afforded  by  the  develop- 


122  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

ment  of  the  head  and  its  appendages  in  most  of  its  mem- 
bers, this  family  has  been  raised  by  M.  Lacordaire  to  the 
rank  of  a  section,  equal  in  value  to  the  Lamellicornes, 
under  the  name  of  Pectinicornes.  It  must  remain,  how- 
ever, for  future  observers  to  determine  whether  this 
elevation  be  warranted ;  for,  until  all  the  known  Lamel- 
licornes are  dissected,  it  cannot  be  considered  proved 
that  there  exists  no  species  of  them  with  a  nervous 
system  as  in  the  Lucanidce;  it  is  moreover  known  that 
there  is  a  genus  of  the  latter  family  [Passalus)  wherein 
the  appendages  of  the  head  are  not  developed  as  in  the 
other  Lucanida,  and  whose  nervous  system  is  inter- 
mediate between  the  two  above-mentioned  conditions; 
there  being  also  some  of  their  larvie,  which,  whilst  they 
have  no  transverse  folds,  still  have  the  anal  orifice  trans- 
verse; thus  uniting  the  two  forms  of  difference.  lu 
Lucanus  cervus,  moreover,  the  larva  exhibits  traces  of 
these  folds  on  the  front  of  its  body.  There  is,  also, 
another  genus  [Sinodendron)  of  the  Lucanidte,  which 
has  an  excess  of  development  in  the  thorax  of  the  male, 
as  in  many  of  the  species  of  Lamellicornes. 

The  Lucanidoi  have  ten-jointed  antennae,  with  a  long 
basal  joint ;  the  ligula  membraneous  or  leathery,  bilobed, 
ciliated,  and  situated  on  the  inner  side  of  the  mentum, 
except  in  Sinodendron,  where  it  is  situated  at  the  apex ; 
the  mandibles  exposed,  and  often  attaining  an  enormous 
size  in  the  male;  the  outer  lobe  of  the  maxillse  not 
toothed,  and  ending  in  a  pencil  of  hair ;  the  sides  of  the 
elytra  covering  the  abdominal  epipleura ;  the  prosternum 
large ;  the  intermediate  coxie  transverse ;  and  the  abdo- 
men composed  of  five  ventral  segments,  with  an  extra 
segment  in  the  male. 

Lucanus  cervus,  the  ''  stag-beetle/'  is  well  known  to 


THE    LAMELLICORNES,    OR    '^CHAFERS."  123 

inost  inhabitants  of  our  southern  counties;  the  male, 
with  branching  antlers  or  jaws,  being  often  seen  sailing 
in  a  ponderous  way  round  oak-trees  in  its  search  for  the 
female,  or  blundering  in  flight  along  country  lanes  about 
July,  especially  towards  evening.  The  males  have  been 
noticed  fighting  for  the  possession  of  the  other  sex,  whose 
mandibles  are  very  small,  and  which  may  be  sometimes 
observed  upon  pathways,  on  her  back,  sprawling  out  her 
legs  in  empty  air,  having  dropped  from  her  leafy  perch. 
This  species  is  not  peculiar  to  the  oak,  but  is  found 
sometimes  on  willow ;  the  specimens  reared  from  the 
latter  tree  being  smaller  than  the  oak-fed  examples.  It 
is,  however,  a  well-known  fact,  that  great  differences  in 
size  are  always  found  in  species  of  which  the  larvse  feed 
on  wood;  owing  to  the  many  variations  to  which  they 
are  subject,  from  the  good  or  bad  quality,  or  too  great 
or  too  little  moisture,  of  their  food,  and  the  long  period 
during  which  they  remain  in  the  larval  state. 

Some  of  the  males  of  this  species  are  very  large,  and 
have  the  head  very  square  and  massive,  with  mandibles 
of  great  length  and  thickness  and  bearing  strong  teeth ; 
others,  however,  are  smaller  than  the  general  run  of  the 
female,  and  possess  narrow  heads,  with  comparatively 
slight,  simple  jaws.  It  is  supposed  that  the  insect  uses 
its  powerful  mandibles  for  abrading  young  twigs,  etc., — 
applying  its  tufted  ligula  afterwards  to  the  juice  flow- 
ing from  the  bruise.  I  possess  an  old  male  who  has 
evidently  worn  down  the  apex  of  his  jaws  evenly  and 
gradually  by  some  such  habit.  Instances  have  been 
recorded,  nevertheless,  of  members  of  this  family  at- 
tacking other  beetles,  and  also  caterpillars.  Mr.  G.  R. 
Waterhouse  (Ent.  Mag.  vol.  ii.  59)  has  recorded  the 
fact  of  his  having  kept  a  stag-beetle  alive  for  some  time. 


124  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

which  became  comparatively  tame,  and  nipped  rasp- 
berries, etc.,  with  its  mandibles,  sucking  the  juice  after- 
wards with  its  tongue.  It  also  frequently  cleaned  the 
club  of  its  antennae,  by  drawing  it  between  the  patch  of 
yellow  silky  pubescence  at  the  upper  side  of  the  base  of 
the  anterior  femora  and  the  fringe  of  similar  hairs  on  the 
lower  side  of  the  coxae  of  the  same  legs.  In  Germany 
there  is  (or  used  to  be)  a  superstition  that  this  beetle 
carries  hot  coals  in  its  jaws  from  place  to  place. 

Tlie  eyes  in  Lucanus  are  considerably  encroached 
upon,  both  in  front  and  behind,  by  the  lateral  margin  of 
the  head;  and  have  their  greatest  bulk  on  the  lower 
side. 

The  larva  of  the  stag-beetle  takes  about  four  years 
before  it  assumes  the  pupa  state :  it  is  very  large  and 
fleshy,  of  a  semi-transparent  yellowish  white  colour,  with 
a  large  reddish  head.  It  is  peculiar  on  account  of  the 
anterior  part  of  its  body  exhibiting  certain  slight  trans- 
verse folds,  a  character  at  variance  with  its  allies.  When 
mature,  it  forms  a  cocoon  of  chips,  in  which  it  under- 
goes its  final  metamorphoses ;  the  pupa  exhibiting  the 
parts  of  the  future  perfect  insect, — which,  when  dis- 
closed, appears  to  remain  quiet  for  some  time  before 
coming  into  outer  air.  The  larva  feeds  in  the  solid 
wood,  usually  near  the  bark,  and  reduces  it  to  a  sort  of 
tan :  it  has  been  considered  to  be  the  ''  Cossus  "  of  the 
Romans. 

An  allied  but  much  smaller  species,  Dorcus  parallelo- 
pipedus  (Plate  VIII,  Fig.  4),  has  each  eye  almost  divided 
into  two  by  a  similar  structure.  It  is  flat,  parallel,  and 
very  stoutly  built,  looking  as  if  a  broad-wheeled  waggon 
had  gone  over  it  without  inflicting  any  particular  damage 
beyond  a  slight  compression.     Its  male  and  female  have 


THE    LAMELLICORNES,    OR    '^CHAFERS."  125 

been  observed  in  company,  digging  holes  in  dead  trees 
wiierein  the  latter  might  deposit  her  eggs. 

Sinodendj'on,  found  in  the  rotten  mould  of  old  ash 
and  birch  trees,  is  more  elongate  and  cylindrical,  with 
its  eyes  entire.  In  the  fully  developed  male  there  is  a 
stout  horn  on  the  head,  bent  backwards,  and  hairy  be- 
hind;, the  thorax,  also,  is  semicircularly  truncated  in 
front,  with  a  rounded  tooth  in  the  middle,  and  the  mar- 
gin of  the  truncation  denticulated.  In  the  female  the 
head  bears  a  tubercle,  and  the  thorax,  which  is  very 
coarsely  punctured,  has  a  slight  depression  in  front. 


126 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  STERNOXI,  OR  "SKIPJACKS"  AND  THEIR  ALLIES. 

This  Section,  called  also  "  Serricomes,"  is  divided  into 
three  families, — the  Buprestida,  Eucnemidre,  and  Ela- 
terida ;  in  which  the  tarsi  have  five,  and  the  antennse 
eleven  (except  in  certain  of  the  latter,  where  there  are 
twelve)  joints ;  and  the  prosternura  is  elongated  into 
a  projection  behind,  fitting  into  a  cavity  between  the 
middle  legs. 

In  the  two  first  families  the  prothorax  fits  tightly 
against  the  base  of  the  elytra,  and  there  is  no  power  of 
jumping  when  the  insect  is  placed  on  its  back  :  whilst 
in  the  last  the  prothorax  is  not  applied  closely  to  the 
mesothorax,  but  loosely  articulated,  and  there  is  nearly 
always  great  saltatorial  power. 

They  are  all  wood  or  vegetable  feeders,  with  serrated, 
flabellated,  or  filiform  autennse ;  mostly  elongate  and 
cylindrical,  or  a  little  depressed ;  metallic  in  colour,  and 
of  hard  integuments.  They  have  no  paraglossse  to  the 
ligula ;  their  posterior  cox£e  are  immoveable,  and  trans- 
verse, receiving  in  repose  the  upper  part  of  the  hinder 
femora  for  their  whole  length  ;  the  anterior  coxaj  are 
globose ;  the  tibire  have  no  rows  of  spines  ;  the  penulti- 
mate joint  of  the  tarsi  is  often  bilobed  ;  and  the  abdo- 
men is  five-jointed. 


THE    "skipjacks"    AND    THEIR    ALLIES.  127 

The  BupRESTiD^  have  the  antennse  short,  serrated, 
and  inserted  in  cavities ;  the  head  buried  in  the  thorax 
up  to  the  eyes,  which  are  large,  and  vertically  oblong ; 
the  mouth  on  the  lower  side  of  the  head ;  the  labrum 
small :  the  ligula  often  hidden  behind  the  raentum  ;  two 
fringed,  lamelliforra,  toothless  lobes  to  the  maxillae;  the 
mandibles  short  and  strong;  the  thorax  not  produced 
into  spines  at  the  hinder  angles ;  the  front  and  middle 
coxse  globose,  forming  conspicuous  cups  for  the  trochan- 
ters^ and  the  posterior  coxse  laraelliform,  with  small  tro- 
chanters ;  the  tibioe  always  armed  with  short  spurs  at 
the  apex ;  the  four  first  joints  of  the  tarsi  with  mem- 
braneous plates  on  the  under  side  ;  the  two  first  ventral 
segments  of  the  abdomen  soldered  together ;  and  the 
prosternum  ending  in  a  flat  projection,  received  and  fixed 
into  a  sternal  cavity,  which  in  Anthaxia  and  its  allies  is 
formed  by  the  meso-  and  meta-sternum,  and  in  Agrilus 
and  Trachys  almost  entirely  by  the  latter. 

In  certain  species  there  are  one  or  two  more  or  less 
retractile  additional  segments  to  the  abdomen,  attached 
to  the  generative  organs. 

They  are  remarkable  for  their  hard  integuments,  me- 
tallic colour,  and  rigidity  of  body ;  and  are  usually  cy- 
lindrical, elongate  and  somewhat  depressed, — Trachys 
only  being  short  and  "  dumpy." 

The  parts  of  the  mouth  are  small,  and  present  but 
little  assistance  in  classification ;  but  the  conspicuous 
development  of  certain  pores  in  their  antennse  (first 
pointed  out  by  Erichson,  and  considered  by  him  as  ol- 
factory channels)  has  been  made  use  of  by  Lacordaire 
in  separating  the  difierent  tribes  and  groups  of  this  (ex- 
otically)  extensive  family.  These  pores,  which  are  not 
found  on  all  the  joints,  appear  to  be  invisible  in  the 


128  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

majority  of  Coleoptera,  being  hidden  by  very  fine  velvety 
pubescence :  but  liere  they  are  perfectly  distinct,  and 
are  diffused  over  the  upper  and  lower  surface  of  the 
joints  on  which  they  are  situated,  or  concentrated  in  a 
little  depression  situated  either  on  the  inner  side,  or  on 
the  anterior  part  of  the  lower  side,  or  on  the  front  edge 
of  the  joints. 

In  the  BuprestidcB  the  scutellum  is  often  absent  or 
very  small ;  the  elytra  seldom  cover  more  than  the  back, 
and  often  leave  the  sides  of  the  abdomen  projecting; 
and  the  antennae,  which  vary  considerably  as  to  their 
point  of  insertion,  fit  into  cavities  in  the  prosternum. 

In  tropical  regions,  and  even  in  Southern  Europe, 
they  occur  in  great  numbers,  often  of  large  size  and 
splendid  colours;  but  in  England  we  possess  not  a  dozen 
really  indigenous  species  (all  of  small  stature),  although 
several  have  been  from  time  to  time  introduced  into  our 
lists,  on  account  of  their  frequently  being  captured  alive 
in  this  country.  This  arises  through  their  larva?  being 
easily  imported  in  foreign  timber,  etc.  *;  and  through  the 
long  period  during  which  they  remain  without  changing 
to  the  perfect  state,  so  that  the  beetle  often  makes  its 
appearance  at  a  considerable  interval  both  of  time  and 
space  from  its  introduction. 

The  larvse  are  usually  smooth,  slender,  elongate,  cy- 
lindrical or  depressed,  and  very  suddenly  enlarged  in 
front ;  the  head  sunk  in  the  thorax,  distinctly  divided 
into  two  portions,  with  two  short  hard  mandibles  and 
small  antennae,  but  no  eyes ;  and  the  legs  entirely  want- 
ing, the  end  of  the  body  being  furnished  with  a  projec- 
tion, which  in  Agr'dus  is  prolonged  into  two  liorn\^  toothed 
lateral  pieces.  In  the  larva  of  Trac/iys,  however,  the 
head  is  not  sunk  in  the  thorax,  and  has  a  kidney-shaped 


THE    "skipjacks       AND    THEIR    ALLIES.  129 

eye  on  each  side ;  there  are  six  widely  separated  two- 
jointed  legs;  and  the  body  rapidly  contracts  behind, 
each  of  its  segments  being  moreover  separated  from  its 
neighbours  by  deep  incisions,  and  furnished  with  an 
upper  and  lower  horny  shield,  and  two  lateral  fringed 
tubercles,  * 

They  feed  either  in  solid  wood  (especially  of  dead  or 
decaying  trees),  or  under  or  in  the  bark.  Agrilus  bigut- 
tatus,  our  largest  indigenous  species  (Plate  VIII,  Fig.  5), 
may  be  taken  in  all  its  stages  at  Darenth  Wood  at  the 
end  of  June :  its  larvae  work  sinuous  galleries  in  the 
damp  bark  of  large  oak  stumps  in  open  cuttings,  that 
have  been  left  for  about  two  years  in  the  ground,  and 
turn  to  pupse  in  cells  between  the  outer  and  inner  layers ; 
the  perfect  insect  remaining  quiescent  therein  for  some 
time.  This  species,  in  common  with  all  the  Buprestidce, 
flies  during  the  hot  sunshine ;  and,  on  the  least  alarm, 
packs  its  limbs  tight  to  its  body,  simulates  death,  and 
rolls  to  the  ground.  The  very  rare  and  lovely  emerald 
Anthaxia  has  a  similar  provoking  habit  of  vanishing 
from  its  resting-place  in  the  flowers  of  Hieracium  in  the 
New  Forest,  when  approached  by  the  collector. 

The  species  of  Trachys  found  on  sallows,  in  moss,  etc., 
are  very  small,  triangular,  thick,  and  wiry-legged. 

The  EucNEMiD^  possess  many  of  the  characters  of 
the  Buprestida,  but  have  the  eyes  small  and  round ; 
the  antennse  inserted  on  the  forehead,  at  the  inner  mar- 
gin of  the  eyes,  and  in  the  British  species  (with  two 
exceptions)  strongly  flabellated  ;  the  apical  joint  of  the 
palpi  clubbed ;  the  labrum  obsolete ;  the  outer  lobe  of 
the  maxillae  sometimes  (in  certain  foreign  genera)  ab- 
sent ;  the  spurs  of  the  tibise  very  small,  or  wanting ;  the 
hinder  angles  of  the  thorax  produced ;  and  the  projection 


130  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

of  the  prosternum  more  or  less  received  into  a  cavity  of 
the  mesosternum,  which  admits  of  free  motion. 

In  this  family  the  puzzling  genus  Throscus  has  been 
placed  by  some  authors ;  though  by  others  it  is  sepa- 
rated, and  (with  the  exotic  Lissomus)  located  between 
the  Buprestidce  and  Eucnemidce ;  having  been  even  con- 
sidered to  be  allied  to  Byrrhus  and  Dermestes,  in  spite 
of  its  globose  coxse.  It  differs  from  the  Eucnemida 
chiefly  in  the  fixity  of  its  prosternal  projection  in  the 
sternal  cavity ;  the  existence  of  an  anterior  projection  to 
the  prosternum  (as  in  Hister) ;  and  tlie  strong  flat  three- 
jointed  club  of  its  antennae,  which  are  inserted  near  the 
eyes,  and  (excepting  the  club)  received  into  furrows  in 
the  prosternum.  The  common  little  T.  dermestoides  is 
found  in  sand-pits  and  crawling  on  old  palings ;  it  has 
been  said  to  possess  the  power  of  jumping,  as  in  the 
ElateridcB,  but  its  structure  appears  to  be  opposed  to 
such  a  habit :  it  certainly  contracts  its  legs  (of  which 
the  front  pair  are  received  into  cavities)  and  falls  in  a 
jerky  fashion  when  approached. 

This  is  a  most  irritating  insect  to  mount,  and  may  be 
considered  as  a  test  object  for  proficiency  in  setting, 
owing  to  its  tightly-packed  legs  and  lop-sided  pro- 
clivities. 

Melasis  and  Microrhagus,  our  sole  undoubted  species 
in  this  family,  are  of  considerable  rarity.  The  latter,  a 
small  black  elongate  insect,  with  long  antennai,  which 
are  strongly  flabellated  in  the  male,  and  received  in 
repose  into  slight  furrows  on  the  sides,  is  occasionally 
taken  in  the  New  Forest ;  and  the  former,  which  is 
larger,  more  cylindrical  and  robust  (Plate  8,  Fig.  6; 
Melasis  biiprestoides,  male),  occurs  sometimes  close  to 
Loudon,  on  palings,  and  in  old  trees.     The  males  have 


THE    "skipjacks"    AND    THEIR    ALLIES.  131 

flabellated  antennae^  and  are  usually  smaller  than  the 
females ;  and  the  larva  closely  resembles  those  of  the 
Buprestidce,  from  which  it  chiefly  differs  in  the  structure 
of  the  organs  of  its  mouth,  and  in  not  having  its  head 
divided  into  two  portions :  it  eats  galleries  in  recently 
dead  wood,  and  forms  a  cell  in  which  to  undergo  its 
metamorphosis ;  the  perfect  insect  (and  especially  the 
female)  being  frequently  to  be  seen  lurking  at  the  mouth 
of  the  burrow. 

The  structure  of  the  larva,  the  insertion  and  different 
cavities  of  the  antennae,  absence  of  a  labrum,  and  more 
closely  fitting  prothorax,  accompanied  by  the  absence  of 
saltatorial  power,  distinguish  this  family  from  the  next, 
to  which  in  many  respects  it  is  closely  allied. 

The  Elaterid.e  have  long  antennse,  which  are  either 
serrated,  pectinated,  or  filiform,  inserted  immediately  in 
front  of  the  eyes,  and  (except  in  the  first  sub-family) 
not  received  into  prosternal  grooves  in  repose ;  the  eyes 
large  and  round ;  the  head  (except  in  the  Camjjylides) 
sunk  in  the  thorax,  with  the  mouth  very  rarely  on  the 
lower  side ;  the  labrum  always  distinct ;  the  mandibles 
normally  short  and  somewhat  semicircular,  often  bifid 
at  the  apex ;  the  apical  joint  of  the  palpi  more  or  less 
securiform  (except  as  above) ;  the  thorax  produced  into 
spines  at  the  hinder  angles,  and  sloped  at  the  base  to- 
wards the  elytra,  which  are  also  sloped  forwards ;  the 
scutellum  mostly  situated  in  a  depression ;  the  proster- 
num  usually  produced  into  a  chin-piece  in  front,  and 
always  with  a  dagger-like  elongation  behind,  which 
moves  very  freely  in  the  mesosternal  cavity ;  and  the 
tarsi  often  furnished  with  lamellae  beneath. 

They  are  nearly  always  of  narrow,  elongate,  cylindrical 
shape,  though  sometimes  flattened ;  and  are  conspicuous 


132  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

for  their  power  of  jumping  when  placed  on  the  back, 
from  wdiich  their  common  names  of  "  Skipjacks/'  or 
"  Click-beetles/'  are  derived. 

An  Elater,  before  jumping,  arches  its  body  strongly, 
depressing  the  head  and  thorax,  and  elevating  the  mid- 
dle, so  as  both  to  free  the  dagger-like  projection  of  the 
prothorax  from  the  sternal  groove,  and  obtain  a  pur- 
chase for  its  rapid  re-insertion,  which  is  accompanied  by 
a  sharp  clicking  sound  :  the  effect  of  this  is  to  make  the 
end  of  the  abdomen  and  elytra  act  as  a  lever,  whereby 
the  insect  is  elevated  to  a  considerable  distance  in  the 
air,  nearly  always  coming  on  its  legs,  which  are  too 
short,  and  too  closely  articulated  to  the  body,  to  enable 
it  to  reach  the  ground  in  any  other  way.  If  unsuccess- 
ful in  its  first  endeavour,  it  persists  in  skipping  until  it 
lands  itself  right  side  up. 

The  wings  in  this  family  are  ample,  and  the  flight 
strong ;  many  of  its  members  flying  in  the  hot  sunshine, 
and  basking  in  warm  places  ;  though  others  are  noctur- 
nal, or  at  least  crepuscular,  in  their  habits. 

The  British  species  are  divided  into  three  sub-families, 
the  Ap'ypnides,  Elaterides,  and  Camjnjlides ;  of  which 
the  first  is  distinguished  by  its  antennae  being  received 
into  the  furrows  of  the  prosternum  in  repose.  Our  sole 
undoubted  species,  Lacon  murinus,  a  broad,  somewhat 
convex,  and  mottled-grey  insect,  is  found  in  garden  heaps 
and  grassy  places.  The  prosterual  furrows  are  not  open 
behind,  and  there  are  no  lamellae  to  its  tarsi  beneath. 

The  Elaterides  present  no  decided  character  beyond 
having  the  antennae  free  in  repose :  they  comprise  a 
great  number  both  of  genera  and  species,  all  possessing 
a  certain  family  likeness,  but  whose  divisions  are  com- 
paratively  artificial.     The   typical   genus    Elater  com- 


THE    "skipjacks        AND    THEIR   ALLIES.  133 

prises  some  flattish  shining  black  insects  with  hlood-red 
elytra,  and  one  species,  E.  sanguinolentus  (Plate  IX, 
Fig.  1)  having  also  a  black  mark  on  the  suture  ;  it  oc- 
curs at  the  roots  of  heath  on  Wimbledon  Common, 
where  it  has  also  been  taken  copiously  on  the  blossom 
of  the  nettle. 

They  frequent  grassy  places,  flowers,  and  the  leaves  of 
trees ;  some  also  being  found  in  rotten  wood,  or  under 
stones  on  river  banks. 

Their  larvse  are  very  like  the  common  "  meal-worm," 
being  horny,  slender,  and  elongate ;  usually  almost  cy- 
lindrical, but  sometimes  more  or  less  depressed.  They 
have  no  eyes  or  labrum ;  the  maxillae  and  mentum  are 
elongate  and  soldered  together,  with  palpi  which  have 
respectively  three  and  two  joints  ;  the  antennae  are  four- 
Cointed  and  short ;  the  legs  very  short,  robust,  close  toge- 
ther, and  three-jointed ;  and  the  apical  segment  usually 
larger  and  more  horny  than  the  rest,  frequently  with 
toothed  projections,  and  possessing  an  anal  prolongation. 
They  are  found  at  the  roots  of  plants  (the  common 
"  wire-worm  "  being  only  too  well  known),  or  in  the  black 
rotten  wood -mould  of  old  trees,  under  bark,  etc. ;  and 
have  frequently  been  known  to  destroy  other  subcortical 
larvse,  not  even  sparing  those  of  their  own  species. 

One  of  our  most  abundant  "skipjacks"  is  Athous 
hamorrhoidalis,  a  long  chestnut-brown  beetle  with  a 
lighter-coloured  abdomen,  found  in  profusion  on  fern 
and  young  hazel  in  the  spring.  Ludius  ferrugineus ,  a 
very  rare,  broad,  flat,  dull-red  species  (called  "  the  rusty 
gun-barrel"  by  one  of  our  best  working  collectors),  is 
the  largest  we  possess;  the  little  Cryptohypni,  found 
under  stones  on  banks,  being  the  smallest.  The  members 
of  the  latter  genus  appear  to  be  gregarious :  I  have  seen 


134  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

a  dozen  of  C.  dermestoides  (which  is  not  superficially  un- 
like the  Throsms  with  a  similar  trivial  appellation)  skip- 
ping about,  on  removing  a  stone  on  the  shore  of  Loch 
Rannoch. 

The  north  of  England  seems  to  be  more  productive  of 
the  larger  species  than  the  south  ;  where,  indeed,  but 
few  of  the  Elaterida  can  be  said  to  abound.  The  males 
of  some  of  the  metallic  species  [Corymbites  cupreus  and 
pectimcornis)  have  the  antennce  very  strongly  flabel- 
lated ;  and  in  Synaptus,  Agriotes  (the  larvse  of  certain 
common  species  of  which  are  known  as  the  "  wire- worm  " 
above  alluded  to),  S>ericosomus ,  Dolophis,  and  Adrastiis, 
the  head  is  almost  vertical  instead  of  transverse. 

The  Campylides  have  the  head  exserted,  with  the 
eyes  very  prominent  and  freed  from  the  thorax ;  the  la- 
brum  deflexed ;  no  chin-piece  to  the  prosternum ;  the 
metasternum  sharply  narrowed  in  front,  with  the  inter- 
mediate coxpe  approximated ;  the  mandibles  projecting, 
straight  at  the  base  and  curved  at  the  apex ;  the  last 
joint  of  the  maxillary  palpi  often  oval  or  subcylindric ; 
and  the  tarsi  not  lamellated  beneath. 

Our  solitary  species,  Camjnjlus  linearis,  is  chiefly 
noticeable  from  the  great  variation  in  colour  often  seen 
in  the  female. 

Through  this  sub-family  the  passage  is  easy  to  the 
next  section,  by  means  of  the  Cebrionidce,  and  other 
families  not  found  in  Britain. 

M.  E.  Candeze  has  monographed  the  Elaterida  of 
the  world  in  four  vols.  (Liege,  1857-63) ;  and  his  work 
is  indispensable  to  the  student  of  the  family. 


135 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE  MALACODERMI. 

This  section,  as  here  employed,  is  of  an  essentially  arti- 
ficial nature,  comprising  insects  of  very  varied  appear- 
ance and  structure,  which  may  be  considered  as  divided 
into  fifteen  families : — the  Aiopidce,  Cijphonida,  Eubri- 
ad<E,  Lycidce,  Lampyridce,  Drilidce,  Telephoridcs,  Mely- 
rid(S,  Byturida,  Cleridte,  Lymexylonidce,  Ptinida,  Bos- 
trichida,  Lyctidte,  and  Cioidee.  Of  these,  the  first  eight 
only  (and  perhaps  not  all  of  them)  can  be  considered  as 
strictly  Malacodermi,  wherein  the  integuments  of  the 
body  are  not  horny,  but  soft  and  flexible,  and  usually 
clothed  with  short  pubescence ;  the  antennae  long,  fili- 
form or  serrate,  with  generally  eleven  joints,  though 
sometimes  this  number  varies  to  ten  or  twelve  (the  latter 
occurring  in  certain  exotic  LampyrldcE) ;  the  parts  of 
the  mouth  nearly  membraneous,  the  mentum  being  often 
indistinct,  and  the  ligula  with  no  paraglossse ;  the  front 
cox8e  conic,  exserted,  and  sometimes  almost  cylindrical, 
and  the  hinder  pair  transverse,  often  approximated,  and 
reaching  to  the  edge  of  the  elytra ;  the  tibiae  seldom 
spurred  at  the  apex ;  the  tarsi  five-jointed,  though  with 
only  four  joints  to  those  of  the  front  legs  in  tne  males 
of  certain  species;    the  abdomen  composed  of  six  or 


.136  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

seven  free  ventral  segments  ;  and  the  elytra  very  seldom 
punctate-striate,  and  usually  not  covering  the  sides  of 
the  abdomen. 

In  the  remainder  there  is  great  variation  in  the  an- 
tennse,  hardness  of  the  body,  etc. ;  so  that  it  is  impos- 
sible to  couple  them  with  the  true  Malacodermi ;  and 
yet  they  differ  so  much  inter  se  as  to  require  the  forma- 
tion of  many  other  sections  for  their  reception  if  sepa- 
rated from  that  group,  although  none  of  their  associa- 
tions are  equivalent  in  extent  or  distinctness  to  it. 

The  AtopidtE  are  here  represented  by  one  genus  and 
species,  Bascillus  cervimis,  a  large,  oblong-oval,  convex, 
hard,  dull-grey,  downy  insect,  not  uncommon  in  flowers, 
especially  in  chalky  districts.  It  has  prominent  man- 
dibles, straight  and  spurred  tibiae,  and  each  of  the 
second,  third,  and  fourth  joints  of  the  tarsi  furnished 
with  a  bilobed  lamella.  Its  short,  flat,  eyeless  larva  is 
set  with  rows  of  long  hairs,  and  has  four-jointed  an- 
tennae, rather  long  legs,  horny  plates  on  the  upper  seg- 
ments, and  no  anal  prolongation  :  it  lives  in  the  earth 
at  the  roots  of  plants. 

The  Cyphonid^  are  all  much  smaller  and  less  oblong, 
with  softer  integuments,  and  very  fragile.  They  have 
sharp  mandibles,  which  are  not  prominent;  the  pro- 
sternum  linear  and  transverse ;  the  mesothoracic  epimera 
elongate,  and  those  of  the  metathorax  not  conspicuous; 
the  femora  hollowed  on  the  under  side ;  the  tibiae  angu- 
lated;  and  no  bilobed  lamellaj  to  the  tarsi. 

Their  larvae,  which  feed  on  water-plants,  differ  con- 
siderably from  tbose  of  the  Atopida  (which  somewhat 
resemble  the  Lamellicorn  type),  being  more  like  those 
of  the  genus  Silpha. 

The  perfect  insects  are  obtained  by  sweeping  in  marshy 


THE    MALACODERMI.  137 

places^  beating  in  sallows^  etc. ;  and  are  extremely  diffi- 
cult to  obtain  in  good  condition,  on  account  of  their 
slender  and  slightly  articulated  limbs,  which  often  come 
to  pieces  on  being  touched  with  even  a  camePs-hair 
brush  in  mounting.  They  are  mostly  yellowish-brown 
in  colour,  with  no  sculpture,  and  short  silky  pubescence. 
The  rare  Prionocyphon  has  on  two  or  three  occasions 
been  found  in  ants'  nests ;  though  it  is  a  mystery  how 
or  why  it  got  there.  Scirtes  is  conspicuous  for  the  great 
development  of  its  hinder  femora,  and  the  large  curved 
outer  spur  at  the  apex  of  the  tibiae  of  the  same  legs ;  the 
inner  spur  being  shorter.  S.  hemispheericus,  a  flat,  black 
insect,  is  abundant  in  marshy  places  at  Weybridge  and 
elsewhere  ;  and  jumps  strongly,  after  the  manner  of  the 
Halticidce,  for  a  member  of  which  family  it  might  rea- 
dily be  mistaken  by  a  novice  who  failed  to  notice  its 
five-jointed  tarsi.  It  has  a  pleasing  habit  of  dropping 
its  hind  legs  entirely  when  handled ;  and  shares  the 
fragility  of  its  allies. 

The  EuBRiAD^  (consisting  of  a  single  genus  and 
species,  Eubria  palustris,  a  small  black  insect  with 
rather  deeply  furrowed  elytra)  differ  from  the  Cyphonida 
chiefly  in  having  the  mesosternum  level  and  square 
instead  of  concave,  and  the  prosternal  projection  not 
narrow  but  wide  and  flat,  gradually  lessened  behind,  and 
uniting  with  the  mesosternum.  The  front  and  inter- 
mediate coxse  are  transverse  and  sunken,  with  no  tro- 
chantina;  and  the  hinder  pair  are  but  very  slightly 
enlarged  on  the  inner  side. 

The  Lycid^  have  the  antennae  inserted  on  the  upper 
side  between  or  before  the  eyes,  and  very  close  together ; 
the  mandibles  very  small,  slender,  and  not  toothed  at 
the  apex;  the  trochanters  placed  in  the  axis  of  the  fe- 


138  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

mora ;  and  the  head  produced  into  the  form  of  a  rostrum, 
and  covered  by  the  prothorax. 

They  are  conspicuous  for  their  flattened  appearance  ; 
long  and  ample  elytra,  with  diminished  head  and  thorax  j 
bright  colours,  and  peculiar  reticulated  sculpture, 

Didyopterus  Aurora  (Plate  TX,  Fig.  2)  is  found,  at 
Rannoch,  in  Perthshire,  on  the  under  sides  of  felled 
pine-trees,  or  among  the  half-rotten  heaps  of  chips  left 
by  the  woodman.  It  is  a  sluggish  species,  and  is  readily 
captured,  not  attempting  to  escape,  though  it  flies  hea- 
vily towards  the  evening  :  the  sexes  remain  coupled  for 
some  time,  the  male  being  the  smaller  of  the  two,  with 
longer  antennse,  and  having  a  deep  semicircular  notch 
on  the  hinder  margin  of  the  last  abdominal  segment. 
The  larva  of  an  allied  species  has  been  found  under  bark 
of  dead  trees,  where  it  feeds  on  other  insects,  etc. :  it  is 
black,  Avith  a  red  tail ;  elongate,  very  flattened,  leathery, 
with  slender  mandibles  which  are  placed  very  close  to- 
gether, and  having  two  recurved  hooks  and  a  retractile 
prolongation  at  the  apex  of  the  body. 

The  Lampyrid^  are  closely  allied  to  the  last  family, 
from  which  they  differ,  however,  considerably  in  outward 
appearance  ;  in  the  mostly  apterous  state  of  the  female; 
and  in  the  presence  of  the  power  of  emitting  phospho- 
rescent light.  Their  palpi,  also,  are  of  diff'ereut  struc- 
ture ;  the  eyes  more  developed  ;  the  head  more  entirely 
hidden  by  the  rounded  prothorax ;  and  the  intermediate 
coxse  more  approximated.  The  "  Glow-v>orra,"  Lampyris 
noctiluca,  is  the  sole  British  exponent  of  this  family. 
The  males  are  sometimes  very  slightly  luminous,  and 
are  considerably  rarer  than  the  female ;  they  may, 
however,  be  taken  by  sweeping  at  night  in  grassy  places 
Avhere  the  other  sex  is  found, — sometimes  having  been 


THE    MALACODERMI.  139 

observed  to  fly  to  a  lamp,  after  the  fashion  of  moths. 
They  are  dingy  in  colour,  with  a  rounded  thorax  hiding 
the  head,  ample  wings  under  their  elytra,  and  very  large 
eyes,  resembling  those  of  certain  dipterous  insects.  The 
female,  on  the  contrary,  has  smaller  eyes,  and  neither 
elytra  nor  wings ;  her  body  is  flat,  soft,  and  broad ; 
and,  in  short,  she  considerably  resembles  the  larva  from 
which  she  sprang,  from  which  she  differs  in  having  the 
ordinary  femur,  tibia,  and  five-jointed  tarsi  to  the  legs, 
eleven-jointed  antennae,  and  a  broad  flat  semicircular 
thorax :  the  larva,  moreover,  has  distinct  light-coloured 
corners  to  each  segment.  The  pupa  of  the  female  exhi- 
bits but  slight  differences  from  the  larva ;  but  that  of 
the  male  shows  the  ordinary  rudiments  of  the  future 
members.  The  insect,  both  as  an  imago  and  larva,  de- 
vours small  Mollusca  (snails,  etc.) ;  and,  when  in  the 
latter  condition,  uses  certain  radii,  protruded  from  the 
anus,  for  the  purpose  of  freeing  the  front  of  the 
body  from  the  dirt  and  slime  caused  by  its  habits  of 
feeding. 

The  phosphorescent  light  has  been  observed  in  all  the 
stages  and  both  sexes  of  this  species ;  but  is  especially 
evident  in  the  full-grown  female,  proceeding  from  the 
under  side  of  the  abdomen  at  the  apex,  where  certain  of 
the  segments  are  lighter  in  colour  than  the  rest.  It 
appears  to  be  subject  to  the  will  of  the  insect,  and  is 
brightest  when  the  latter  is  found  in  damp  places. 

The  DRiLiDiE  have  their  antennse  distant  at  the  base, 
and  serrated  or  flabellated ;  the  mandibles  bifid,  and 
armed  Avith  a  sharp  tooth  in  the  middle  of  the  inner 
side ;  the  head  not  covered  by  the  prothorax,  but  in- 
serted in  it  up  to  the  eyes ;  the  clypeus  confoimded  with 
the  head  (as  in  the  Lycida,  Lampyridce,  and  Teleplio- 


140  BRITISH    BKETLES. 

ridee);  the  prothorax  strongly  transverse,  and  the  claws 
of  the  tarsi  toothed  beneath. 

Our  solitary  representative,  Drilus  flavescens  (Plate 
IX,  Fig,  3),  is  found  at  Dover,  near  Darenth  Wood,  etc., 
by  sweeping  in  grassy  places,  especially  where  snails 
abound.  The  female,  as  in  Lampyris,  possesses  neither 
wings  nor  elytra,  and  is  of  the  greatest  rarity  in  Eng- 
land. 

The  larva  feeds  upon  snails  [Helix  nemoralis),  closing 
up  the  orifice  of  the  shell  with  its  exuvise  whilst  preying 
upon  its  inhabitant.  I  once  took  at  the  base  of  Shake- 
speare's Cliff  a  full-grown  female  larva,  running  rapidly 
in  the  hot  sunshine  among  snail  shells.  It  was  more 
than  half  an  inch  long ;  flat,  narrow,  but  rather  widening 
behind ;  with  a  flat  head,  armed  with  two  sharp  and 
rather  widely  separated  mandibles,  six  moderately  long 
anterior  legs,  two  thin  tubercles  on  each  side  of  the 
fourth  and  following  segments,  gradually  getting  longer, 
and  clothed  with  stout  brown  bristles ;  and  two  longer 
elevated  protuberances,  also  set  with  long  hairs  on  the 
upper  side,  with  an  anal  elongation  beneath,  on  the  last 
segment.  It  was  nearly  the  colour  of  raw  sienna;  and 
had  a  widening  row  of  black  spots  on  each  side,  begin- 
ing  on  the  thorax.  The  fig-ure  given  in  Westwood's 
Introduction  (vol.  i.  p.  247,  f.  26,  18)  is  not  correct; 
being  too  broad  and  not  hairy  enough . 

The  female  preserves  the  appearance  of  the  larvae  to 
a  great  extent. 

The  TelephoriD/E  (commonly  known  as  "  soldiers  " 
or  "sailors")  have  the  head  free  and  contracted  behind; 
the  clypeus  more  or  less  covering  the  mandibles;  the 
labrum  obsolete,  instead  of  distinct,  as  in  the  preceding 
families;  the  antennae  filiform;  the  elytra  not  reflected 


THE    MALACODERMI.  14-1 

at  the  sides,  flexible,  liable  to  distortion,  and  rarely  en- 
tirely covering  the  abdomen  ;  the  palpi  slender ;  and  the 
fourth  joint  of  the  tarsi  bilobed. 

Although  their  integuments,  compared  with  those  of 
the  families  of  the  preceding  section,  are  as  difterent  as 
the  canvas  of  a  sculler's -boat  from  the  plates  of  an  iron- 
clad, these  insects  are  "Warriors"  a  Voutrance ;  and  are 
living  disproofs  of  Scott's  well-known  lines  (Rokeby)  : — 

"  Man  only  mars  kind  nature's  plan, 
And  tui'ns  the  fell  pursuit  on  man  :" 

seeing  that  they  not  only  prey  on  other  beetles,  but  also 
ruthlessly  attack  those  of  their  own  species.  Conse- 
quently the  collector  must  remember  to  put  them  in  a 
bottle  containing  laurel-leaves,  or  they  will  infallibly 
maim  their  fellow-captives. 

Their  larvse,  equally  carnivorous,  feeding  upon  earth- 
Avorms,  etc.,  live  underground ;  but  are  sometimes  found 
on  the  surface  in  great  numbers,  even  upon  snow.  They 
are  elongate,  somewhat  parallel,  black  in  colour,  with 
white  or  reddish  spots ;  and  resemble  those  of  the  Lampy- 
ridce  in  having  a  single  eye  on  each  side  of  the  head,  no 
labrura,  and  the  clypeus  confused  with  the  head  :  they 
are,  however,  softer,  and  clothed  with  a  fine  velvety 
down;  and  have  the  head  exposed,  and  the  abdominal 
segments  rounded.  Mr.  G.  R.  Waterhouse  has  de- 
scribed and  figured  the  larvse  of  Telephorus  rufus  in  the 
Transact,  of  the  Ent.  Soc.  i.  p.  31,  pi.  3. 

The  perfect  insects,  which  fly  readily  in  the  hot  sun- 
shine, and  have  long  loosely-articulated  legs,  which  they 
use  with  great  efi'ect,  are  mostly  found  on  flowers  (chiefly 
Umbclliferce) ,  and  by  sweeping  in  damp  places :  it  is  not 
easy  to  obtain  a  series  in  good  preservation,  owing  to 


143  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

their  liability  to  distortion  in  drying ;  the  abdomen,  es- 
pecially in  the  females,  being  very  large  and  soft. 

Telephorus  clypeatus  (Plate  IX,  Fig.  4)  is  one  of  the 
prettiest,  owing  to  its  spotted  thorax ;  unlike  many  of 
the  members  of  its  genus,  it  does  not  vary  in  colour  or 
marking.  Telephorus  is  divided  into  three  sub-genera ; 
Ancystronycha,  wherein  the  outer  claw  of  the  tarsi  in 
the  female  has  a  very  strong  spine-like  tooth ;  Tele- 
jjhorus  proper,  wherein  this  tooth  is  less  developed ;  and 
Rhagonycha,  in  which  both  the  claws  are  bifid,  seeming 
to  be  split  at  the  apex.  In  the  latter  the  tibise,  also,  are 
straighter,  more  slender,  and  with  only  obsolete  spurs. 

The  species  of  Malthinus  and  Malthodes  have  very 
long  slender  antennae,  and  short  elytra,  scarcely  covering 
two-thirds  of  the  abdomen.  They  are  small,  very  fra- 
gile, and  are  most  easily  obtained  by  sweeping  under  fir- 
trees.  In  the  former  genus  the  elytra  are  longer,  and 
the  mandibles  have  a  strong  tooth  near  the  apex,  which 
is  wanting  in  the  latter. 

The  Melyrid^  have  the  clypeus  separated  by  a  suture 
from  the  forehead  (a  structure,  however,  not  very  evi- 
dent in  the  British  species);  the  labrum  distinct;  the 
abdomen  composed  of  six  segments ;  the  spurs  of  the 
tibiae  obsolete  or  absent ;  and  the  tarsi  not  bilobed.  In 
Malachius  (wherein  the  antenuse,  contrary  to  the  pre- 
vailing structure  of  the  family,  are  inserted  in  the  front, 
instead  of  at  the  sides,  of  the  head),  Anthocomus,  and 
Ebceus,  there  are  certain  retractile  vesicles  to  the  pro- 
thorax  and  abdomen ;  w  hicli  in  some  of  the  small  green 
metallic  species  of  the  former  genus,  assume  the  appear- 
ance of  the  wattles  of  a  cock.  Their  larvae  are  carnivo- 
rous, living  under  bark,  and  in  dry  rotten  wood,  where 
they  feed  upon  other  larvae,  etc.     The  remainder  of  the 


THE    MALACODERMI.  143 

family  have  no  vesicles ;  they  are  also  more  elongate  and 
hairy  than  the  species  of  the  above-mentioned  genera. 

The  Byturid^  comprise  two  very  puzzling  genera, 
Byturus  and  Telmatophilus ;  both  of  which  have  been 
shifted  about  to  a  considerable  extent  by  authors.  The 
former  was  originally  placed  by  Latreille  among  the 
Nitidulidte  ;  then  in  the  Melyrida  by  Erichson  ;  subse- 
quently, by  Redtenbacher  and  Lacordaire  in  the  Derme- 
stidce ;  and,  lastly,  by  Thomson,  again  returned  to  the 
Nitidulida,  but  associated  with  such  heterogeneous 
neighbours  as  Thymalus  and  Micropeplus. 

T'elmatophilus,  also,  has  been  alternately  placed  in  the 
Melyridcs  and  Cryptophagidce ;  it  is,  also,  associated  by 
Redtenbacher  with  Lyctus  and  Alexia,  and  included  by 
Thomson  with  Tritoma  and  Mycetcea  in  the  Fungicola. 

Byturus  has  the  tarsi  five-jointed  and  velvety  beneath ; 
the  second  and  third  joints  produced  into  long  side 
lappets,  the  first  and  fourth  being  very  small  (the  latter 
hidden  between  the  lobes  of  the  third),  and  the  fifth  as 
long  as  all  the  rest  together,  with  the  apical  hooks  much 
curved,  and  furnished  with  a  strong  tooth  at  the  base. 
The  front  coxae  are  ovate  and  not  exserted,  and  the  pos- 
terior approximated.  The  abdomen  is  composed  of  five 
equal  free  segments ;  the  mandibles  have  a  stout  tooth 
at  the  base,  and  are  slightly  toothed  before  the  apex ; 
the  eyes  are  large,  round,  and  prominent ;  the  antennae 
eleven-jointed  with  a  graduated  three-jointed  club;  and 
the  body  is  rather  convex  and  pubescent. 

The  perfect  insects  are  found  in  the  flowers  of  the 
white-thorn,  strawberry,  etc. ;  and  are  entirely  unlike 
any  Dermestes  in  their  habits.  The  larvse,  also,  have 
similar  propensities;  they  do  not  present  the  hairs  so 
characteristic  of  the  larvae  of  the  latter. 


144  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

Tehnatophilus,  also,  is  found  upon  plants,  especially 
near  water  :  its  tarsi  are  pentamerous,  with  the  fourth 
joint  almost  obsolete ;  the  second  and  third  being  bi- 
lobed  (the  latter  very  strongly  so),  and  the  two  first 
densely  pilose  beneath. 

The  prosternum  has  its  hinder  part  projecting,  and 
received  into  the  anterior  margin  of  the  mesosternum, 
which  is  nearly  square.  The  antennse  are  eleven-jointed, 
with  a  small  three-jointed  club ;  the  mandibles  are 
finely  denticulated  before  their  extremity ;  the  eyes  are 
round  and  large  ;  and  the  body  slightly  pubescent.  The 
species  are  all  small,  and  rather  narrow. 

The  conflict  between  the  facies,  habits,  and  structure 
of  the  tarsi,  etc.,  in  these  insects  makes  it  difficult  to 
locate  them  with  any  certainty. 

The  Clerid^  (which  are  mostly  brightly  coloured) 
have  the  antennae  often  clubbed ;  the  labrum  distinct ; 
the  tarsi  provided  with  lamellae  beneath  and  sometimes 
bilobed ;  often  only  five  abdominal  segments ;  the  pos- 
terior coxae  transverse,  sunk,  not  approximated,  and 
covered  by  the  hind  femora;  the  body  oblong,  usually 
cylindrical,  rather  hard,  and  hairy;  the  eyes  kidney- 
shaped  and  notched  ;  and  the  head  and  thorax  narrower 
than  the  elytra.  They  are  remarkable,  also,  for  usually 
having  the  labial  larger  than  the  maxillary  palpi. 

In  Tillus,  Clerus,  Opilus,  and  Trichodes  there  are  five 
joints  to  the  tarsi,  and  the  pronotum  is  confused  with 
the  prothoracic  parapleurae,  so  that  the  thorax  becomes 
cylindrical ;  but  in  the  sub-family  Enopliides,  to  which 
the  genus  Corynetes  belongs,  there  are  only  four  joints 
(the  normal  fourth  joint  being  imperfectly  developed); 
and  the  upper  part  of  the  thorax  is  separated  from  the 
sides  by  a  more  or  less  conspicuous  ridge. 


THE    MALACODERMI.  145 

Tillus  elongatus,  a  narrow  black  insect  with  red  thorax 
(the  male  being  rarely  entirely  black),  perforates  old 
wood,  and  is  sometimes  found  in  elder-blossom. 

Clerus  formic arius  (Plate  IX,  Fig.  5),  a  regular  Harle- 
quin, occurs  beneath  bark ;  where  its  larva,  dark  pink  and 
spotted  in  front  (figured  by  Ratzeburg,  Forstins.  vol.  i. 
p.  35,  pi.  1,  f,  7;  and  by  ]M.  Perris,  Ann.  de  la  Soc. 
Ent.  de  Fr.,  1854),  preys  upon  other  wood-feeding  larvae. 
Opilus  is  found  in  old  hedges  and  posts,  its  soft,  pale 
pink,  hairy  larva  living  under  the  barks  of  willoAvs,  and 
feeding  on  the  larvse  of  Anobium,  etc. ;  and  the  species 
of  Trichodes  (of  doubtful  British  origin),  large,  hairy, 
blue,  red- banded  insects,  are  parasitic  in  their  earlier 
stages  upon  honey  and  mason-bees,  whose  larvse  they 
devour,  Corynetes  and  Necrobia,  small,  flattish,  shining, 
and  blue-black,  with  the  thorax  or  legs  red  in  some  in- 
stances, frequent  dry  skins,  dead  carcases,  etc.  (having 
even  been  found  in  an  Egyptian  mummy)  ;  the  latter  is 
distinguished  by  the  more  elongate  apical  joint  of  its 
palpi,  and  the  larger  and  flatter  club  to  its  antennae. 

The  Lymexylonid.e  {XyJotrogi,  Latr.)  are  very  long, 
narrow,  and  cylindrical,  with  the  head  free  from  the 
prothorax,  contracted  behind,  and  having  a  neck ;  the 
front  and  middle  coxse  close  together,  large,  long,  cylin- 
drical, and  not  exserted;  the  posterior  pair  being  oblique; 
the  presternum  not  produced  into  a  point  behind ;  the 
spurs  of  the  tibise  imperfectly  developed  or  absent;  the 
legs  long  and  thin,  with  slender  five-jointed  tarsi;  the 
labrum  small,  but  distinct ;  and  the  palpi  considerably 
developed  in  the  males. 

Their  larvae,  which  bore  neat  round  drills  horizontally 
into  solid  timber,  are  elongate,  cylindrical,  recurved  be- 
hind, smooth,  but  with  numerous  roughnesses  on  the 

L 


146  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

front  of  tlie  body,  and  a  projection  on  the  back  of  the 
apical  segment;  their  head  is  retractile  into  the  first 
thoracic  segment,  which  is  enlarged  and  elevated,  and 
they  have  no  eyes.  The  pnpa  is  formed  near  the  mouth 
of  the  burrow,  which  is  enlarged  by  the  larva ;  and  is 
thin  and  cylindrical,  as  in  most  wood-feeding  insects. 

Hi/lecckhis  deniiestoides  (Plate  IX,  Fig.  6,  male),  found 
at  Rannoch,  Sherwood,  etc.,  difl'ers  considerably  in  the 
size  and  colour  of  its  sexes,  and  possesses  an  occllum  on 
the  vertex.  The  maxillary  palpi  of  the  male  are  of  great 
size,  assuming  the  appearance  of  a  fan,  on  account  of 
the  third  joint  (which  is  much  developed)  having 
numerous  branchial  appendages.  In  tiiis  genus  there 
are  six  segments  to  the  abdomen ;  but  in  Lxjmexylon, 
which  is  of  the  greatest  rarity  here,  though  so  common 
on  the  Continent  as  to  commit  great  damage  to  timber, 
there  are  only  five. 

The  PTiNiDiE  are  conspicuous  for  their  habit  of  re- 
tracting their  head  beneath  the  prothorax  (Plate  X, 
Fig.  1  «),  which  forms  a  cowl;  their  legs,  also,  are  con- 
tractile, with  no  spines  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  tibiae, 
which  have  the  terminal  spurs  absent  or  very  small,  and 
short  five-jointed  tarsi,  of  which  the  first  and  second 
joints  are  almost  equal  in  length.  They  are  usually 
small,  of  hard  integuments,  more  or  less  cylindrical,  and 
clothed  with  short  pubescence.  Of  the  two  sub-families 
into  which  they  are  divided,  the  Ptinides  have  the 
antennae  inserted  in  the  front  part  of  the  head,  and  the 
upper  part  of  the  prothorax  confused  with  its  sides  ; 
whilst  the  Anobiides  have  the  antennae  inserted  close  to 
the  front  margin  of  the  eyes,  a  strong  ridge  separating 
the  prouotum  from  the  sides  of  the  prothorax,  and  the 
anterior  coxae  rather  more  projecting. 


THE    MALACODERMl.  147 

Tlieir  larvse,  which  resemble  those  of  the  Lamellicornes 
ill  miniature,  feed  chiefly  upon  dead  wood ;  though 
sometimes  upon  living  trees,  bones,  seeds,  etc.  I  have 
found  the  cocoons  of  Piinus  germanus  in  an  old  post ; 
they  were  formed  of  a  dirty  silken  fabric,  mixed  with 
pieces  of  wood ;  and  contained  the  perfect  insects,  which 
(as  usual)  do  not  appear  to  be  active  immediately  after 
their  exclusion  from  the  pupa. 

Hedobia  imperialis  (Plate  X,  Fig.  1)  is  the  only  species 
with  any  pretensions  to  beauty;  it  occurs  in  old  white- 
thorn bushes.  The  Plini  are  found  in  houses  and  about 
old  palings,  often  doing  considerable  damage  to  Natural- 
history  collections  ;  they  have  the  prothorax  constricted 
behind,  and  the  male  usually  more  elongate,  and  with 
longer  antennae  than  the  female. 

Gibbium  and  Me2'M<OT,boih  liouse-feeders  (and,  perhaps, 
not  tndy  indigenous),  have  entirely  smooth  and  shining 
elytra,  looking  much  like  certain  small  Arachnida ;  the 
former  especially  so,  on  account  of  its  thorax  also  being 
smooth,  its  continuous  outline,  slow  gait,  and  long 
sprawling  legs.  The  latter  has  no  scutellum  ;  and  both 
contract  their  legs  and  antennse  in  repose,  assuming  a 
globular  form,  which  has  been  fancifully  likened  to  a 
drop  of  blood. 

Of  the  Anobiides,  the  cylindrical  little  RiHinus  pec- 
tinicornis, — whose  neat  round  drills  may  often  be  seen 
in  great  numbers  in  old  willow,  etc.,  looking  as  if  a 
volley  of  small  shot  had  been  discharged  very  cleanly 
into  the  wood, — is  noteworthy  from  the  beautiful  fan-like 
structure  of  its  antenuiTe  in  tlie  male.  The  I'eraales 
appear  to  remain  in  the  galleries  made  by  the  larvae, 
and  the  male  couples  from  the  -outside. 

Dorcatoma, — small,  round,  and  convex, — found  in  old 

L  2 


148  BRITISH    BEETLKS. 

rotten  wood  or  fmigi^  lias  the  antennae  terminated  by  a 
three-jointed,  flatjdcntated  club;  and  the  genus  A  no  bium, 
wherein  the  three  last  joints  of  the  antennae  are  enlarged 
or  lengthened, comprises  the  well-known  "Death-watch;" 
an  appellation  given  to  certain  of  its  species  [A.  tessel- 
luium  especially)  found  in  old  furniture,  wainscoting, 
etc.,  on  account  of  their  habit  of  making  an  audible 
clicking  with  their  mandibles  against  the  hard  wood, 
possibly  as  a  call  for  their  mates.  This  noise,  distinct 
enough  in  the  stillness  of  the  night,  and  associated  by 
superstition  with  the  advent  of  death,  has  doubtless  in 
olden  times  unstrung  the  weak  nerves  of  many  an  in- 
valid. The  wood-dust  ejected  from  their  burrows  in 
beams,  chairs,  etc.,  may  frequently  be  seen  in  country 
houses.  Tliey  retract  the  limbs  aiul  simulate  death  very 
readily  and  pertinaciously. 

The  members  of  this  family,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
section,  are  associated  by  Thomson  with  Cerylon,  Coly- 
dium,  Myrmecoxenus,  Sphindus,  etc.,  in  the  Xylophagi  of 
Latrcille,  which  he  places  between  the  Ijamellicornes 
and  an  equivalent  division,  Fungicola,  Latr.,  immediately 
preceding  the  Sternoxi. 

The  Fungicola  are  niade  to  include  genera  of  such 
different  structure  as  Monotonia,  Lathridius,  Crypto- 
phagus,  TelmatopJiilus,  Tritoma,  Triplax,  Endomychus, 
Tdratoina,  Mycetophagus,  DipJiylliis,  etc. 

The  BosTRiciiiB/E  present  considerable  resemblance 
to  the  Ariobiides,  from  which  they  differ  especially  in 
the  structure  of  their  tarsi,  wherein  the  first  joint  is  very 
small,  and  the  second  and  apical  much  enlarged.  The 
spurs  to  the  tibise  are  also  more  developed,  especially  in 
the  front  legs;  the  anterior  coxse  are  very  large;  the 
body  is  harder,  and  not  so  pubescent ;  the  head  is  not 


THE    MALACODERMI.  149 

retractile,  but  hidden  by  the  great  bulk  of  the  thorax 
in  front ;  and  the  elytra  are  often  obliquely  truncate  at 
the  apex ;  in  which  last  character  (and  in  general  facies) 
they  are  exceedingly  like  certain  of  the  Scoly  tides,  wherein 
the  number  of  joints  in  the  tarsi  is  different. 

Their  larvae,  also,  appear  to  resemble  those  of  the 
Piinidce,  but  to  be  less  wrinkled  transversely ;  having, 
moreover,  two  four-jointed  antennse  and  no  eyes,  whilst 
the  latter  have  exceedingly  small  two-jointed  antennse 
and  very  minute  spherical  eyes,  situated  in  a  depression 
near  the  base  of  the  mandibles. 

The  large  and  very  rare  Bosirichus  capucinus  has  re- 
cently been  taken  near  Highgate  on  a  felled  oak ;  and 
the  little  Rhizopertha  pusilla,  superficially  very  like  a 
Tomicus,  but  in  which  the  structure  of  the  tarsi  is  exactly 
the  same  as  in  the  Cioidce,  occurs  at  Glasgow  and  else- 
Avhere,  being  probably  imported. 

The  Lyctid^  are  sometimes  associated  with  both  the 
next  and  the  preceding  family ;  and  have,  also,  been 
placed  among  the  Colydiada  and  Cryptophayidce,  to  cer- 
tain of  the  former  of  which  they  present  a  considerable 
external  resemblance.  Their  tarsi  have  five  joints,  the 
first  being  very  small,  and  the  last  as  long  as  the  four 
preceding ;  the  first  abdominal  segment  is  longer  than 
any  of  the  rest ;  the  club  of  their  antennse  is  two-jointed  ; 
and  their  body  flat  and  elongate,  with  punctate-striate 
elytra. 

This  assemblage  of  characters  causes  them  to  fit  un- 
easily with  any  of  their  supposed  allies ;  and  the  diffi- 
culty of  assigning  them  to  their  correct  position  has 
been  increased  by  the  discovery  of  the  larva  of  one  of 
the  species,  which  is  fleshy,  arched,  cylindrical,  and  with- 
out eyes  or  legs; — resembling,  in  short,  those  of  the 


150  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

tetramerous  Scolytida  and  Curculionida :  it  appears  to 
make  straight  burrows  in  the  solid  wood  of  felh  d  oaks. 

Our  common  Lyctiis  canaUculatus,  wliich  has  a  de- 
pression on  the  prothorax,  is  found  on  fresh  oak  palings. 

The  CioiD.E  (described  by  M.  ^Mcllie  in  the  French 
'  Annales/  1818,  p.  205,  et  seg.)  have  four  joints  to  the 
tarsi,  of  which  the  three  first  are  not  so  long  as  the 
apical.  Their  head  is  mere  or  less  retractile  within  the 
thorax,  the  front  of  which  often  projects;  the  antennse 
vary  from  eight  to  ten  joints  in  the  British  genera,  but 
have  always  a  three-jointed  club ;  the  organs  of  the 
mouth  are  but  little  developed,  the  mandibles  only  being 
robust,  and  the  labrum  distinct ;  there  are  no  apical 
spurs  to  the  tibiae;  and  the  first  joint  of  the  abdomen  is 
longer  than  any  of  the  others. 

They  are  all  small,  cylindrical,  feebly  built  insects ; 
varying  from  yellow  to  dark  brown  in  colour;  generally 
shining,  but  sometimes  clothed  with  a  very  short  silky 
down,  which  imparts  a  somewhat  metallic  reflection. 
Their  punctuation  is  almost  always  irregular  on  the 
elytra ;  and  they  occur  gregariously  in  boleti,  and  other 
fungi,  especially  when  the  latter  are  attached  to  trees. 
The  males  are  known  either  by  the  larger  size  of  their 
mandibles,  or  by  the  presence  of  certain  little  horn-like 
tubercles  on  the  head  or  anterior  margin  of  the  pro- 
thorax. 

Their  elongate,  cylindrical,  curved,  fleshy  larvae  are 
slightly  hairy,  with  two  recurved  hooks  at  the  apex  on 
the  upper  side,  and  appear  to  resemble  those  of  Crypto- 
jthayus ;  and  the  pupa  has  two  slight  spines  at  its  lower 
extremity. 

In  Rhopalodontus  and  Cis  the  antenna;  have  ten  joints; 
the  former  havinc;  the  tibite  dilated  at  their  outer  ex- 


THE    MALACODERMT.  ]51 

treraity  and  distinctly  toothed,  the  second  joint  of  the 
antennae  much  longer  than  the  third,  the  head  toothed 
in  the  middle^  and  the  last  joint  of  the  maxillary  palpi 
more  ohlong.  In  Ennearthron  there  are  (as  its  name 
imports)  nine  joints  to  the  antennae,  and  in  the  equally 
suggestive  Octotemnus  but  eight :  the  latter  has  no 
tubercles  on  the  head  or  thorax  in  the  male,  and  the 
tibiae  are  slightly  toothed  outside. 

The  largest  and  commonest  of  the  family  is  Cis  boleti, 
in  which  the  thorax  has  several  irregular  depressions; 
it  is  found  in  damp  fungoid  wood,  or  the  small  greenish 
laminated  boleti  on  the  bark  of  rotten  trees.  As  in  all 
the  rest,  individuals  of  different  degrees  of  maturity  are 
often  found  associated.  They  are  all  difficult  to  set, 
owing  to  their  small  size,  and  the  shortness,  retractile 
structure,  and  weak  articulation  of  their  limbs^  and 
must  not  be  kept  long  in  laurel,  otherwise  their  mem- 
bers part  company. 


152 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

THE   HETEROMERA. 

This  section  comprises  twenty  families  : — the  Blajitidce, 
Coniontidce ,  Pedinidce,  Opatridce,  Trachyscelidae,  Boli- 
topluKjidce,  Diaperid(£,  U/omidce,  Tenebrionidce,  Helopida, 
Cisielida,  Lagriadce,  Tetratomidce,  Me/andri/idce,  Pyro- 
diroidce,  Anthicidce,  Mordellida,  Meldida,  (Edemeridee, 
and  Salpingidce,  in  all  of  which  the  front  and  middle 
tarsi  have  five  joints,  and  the  hinder  pair  only  four. 
Some  few  aberrant  species  in  other  sections  also  exhibit 
this  tarsal  formula,  either  in  one  or  both  of  their  sexes; 
but  they  cannot  easily  be  confounded  with  any  of  the 
Heteromera,  on  account  of  their  own  unmistakeable 
family  likeness,  and  of  wanting  other  characters  which 
are  nearly  always  found  in  this  section,  such  as  the 
kidney-shaped  eyes,  exserted  and  clavate  maxillary  palpi, 
moniliform  im-elbowed  antemife,  and  bifid  mandibles. 
The  missing  joint  in  the  Heteromera,  moreover,  is 
merged  in  the  elongate  basal  joint;  whereas  in  other 
heteromerous  species  it  is  usually  the  fourth  joint  that 
is  wanting  or  undeveloped. 

We  possess  but  a  meagre  list  of  species  belonging  to 
this  section,  which  is  very  extensively  represented  in 
tropical  countries;  and  it  is  worthy  of  notice  that  only 


THE    HETEROMERA.  153 

one  known  genus  (an  exotic  one.  Heterotorsus)  departs 
from  the  standard  with  regard  to  the  joints  of  the  tarsi ; 
and  in  that  the  same  proportions  arc  preserved  (4,  4,  3), 
— the  apparently  missing  joints  being  represented  by  a 
slight  constriction. 

Thomson  has  divided  this  section  into  two  tribes, 
the  Globicoxce  and  Conicoxce ;  in  the  former  of  which 
(amongst  other  characters)  the  anterior  coxae  are  globose 
or  ovate,  and  the  thorax  is  mostly  margined,  whilst  in 
the  latter,  the  anterior  coxfe  are  long,  conic  and  exserted, 
the  thorax  being  very  rarely  raargitied.  The  GlohicooecB 
comprise  all  except  the  Pyrochroida,  MeJo'idce,  (Ede- 
'merida,  Anthicida,  and  the  Rhipiphorides,  a  sub-family 
of  the  Mordel/idce. 

The  typical  Heteromera  [Melasoma,  Latr.)  are  of 
darkling  and  sluggish  habits,  black  or  obscure  in  colour, 
hard  and  wingless.  It  has  been  ingeniously  remarked 
that  the  fact  of  the  eyes  in  these  light-shunning  species 
being  but  slightly  elevated  above  the  surface  of  their 
head  affords  an  indication  of  their  habits;  and  this  is 
borne  out^  to  a  certain  extent,  by  the  utter  absence  of 
eyes  in  certain  cave-frequenting  Coleoptera;  and,  j)€r 
contra,  by  the  large  size  and  extreme  prominence  of  the 
same  organs  in  many  diurnal  species ;  but  in  this  theory, 
as  in  many  others  equally  good  at  first  sight,  exceptions 
occur  so  often  that  it  is  very  difficult  to  turn  it  to  any 
practical  benefit. 

Others  of  the  section  are  eminently  active,  gaily 
coloured,  soft,  with  ample  wings,  and  frequent  flowers : 
many  occur  in  rotten  wood,  flour,  or  sandy  places;  and 
one  or  two  species  are  parasitic  in  their  habits.  Per- 
haps the  best  know'n  are  the  "cellar-beetle"  [Blaps), 
"  Mealworm"  [Tenehrio),  "Cardinal"  [Pijrochroa] /' Q\\ 


154  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

beetle"  [Meloe),  and  "  Spanish- fly/'  or  "  Blister-beetle" 
[Lytta) . 

The  Blaptid-E  have  the  last  joint  of  the  maxillary 
palpi  hatchet-shaped,  the  epipleura  of  the  elytra  uide, 
and  the  hind  femora  long ;  they  are  represented  here  by 
one  genus  [Blaps)  of  three  species,  all  of  which  are 
large,  somewhat  flat,  dull  black,  with  the  elytra  soldered 
together  and  pointed  behind.  They  are  found  (some- 
times in  great  numbers)  in  kitchens,  outbuildings,  stables, 
churchyards,  etc.,  and  are  very  slow  in  their  movements, 
sedately  lifting  one  long  leg  at  a  time,  and  only  crawling 
about  at  night.  They  have  a  peculiarly  foul  smell,  which 
is  difficult  to  get  rid  of,  and  are  indiscriminately  known 
as  the  "'churchyard  beetle."  Their  larvae  closely  re- 
semble the  common  "meal-worm;"  and  instances  have 
been  recorded  of  their  having  been  discharged  (once  in 
large  numbers)  from  the  human  stomach. 

Our  commonest  species  is  B.  mucronata,  formerly 
called  mortisaga  :  the  latter,  however,  is  much  rarer, 
only  occurring  in  the  north  of  England,  and  readily 
distinguished  by  the  longer  process  at  the  apex  of  its 
elytra,  and  by  its  thorax  being  more  evidently  punctured 
and  more  contracted  behind. 

The  Co-MONTiD/E  are  here  represented  solely  by 
Crypticus  quisqairms  (Plate  X,  Fig.  2),  a  small,  black, 
shining  species  found  in  some  numbers  on  sandy  baidis 
at  Deal.  It  has  slender  legs  and  tarsi,  the  hinder 
femora  not  reaching  far  beyond  the  elytra,  of  which  the 
epipleura  are  narrow.  It  is  usually  winged,  but  indi- 
viduals occur  in  which  the  wings  are  either  imperfectly 
developed  or  absent.  In  this  family  there  is  a  narrow 
projection  between  the  anterior  coxae. 

The  Pedimd.e  have  the  eyes  divided  into  two  by  the 


THE    HETEROMERA.  155 

lateral  margin  of  the  head;  they  include  a  doubtful 
species  of  the  typical  genus  Pedinus,  and  one  other, 
Heliopatkes  gibbus,  abundant  in  hot  sandy  places  by  the 
sea.  The  latter  is  deep-black  in  colour,  shining,  oblong, 
of  clumsy  shape,  with  coarsely  punctured  elytra,  the 
epipleura  of  which  are  conspicuously  ridged  at  the 
shoulder,  the  anterior  tibise  are  triangular,  and  the  three 
basal  joints  of  the  front  tarsi  strongly  widened  in  the 
male,  in  which  sex  the  posterior  femora  are  fringed  be- 
neath. 

The  larva  is  filiform,  cylindrical,  whitish,  with  a  brown 
head  and  thorax,  and  strong  fossorial  front  legs  :  the 
head  and  tail  are  slightly  hairy,  and  the  apex  of  the 
abdomen  is  furnished  with  eight  erect  tubercles. 

The  Opatrid.e  have  the  tarsi  simple  in  both  sexes, 
and  present  numerous  other  smaller  differences  from  the 
Fedinidce,  with  which  they  are  sometimes  associated. 
Our  two  species  have  the  eyes  divided,  and  the  clypeus 
deeply  notched  (as  in  Heliopaihes)  ;  but  in  Opatrum 
the  maxillary  palpi  have  the  last  joint  hatchet- shaped, 
whilst  in  Microzoum.  it  is  almost  ovate.  Both  are  dull 
black  and  somewhat  depressed ;  and  occur  in  similar 
places  to  the  PedinidcB.  0.  sabulosum,  much  the  lar- 
gest of  the  two,  is  common  on  the  south  coast. 

The  Trachyscelid.e  never  have  the  last  joint  of  the 
maxillary  palpi  hatchet-shaped;  their  antennae  are  short, 
and  the  projection  between  their  coxae  is  triangular.  In 
Trachyscelis,  a  doubtful  British  genus,  the  antennse  are 
shorter  than  the  head  and  distinctly  clubbed  ;  and  the 
eyes  sunk  in  the  thorax,  the  sides  of  which,  and  the 
elytra,  are  fringed  with  long  hairs.  In  Phaleria  the 
antennaj  are  longer  than  the  head,  and  not  clubbed  ; 
the  eyes  are  more  free,  and  there  are  no  lateral  fringes. 


156  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

P.  cadaverina,  a  clear  yellowish  convex  insect,  with  a 
suffused  black  patch  in  the  middle  of  each  elytron, 
occurs  in  decaying  animal  matter,  and  at  the  roots  of 
maritime  plants,  in  sandy  places  on  the  coast ;  being 
common  at  Shoeburyness,  at  the  roots  of  Sedum. 

The  BoLiTOPHAGiD^,  in  company  with  several  of  the 
succeeding  families,  have  their  tarsi  clothed  on  the 
under  side  with  short  hairs;  a  similar  structure  being 
only  exhibited  by  the  Pedhrlda  among  the  preceding 
families  of  this  section.  Their  antennae  are  partly  re- 
ceived in  repose  into  a  transverse  furrow  of  the  head  ; 
the  labial  palpi  are  widely  separated  at  the  base  ;  and 
the  a])ical  joint  of  the  maxillary  palpi  is  not  hatchet- 
shaped. 

They  live  entirely  on  boleti,  and  are  apparently  gre- 
garious. 

Bolifophof/us  crenatus,  in  which  the  eyes  are  divided, 
and  the  thorax  crenulated  at  the  sides,  is  dull  black  in 
colour,  and  has  strong  rows  of  punctures  alternating 
witli  linear  elevations,  on  its  elytra.  It  is  found  in  the 
north  of  England,  and  is  much  larger  than  the  com- 
moner Eledona  cujaricola,  a  convex,  oval,  dull  dirty 
brown  insect,  in  which  the  eyes  are  of  the  normal  struc- 
ture, and  the  thorax  is  not  roughened  at  the  sides.  As 
in  many  fungus-  and  wood-feeders,  individuals  of  both 
these  species  sometimes  occur  in  Avhich  the  colour  is 
much  lighter  than  usual. 

The  DiAPKRiD.E  present  a  considerable  resemblance 
to  certain  of  the  Chrysomelidce,  from  which  their  five- 
jointed  front  and  middle  tarsi  will  at  once  distinguish 
them.  They  are  metallic,  smooth,  and  more  or  less 
briglit  in  colour,  with  their  eyes  not  entire  and  their 
antennae  gradually  Avidened  to  the  apex.     In  Dicqyens 


THE     HETEKOMERA.  157 

the  basal  joint  of  the  hind  tarsi  is  short,  whilst  in  the 
other  genera  it  is  much  elongated.  D.  boleti,  a  very 
convex,  shining,  black  species,  with  the  apex  of  the  ely- 
tra and  the  two  transverse  bands  yellow,  is  one  of  our 
rarest  species,  no  instance  of  its  capture  having  been  re- 
corded for  many  years.  Its  larva  is  blind,  and  feeds  on 
boleti  growing  on  the  trunks  of  trees,  enclosing  itself 
in  a  cell  with  a  silky  lining  before  undergoing  its  final 
metamorphoses. 

Scaphidema,  smaller,  more  depressed,  and  brassy,  has 
its  intercoxal  projection  wide,  quadrangular,  and  trun- 
cated in  front.  It  occurs  not  uncommonly  near  London 
among  dead  leaves,  and  at  the  bottoius  of  hedges.  Its 
larva,  as  in  the  genus  next  mentioned,  has  two  minute 
spines  at  the  apex  of  the  abdomen,  and  lives  in  Boleti 
under  bark,  making  no  cell  to  change  in.  It  has  three 
ocelli  on  each  side  of  its  head.  Platydema,  the  larva  of 
which  has  four  ocelli  on  each  side,  is  exceedingly  like 
a  Chrysomela,  and  is  found  in  the  New  Forest,  but 
rarely. 

The  UlomidyE  are  here  represented  by  a  few  incon- 
spicuous insects,  of  which  the  majority  are  doubtless  im- 
ported, being  found  in  flour,  merchandise,  etc.  They 
have  no  trochantina  to  the  intermediate  femora ;  and 
their  eyes  (which  are  in  nearly  all  the  species  almost 
divided  into  two  on  each  side)  have  their  greater  bulk  on 
the  lower  surface,  except  in  Hi/pophlosus.  The  perfect 
insect  and  larvae  of  Gnathocerus  cornutus  (the  male  of 
which  has  its  head  armed  with  conspicuous  and  sharp 
projections)  are  often  found  in  bakers'  shops,  where  also 
TrlboUinn  ferrugmeum  occurs  :  the  latter,  however,  some- 
times exists  in  its  larval  state  in  neglected  collections  of 
insects,  which  are  liul^le  to  attack  from  many  other  enc- 


158  BIIITISII     BEETLES, 

mies,  such  as  Anihrenns,  Dermestes,  Psocus,  the  larv?e 
of  certain  Tinece,  and — worst  of  all — the  lazy,  footless, 
white,  fat  "  mite/'  which  so  often  cleans  ont  all  the 
ligaments  of  specimens,  leaving  the  mere  outer  husk, 
ready  to  fall  to  pieces  on  being  manipulated,  and  often 
pierced  in  more  than  one  place  by  its  voracious  tenant. 
A  single  application  of  benzine  to  any  insect  supposed  to 
be  so  infested  will  destroy  the  parasite,  which  usually 
signifies  its  presence  hy  dropping  a  little  heap  of  fine 
yellow  dust  utiderneath  the  specimen  on  which  it  is  feed- 
inir :  nevertheless,  a  second  or  third  dose  should  be  ad- 
ministered  on  a  future  occasion,  as  the  fluid  has  no 
effect  upon  any  eggs  which  may  happen  to  have  been 
deposited  in  the  body  of  the  insect. 

Both  Gnathocerus  and  TriboUum  are  small,  flat,  yellow 
beetles ;  but  the  species  of  Hypophlmis  are  very  different, 
both  in  shape  and  habits,  presenting  a  certain  likeness 
to  Rhizophagus,  on  account  of  their  linear  cylindrical 
form.  They  are  found  under  bark,  or  in  galleries,  where 
tlieir  larv?e  (as  in  the  last-mentioned  genus)  prey  on 
the  larvae  of  certain  wood-feeding  beetles.  //.  bicolor,  a 
pretty  little  red  species  with  the  apical  half  of  the  elytra 
black,  is  found  not  uncommonly  under  elm  bark,  where 
its  larvae  feed  on  those  of  certain  ScoJyti.  The  species 
of  A/phitobius  sometimes  resemble  certain  of  tbc  Der- 
mestidfe ;  they  are  black  in  colour,  and  are  probably  im- 
ported, being  found  in  warehouses,  etc.,  where  their 
larvae  feed  in  flour,  etc. 

The  Tenebhionid.e  here  are  represented  by  out; 
genus,  Tcnebrio,  the  two  species  of  which  are  known  in 
their  larval  state  as  "  the  meal-worm,"  a  favourite  food 
for  singing-birds.  It  has  been  remarked  that  meal- 
worms  obtained  from    the  cast  end  of  London  usually 


THE    HETEROMERA.  159 

prorluce  T.  obscuras  ;  whilst  those  from  the  west  end 
produce  T.  molitor.  The  two  larvae  appear  to  be  super- 
ficially much  alike,  except  that  in  T.  obscurus  the  colour 
is  darker,  and  the  last  segment  is  rather  longer,  with 
more  diverging  terminal  projections ;  the  pupse  are  not 
enclosed  in  a  cocoon,  and  have  the  six  first  segments  of 
the  abdomen  furnished  with  flattened  parallel,  truncate 
appendages,  the  last  segment  being  bifurcate.  The  larva 
of  T.  moliior  is  eyeless,  elongate,  nearly  cylindrical,  ra- 
ther attenuate  behind,  light  yellow  in  colour,  with  fine 
thill  hairs  on  the  sides,  and  marked  with  partly  con- 
fluent minute  dark  spots  on  the  upper  side;  the  apical 
segment  is  conical,  and  terminates  in  two  slightly  di- 
verging projections,  having  a  minute  black  spine  on  each 
side. 

The  perfect  insects  are  dull  pitchy-brown,  elongate, 
and  rather  flat,  specimens  often  occurring  of  a  light 
reddish-brown  colour.  The  inner  lobe  of  their  maxillse 
is  armed  with  a  horny  hook ;  the  apical  point  of  their 
maxillary  palpi  hatchet-shaped  ;  the  eyes  largest  on  the 
under  surface,  and  the  anterior  tibiae  curved  (especially 
in  the  male).  They  sometimes  fly  to  lamps,  etc.;  at- 
tracted, like  moths,  by  the  light. 

The  Helopid^  are  in  England  only  represented  by 
a  single  genus,  Helops,  in  which  the  inner  lobe  of  the 
maxillae  has  no  hook,  the  antennae  are  slender,  elongate, 
with  their  penultimate  joints  longer  than  their  width, 
and  the  eyes  transverse  and  narrow.  Our  species  pre- 
sent a  certain  superficial  resemblance  in  miniature  to 
the  form  of  Blaps,  and  this  is  most  shown  in  H.  ccerulevs, 
the  largest  of  them,  a  slowly- moving  beetle,  dull  blue 
in  colour,  sometimes  found  in  clusters  under  the  bark 
of  old  felled  trees,  where  its  larva  (which  considerably 


160  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

resembles  tliat  of  Teaebrio,  and  has  spines  on  the  apical 
segment)  feeds  ou  rotten  wood.  H.  striatus,  by  far 
the  most  common,  is  abundant  in  woods,  etc.,  in  tufts 
of  grass  at  the  roots  of  trees,  under  bark,  in  rotten  wood, 
moss,  etc. ;  its  larva  is  the  only  one  of  the  genus  which 
has  been  noticed  to  possess  ocelli.  Another  species, 
H.  pallidas,  (Plate  X,  Fig.  3,)  is  found  at  the  roots  of 
grass,  etc.,  in  sandy  places  on  the  south  coast  (Southend, 
etc.),  often  much  Ijelow  the  surface.  In  all  these  the 
males  are  not  so  robust  as  the  females,  with  longer 
antennae,  and  the  basal  joints  of  the  front  and  middle 
tarsi  more  dilated. 

The  CiSTELiDE  have  the  claws  of  the  tarsi  pectinated 
on  the  under  side ;  the  mentum  suppbrted  by  a  neck ; 
the  apical  point  of  the  maxillary  palpi  very  large ;  the 
mandibles  with  a  projection  on  the  inside  of  the  base ; 
the  labrum  distinct ;  distinct  intermediate  trochantina ; 
long  legs,  slender  tibise,  which  are  evidently  spurred  at 
the  apex ;  and  the  penultimate  joint  of  the  tarsi  often 
apparently  bilobed.  Their  eyes  are  kidney-shaped,  and 
always  entirely  free,  not  being  encroached  upon  by  the 
front  angles  of  the  thorax ;  and  are  larger  in  the  males 
than  in  the  females ;  in  the  former  sex  the  antennae, 
also,  being  always  the  longest. 

Their  larvae  are  very  slender,  more  or  less  cylindrical, 
and  having  the  apical  segment  hollowed  beneath  and 
furnished  with  a  kind  of  plate,  directed  backwards,  and 
ending  in  two  slender  appendages :  they  are  found  in 
rotten  wood. 

Five  of  our  seven  species  occur  in  flowers  or  on 
bushes,  etc.,  in  the  hot  sunshine;  one  of  the  others, 
Mycetochares  bipuslulata,  a  small,  very  agile  insect, 
black,  with  a  yellow  shoulder-spot  to  the  elytra,  lives 


THE    HETEROMERA.  161 

in  rotten  cherry-wood,  etc.,  and,  when  found  (for  it  is 
of  rare  occurrence)  is  generally  seen  in  some  numbers. 
The  remaining  species,  Eryx  atra,  is  nocturnal  in  its 
habits,  frequenting  old  willow- trees,  on  which  it  is  more 
often  seen  by  lepidopterists, — who  hunt  by  night  for 
moths, — than  by  coleopterists.  It  is  a  dull  black,  oval, 
convex  insect;  rather  large,  but,  like  all  its  allies,  of  very 
delicate  texture.  Its  larva,  preparatory  to  undergoing 
metamorphosis,  forms  a  cell  composed  of  w^oody  fibres 
glued  together,  and  is  the  only  one  of  this  family  known 
to  take  any  such  precaution. 

In  Cteniopus  and  Omophlus,  both  found  about  mari- 
time plants,  the  males  have  the  last  abdominal  segment 
considerably  excavated ;  and  in  Cistela  the  antennae  are 
rather  strongly  serrated. 

The  Lagriad^  are  here  only  represented  by  one 
genus  and  species,  Lagria  hirta,  an  insect  utterly  un- 
like any  of  its  allies,  being  very  hairy,  with  a  narrow 
thorax,  a  neck  to  the  head,  long  black  antennae  and 
legs,  and  somewhat  inflated  elytra,  which  are  widest  and 
shortest  in  the  female.  It  is  very  soft  and  sluggish, 
black,  with  yellow  elytra,  and  abounds  towards  the 
middle  of  summer  in  hedges,  etc.  Its  elongate  larva, 
flat  and  white  beneath,  convex  and  yellow  above,  spotted 
with  black,  and  tufted  with  yellow  hairs  along  the  sides, 
has  been  found  under  dead  leaves  at  the  foot  of  old 
oak-trees ;  but  its  food  is  not  known,  though  it  is  sup- 
posed to  be  carnivorous. 

The  absence  of  any  pectination  to  the  under  side  of 
the  claws  of  the  tarsi  distinguishes  this  species  from 
any  of  the  Cistelida ;  its  projecting,  approximated, 
conic  anterior  coxae  separate  it  from  the  Tenebrionidcn 
and  their  allies,  and  the  structure  of  the  cotyloid  cavi- 

M 


163  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

ties  into  which  these  coxse  fit  is  different  from  that  of 
all  the  other  Heteromera,  as  they  are  not  open  on  any 
side. 

The  Tetratomidje^  also,  are  very  unlike  their  neigh- 
bours, having  the  facies  of  certain  species  of  Cis,  and 
of  some  of  the  Dermestida.  Their  antennae  are  termi- 
nated by  a  distinct  club  of  four  joints;  their  head  is 
much  bent  down,  being  scarcely  visible  from  above ; 
their  anterior  coxae  are  cylindrical,  transverse,  separated 
by  a  projection  of  the  prosternum,  and  with  their  coty- 
loid cavities  widely  open  behind. 

All  the  species  are  small,  rather  cylindrical,  and 
strongly  punctured,  and  are  found  in  partly  decayed 
wood.  One  [Tetratoma  Desmarestii ,  occurring  at  Coombe 
Wood,  and  elsewhere)  is  blackish-green;  another  {T.fun- 
gorum)  is  blue-black,  with  a  red  thorax;  and  the 
remaining  one  (7^.  ancora,  recently  taken  in  some  num- 
bers in  old  stumps  near  Highgate)  is  testaceous,  spotted 
and  banded  with  brownish-black.  All  of  them  must  be 
considered  rare.  T.  fungorum  superficially  resembles 
certain  species  of  Tri])lax  in  the  Pseudoirimera,  but 
the  latter  genus  can  be  easily  known  by  the  three- 
pointed  club  to  its  antennae,  and  the  lesser  number  of 
joints  to  its  tarsi. 

The  position  of  this  family  is  anything  but  firmly 
established,  and  it  appears  to  have  been  placed  in  its 
present  place  chiefly  faute  de  mieux. 

The  Melandryad.^  have  the  labial  palpi  very  short, 
and  the  maxillary  palpi  much  developed,  often  with  the 
joints  indented,  and  with  the  apical  joint  very  large. 
The  cotyloid  cavities  for  their  anterior  coxai  are  open 
behind ;  the  claws  of  their  tarsi  arc  simple ;  and  the 
upper  part  of  the  prothorax  is  not  continued  until  it  is 


THE    HETEROMERA.  163 

confused  with  the  sides,  but  is  distinctly  separated  by 
a  margin. 

They  have  no  neck  to  the  head,  which  is  bent  down 
and  sometimes  not  visible  from  above,  though  the  eyes 
are  never  encroached  upon  by  the  thorax ;  and  the 
clypeus  is  never  distinctly  separated  by  a  suture  from 
the  rest  of  the  head. 

They  are  somewhat  elongate,  narrow,  usually  hard, 
not  clothed  with  much  pubescence,  and  more  or  less 
convex. 

In  Orchesia  [0.  undulata,  Plate  X,  Fig.  4;  found  in 
whitethorn  flowers  in  the  New  Forest)  the  antennae  are 
rather  thickened  at  the  apex,  the  spurs  to  the  tibiae  are 
very  long ;  the  anterior  coxae  are  not  approximated  ;  and 
the  penultimate  joint  of  the  hind  tarsi  is  very  long  and 
entire, — the  two  latter  characters  being  also  shared  by 
Hallomenus.  The  species  of  both  of  these  genera  are 
bred  from  the  fungoid  matter  growing  on  old  wood,  and 
from  boleti,  in  which  their  smooth  fleshy  larvae  are  found. 
Orchesia,  wherein  the  hinder  coxae  are  large,  flat,  square, 
and  transverse,  and  the  spurs  to  the  hinder  tibiae  very 
long  and  pectinated  beneath,  possesses  the  power  of 
skipping  about  in  a  ludicrous  manner. 

With  the  exception  of  Melandrya  caraboides, — a  spe- 
cies very  variable  in  size  (as  in  most  wood-feeders),  flat, 
hard,  blue-black,  shining,  with  the  elytra  rather  widened 
behind, — none  of  this  family  can  be  considered  com- 
mon, though  many  of  them  occur  in  some  numbers 
when  they  are  met  with.  M.  caraboides  lives  in  its 
earlier  stages  in  old  willow  stumps ;  and  the  perfect  in- 
sect may  be  seen  with  its  head  projecting  from  the  mouth 
of  the  burrow  made  by  the  larva,  into  which  it  rapidly 
backs  on  an  attempt  being  made  to  capture  it.     It  flies 

M  3 


164;  BRITISH  BEETLES. 

readily,  and  witli  a  metallic  sound,  in  the  hot  sunshine  j 
alighting  on  felled  trees,  and  readily  tucking  up  its 
legs  and  falling  to  the  ground  on  the  approach  of  the 
collector. 

The  species  of  Abdera, — small,  cylindrical,  and  banded 
with  pale  testaceous, — have  the  penultimate  joint  of  the 
tarsi  truncate,  and  very  small  spurs  to  the  tibiae;  they 
are  found  in  dead  boughs  of  trees,  and  in  the  short  half- 
rotten  stumps  left  on  trees  where  boughs  have  been 
broken  off.  Hypulus  quercinns,  a  narrow,  elegantly 
spotted  and  banded  insect,  with  robust  antennse,  occurs 
in  old  wood  in  some  numbers  ivhcn  found,  for  it  is  very 
local;  and  the  fragile  Conopalpus  may  be  taken  under 
the  same  conditions  as  Abdera,  though  it  has  been  also 
found  in  flowers,  where  it  might  readily  be  passed  over 
for  a  pallid  Telephorus  by  the  incipient  Coleopterist.  In 
this  genus  the  antennoe  have  only  ten  joints,  and  the 
apical  joint  of  the  maxillary  palpi  is  very  narrow  and 
elongate. 

Ospliya  bipunctaia,  exceedingly  local,  being  only  found 
in  flowers,  etc.,  at  INIonk's  Wood,  has  very  much  the  ge- 
neral appearance  of  a  Telephorus,  but  with  the  hinder 
femora  in  the  male  much  inflated  and  arched,  as  in 
Q^demera  ;  the  two  sexes,  also,  differ  considerably  in  size 
and  colour ;  the  male  being  usually  the  largest  and  black, 
and  the  female  testaceous.  As  in  many  instances  before 
noticed,  these  marked  sexual  disparities  exhibit  several 
modifications ;  undeveloped  males  occurring  in  which 
the  inflation  of  the  hinder  femora  disappears,  the  size 
is  diminished,  etc. 

The  family  of  Pyiioch  roadie  contains  two  genera 
which  present  but  few  points  of  resemblance,  except  in 
the  larval  condition;  indeed,  one  of  them   [Pytho)    has 


THE    HETEROMERA.  1G5 

been  joined  to  the  Salpingidce  in  order  to  form  another 
family,  of  which  it  is  considered  the  type.  In  Pyrocliroa 
the  head  is  very  suddenly  contracted  into  a  neck,  the 
antennae  are  pectinate,  the  mentum  is  pedunculated,  and 
the  anterior  coxse  are  elongate,  subcylindrical,  and  very 
projecting;  whilst  in  Pytho  the  head  is  not  contracted 
behind,  the  antennae  are  filiform,  the  mentum  is  not 
pedunculated,  and  the  anterior  coxse  are  globose-ovate, 
and  but  slightly  projecting. 

The  species  of  Pyrochroa,  commonly  known  as  "  Car- 
dinal beetles,"  are  bright  scarlet  or  brickdust-red  in 
colour,  moderately  large,  with  acutely  bifid  mandibles, 
elytra  not  covering  the  sides  of  the  abdomen,  and  long 
legs.  They  are  very  active  and  rapacious ;  flying  readily 
and  strongly  in  the  hot  sunshine,  and  often  simulating 
death  when  captured.  The  largest,  P.  coccinea,  is  dis- 
tinguished by  its  black  head ;  it  is  not  uncommon  in 
woods  in  the  south.  I  have  found  it,  in  all  its  stages, 
in  great  numbers  under  the  bark  of  a  felled  tree  at  Da- 
renth,  in  Kent. 

Pytho  depressus,  hitherto  found  only  in  Perthshire 
under  fir-bark  (where  I  have  taken  the  larva,  which  has 
two  strong  hook-like  projections  on  the  upper  side  of  the 
last  segment)  is  very  depressed,  metallic,  usually  blue  or 
green,  but  sometimes  nearly  testaceous,  and  with  two 
strong  depressions  on  its  thorax.  Both  the  perfect  in- 
sect and  larva  are  carnivorous,  feeding  upon  other  sub- 
cortical species. 

The  Anthicid^  present  a  certain  external  resemblance 
to  some  of  the  smaller  Geodephaga  :  they  are  delicately 
built,  of  slender  shape;  with  thin  legs  and  antennae,  the 
penultimate  joint  of  the  tarsi  bi-lobed,  the  head  sud- 
denly contracted  into  a  narrow  neck,  the  eyes  entire. 


166  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

and  the  hinrlcr  coxse  separated  by  a  projection  of  tlie 
abdomen. 

Notoxus  monoceros  (Plate  X,  Fig.  5),  an  elegant, 
downy,  little  species,  very  variable  in  its  markings,  oc- 
curs plentifully  in  sandy  places,  both  at  the  seaside  and 
inland.  Its  thorax  is  produced  in  the  middle  into  a 
stout  horn,  which  projects  over  the  head  (Fig.  5  «). 

The  species  of  Anthiciis  are  all  very  small,  and  have 
been  fancifully  compared  to  ants,  both  on  account  of 
their  colours,  small  size,  shape,  and  activity.  They  are 
most  abundant  at  the  seaside,  but  are  often  common  in- 
land in  heaps  of  garden  refuse,  etc.  One  of  them  [A. 
iiistabiUs)  has  the  hinder  tibiae  in  the  male  suddenly  en- 
larged into  a  rounded  plate  at  the  apex. 

It  has  been  considered  that  Xpluphllus  and  Euglenes 
do  not  belong  to  this  family,  on  account  of  their  notched 
eyes  and  the  approximation  of  their  posterior  coxse;  for 
which  (and  other)  reasons  they  have  (in  company  with 
Scraptia,  a  genus  of  small  and  fragile  species,  very  rare, 
found  in  rotten  wood,  and  hitherto  associated  with  the 
Melandryadce)  been  removed  into  the  PedUidce,  a  family 
containing  no  other  British  exponents.  In  Euglenes  the 
male  has  very  large  eyes  and  long  antennce;  from  which 
circumstance,  added  to  general  facies  and  habits,  it  some- 
what calls  to  mind  certain  of  the  smaller  Ptinidce. 

The  MoRDELLiDiE  are,  perhaps,  the  most  readily  dis- 
tinguishable of  any  of  the  section,  owing  to  their  strong 
family  likeness.  They  are  mostly  small,  widest  in  front, 
contracted  behind,  with  the  pygidium  exposed,  and  often 
ending  in  an  absolute  spine ;  broadest  and  convex  on 
the  upper  side,  but  shelving  down  to  a  comparative  ridge 
on  the  lower  surface  (resembling  nothing  so  much  in 
shape  as  one  of  the  small  segments  of  a  peeled  and 


THE    HETEROMERA.  167 

divided  orange) ;  with  the  thorax  and  head  bent  down, 
the  latter  so  much  so  as  to  be  often  quite  invisible ;  the 
legs  getting  larger  from  front  to  rear,  closely  articulated, 
flattened,  and  with  long  spurs  to  the  hinder  tibise.  They 
are  found  most  frequently  in  the  flowers  of  Umbelliferce. 
and  are  very  active  in  their  movements,  having  an  es- 
pecially irritating  habit  of  slipping  away  on  an  attempt 
being  made  to  capture  them.  When  caught,  they  are 
not  the  easiest  beetles  to  mount  on  card, — as  may  readily 
be  guessed  from  their  structure. 

They  may  be  divided  into  two  sub-families,  the  Mor- 
dellides  and  Rhipiphorides,  to  the  former  of  which  chiefly 
the  above  remarks  apply :  the  latter  containing  here  a 
single  genus  and  species,  Rhipiphorus  paradoxus  (Plate 
X,  Fig.  6),  a  most  remarkable  insect,  both  on  account  of 
its  form  and  habits;  and  in  which  (and  its  allies  not 
found  here)  commences  a  certain  degradation  in  the 
development  of  the  parts  of  the  mouth ; — the  mentum 
being  slender  and  confused  with  the  ligula,  the  labial 
palpi  apparently  composed  of  only  one  joint,  the  lobes 
of  the  maxillae  rudimentary,  and  the  mandibles  short 
and  not  toothed  internally. 

It  differs  from  the  Mordellides  in  having  the  lobes  of 
its  maxillae  soldered  together  at  the  base,  with  the  last 
joint  of  their  palpi  not  hatchet- shaped,  no  membraneous 
plate  to  the  inner  side  of  the  mandibles,  and  its  antennae 
flabellated ;  but  otherwise  presents  numerous  points  of 
affinity,  and  great  superficial  resemblance.  It  is  much 
larger  than  any  other  of  the  family ;  the  female  being 
the  largest,  and  usually  having  blue-black  elytra  (which 
are  attenuated  and  gaping,  allowing  the  wings  to  be 
seen)  instead  of  reddish-testaceous.  The  thorax  is  very 
strongly  arched*  on  each  side  of  the  hinder  margin,  and 


168  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

produced  in  the  middle  ;  the  hooks  of  the  tarsi  are  bifid  ; 
and  the  third  and  foHowing  joints  of  the  antennse  in  the 
male  are  divided  into  double  fan-like  rays. 

The  perfect  insect  is  found  (according  to  Lacordaire) 
sometimes  on  flowers,  or  at  the  exuding  sap  of  trees,  and 
I  possess  a  specimen  taken  under  bark,  in  Scotland  ;  but 
its  real  home  is  in  the  nests  of  the  common  Wasps 
( Vespa  rufa  and  vulgaris),  in  which,  also,  it  undergoes 
its  transformations ;  and  it  has  been  observed  by  Mr. 
S.  Stone  (who  has  for  a  long  ])eriod  accurately  observed 
the  economy  of  certain  coleopterous  parasites  on  Hy- 
meno'pterd)  that  the  larger  larvse  (from  which  the  females 
are  produced)  are  found  with,  and  feed  on,  the  female 
wasp  grubs, — the  fact,  but  not  the  object  of  such  asso- 
ciation having  been  long  before  known. 

The  MeloidtE  have  a  very  abrupt  neck  to  the  head, 
and  each  of  the  hooks  of  the  tarsi  divided  into  two,  as 
if  with  an  additional  and  slender  hook  on  its  lower 
surface. 

In  Meloe  (the  Oil-beetles)  the  metasternum  is  very 
short,  with  the  intermediate  coxa3  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  ai'c  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  distension  of  the  body  disappears,  the 
abdomen  shrinking  up  beneath  the  elytra  in  a  wrinkled 
unsightly  knot :  specimens  for  the  cabinet  should,  there- 


THE    HETEROMERA.  169 

fore,  be  stuffed  with  wool, — an  easy  operation,  if  an  in- 
cision be  made  in  the  lower  side  of  the  body,  and  its 
contents  taken  out.  The  males  are  often  veiy  small ; 
and,  in  some  cases,  have  the  sixth  and  seventh  joints  of 
the  antennae  enlarged  and  suddenly  bent,  so  that  the 
apex  appears  deformed. 

The  transformations  of  these  insects  are,  perhaps,  the 
most  wonderful  of  any  that  are  yet  known  to  us ;  and  it 
is  chiefly  on  account  of  somewhat  similar  habits  in  their 
earlier  stages  that  the  Stylopidce  have  been  recently  con- 
sidered as  coleopterous. 

The  female  of  Melo'e  deposits  from  two  to  four  sepa- 
rate batches  of  minute  yellow  eggs,  some  thousands  at  a 
time,  though  the  number  diminishes  with  each  laying. 
These  eggs  are  glued  together,  and  deposited  in  small 
holes  in  the  ground,  dug  by  the  parent  beetle.  After 
an  interval  of  from  three  to  six  weeks,  according  to  the 
temperature,  the  young  larvse  are  hatched,  and  are  ex- 
tremely like  minute  pediculi,  or  bird-lice,  being  yellow, 
elongate,  parallel,  flattened,  with  rather  long  legs,  and 
four  long  hairs  at  the  apex  of  the  last  segment.  They 
appear  to  remain  torpid  for  some  time;  but,  when  once 
roused  by  sufficient  warmth,  exhibit  extraordinary  acti- 
vity in  traversing  low  plants,  chiefly  Rammculacea  or 
Chicoracece.  From  these  they  attach  themselves,  often 
in  great  numbers,  to  the  hairy  covering  of  bees  as  they 
settle  on  the  flowers  of  their  temporary  lodgings ;  and 
also,  sometimes,  to  certain  hairy  Diptera,  or  two-winged 
flies,  which  closely  resemble  wild  bees.  In  the  latter 
case  it  is  an  unfortunate  attachment  for  the  larvae;  as 
the  Diptera  make  no  nest  or  provision  for  their  oflfspring, 
so  that  the  would-be  parasite  necessarily  perishes  of 
starvation :  and  it  is  probably  the  chance  of  this,  added 


170  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

to  the  many  fortunate  contingencies  required  before  tlie 
larvse  can  be  safely  landed  Avithin  reach  of  their  food, 
that  causes  such  an  enormous  number  of  eggs  to  be  laid 
by  the  parent  beetle.  As  it  is,  all  the  perfect  insects  of 
this  genus,  seen  by  one  observer  in  his  lifetime,  would 
bear  a  ridiculously  small  proportion  to  the  number  of 
eggs  laid  by  one  specimen. 

When  carried  by  the  unconscious  bee  to  its  nest,  the 
Melo'e  larva  devours  the  egg  therein  contained,  changes 
(without  leaving  the  shell  of  the  latter)  into  a  second 
form, — not  unlike  the  larva  of  a  LameUicorn  beetle  in 
miniature,  being  arched,  cylindrical,  with  toothed  man- 
dibles and  stout  legs, — and  then  subsists  on  the  food 
intended  by  the  bee  for  its  own  young.  After  some 
time  this  second  form  of  the  larva  changes  its  outer 
covering,  which  is  not  entirely  shed,  but  remains 
wrinkled  together  at  the  hinder  apex  of  its  body  :  it 
is  then  arched,  distinctly  composed  of  13  segments, 
attenuated  at  the  extremities,  and  motionless.  From 
this  false  pupa  (and  probably  after  passing  the  winter) 
a  third  form  of  the  larva  appears,  similar  to  the  second ; 
but  from  this  point  it  is  only  by  analogy  with  the  trans- 
formations of  Sitaris  nmralis,  an  allied  insect  (Plate 
XI,  Fig.  1),  that  we  can  form  an  idea  of  its  final  meta- 
morphosis. 

The  latter  insect  (which  has  large  wings)  is  in  its 
earlier  ages,  and  indeed  during  all  its  life,  a  parasite 
upon  certain  mason  bees  of  the  genus  Anthophora,  com- 
mon in  old  walls  near  London  (the  Rev.  A.  Badger 
having  taken  the  first  British  specimen  of  the  beetle 
at  Chelsea).  In  this  species  the  larva  undergoes  less 
vicissitudes  than  in  Melo'e,  as  the  eggs  (two  or  three 
thousand  at  a  time)  are  deposited  by  the  female  at  the 


THE    HETEROMERA.  171 

entrance  of  the  hole  burrowed  by  the  Anthophora  ;  and, 
after  passing  through  the  stages  above  mentioned,  and 
taking  no  food  in  its  third  form,  changes  into  a  pupa  of 
the  ordinary  Coleopterous  type,  from  which,  in  about  a 
month,  the  perfect  insect  appears, — the  entire  changes 
occupying  nearly  two  years.  In  the  case  of  Sitaris,  of 
which  the  perfect  beetle  is  always  found  in  or  about  the 
burrows  of  the  bee,  the  entire  scheme  of  life  is  readily 
credible,  even  if  it  had  not  been  accurately  observed ;  but 
in  Melo'e  there  still  remains  an  awkward  gap  for  which 
an  account  is  required,  viz.  the  passage  of  a  heavy,  slow- 
going,  large  beetle  from  the  nest  of  the  bee  to  the  common 
or  meadow  where  it  is  always  found. 

Particulars  of  the  discoveries  as  to  this  insect  are  to 
be  found  in  Mr.  Newport's  paper  in  the  *  Linnean 
Transactions,'  vol.  xx.  p.  297,  and  vol.  xxi.  p.  167  ;  also 
in  M.  Fabre's  "  Memoire  sur  I'Hypermetamorphose  et 
les  moeui's  des  Meloides,"  '  Annales  des  Sciences  Na- 
turelles,'  ser.  4,  vol.  vii.  1857,  p.  299;  and  in  Lacor- 
daire,  Col.,  vol.  v.  2nd  part,  651. 

Our  remaining  species,  the  well-known  "  Blister- 
beetle"  or  "  Spanish -fly  "  {Lijtia  vesicatoria) ,  the  old 
Cantharis,  is  very  different  in  shape,  etc.,  to  the  mem- 
bers of  either  of  the  preceding  genera, — being  elon- 
gate, cylindrical,  with  long  legs  and  antennae,  and  bright 
metallic-green  in  colour.  It  is  occasionally  taken  in 
the  southern  counties,  but  can  scarcely  be  considered  as 
truly  indigenous. 

The  (EDEMERiDiE  are  elongate,  slender,  with  thin  legs 
and  antennae,  no  abrupt  neck  to  the  head,  simple  hooks 
to  the  tarsi,  the  mandibles  flattened  and  bifid  at  the 
apex,  and  the  penultimate  joint  of  the  tarsi  bi-lobed. 
Their  larvse  live  in  rotten  wood,  and  resemble  those  of 


173  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

the  LongicornSj  to  members  of  which  section  the  per- 
fect insects  also  present  a  certain  likeness. 

Ischnomera  melanura,  not  nnlike  a  large  Telephorus, 
is  found  at  the  seaside ;  it  is  testaceous  with  the  apex 
of  the  elytra  black,  and  is  especially  noteworthy  from 
the  fact  of  its  male  possessing  twelve  joints  to  the  an- 
tennae, though  the  female  has  the  normal  number.  It 
flies  strongly  in  the  hot  sunshine,  and  is  often  taken  on 
old  posts  on  the  shore;  the  larvse  even  living  in  timber 
that  is  periodically  covered  by  the  tide. 

Dryojjs  femorata,  the  largest  of  the  family,  is  a  very 
graceful,  slender  insect,  with  very  long  and  thin  an- 
tennae. Its  male  is  distinguished  by  the  peculiar  for- 
mation of  the  hinder  legs,  which  have  the  femora  much 
inflated  and  arched,  and  the  tibiae  angulated  at  the 
base.  It  is  nocturnal  in  its  habits,  and  occurs  some- 
what freely  at  ivy  blossom  and  sallow  bloom,  both  in 
the  autumnal  and  spring  months. 

In  CEdeniera  aerulea  (Plate  XI,  Fig.  2),  a  small,  me- 
tallic, bright  blue  or  green  species,  found  abundantly  in 
flowers  during  the  summer  months,  in  the  hot  part  of 
the  day,  the  male  exhibits  a  similar  formation  of  the 
hinder  legs  to  that  of  Dnjops. 

Myderus  ciircuUomdes,  once  taken  in  England  (by 
Mr.  T.  V.  AVollaston) ,  presents,  in  many  characters, 
(such  as  its  rostrum,  intermediate  coxae,  scutellum,  etc.) 
a  great  resemblance  to  the  liJiynchophora ;  and  has  been 
placed  in  the  SaJpingida.  It  is  found  abroad  on  flowers 
(chiefly  Umbellifera)  ;  and  it  has  been  remarked  that, 
like  certain  of  the  Ciirculionidre,  and  in  particular  those 
of  the  genus  Larinus  (to  which  it  has  some  resemblance 
in  form),  it  is  covered  with  a  yellowish  pubescence  which 
is  renewable  during  life,  after  having  been  rubbed  off". 


THE    HETEROMERA.  173 

The  Salpingid^e,  on  account  of  some  of  their  mem- 
bers possessing  a  rostrum,  afford  a  passage  to  the  next 
section,  wherein  such  prolongation  of  the  head  is  con- 
stant, and  with  which  they  have  been  associated  by  old 
authors. 

Their  antennse  are  thickened  at  the  apex,  the  last 
joint  of  their  maxillary  palpi  is  not  hatchet-shaped, 
their  mandibles  do  not  project  beyond  the  labrum^  and 
their  body  is  smooth. 

They  are  all  small  and  shining,  and  are  found  under 
bark,  or  by  beating  dead  twigs. 

Rhinosimus  viridipennis  (Plate  XI,  Fig.  3)  is  perhaps 
the  most  elegant  of  the  family;  it  occurs  not  uncom- 
monly in  old  hedges  near  Darenih. 


174 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE  KHYNCHOPHORA,   OE  WEEVILS. 

With  this  section  commences  the  large  group  of  vege- 
table feeders  formerly  known  by  the  name  Tetramera, 
on  account  of  their  apparently  possessing  only  four  joints 
to  the  tarsi :  this  name  has,  however,  been  modified  to 
that  of  "  Paeudo-tetramera,"  or  "  Sub-tetramera,''  by 
Mr,  Westwood,  who  pointed  out  that  they  have  the 
normal  five  joints,  although  the  fourth  is  so  minute  as 
usually  to  escape  notice ;  being,  with  the  basal  portion 
of  the  terminal  joint,  received  between  the  lobes  of  the 
third  joint,  which  is  always  more  or  less  deeply  notched 
at  its  extremity.  The  three  basal  joints  are,  also,  always 
more  or  less  deeply  cushioned  beneath.  The  other  sec- 
tions possessing  these  characters  are  the  Longicornes  and 
Eupoda  (or  Phytophaga). 

The  Rhynchophora  (often  termed,  as  a  group.  CurcU' 
lionidce)  are  usually  convex  and  hard ;  they  have  the 
head  elongated  in  front  into  a  rostrum  or  beak, — some- 
times short  and  thick,  and  at  others  very  long,  thin,  and 
arched, — bearing  the  organs  of  the  mouth  at  its  apex. 
Their  antennae  are  inserted  on  the  rostrum,  generally 
short,  and  in  far  the  greater  number  of  species  elbowed 
(having  a  long  basal  joint),  and  clubbed  at  the  apex; 


RHYNCHOPHORA.  175 

they  vary  in  the  number  of  their  joints  from  eight  to 
twelve,  and  are  inserted  on  the  sides  of  the  rostrum,  in 
two  cavities  or  scrobes,  which  assume  the  form  of  pits  or 
furrows.  These  cavities  often  cause  two  side-pieces  to 
appear  on  the  upper  side  of  the  apex  of  the  rostrum, 
called  winglets,  or  pterygia,  which  are  greatly  developed 
in  Otiorhynchus  and  its  allies.  With  one  exception,  the 
parts  of  the  mouth  are,  comparatively,  of  little  assistance 
in  classifying  these  insects,  the  ligula  and  palpi  (which 
are  small  and  short)  exhibiting  but  little  variation,  and 
the  maxillfe  being  usually  single-lobed :  the  mentum, 
however,  affords  a  great  diversity  of  structure,  being 
either  abruptly  truncate  at  its  base,  or  provided  with  a 
neck,  and  in  either  case  received  into  a  more  or  less  deep 
emargination  of  that  part  of  the  head  that  supports  it. 
This  neck  is  wide,  but  of  very  little  depth,  in  the  species 
with  a  sliort  rostrum  ;  but  in  those  that  have  a  long 
rostrum  it  is  elongate,  and,  in  proportion  to  its  elonga- 
tion, the  mentum  is  reduced,  so  as  to  appear  sometimes 
entirely  absent.  The  mentum,  varying  thus  in  develop- 
ment, either  wholly  covers  the  maxillse  (except  sometimes 
at  their  base),  or  leaves  them  free;  and  it  is  upon  this 
structure  that  Lacordaire  has  based  his  classification  of 
the  section,  which  he  primarily  divides  into  the  Adelo- 
gnathes  (in  which  the  maxillae  are  entirely,  or  for  the 
greater  part,  hidden  by  the  mentum),  and  Phanero- 
gnathes  (whei'cin  they  are  completely  uncovered). 

As,  however,  the  older  system  of  Schonherr  is  generally 
used  in  this  country,  and  (although  more  artificial)  is 
perhaps  easier  of  comprehension  by  a  beginner,  and 
sufficient  for  the  mere  arrangement  of  the  British  species, 
it  will  (though  sure  to  be  eventually  displaced  by  the 
wider  views  of  the  gifted  French  author)  be  followed,  for 
the  most  part,  in  the  present  work. 


176  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

Of  the  remaining  cliaracters  in  the  Rhynchophora,  it 
may  suffice  to  say,  that  their  mandibles  (which  are  short 
and  robust)  vary  considerably  in  shape ;  their  prothorax 
is  very  rarely  margined  at  the  sides,  which  are  usually 
merged  imperceptibly  with  the  pronotura ;  their  tibise 
are  very  rarely  toothed  externally,  and  often  spurless  at 
the  apex;  and  their  abdomen  is  composed  of  five  seg- 
ments, whereof  the  two  first  are  very  often  soldered 
together,  and  the  third  and  fourth  usually  shorter  than 
the  others. 

By  Schonherr  (whose  '  Genera  et  Species  Curculio- 
uidum,'  8  vols.,  Paris,  1833-1845,  has  long  been  the 
text-book  of  Coleopterists  devoted  to  this  section),  the 
Wtynchophora  are  divided  into  two  sub-sections,  the 
Orthoceri,  in  which  the  antennse  are  not  elboAved,  with 
the  basal  point  slightly  elongated ;  and  the  rostrum  has 
no  distinct  lateral  grooves  for  the  reception  of  the  basal 
joints  of  the  antennse; — and  the  Gonatoceri,  wherein  the 
antennae  are  more  or  less  distinctly  elbowed,  the  basal 
joint  being  usually  elongated,  and  always  received  into 
a  canal  at  the  side  of  the  rostrum.  The  latter  sub- 
section is  separated  into  two  groups,  the  Brachyrhynchi, 
having  the  rostrum  short,  straight,  and  thick,  with  the 
antennae  inserted  near  its  extremity,  and  mostly  twelve- 
jointed  ;  and  the  Mecorhynchi,  in  which  the  rostrum  is 
cylindric  or  filiform,  more  or  less  elongated  (being  seldom 
sliorter  than  the  thorax),  and  with  the  antennae  inserted 
before  or  near  the  middle,  never  near  the  mouth  orifice. 

The  late  Mr.  Walton  has  published  many  papers  in 
tlie  'Annals  and  Magazine  of  Natural  History '  (1844'), 
in  which  are  descriptions  of,  and  useful  remarks  upon, 
many  of  our  species  of  Weevils. 

As  before  remarked,  all  the  Rhynchophora  are  vege- 


RHYNCHOPHORA.  177 

table  feeders;  and,  although  comparatively  harmless  in 
their  perfect  state,  there  is  not  one  part  of  any  tree  or 
plant,  or  its  product,  that  their  larvae  do  not  attack. 

These  larvse,  of  which  the  grub  of  the  nut-weevil 
{Balaninus  nucwn),  so  often  found  in  filberts,  etc.,  is  a 
good  type, — are  fat,  fleshy,  and  cylindrical ;  slightly  at- 
tenuated in  front  and  recurved  behind,  with  a  round 
horny  head,  and  no  legs,  which  are  represented  by  tu- 
bercles or  callosities  set  with  short  bristles.  Although 
usually  adhering  to  one  particular  plant  (whether  at 
tacking  its  leaves,  flowers,  shoots,  roots,  bark,  fruit,  oi 
timber) ,  they  are  sometimes  promiscuous  feeders ;  and 
many  (as  the  nut-weevil),  on  becoming  full-grown,  drop 
to  the  earth,  in  which  they  undergo  their  final  changes, 
whilst  others  remain  attached  to  the  plant,  etc.,  on  or 
in  which  they  have  hitherto  existed, — usually  forming  a 
cocoon. 

The  aforesaid  nut-weevil  (but only  in  its  larval  stage), 
and  the  corn-weevil,  Sitophi/us  granariuft  (most  probably 
an  imported  insect),  of  the  British  species, — and  the 
splendid  exotic  "  Diamond  Beetle,"  Entimus  imperialis, 
so  often  employed  as  an  object  for  the  microscope, — are, 
perhaps,  the  most  generally  known  members  of  this  section. 

Our  Rhynchophora  may  be  considered  as  divided  into 
seventeen  families;  the  Bruchida,  Anthi'ibida,  Attela- 
bidcB,  Rhinomacerida,  Apionidcs  (forming  the  Orthoceri 
above-mentioned,  the  remainder  being  Gonatoceri) ,  Bra- 
chyderidcB,  Cleonidce,  Molytidce,  Byrsopsidce,  Otiorhyn- 
chidce  (the  group  Brachyrhynchi) ,  Erirhinidce,Baridiad(B, 
CryptorhynchidfB,  Cionidce,  Calandrida,  Cossonidce  (the 
group  Mecorhynchi),  and  Hylesinidts,  which  we  will  notice 
in  their  order. 

The  Bruchid^,  apart  from  the  above-mentioned  divi- 

N 


178  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

sional  characters,  ai'e  distinguislied  by  their  antennae 
being  eleven-jointed,  slightly  thickened  towards  the  apex, 
serrated,  or  pectinated ;  their  emarginate  eyes ;  broad, 
short,  flat,  deflexed,  scrobe-less  rostrum,  which  has  the 
labrum  and  palpi  distinct;  exposed  pygidium,  and  thick- 
ened hinder  legs ;  and  by  the  basal  joint  of  their  hind 
tarsi  being  long  and  curved.  Our  single  genus,  Bruchus, 
comprises  some  small,  oblong  beetles,  usually  leaden- 
black  in  colour,  and  variegated  with  grey  or  white  pu- 
bescence, arranged  in  indistinct  bands  or  spots.  Their 
males  are  usually  distinguished  by  the  denticulation, 
etc.,  of  the  inner  side  of  the  middle  tibiae.  One  species, 
B.pisi,  found  in  peas,  is  in  all  probability  imported  from 
abroad ;  but  B.  rufimanus,  almost  equally  large,  abounds 
in  bean-fields,  etc.,  in  the  south  of  England;  all  the 
members  of  the  genus,  indeed,  being  more  or  less  attached 
to  leguminous  plants,  and  consequently  noxious  to  man. 
Their  larvae  live  in  the  seeds,  consuming  all  the  internal 
parts,  and  changing  to  pupa  wdthin  the  skin ;  the  perfect 
insect  escaping  through  a  circular  hole,  previously  bitten 
by  the  larva  for  that  purpose. 

The  Anthribid^  have  the  antennae  eleven-jointed, 
and  terminated  by  a  short,  abrupt  three-jointed  club, 
the  eyes  not  notched,  short  transverse  scrobes  to  their 
wide,  deflexed  rostrum,  the  pygidium  not  exposed,  and 
the  second  joint  of  the  tarsi  bi-lobed.  The  males  are 
usually  distinguished  by  the  superior  length  of  their 
antennae.  These  insects  are  all  of  considerable  rarity, 
and  of  some  beauty,  though  not  peculiar  for  delicacy  of 
outline.  They  frequent  old  wood,  dead  twigs,  etc.^  and 
are  usually  found  in  the  early  part  of  summer. 

Bracfiytarsus  scabrosus  (Plate  XI,  Fig. 4)  is  occasionally 
taken  in   May-blossom   in   the   London   district,   also 


THE  RHYNCHOPHOKA,  OR  WEEVILS.        179 

occurring  sparingly  in  tlie  north,  where  it  is  replaced 
by  B.  varlus,  which  is  not  so  brightly  coloured,  and  very 
rare  in  the  south.  The  larvte  of  both  of  these  species 
appear  to  be  parasitic  upon  Cocci. 

The  species  of  Trop'ideres  are  of  great  rarity  here; 
though  sometimes  beaten  out  of  dry  dead  hedges,  or 
taken  from  rotten  wood ;  they  somewhat  resemble  the 
next-mentioned  insect  in  miniature,  but  have  the  basal 
joint  of  the  tarsi  much  longer  in  proportion. 

Platyrhinus,  a  large,  exceedingly  broad,  flat,  strong, 
black-brown-and-white  mottled  insect,  occurs  rarely 
here,  and  chiefly  in  the  western  counties  (being  not  un- 
common near  Cheltenham) ;  it  lives  upon  Spharia,  and 
other  fungi  growing  on  ash-trees,  etc.,  burrowing  also 
in  the  rotten  wood,  or  lurking  under  loose  bark,  and 
having  a  particularly  comical  way  of  elevating  itself  by 
its  front  legs,  though  usually  of  sedate  appearance. 

The  little  Choragus  Sheppardi  is  peculiar,  on  account 
of  its  power  of  jumping,  although  its  hind  femora  are  not 
widened.  It  is  beaten  out  of  dead  hedge-sticks  at  Deal, 
Southend,  Wickham,  and  elsewhere.  Through  its  curious 
appearance  this  insect  has  been  at  different  times  con- 
sidered as  allied  to  Cryptocephalus,  Cis,  and  Anobium. 

The  Attelabid/E  have  the  head  elongated  between 
the  eyes,  the  rostrum  more  or  less  robust  and  enlarged 
in  front ;  the  antennae  straight  and  clubbed ;  the  pygi- 
dium  exposed ;  either  the  first  two  or  four  segments  of 
the  abdomen  soldered  together,  and  separated  by  fine 
straight  sutures;  the  hooks  of  the  tarsi  soldered;  and 
the  tibiae  armed  at  the  apex  (according  to  sex)  with 
either  one  or  two  spurs. 

We  possess  but  two  genera,  Attelabus  and  Apoderus  ; 
the  single  species  of  each  of  which  is  red,  and  common 

N  2 


180  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

in  woods  in  early  summer.  Attelahus  curculionides,  the 
shorter,  more  convex  and  smooth  of  the  two,  infests 
young  oaks;  its  female  rolling  up  their  leaves  into  a 
thimble-like  mass,  in  which  she  deposits  her  eggs.  Apo- 
derus  coryli  is  found  on  hazel ;  its  larva,  conspicuous  in 
this  section  for  the  possession  of  large  dorsal  tubercles, 
living  in  cylindrically  rolled-up  leaves  of  that  plant. 

The  RniNOMACERiDiE  have  the  rostrum  elongate, 
slender,  and  enlarged  in  front ;  its  scrobes  linear,  super- 
ficial, and  reaching  to  the  base ;  the  club  of  the  antennae 
elongate,  with  the  joints  more  or  less  loosely  articulated ; 
the  segments  of  the  abdomen  free ;  the  tibiae  not  spurred 
at  the  apex,  and  the  hooks  of  the  tarsi  bifid  or  free. 

Some  of  these  insects  are  exceedingly  beautiful,  having 
the  brightest  metallic  hues  of  blue,  golden,  green,  red, 
or  copper,  and  many  are  very  pubescent. 

Rhynchites  betuleti,  a  very  lovely  species,  found  not 
uncommonly  at  Darcnth  on  the  hazel,  pierces  the  top 
shoots  of  that  plant  so  as  to  arrest  their  growth,  after 
having  deposited  an  egg  in  them.  Other  species  have 
been  observed  to  lay  an  egg  in  the  recently-formed 
fruit  of  wild  trees,  afterwards  duly  making  an  incision 
below,  so  as  to  impede  its  proper  development,  the 
larva  finding  sufficient  nourishment  before  the  fruit  falls 
to  the  ground.  R.  dequatus  (Plate  XI,  Fig.  5)  is  occa- 
sionally found  in  profusion  in  the  flowers  of  the  white- 
thorn. 

Rh'momacer  attelaboides  somewhat  resembles  certain 
species  of  Salpingus  in  the  Heteroiuera.  M.  Perris  has 
observed  that  its  female  deposits  her  eggs  in  the  catkins 
of  the  male  flowers  of  the  pine,  of  which  the  presence  ol 
the  larva  prevents  the  expansion.  This  species  is  found 
not  uncommonly  in  certain  parts  of  Scotland ;  it  fre- 


THE    RHYNCHOPHORAj    OR   WEEVILS.  181 

quents  Conifers,  and  its  male  is  remai'kable  for  possess- 
ing two  little  tufts  of  yellowish  hairs  on  the  second  and 
third  abdominal  segments. 

With  these  insects  terminates  the  division  Isotoma 
of  Thomson,  distinguished  by  the  connate  abdominal 
segments,  of  which  the  second  and  third  are  nearly 
equal,  the  antennae  straight,  etc. :  his  other  division, 
Anisotoma,  has  the  three  apical  segments  free,  the  second 
being  much  longer  than  the  third,  the  antennae  usually 
elbowed,  etc. 

The  Apionid.e  have  the  rostrum  long,  arched,  cylin- 
drical, and  sometimes  subulate  [i.  e.  suddenly  contracted 
before  the  apex),  with  its  scrobes  more  or  less  distant 
from  the  mouth,  and  the  antennae  inserted  towards  its 
middle,  or  base ;  the  head  more  or  less  elongate  behind 
the  eyes ;  the  scutellum  very  small ;  no  wings ;  the 
elytra  covering  the  pygidium ;  the  tibiae  not  spined  at 
the  apex ;  and  the  hooks  of  the  tarsi  free. 

The  species  of  Apion  are  very  numerous,  chiefly  fre- 
quenting clover,  trefoil,  etc.  Their  larvae  have  varied 
habits,  the  majority  living  in  the  seeds  of  Leguminosa, 
some  forming  a  kind  of  gall  on  the  twigs  or  leaves  of 
plants,  others  making  galleries  in  their  stems,  and  one 
even  attacking  their  roots. 

The  antennae  in  this  genus  are  composed  of  twelve 
joints,  the  club,  which  apparently  has  but  three  joints, 
exhibiting,  under  a  high  power,  a  minute  fourth  one  at 
the  apex.  The  rostrum  has  on  the  under  side  two  deep 
autennal  grooves,  converging  from  the  points  of  inser- 
tion of  the  antennae ;  their  use  is  to  receive  and  protect 
the  basal  joints  of  the  antennae. 

Certain  of  the  yellow-legged  species  are  usually  very 
troublesome  to  beginners,  not  only  on  account  of  their 


182  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

minute  specific  differences,  but  because  the  sexes  vary 
somewhat.  INIr.  Walton  (p.  39  of  his  paper  above 
mentioned)  points  out  the  assistance  to  be  derived  in 
this  respect  from  the  coloration  of  the  coxae  and  tro- 
chanters, in  which  many  species  differ  sexually.  One 
of  the  most  curious  in  tlie  genus  is  called  (and  rightly 
so)  difforme ;  its  male  has  the  basal  joints  of  the  an- 
tennae much  dilated,  the  basal  joint  of  the  front  tarsi 
hooked,  the  middle  legs  elongate,  the  hinder  legs  bent, 
dilated,  flattened,  and  generally  distorted,  and  a  spine 
to  the  epigastrium.  It  is  found  usually  on  furze.  Poly- 
gonum, etc. 

The  BiiACHYDERiD.E  havc  the  antennae  elbowed,  with 
the  basal  joint  variable  in  length,  the  funiculus  usually 
seven-jointed,  the  scrobes  of  the  rostrum  generally 
linear,  and  directed  downwards,  the  rostrum  being  short 
and  stout,  and  not  received  into  any  groove  of  the  pro- 
sternum  ;  the  mandibles  are  usually  slender,  the  scutel- 
lum  is  absent  or  very  small,  and  the  elytra  cover  the 
pygidium. 

There  is  nothing  particularly  noteworthy  in  this  fa- 
mily, which  consists  of  moderate-sized,  mostly  dull- 
coloured  insects,  many  of  which  are  apterous.  The 
species  of  Strophoso7nus,  globular  in  shape,  with  pro- 
minent eyes,  usually  abound  on  hazel  and  oak,  some 
being  also  found  on  heaths ;  one  of  these  latter,  C.  lim- 
batus,  has  the  appearance  of  being  entirely  denuded  of 
scales. 

The  genus  Sitones  comprises  many  species,  especially 
noxious  to  clovers  and  trefoils,  many  of  them  abounding 
at  all  times  of  the  year.  They  are  very  troublesome  to 
beginners,  and  have  been  fully  described  by  the  author 
in  the  '  Entomologists'  Monthly  Magazine,'  vol,  ii. 


THE  RHYNCHOPHORA,  OR  WEEVILS.       183 

Some  of  the  Polydrosi  are  beautifully  clothed  with 
bright-green  metallic  scales,  and  are  often  mistaken  for 
Phyllobii,  from  which  they  differ  in  their  longer  and 
thinner  legs  and  antennae,  and  the  possession  of  long 
and  distinct  rostral  grooves  for  the  antennae. 

The  family  of  CLEONiDiE  comprises  some  of  our 
largest  and  most  handsome  species.  In  it  the  rostrum 
is  rather  long,  stout,  either  suddenly  or  gradually  bent 
down,  usually  somewhat  cylindrical,  sometimes  slightly 
angulated,  and  very  often  thickened  towards  the  front. 

In  Cleonus  the  rostrum  is  longer  than  the  head,  robust, 
slightly  arched,  angulated,  and  sculptured  on  the  upper 
side,  with  the  antennae  inserted  near  its  apex,  and  the 
scrobes  moderately  separated,  but  not  joined  on  the 
under  side ;  the  tarsi  spongy  beneath,  more  or  less  flat ; 
the  tibiae  with  a  dagger-like  spine  at  the  apex ;  and  the 
body  oblong,  cylindrical,  and  pubescent.  Our  species 
are  large,  variegated  with  grey  or  reddish  scales,  and 
found  in  waste  places ;  they  feed  in  the  stems  of  thistles, 
etc.,  some  of  them  being  of  excessive  rarity.  As  in  all 
the  other  members  of  this  family,  their  integuments  are 
exceedingly  hard. 

Alophus  iriguttatus,  not  uncommon  near  London, 
being  often  found  basking  in  the  sun  on  hot  walls,  is 
conspicuous  for  its  white  V-shaped  mark  behind. 

The  MolytidjE  have  the  rostrum  moderately  long,  de- 
flexed,  sub-cylindrieal,  rather  arched,  and  mostly  not 
very  stout.  With  the  exception  of  Phytonomus  and 
Limobius,  they  have  the  tibiae  armed  at  the  apex  on  the 
inner  side  with  a  strong  hook. 

They  are  mostly  of  considerable  bulk ;  the  smallest, 
Tanysphyrus  lemnee,  foimd  in  wet  marshy  places,  exhi- 
biting a  gre^t  resemblance  to  the  structure  of  its  larger 


184  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

rbrethren.  Hylob'ms  ahietis,  large,  black,  with  yellow 
interrupted  band-like  spots,  is  now  abundant  in  the 
south  of  England,  though  formerly  very  rare ;  it  com- 
mits great  ravages  in  pine  woods,  and  has  been  trans- 
ported in  building-timber  from  Scotland^  where  it  is 
exceedingly  common. 

In  Molytes  the  elytra  are  very  convex  and  rounded, 
the  whole  insect  being  black,  shining,  and  smooth,  or, 
at  most,  with  a  few  patches  of  yellow  or  grey  hairs. 
Jioth  our  species  inhabit  chalky  districts. 

Liosomus,  a  mere  fraction  of  Molytes  in  size,  repro- 
duces exactly  its  superficial  characters,  differing,  how- 
ever, in  the  rostral  scrobes,  the  structure  of  its  anteimse, 
and  the  shortness  of  the  spurs  to  its  tibise.  It  abounds 
in  wet  places. 

Plinthus,  found  in  dry  situations  on  chalk  by  the 
coast  (Dover,  etc.),  and  less  commonly  in  grass,  etc., 
inland,  is  of  very  different  shape  from  any  of  the  pre- 
ceding, being  more  linear,  with  no  scutellum,  the  ros- 
trum longer  than  the  head,  and  slightly  contracted  at 
the  base,  etc. ;  it  is  very  strongly  and  coarsely  punc- 
tured, the  punctures  being  often  filled  up  with  chalk, 
so  that  the  normal  dull  pitchy-black  colour  of  the  insect 
is  disguised. 

The  species  of  Fhytonomus  [Hypera],  in  which  the 
funiculus  of  the  antennae  is  seven-jointed,  are  often 
very  abundant  in  clover-fields,  etc. ;  they  are  moderately 
large,  oval,  with  a  globular  thorax,  and  prettily  clothed 
with  variegated  scales  and  hairs.  P.  trilineatus,  found 
commonly  on  Legum'mosce  at  Dover  and  Deal,  is  perhaps 
one  of  the  most  elegant.   (Plate  XI,  Fig.  6.) 

Their  larvae  live  on  the  outer  side  of  the  leaves  of 
plants,  of  which  they  devour  the  parenchyma,  and  have 


THE  RHYNCHOPHORA,  OR  WEEVILS.       185 

two  or  three  rudimentary  eyes  on  each  side  of  the  head. 
Possessing  no  legs,  they  fix  themselves  to  their  support 
with  a  viscous  fluid  secreted  by  a  retractile  process, 
situate  in  the  front  part  of  the  back  of  the  last  abdomi- 
nal segment.  When  full  grown  they  cover  themselves 
with  a  coarse  network,  composed  of  threads  of  the  same 
fluid,  which  hardens  on  exposure  to  the  air.  A  cocoon 
is  thus  formed  (often  found  on  water  plants,  etc.,  in  wet 
places,  where  some  of  the  species  are  abundant),  in  which 
the  transformations  of  the  insect  take  place. 

The  little  Limobii  exactly  resemble  the  members  of 
the  preceding  genus,  except  that  their  antennae  have  but 
six  joints  to  the  funiculus;  and  it  should  be  remarked 
that  many  other  genera  are  accompanied  by  similar 
imperfect  reproductions  of  their  structure. 

The  Byrsopsid^  have  a  more  or  less  distinct  exca- 
vation in  the  prosternum  for  the  reception  of  the  ros- 
trum, the  scrobes  of  which  are  linear  and  arched  ;  the 
eyes  large,  depressed,  entirely  covered  in  repose  by  the 
lobes  of  the  prothorax,  which  are  very  prominent;  the 
metasternura  very  short ;  and  the  tarsi  spiuose,  or  hairy 
beneath,  never  spongy. 

We  possess  but  one  genus  and  species,  Gronaps  luna- 
tus,  in  which  the  second  joint  of  the  antennae  is  very 
elongate  ;  it  is  a  small  dull-white  or  grey  insect,  strongly 
ribbed,  with  a  narrow  thorax,  wiry  legs,  and  a  more  or 
less  extensive  dark  lunated  mark  on  each  elytron.  It 
is  not  uncommon  in  sandy  places  on  the  coast,  and  near 
London.  The  characteristic  prothoracic  canal  is  in  this 
insect  of  a  very  superficial  nature. 

The  OxioRHYNCHiDiE  havc  the  basal  joint  of  the  an- 
tennae reaching  beyond  the  back  of  the  eyes,  the  funi- 
culus with  usually  seven  joints,  and  the  rostral  scrobes 


186  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

variable,  but  never  at  the  same  time  linear  and  directed 
downwards,  the  rostrum  itself  being  short,  stout,  and 
nearly  horizontal.  In  many  of  the  genera  the  winglets, 
or  lateral  projections  at  the  apex  of  the  rostrum,  are 
much  developed. 

Such  of  their  larvse  as  are  known  are  moderately 
elongate,  fleshy,  feebly  tuberculated  at  the  sides,  set 
with  short  hairs,  and  legless ;  and  the  pupse  do  not 
appear  to  be  enclosed  in  a  cocoon. 

In  Phyllobius,  which  much  resembles  Polydrosus,  as 
before  observed,  the  scutellum  and  wings  are  present, 
the  hooks  of  the  tarsi  are  soldered,  and  the  scrobes  of 
the  rostrum  are  nearly  always  very  short.  The  species 
are  very  abundant  on  nettles,  etc.,  and,  when  fresh,  are 
thickly  clothed  with  bright  golden  green  scales,  which, 
however,  readily  rub  off.  One  of  them,  P.  aryentMtus,  is 
a  common  object  for  the  microscope,  owing  to  the  beauty 
of  its  covering ;  another,  P  viridicollis,  found  in  Scot- 
land, is  equally  remarkable  for  all  its  peculiar  abraded 
appearance. 

In  Tr  achy  phi  (cus  and  its  allies  the  scutellum  is  want- 
ing, or  very  small,  and  the  wings  absent,  the  hooks  of 
the  tarsi  are  free,  the  antennae  robust,  and  the  scrobes 
of  the  rostrum  lateral,  deep,  slightly  arched,  and  reach- 
ing to  the  eyes. 

The  species  are  mostly  small,  oval,  and  convex, 
strongly  set  with  short  stout  bristles,  often  arranged  in 
lines,  and  frequently  thickly  covered  with  earthy  matter, 
which  adheres  so  firmly  as  to  disguise  their  outline  and 
punctuation.  They  are  found  in  sandy  places,  at  the 
roots  of  grass,  in  moss,  etc.,  and  are  very  sluggish. 

The  species  may  generally  be  distinguished  inter  se  by 
the  toothing  and  shape  of  the  front  tibise. 


THE    RHYNCHOPHORAj    OR    WEEVILS.  187 

In  Otiorhynchus  the  antennae  are  long,  usually  slender, 
and  often  inserted  at  the  apex  of  the  rostrum ;  the  scu- 
tellum  is  wanting,  or  very  small ;  the  wings  are  absent ; 
the  winglets  to  the  sides  of  the  rostrum  at  the  apex 
strong ;  the  scrobes  deep,  visible  from  the  upper  side  in 
front,  but  rectilinear  and  evanescent  behind  ;  the  body 
convex,  ovate,  seldom  thickly  clothed  with  scales,  and 
usually  dull  in  colour;  and  the  tarsi  spongy  beneath, 
with  the  apical  joint  long  and  the  hooks  free.  The 
males  are,  for  the  most  part,  smaller  and  less  globose 
than  the  females. 

The  larvae  of  0.  sulcaius,  a  common  metropolitan  in- 
sect, have  been  observed  to  do  considerable  damage  to 
potted  plants,  etc.,  by  gnawing  round  the  upper  part  of 
the  roots. 

The  different  species  are  found  in  hedges,  under 
stones,  in  moss,  sand-pits,  etc.,  and  at  the  roots  of  grass 
or  sand-hills.  0.  picipes  (Plate  XII,  Fig.  1)  is  one  of 
the  most  abundant,  frequently  doing  considerable  damage 
to  young  trees  and  plants ;  it  may  be  obtained  in  pro- 
fusion by  beating  white-thorn  hedges  in  spring. 

Some  of  our  species,  found  in  mountainous  parts  of 
the  north,  and  others  peculiar  to  the  south  coast,  are 
shining  black,  and  many  of  them  congregate  under 
stones,  especially  on  turf-walls.  Dr.  Stierlin,  in  his  'Re- 
vision of  the  European  Otiorhynchi'  Berlin,  has  fully 
described  our  species  (amongst  others). 

The  Erirhinid.e  (which  commence  the  Mecorhynchi, 
equivalent  to  the  Rhynchanides  of  Eabricius,)  consist  of 
a  somewhat  heterogeneous  assemblage, — Lixus,  Larinus, 
and  Rhinocyllus  being  often  associated  with  the  Cleoriidce, 
and  Pissodes  with  Hylobius. 

Their  antennae  are  either  eleven-  or  twelve-jointed, 


188  ^  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

with  the  club  usually  four-jointed ;  their  anterior  legs 
are  approximated  at  the  base,  and  the  greater  part  are 
winged,  and  have  the  scutellum  more  or  less  distinct. 

The  species  of  Lixus  are  usually  very  elongate,  cylin- 
drical, and  narrow,  with  the  grooves  in  the  rostrum  of 
very  variable  formation,  but,  as  in  Larinus,  directed 
downwards^  and  usually  commencing  between  the  middle 
and  the  apex.     In  the  latter  genus  they  meet  beneath. 

The  Lioci  are  rare  in  this  country,  being  found  chiefly 
on  the  south  coast.  They  live  in  water-plants,  etc. ; 
one  of  then\,  and  that  the  most  beautiful,  L.  hicolor, 
breeding  in  thistle-stems  at  Deal.  AVhen  freshly  dis- 
closed this  insect  is  clothed  with  very  thick  and  bright 
scarlet  and  yellow  down,  which  (as  in  the  other  members 
of  the  genus)  readily  rubs  off,  so  that  it  is  difficult  to 
obtain  good  specimens  for  the  cabinet.  Old  entomolo- 
gists used  to  pin  the  specimens  alive  immediately  on 
capturing  them ;  because,  if  bottled  or  boxed,  they  soon 
divest  themselves  of  their  gaudy  covering.  According 
to  M.  Lacordaire,  they  are  able  during  life  to  renew 
this  plumage  to  a  certain  extent. 

Another  species,  L.  paraplecticus ,  is  noteworthy  on 
account  of  its  very  elongate,  thin,  pointed  appearance, 
reminding  one  of  the  "walking-stick"  insects.  Very 
different  to  this  are  the  allied  Larinus  and  Rhlnocyllus ; 
squat,  stumpy,  and  ovate ;  found  in  thistle  flowers,  etc. 
on  the  coast.  The  latter,  which  is  slightly  hairy,  was 
formerly  considered  a  specific  for  toothache ;  the  genus 
Antiodontalgicus  having  been  formed  for  its  reception. 
Pissocles,  resembling  Hylobius,  though  on  a  smaller 
scale,  frequents  pine  forests ;  one  species,  P.  pint, 
abounding  in  many  parts  of  Scotland,  where  I  have  seen 
the  female  with  her  rostrum  deeply  buried  into  the  soft 


THE    RHYNCHOPHORA,    OR    WEEVILS.  189 

part  between  the  outer  bark  and  solid  timber  of  fresh- 
cut  fir-trees.  In  the  hole  thus  formed  an  egg  is  depo- 
sited, the  larva  proceeding  from  which  eats  galleries 
under  the  bark  until  it  is  full  grown,  when  it  closes  its 
retreat  with  particles  of  wood,  frass,  etc.,  and  changes 
to  pupa.  The  perfect  insects  are  very  prettily  marked, 
being  rich  brown  with  golden-yellow  spots :  like  Hylo- 
bius,  they  cling  very  tightly  to  the  fingers  when  handled. 

The  species  of  Magdalinus, — small,  oblong,  parallel, 
dull  black  or  bluish  insects, — are  found  in  the  spring  and 
early  summer  about  dead  wood  in  hedges,  etc.,  or  on 
young  trees.  They  are  chiefly  conspicuous  for  the  close 
punctuation  of  their  thorax,  and  the  occasionally  spindle- 
shaped  development  of  the  antennae  in  the  male.  One 
species  has  been  reared  from  larva  found  in  burrows 
under  the  bark  of  willow-trees ;  and  the  female  of  an- 
other, M.  carbonarius,  found  in  Scotland,  has  been 
observed  to  introduce  its  eggs  into  sickly  branches  of 
pine-trees,  the  larva  eating  its  way  along  the  pith  for  a 
considerable  distance.  After  undergoing  its  metaiuor- 
phosis,  the  perfect  insect  escapes  by  means  of  a  gallery 
gnawed  by  the  larva  through  the  solid  wood,  but  not 
penetrating  the  outer  bark. 

Erirhinus  (sometimes  divided  into  two  genera, — No- 
taris,  wherein,  amongst  other  characters,  the  femora 
are  unarmed ;  and  Dorytomus,  wherein  they  have  a 
strong  tooth  on  the  under  side)  comprises  several  small 
common  species,  mostly  found  in  wet  places  or  on  wil- 
lows, poplars,  etc.  The  rostrum  in  all  these  is  elongate 
and  arched,  and  they  are  usually  yellowish  or  dull  brown 
in  colour,  slightly  variegated  with  ill-defined  lighter 
spots.  Their  larvae  are  chiefly  found  on  Water-plants, 
those  of  E.  festucce  (not  uncommon  on  the  towing-path 


190  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

near  Hammersmith)  living  in  the  stems  of  Scirpus,  of 
■which  it  devours  the  pith. 

Those  of  another  species  {E.  vorax,  common  in  the 
perfect  state  on  poplars,  upon  which  it  may  be  detected 
lurking  in  chinks  of  the  hark,  and  remarkable  for  the 
great  length  of  the  front  legs  in  the  male)  have  been 
found  in  the  pods  of  laburnum,  feeding  on  the  seeds ; 
and  the  larva  of  a  third  {E.  tceniatus)  lives  in  the  catkins 
of  the  sallow,  which  it  mines  for  their  entire  length,  and 
forms  a  cocoon  for  itself  with  the  silky  fibres  peculiar 
to  the  seeds  of  that  tree. 

The  species  of  Anthonomus,  in  which  the  rostrum  is 
slender  and  usually  long,  and  the  prosternum  very  short, 
are  small,  moderately  convex,  and  sometimes  adorned 
with  short  variegated  pubescence  of  a  pinkish-grey  tone 
relieved  by  a  darker  band.  Some  of  them  are  well 
known  to  commit  great  havoc  upon  apples  and  pears, 
the  female  insect  boring  a  hole  with  her  slender  rostrum 
into  the  young  buds,  and  then  depositing  an  e^^  into 
it,  the  larva  proceeding  from  which  subsists  upon  the 
young  blossom  (and  occasionally  the  fruit),  and  forms  a 
kind  of  cocoon  with  the  petals,  wherein  it  undergoes 
its  changes.  Other  species  infest  the  elm,  bramble,  etc. 
in  like  manner. 

In  the  genus  Balaninus  the  rostrum  is  very  long, 
slender,  and  arched,  sometimes  nearly  as  long  as  the 
body,  and  the  prosternum  considerably  elongate  be- 
tween the  front  coxae.  To  it  belongs  the  ''nut- weevil " 
before  mentioned,  the  larva  of  which  is  so  well  known. 
The  female  deposits  a  single  e^^  into  the  nut  when  the 
latter  is  very  young,  and  has  been  stated  to  use  her 
long  beak  as  a  drill  in  that  operation.  The  larva,  which 
leaves  the  vital  part  of  the  fruit  until  the  last,  when  ar- 


THE  RHYNCHOPHORA,  OR  WEEVILS.       191 

rived  at  its  full  growth,  bores  a  hole  through  the  shell 
and  drops  to  the  ground,  into  which  it  burrows  prior 
to  turning  into  pupa. 

Other  species  operate  in  a  similar  way  upon  acorns 
{B.  glandium),  and  the  kernels  of  certain  wild  Pruni 
{B.  cerasorum,  found  in  the  perfect  state  on  birch). 
The  larvse  of  one  of  the  smallest,  B.  brassicce,  have  been 
observed  to  live  in  red  galls  on  the  leaves  of  willows, 
the  formation  of  which  has  even  been  attributed  to  this 
insect,  though  it  appears  improbable  that  such  could  be 
the  case.  Another,  B.  villosus  (Plate  XII,  Fig.  2,  head 
and  rostrum  sideways,  2a),  not  uncommon  on  the  oak, 
has  been  reared  from  larvse  found  in  galls  formed  by  a 
Cynips  on  the  leaves  of  that  tree. 

Certain  insects  of  the  genera  Tychius  and  Sibynes — 
the  former  found  chiefly  on  the  vetch  and  its  allies,  and 
the  latter  in  dry  sandy  places — are  conspicuous  for 
their  dense  covering  of  light-coloured  scales,  being  often 
beautifully  spotted  or  banded.  In  the  former  genus  the 
funiculus  of  the  antennae  consists  of  seven  joints,  whilst 
in  Miccotrogus,  which  very  closely  resembles  some  of  its 
members,  it  consists  of  only  six. 

In  Orchestes  (so  named  for  its  jumping  habits)  the 
head  is  very  little  projecting;  the  rostrum  bent  back  on 
the  under  surface  in  repose;  the  eyes  are  very  close  on  the 
upper  side,  and  very  often  contiguous;  and  the  posterior 
legs  saltatorial,  their  femora  being  often  enormously 
developed.  It  has  six  joints  to  the  funiculus  of  the 
antennae,  whilst  in  the  close]y  allied  Tachyerges  there 
are  seven. 

Their  larvse  are  elongate,  flat,  with  no  tubercles,  and 
mine  in  the  leaves  of  difierent  trees,  eating  the  paren- 
chyma.    When  full  grown  they  enclose  themselves  in 


193  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

an  oval  silky  cocoon^  the  pupa  having  the  thorax  pro- 
duced in  front  into  two  strong  projections,  and  the 
abdomen  ending  in  two  double-jointed  projections,  with 
several  acute  tubercles  on  the  last  segment  beneath. 

In  Orthochcetes  and  Trachodes  (the  former  found  in 
moss  and  the  latter  in  old  twigs  or  in  rotten  wood)  the 
scutellum  and  wings  are  absent.  Both  of  them  are  set 
with  stiff  bristles. 

The  Baridiad.e  have  the  front  legs  distant  at  the 
base,  and  the  breast  flat.  We  possess  but  one  genus, 
Baridius,  containing  certain  small,  elongate,  cylindrical 
beetles,  mostly  dull  in  appearance,  and  in  some  cases 
very  slightly  clothed  with  pubescence,  which  readily  rubs 
off.  They  frequent  Lepidium,  Reseda,  etc.,  and  super- 
ficially resemble  the  species  of  Mecinus,  which  have  but 
five  joints  to  the  funiculus. 

The  Cryptorhynchid.e  have  the  rostrum  bent  down- 
wards, and  received  into  a  more  or  less  distinct  canal 
in  the  under  side.  The  anterior  legs  are  nearly  always 
distant  at  the  base. 

The  typical  genus,  Cryptorhyjichus,  contains  one 
species,  Lapathi  (Plate  XII,  Fig.  3),  not  uncommon  on 
willows,  into  the  trunk  of  which  its  larva  bores,  making 
large  cylindrical  holes.  It  has  been  noticed  that  this 
insect,  when  alarmed,  makes  a  creaking  noise  by  rubbing 
the  base  of  its  prothorax  against  the  front  of  the  meso- 
thorax. 

In  Coeliodes  the  rostrum  is  received  into  a  canal  be- 
tween the  front  and  middle  pair  of  legs ;  its  species  are 
small,  convex,  and  "dumpy;''  one  of  them,  didymus, 
a  dull  greenish-grey  insect,  variegated  with  white  scales, 
and  having  a  white  spot  on  each  side  of  the  elytra,  is 
most  abundant  on  nettles. 


THE  RHYNCHOPHORA,  OR  WEEVILS.       193 

Rhytidosomus  and  Orobitis  are  both  peculiar,  on  ac- 
count of  their  globular  form  ;  the  latter — a  dark  blue 
shining  insect,  found  on  a  pretty  species  of  vetch — hav- 
ing a  habit  of  applying  its  legs  close  to  its  body.  Packed 
up  in  this  manner,  it  has  all  the  appearance  of  a  ripe 
seed  of  the  common  wild  blue  hyacinth,  and  its  size 
seems  much  increased  when  it  unfolds  its  long  straggling 
limbs. 

Mononychus  pseudacori,  a  larger,  awkward  looking, 
dull  black  creature,  with  a  white  spot  beneath  the  scu- 
tellum,  has  very  clumsy  legs, — of  which  the  tibiae  are 
obtusely  and  coarsely  toothed  on  the  outer  side  below 
the  middle, — and  only  a  single  claw  to  the  apical  joint 
of  each  tarsus.  Its  larva  feeds  in  the  pod  of  the  wild 
iris,  and  is  taken  in  August,  chiefly  in  the  Isle  of 
Wight. 

The  species  oi  Acalles, — dull  brown,  slightly  varie- 
gated, with  strong  ridges  and  spines, — are  found  in  old 
twigs,  hedges,  etc.  They  have  a  peculiar  habit  of  si- 
mulating death,  contracting  their  legs  continuously  with 
the  under  side  of  the  body ;  and  one  of  them  has  been 
observed  to  make  a  stridulating  noise  similar  to  Crypto- 
rhynchus. 

Bagous,  Lyprus,  and  Hydronomus  are  all  water-plant 
frequenters,  frequently  found  in  mud  or  even  under 
water,  and  very  often  so  encased  with  crusted  dirt  as  to 
be  difficult  to  distinguish.  They  have  short  antennse,  and 
very  slender  tarsi,  of  which  the  third  joint  is  not  bilobed, 
and  slightly  (if  at  all)  wider  than  the  preceding,  the 
apical  joint  being  long.  The  first  and  second  of  these 
genera  have  the  prosternum  slightly  excavated,  whilst 
in  the  latter  it  is  level.  For  this  reason  they  have  been 
separated  widely  in  arrangements ;  but  they  are  in  reality 

o 


194  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

very  closely  allied.  Lyprus,  "uliich  is  very  attenuate^ 
and  spider-like  about  the  IcgSj  has  but  six  joints  to  the 
funiculus. 

lu  Litodactylus  and  its  allies,  all  more  or  less  attached 
to  water-plants  (some  even  existing  under  water,  in 
Myriophyllum) ,  the  rostrum  is  short  and  thick,  the  scu- 
tellum  inconspicuous,  and  the  eyes  large  and  promi- 
nent ;  and  in  Ceuthorhynchus,  a  very  extensive  genus  of 
small  convex  species,  the  rostrum  is  long,  arched,  and 
slender,  and  received  in  repose  only  between  the  front 
pair  of  legs,  there  being  no  groove  for  it  in  the  meso- 
sternura.  Some  of  this  genus  (which  is  divided  into 
two  sections,  the  first  having  the  femora  simple  beneath, 
whilst  in  the  second  they  are  toothed)  are  prettily  varie- 
gated with  Avhite  scales ;  others  are  metallic  blue,  or  set 
sparingly  with  short  stiff  bristles. 

Many  of  them  are  very  abundant,  and  do  considerable 
damage  to  culinary  vegetables,  either — as  perfect  insects 
— by  piercing  holes  in  them,  or — as  larvie — by  forming 
gall -like  excrescences  on  their  roots.  As  is  frequently 
the  case,  there  is  another  genus  [Ceuthorkynchideus) , 
closely  resembling  this  in  which  there  are  six  instead  of 
seven  joints  to  the  funiculus. 

The  CioNiDjj  have  the  antennae  ten-  or  nine-jointed, 
short,  the  funiculus  composed  of  five  joints,  and  the  club 
of  three  or  four.  They  ai'e  all  small ;  and  (except  Me- 
cinus,  which  is  elongate  and  cylindrical)  "  squat "  and 
rounded. 

The  species  of  Cionus  are  all  beautifully  variegated ; 
they  frequent  Verbascum  and  its  allies,  often  in  great 
numbers,  the  different  species  sometimes  occurring  in 
company.  Their  larva?,  which  are  small,  convex,  and 
spotted,  devour  the  entire  parenchyma  of  the  leaves,  but 


THE  RHYNCHOPHORA^  OR  WEEVILS.       195 

do  not  touch  the  ribs  and  stem :  they  appear  to  make 
an  open  network  cocoon.  C.  blattarice  (Plate  XII,  Fig. 
4)  is,  perhaps,  the  prettiest,  and  is  not  uncommon.  lu 
repose,  with  its  legs  contracted,  it  affords  an  exact  repre- 
sentation of  a  small  patch  of  bird-droppings. 

Nanophyes,  a  much  smaller  and  elegantly  banded  in- 
sect, occurs  (locally)  in  great  profusion  on  low  plants  of 
Salicaria ;  and  the  species  of  Gymnetron  and  Miarus 
especially  frequent  Veronica,  Antirrhinum,  and  Cam- 
panula. They  are  mostly  small,  short-ovate,  dull  black, 
and  set  with  rows  of  short  yellowish  hairs. 

The  Calandrid.e  are  here  represented  by  one  genus, 
Sitophilus,  containing  two  species,  granarias  and  oryzce, 
both  doubtless  imported,  and  the  former  being  known 
par  excellence  (or  pur  the  want  of  it)  as  tlte  Weevil. 
Here  the  antennae  are  eight-jointed,  the  basal  joint 
being  long,  and  the  apical  one  forming  a  large  knob; 
the  rostrum  is  long;  the  body  somewhat  flat;  the  thorax 
very  coarsely  punctured,  the  elytra  scarcely  covering  the 
apex  of  the  abdomen,  and  deeply  striated,  and  the  tibiae 
spined  at  the  apex. 

The  "  Corn-weevil'^  is  small  and  pitchy-red  in  colour; 
it  bores  a  hole  with  its  rostrum  in  the  grain,  in  which  it 
lays  an  egg ;  the  young  larva  afterwards  devouring  all 
the  contents,  and  leaving  merely  the  husk,  wherein"  it 
turns  to  pupa.  It  has  been  observed  that  if  suspected 
grain  be  thrown  into  water,  the  good  will  sink,  while  the 
infected  seeds  will  float. 

The  other  species,  distinguished  by  its  four  red  spots, 
attacks  rice  in  a  similar  way. 

The  CossoNiDiE  have  short  antennae,  of  which  the  fu- 
niculus is  seven-jointed,  the  basal  joint  long,  and  the 
club  either  two  jointed  or  nearly  solid,  so  that  there 

o  2 


J96  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

scorn  to  be  nine  joints  in  all ;  their  rostrum,  also,  is  some- 
what deflexed ;  their  tibiae  armed  at  the  apex  with  a 
stout  external  hook,  and  their  tarsi  slender.  They  are 
all  distinguished  by  a  certain  linear,  parallel,  flattish,  or 
cylindrical  habit,  pre-eminently  adapted  for  boring  in 
wood,  or  existing  under  bark. 

Cossonus  linearis  (Plate  XII,  Fig.  5)  is  very  local ; 
but,  when  found,  occurs  in  great  profusion ;  as,  indeed, 
is  the  case  with  most  of  this  family.  Mesites  Tardii, 
the  largest,  lives  in  the  wood  of  ash-trees,  etc.,  at  Kil- 
larney,  Mount  Edgcumbe,  and  elsewhere  on  the  western 
coast.  It  has  very  little  the  aspect  of  an  English  species, 
and  varies  much  in  size.  In  the  male  the  antennae  are 
inserted  near  the  apex  of  the  rostnm,  which  is  dull,  en- 
larged, and  suddenly  contracted  behind  their  articula- 
tion;  whilst  in  the  female  it  is  smooth,  narrow,  and 
■with  the  antennae  inserted  close  to  the  base. 

Some  of  the  remaining  species, — small,  obscure,  cylin- 
drical beetles, — are  common  in  half  rotten  wood,  under 
fir  bark,  etc. 

The  remaining  family,  the  Hi/lesinida  (also  termed 
Scolytida,  or  Tomicida),  are  by  some  authors  raised  to 
a  sectional  rank,  under  the  name  Xylophaga ;  but,  being 
intimately  allied  to  the  Cossonidce,  they  are  generally 
considered  as  a  division  of  the  RJiyncliophora,  connect- 
ing that  section  with  the  next. 

These  insects  have  been  fully  described  by  Erichson, 
in  Wiegmann's  Archiv.  fiir  Naturg.,  vol.  ii.,  1836  (an 
abstract  of  which  appeared  in  the  '  Naturalist '  for  De- 
cember of  the  same  year),  and  also  (with  others  injurious 
to  timber)  by  Ratzeburg,  '  Die  Forst-Iusecten,'  Berlin, 
1837, — a  work  of  considerable  value. 

They  have  the  head  somewhat  globular,  deeply  sunk 


THE  RHYNCHOPHORA,  OR  WEEVILS.        197 

in  the  thorax  (Plate  XII,  Fig.  6a;  head  and  thorax  of 
Hylesinus  vittatus) ,  and  produced  into  the  suggestion  of 
a  rostrum  in  front ;  the  antennae  (which  have  never  more 
than  ten  joints)  elbowed,  having  a  long  basal  joint,  and 
a  more  or  less  flattened  club,  which  is  either  solid  or 
four-jointed ;  the  front  coxse  globose,  prominent,  and 
not  widely  separated ;  the  tibiae  flattened  and  widened 
at  the  apex,  hooked  at  the  extremity,  fossorial,  and 
usually  toothed  or  crenulated  on  the  outer  side;  the 
mandibles  short,  robust,  prominent,  and  triangular ;  the 
maxillae  thin,  broad,  and  spined  internally,  with  their 
palpi  minute  and  conical ;  the  labrum  obsolete ;  the  eyes 
vertically  oblong,  and  the  third  joint  of  the  tarsi  bi-lobed, 
except  in  Tomicus  and  Platypus. 

All  the  species  are  small,  mostly  black  or  dull  brown 
in  colour,  and  usually  somewhat  oblong,  or  cylindrical 
in  shape,  being  especially  convex  on  the  upper  side. 

Many  of  them  are  very  destructive  to  trees;  their 
larvae  eating  irregular  galleries  at  right  angles  from  a 
straighter  central  line;  and  it  is  from  their  habit  of 
always  engraving  this  kind  of  pattern  in  their  devasta- 
tions that  some  of  them  have  been  termed  "  Typogra- 
phers." 

The  small,  dull  black,  elongate,  cylindrical  species  of 
Hylastes  occur  in  profusion  in  the  tracks  eaten  by  their 
larvae  under  the  bark  of  decaying  or  felled  pine-trees ; 
they  have  the  club  of  the  antennae  scarcely  flattened,  the 
tibiae  distinctly  spurred  at  the  aj)ex,  and  the  prostcrnum 
excavated  in  front;  whilst  in  Hylurgus  piniperda,  a 
larger,  more  robust  insect,  found  sometimes  in  still 
greater  profusion,  and  very  injurious  to  fir-trees,  this 
excavation  is  obsolete. 

The  Hylesini  have  an  elongate  oval  club  to  the  an- 


398  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

tennre,  and  the  tibi?e  obsoletelj'  spurred ;  tliey,  also,  feed 
on  wood.  One  small  species,  H.  vittatus  (PI.  XII,  Fig. 
G),  is  very  prettily  variegated. 

It  is,  however,  to  the  genus  Scohjtus  that  the  un- 
v.orthy  distinction  of  destructive  ability  inust  be  awarded; 
one  of  them,  the  destroyer,  S.  destructor,  being  notoi'ious 
for  the  ravages  it  inflicts,  both  in  its  larval  and  perfect 
state,  upon  elm-trees,  especially  in  the  London  parks. 

Its  larvse  are  white,  fleshy,  thick,  curved,  and  footless  ; 
■with  wrinkled  backs,  hard  heads,  and  powerful  mandi- 
"bles;  they  feed  in  gangs;  and,  although  small,  are  so 
numerous,  that  the  fate  of  a  tree  is  sealed  when  once 
they  obtain  a  lodgment. 

In  the  perfect  insect,  which  is  very  elevated,  stumpy, 
and  cylindrical,  with  the  head  bent  downwards  and  in- 
wards,— the  elytra  are  abruptly  and  obliquely  truncate 
behind ;  and  in  some  of  the  other  species  the  abdomen 
has  a  flat  horizontal  tooth  on  its  second  segment  be- 
neath. 

Xyloterus  Uneatus  (PI.  XIII,  Fig.  1),  an  elegantly 
striped  insect,  with  more  pretensions  to  beauty  than  its 
allies,  is  found  (rarely)  in  Scotland :  I  have  seen  it  with 
its  head  and  thorax  protruding  from  its  neat  circular  drill 
in  the  solid  wood  of  felled  pines ;  but  it  is  oftcner  seen 
than  taken,  owing  to  its  habit  of  backing  quickly  to  an 
indefinite  depth  into  its  burrow,  on  the  approach  of  the 
bark-knife.  In  this  species  the  antennae  have  a  rounded 
club,  whilst  in  the  other  [domesticvs)  the  club  is  pointed  ; 
in  both,  each  of  the  eyes  is  widely  divided,  the  funiculus 
is  four-jointed,  and  the  club  solid. 

The  minute  Hypothemenus  eruditus  (an  insect  Giles 
Gingerbread,  who  "on  learning  fed")  was  discovered 
by   !Mr.  Westwood  burrowing  in  the  cover  of  an   old 


THE    RHYNCHOPHORA,    OR    WEEVILS.  109 

volume^  from  which  strange  locality  it  derives  the  at- 
tribute of  erudition  conveyed  by  its  name.  Both  genus 
and  species  were  then  new  to  science ;  and  the  beetle 
has  never,  I  believe,  been  found  since  its  original  capture. 

The  Toniici  have  emarginate  eyes,  five  joints  to  the 
funiculus,  and  the  third  joint  of  the  tarsi  simple ;  they 
are  sometimes  pubescent,  and  always  elongate,  narrow, 
cylindrical,  and  more  or  less  truncate  behind,  especially 
in  the  male,  which  sex  also  often  exhibits  strong  spines 
on  the  edges  of  the  truncation.  They  abound  in  larch- 
trees,  elms,  etc.,  and  their  larvse  resemble  those  of  Sco- 
lytus  in  miniature ;  the  pupse  differing,  however,  in  the 
possession  of  two  spines  at  the  apes  of  the  abdomen. 

Lastly,  Platypus  cylindrus  (PI.  XIII,  Fig.  2),  found 
rarely  here,  and  chiefly  in  the  New  Forest,  departs  from 
the  others  (amongst  other  characters)  in  its  very  short 
antennse,  which  have  a  long  basal  joint,  a  very  com- 
pressed four -jointed  funiculus,  and  an  extremely  large, 
flat,  round  club ;  its  widened  and  flattened  front  femora ; 
very  short  tibiae,  short  hind  legs,  and  extremely  long 
and  slender  tarsi,  which  are  longer  than  the  femora  and 
tibiae,  and  of  which  the  basal  joint  is  longer  than  all  the 
rest  put  together,  and  the  third  joint  is  simple.  Its 
larva,  which  feeds  upon  oak,  differs  from  that  of  Scolytus 
in  being  short  and  straight,  somewhat  truncate  behind, 
with  a  large  head  and  several  rows  of  tubercles  on  the 
sides. 

It  should  be  remarked  that  the  BostrichidcB,  above 
associated  with  the  Malacodermi,  present  great  resem- 
blance .to  certain  of  this  family ;  in  wliich,  indeed,  they 
have  been  placed  by  Latreille  and  other  authors.  But 
in  the  Bostrichidce  the  larvfe  have  legs,  which  are  want- 
ing in  those  of  the  Hylesinidce  ;  and,  although  the  per- 


200  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

feet  insect  appears  in  both  to  have  only  four  joints  to 
the  tarsi,  yet  in  the  former  there  are  five,  the  basal  joint 
being  very  small;  whilst  in  the  latter  the /owr/A  joint  is 
obsolete,  or  confused  in  the  middle  of  the  lobes  of  the 
third :  the  parts  of  the  mouth,  moreover,  are  of  a  much 
higher  development  in  Bostrichus  and  its  allies.  As  if 
to  increase  the  confusion,  cetain  other  authors,  while 
separating  these  two  groups  Midely,  apply  the  name  of 
the  Bostrichidce  to  the  present  family. 


201 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE   LONGICOENES. 

The  members  of  this  section  present  a  considerable 
family  likeness  to  each  other,  chiefly  on  account  of  their 
long  antennae,  which  are  never  clubbed,  but  at  most  ser- 
rated, being  generally  filiform  or  setaceous,  and  having 
a  long,  thickened,  basal  joint.  Their  eyes  are  kidney- 
shaped,  or  strongly  hollowed  out  in  the  middle  of  their 
front  side,  having  the  antennae  frequently  inserted  in 
the  excavated  portion,  and  sometimes  entirely  dividing 
each  eye  into  two  parts ;  their  mandibles  stout,  sharp  at 
the  point,  and  usually  large,  the  head  never  being  pro- 
duced into  a  rostrum  in  front,  as  in  the  Rhynchophora. 
The  mentum  is  transverse  and  short,  and  the  labium 
usually  membraneous  and  cordate;  the  palpi  being 
moderately  long  and  filiform,  though  sometimes  short 
or  truncated ;  the  elytra,  which  are  broader  than  the 
thorax,  do  not  encase  the  sides  of  the  abdomen,  which 
is  composed  of  five  free  ventral  segments;  the  legs  are 
long,  having  often  clavate  femora,  with  the  tibiae  not 
bearing  external  rows  of  spines,  but  distinctly  spurred  at 
the  apex;  and  the  tarsi  have  the  three  basal  joints 
clothed  with  a  dense  silky  or  spongy  substance,  the  first 
and  second  joints  being  widened,  the  third  strongly  bi- 


203  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

lobed,  generally  being  divided  into  tAvo  rounded  lappets, 
the  (normal)  fourth  obsolete,  hidden  in,  or  soldered,  to 
the  centre  of  the  third,  and  the  apical  joint  long,  slender, 
and  strongly  clawed. 

They  are  entirely  plant-frequenting  insects,  existing 
as  larvae  and  pupse  either  in  solid  timber,  or  on  the  sur- 
face of  felled  logs,  etc.,  beneath  the  bark ;  and,  in  their 
perfect  state  haunting  the  trunks  of  trees  and  bundles  of 
dry  twigs,  or  basking  in  flowers.  ^lany  of  the  gaily- 
coloured  species  delight  in  the  hot  sunshine,  flying 
readily,  and  running  with  great  activity  up  and  down 
the  surface  of  timber ;  but  some  appear  to  be  sluggish 
in  the  warmer  part  of  the  day,  and  to  fly  readily  towards 
evening,  often  with  a  humming  noise. 

The  females  are  less  active  than  the  males,  being  sel- 
dom seen  on  the  wing ;  they  are,  also,  usually  larger  and 
heavier,  and  have  shorter  antennse,  and  a  more  or  less 
developed  ovipositor,  partly  horny  and  partly  membra- 
neous, being  a  continuation  of  the  end  of  the  abdomen, 
and  capable  of  considerable  elongation,  somewhat  after 
the  fashion  of  the  tubes  of  a  telescope.  A^  ith  this  in- 
strument,— which  can  be  thrust  to  some  distance  from 
the  surface  into  holes  in  wood  or  cracks  in  bark,  to  the 
sinuosities  of  which  its  substance  readily  adapts  itself, — 
eggs  are  placed  in  positions  where  the  young  larva  will 
be  both  secure  and  in  the  midst  of  suitable  food. 

The  larvte,  which  often  grow  to  a  large  size,  and  live 
for  a  long  time  before  they  assume  the  pupa  state,  com- 
mit much  damage  to  trees;  steadily  gnawing  clean-cut 
galleries  or  tubes  through  solid  timber,  and  filling  up 
their  track  with  their  frass  of  woody  fibres.  On  account 
of  this  long  duration  of  their  larval  condition,  and  of 
their  habit  of  boring  deeply  away  from  the  surface, — 


THE    LONGICORNES.  203 

near  which  their  traces  are  small^  the  gallery  getting, 
of  course,  larger  as  the  larva  increases  in  size, — foreign 
species  have  often  been  introduced  into  this  country  in 
wood ;  and,  as  the  perfect  insects  are  hardy  and  fly 
strongly,  they  have  been  caught  in  places  far  from  their 
original  spot  of  landing.  In  this  way  a  large  North 
American  Longicorn  has  occurred  near  Manchester; 
and  may,  indeed,  be  said  to  have  become  naturalized,  as 
specimens  of  it  have  been  taken  at  considerable  inter- 
vals, and  always  in  the  same  wood,  where  the  original 
specimen,  in  all  probability,  laid  her  eggs. 

The  larvae  of  the  Longicornes  are  soft,  dirty  white,  and 
fleshy,  somewhat  flattened,  broadest  in  front,  the  second 
segment  being  large  and  flat ;  with  the  head  broad,  de- 
pressed, hard,  retractile,  and  having  strong  mandibles, 
minute  retractile  anrennEe,  and  rudimentary  tubercular 
eyes  on  each  side.  They  possess  six  very  small,  jointed, 
horny  legs  in  front ;  but  thrust  themselves  along  their 
galleries  by  means  of  fleshy  dorsal  elevations,  the  seg- 
ments being  all  more  or  less  retractile. 

Our  species,  very  few  in  number  compared  with  those 
of  most  other  countries,  may  be  considered  as  divided 
into  four  families : — the  Prionidce,  Cerambi/cida,  La- 
miadee,  and  Lepturida; ;  the  three  last  of  which  are  again 
separated  into  sub-families. 

The  Prionid^  have  the  labrum  obsolete  or  very  small ; 
the  mandibles  large  and  robust,  especially  in  the  males  ; 
the  inner  lobe  of  the  maxillae  obsolete  or  small;  the 
palpi  moderately  long;  the  labium  small ;  the  antennae 
inserted  close  above  the  base  of  the  mandibles,  but  with 
the  insertion  not  surrounded  by  the  emargination  of  the 
eyes ;  the  head  not  narrowed  behind  into  a  neck ;  the 
thorax  subquadrate,  spined  or  toothed  at  the  sides;  the 


201  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

elytra  spined  at  the  apex ;  and  the  anterior  coxa  trans- 
verse and  wide  apart. 

We  possess  but  one  genus  and  species,  Prionus  cori- 
arius,  the  largest  of  the  section  in  England.  This  in- 
sect is  by  no  means  common,  occurring  very  rarely 
near  London,  though  sometimes  taken  more  frequently 
in  woods  near  the  south-coast.  It  is  a  very  large,  dull 
brown,  flat,  clumsily-built  creature,  having  broad,  ser- 
rated antennae,  prominent  mandibles,  strong  spines  to 
the  sides  of  its  thorax,  and  wide  tarsi ;  it  rests  on  the 
trunks  of  trees  during  the  day,  and  is  usually  taken 
when  flying  heavily  towards  evening. 

Its  larva  is  a  broad,  flattish,  white  grub,  narrowed 
behind,  with  its  head  bearing  very  strong  small  trian- 
gular mandibles,  and  capable  of  being  considerably  re- 
tracted into  the  first  segment,  which  is  short,  the  second 
being  large  and  flattened :  it  has  six  minute  legs  in 
front,  and  also  fleshy  protuberances  on  the  under  side. 
It  feeds  in  solid  timber,  and  forms  a  lai'ge  cocoon  with 
pieces  of  gnawed  wood,  etc.,  taking  the  precaution  (so 
very  prevalent  in  timber-feeding  insects),  when  nearly 
full  grown,  of  boring  its  gallery  towards  the  outer  sur- 
face of  the  tree  in  which  it  lives,  so  that  the  perfect 
insect  has  but  little  work  to  do  in  making  its  escape. 

The  CerambyciDtE  are  divided  into  four  sub-families: 
— the  Cerambycides,  Callidiades,  Chjtides,  and  Obriadcs ; 
and  are  distinguished  by  their  slightly  deflexed  head, 
unarmed  tibiae,  laterally  dilated  thorax,  and  sub-globose 
anterior  coxre,  and  by  having  their  antennae  (which  are 
generally  very  long,  and  never  serrated)  inserted  at  some 
distance  from  the  mandibles. 

The  Cerambycides  (in  which  the  head  is  exserted,  the 
antennae  have  the  second  joint  transverse,  the  thorax 


THE    LONGICORNES.  205 

armed  with  a  lateral  spine,  the  femora  slender,  almost 
cylindrical,  and  the  shoulders  of  the  elytra  rectangular) 
are  here  represented  by  Aromia  moschata,  often  found 
in  the  London  district  on  old  willows  (which  are  much 
damaged  by  its  larvse),  and  generally  known  as  the 
"  Musk-beetle,"  on  account  of  its  sweet  smell ;  which  is, 
however,  much  more  like  otto  of  roses  than  musk. 

This  scent  is  so  strong  as  to  be  readily  noticed  at 
some  distance  from  trees  frequented  by  the  insects ; 
which  may  be  seen  in  June  flying  strongly  in  the  hot 
sunshine  :  the  males,  in  which  the  antennse  are  very 
long,  are  by  far  the  most  active ;  and  it  has  been  re- 
marked that  the  peculiar  odour, — which  is  strongest  in 
the  female,  and  especially  at  the  coupling  time, — acts 
probably  as  an  attraction  to  them.  A  live  specimen,  im- 
prisoned for  a  short  time  in  a  handkerchief,  will  impart 
an  agreeable  and  enduring  scent  to  it. 

This  insect,  which  is  rather  narrow,  long,  blue  or 
coppery-green  in  colour,  and  somewhat  shagreened  in 
texture,  possesses  in  a  marked  degree  a  habit  found  in 
most  Longicornes,  viz.  that  of  making  a  loud,  sharp, 
squeaking  noise,  by  moving  the  head  and  prothorax 
briskly  up  and  down,  the  inner  part  of  the  hinder  margin 
of  the  latter  rubbing  against  the  smooth  part  of  the 
front  of  the  mesothorax. 

The  CalUdiades  are  somewhat  depressed,  and  have  the 
head  inserted  in  the  thorax  almost  up  to  the  eyes,  the 
labrum  small,  the  thorax  with  no  lateral  spine,  the  fe- 
mora nearly  always  clavate,  and  the  front  and  hind  coxae 
usually  somewhat  approximated. 

Three  genera  are  found  in  England,  viz.  Callidium, 
Hylotrupes,  and  Asemum.  The  species  of  the  former 
are  of  considerable  brightness :  they  frequent  fir-wood. 


206  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

etc.,  and  thus  are  liable  to  get  transported  from  one 
locality  to  another  in  building  materials,  etc.  It  has, 
indeed,  been  suggested  (and  with  apparent  reason)  that 
one,  if  not  more,  of  the  species  in  this  genus,  now  cer- 
tainly considered  as  indigenous,  have  been  in  this  way 
introduced  from  abroad.  C.  violaceum,  a  dull  violet- 
coloured,  flattened  insect,  was  formerly  of  great  rarity, 
though  now  very  common  in  many  parts  of  the  country ; 
and  it  is  impossible  to  distinguish  British  from  Canadian 
examples; — much  timber  coming  to  us  from  North 
America.  Its  transformations  have  been  accurately  de- 
scribed in  the  Liunean  Transactions,  vol.  v.,  by  Kirby ; 
from  whose  account  it  appears  that  the  larva  mines  gal- 
leries on  the  surface  of  felled  fir-trees,  under  the  bark, 
burrowing  deeply  and  obliquely  into  the  solid  wood  be- 
fore changing  to  pupa.  Its  mandibles  are  very  stout 
and  solid,  resembling  two  sections  of  a  cone  applied 
against  each  other  for  the  whole  of  their  flattened 
sides. 

C.  alni  (Plate  XIII,  Fig.  3)  is  the  smallest,  and  ele- 
gantly variegated :  it  occurs  plentifully  in  hedges,  etc., 
both  on  flowers  and  in  dry  twigs. 

H.  bajulus,  a  dull  blackish  species,  variegated  with 
greyish  down,  and  having  two  shining  black  marks  cu 
the  thorax,  is  occasionally  taken  near  London ;  where 
its  larva  has  been  known  to  do  considerable  damage  in 
the  timber  of  houses,  even  penetrating  sheets  of  lead. 

A.  striatum, — very  dull,  entirely  black,  and  sluggish, 
— occurs  in  Scotland,  settling  on  freshly-cut  pine  stumps. 

The  Clytidcs  have  the  thorax  nearly  globose,  and  are 
represented  by  one  genus,  Clytus ;  the  species  of  which 
somewhat  resemble  wasps,  being  mostly  black  with  yel- 
low bands :  their  larvffi  make   circular  holes  in  palings 


THE    LONGICORNES.  207 

and  poles,  etc.     C.  arietis  is  very  abundant  in  flowers^ 
etc.,  about  Jane. 

The  Obriacks  bave  the  thorax  cylindrical,  constricted 
at  the  base;  the  antennae  setaceous,  never  less  than  the 
body  in  length ;  the  elytra  entire  and  parallel^  and  the 
femora  clavate. 

Obrium  cantharinum,  a  small,  shining,  entirely  reddish 
species,  with  large  eyes,  and  very  long  antennoe,  is  of 
considerable  rarity  :  Gracilia  jjygmaa,  our  other  repre- 
sentative, duller  and  darker,  occurs  not  unfrequently  on 
old  wood-work,  twigs,  etc. 

The  Lamiad,!:  are  divided  into  two  sub-families,  La- 
miades  and  Saperdides ;  in  which  the  head  is  abruptly  and 
vertically  bent  down,  the  antennse  are  inserted  within 
the  emargination  of  the  eyes,  the  tibiae  armed  with  small 
spurs,  and  the  legs  not  very  elongate. 

In  the  Lamiades  the  femora  are  distinctly  clavate,  the 
intermediate  tibiae  obliquely  truncated,  and  with  a  se- 
tose tubercle  on  the  outer  side  behind  the  middle,  the 
thorax  is  armed  with  a  lateral  spine,  and  the  mandibles 
are  short. 

In  this  sub'family  some  of  our  largest  and  most 
curious  Longicornes  are  found ;  Lamia  textor  and  Asti- 
nomus  (sditis  being  especially  remarkable.  The  former 
of  these  is  a  large,  clumsy,  convex,  dull  black  insect, 
found  near  Bristol,  and  at  Rannoch  in  Perthshire,  on 
willow-trees  and  in  osier  beds,  the  top  shoots  of  which 
it  is  reported  to  weave  together  as  a  nidus. 

The  other,  A.  cedilis  (Plate  XIII,  Fig.  4),  is  con- 
spicuous for  the  enormous  length  of  its  antennae,  espe- 
cially in  the  male.  This,  also,  occurs  at  Rannoch,  where 
it  may  be  not  uncommonly  seen  flying  across  the  glades 
of  the  Black  Forest  with  its  long  appendages  streaming 


208  BllITISH    BEETLES. 

behind.  It  loves  to  settle  on  felled  pine  logs,  with  its 
antennae  spread  out  like  compasses ;  from  which  habit  it 
is  termed  by  the  Highlanders  "  Timberraan;''  a  name, 
curiously  enough,  also  applied  to  it  in  Lapland  and 
Sweden,  where  it  is  common.  If  two  males  come  within 
range  they  inevitably  fight;  for  which  reason,  and  also 
on  account  of  their  delicate  structure,  it  is  difficult  to 
obtain  quite  perfect  specimens. 

The  larva  makes  wide  galleries  and  perforations  in 
pine  stumps,  forming  a  nidus  with  coarse  gnawed  frag- 
ments near  the  surface,  in  which  it  changes  to  pupa. 
In  this  state  the  antennae  are  turned  downwards  and 
recurved  towards  the  middle  of  the  head.  The  larva 
appears  to  be  full  fed  at  the  beginning  of  the  summer, 
and,  after  remaining  two  or  three  weeks  in  the  pupa 
state,  changes  to  the  perfect  state;  staying  as  such  in 
its  nest  until  the  following  summer. 

The  species  of  Pogonocherus  are  very  much  smaller, 
having  the  elytra  slightly  hairy,  generally  spined  at  the 
apex,  and  with  the  front  greyish-white.  They  are  beaten 
out  of  bundles  of  old  twigs  and  faggots  in  hedges. 

In  the  Saperdides,  which  are  all  more  or  less  cylin- 
drical, the  femora  are  not  clavate ;  and  the  thorax,  which 
has  no  spine  at  the  sides,  is  continuous  in  outline  with 
tlie  elytra,  being,  moreover,  deeply  sinuated  on  the  sides 
beneath. 

Here  are  situated  some  of  our  most  handsome  species ; 
notably  Saperda  scalaris  (Plate  XIII,  Fig.  5),  a  very 
beautifully  coloured  insect,  occurring  near  Manchester 
and  at  Rannoch. 

0^i\ie.oi\\ev  Saper dee, — which  appear  to  affect  aspens, 
poplars,  and  willows, — carcharias  (found  in  fenny  dis- 
tricts) is  remarkable  for  its  large  size  and  uniform  yellow- 


THE    LONGICORNES.  209 

ochreous  tint ;  and  populnea,  a  hairy,  minutely  speckled 
insect,  common  near  London  on  young  aspens,  is  readily 
found  in  its  larval  state  by  the  round  swollen  knobs 
which  it  makes  in  the  stems  of  that  tree. 

Another  genus,  Tetrops, — of  which  the  single  species 
is  also  common  near  London,  and  easily  known  by  its 
linear  shape,  very  small  size,  black  head  and  thorax,  and 
brownish  elytra, — is  worthy  of  notice  on  account  of  each 
of  its  eyes  being  absolutely  divided  into  two  by  the  in- 
sertion of  its  antennae. 

The  Leptuuid^,  as  compared  with  their  allies,  are 
more  active  and  diurnal  in  their  habits,  smaller  in  size, 
and  with  shorter  antennae. 

Their  eyes  are  almost  rounded,  or  only  slightly  emar- 
ginate;  their  head  bent  downwards,  but  not  abruptly 
so,  and  with  a  distinct  neck ;  their  labrum  is  mostly 
conspicuous ;  their  thorax  narrowed  in  front,  and  their 
elytra  more  or  less  contracted  behind. 

They  form  two   sub-families,    the   Molorchides   and 
Lepturides ;  in  the  former  of  which  the  elytra  are  ab- 
breviated, with  the  wings  exserted ;  the  femora  clavate 
the  front  coxae  approximated ;  and  the  thorax  cylindrica]> 
with  a  small  lateral  tubercle. 

We  possess  one  genus,  Molorchus,  containing  two 
species;  one  of  which,  M.  umbellatarum  (Plate  XIII, 
Fig.  6), — sometimes  found  in  flowers,  but  much  more 
readily  obtained  by  beating  bundles  of  dead  twigs  in 
hedges, — is  not  uncommon  near  London.  Its  small  size, 
narrow  appearance,  long  thin  legs  and  antennae,  short 
wing-cases  and  exposed  wings,  easily  distinguish  it 
from  any  other  insect. 

The  Lepturides  have  the  front  coxae  much  projecting, 
and  usually  wide  apart ;  the  antennae  rarely  longer  than 


210  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

the  body ;  the  thorax  generally  almost  transverse ;  and 
the  femora  but  slightly  thickened. 

In  Rhagium, — the  species  of  which  are  very  abundant 
in  piue  woods,  and  which  may  be  found  in  all  their 
stages  under  fir- bark,  the  larvae  eating  galleries  on  the 
surface, — the  antennae  are  very  short,  and  the  entire 
insect  is  flattened,  broad,  and  of  a  comparatively  dull, 
mottled  appearance.  The  pupae  have  rows  of  short 
spines  across  the  segments  of  the  abdomen;  as  in  Cossus 
and  other  wood-feeding  Lepidoptera. 

Toxotus, — a  most  variable  insect,  both  in  size  and 
colour, — has  long  straggling  legs  and  antennae,  and  flies 
with  a  considerable  noise  in  the  hot  sunshine ;  it  is 
however  surpassed,  in  point  of  variation,  by  the  common 
Strangalia  armata  (Plate  XIV,  Fig.  I ;  a  dark  variety), 
of  which  it  is  difiicult  to  obtain  two  specimens  exactly 
alike ;  and  in  the  male  of  which  the  hinder  tibiae  have 
two  conspicuous  tooth-like  processes  on  the  inner  side. 

This  insect, — which,  according  to  the  predominance 
of  colour,  may  be  designated  either  as  yellow  with  black 
spots,  or  as  black  with  yellow, — is  abundant  during  the 
summer  months  on  the  flowers  of  Umbellifera,  especially 
at  the  margins  of  woods ;  and  is  very  active  both  with 
its  legs  and  wings  (at  all  events  when  the  sun  shines), 
taking  to  flight  readily,  and  making  ludicrous  move- 
ments in  its  hurry  to  escape. 

The  Longicornes  are,  as  a  rule,  so  rare  in  this  country, 
that  the  young  collector  will  probably  be  some  time 
before  he  takes  more  than  this  insect,  one  or  two  small 
species  of  Grammopiera,  Clyius  ai'ietis,  and  a  Rliayium. 

There  are  no  particular  Avorks  upon  this  section  to 
which  it  would  be  of  any  use  to  direct  the  beginner; 
except,  perhaps^  Mulsant's  Longicorns  of  France. 


211 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE  EUPODA,  OR  PHYTOPHAGA. 

In  this,  the  last  section  of  the  Pseudo-tetramerous 
beetles,  there  is  no  rostrum;  the  antennae  (which  are 
generally  much  shorter  than  the  body)  are  straight, 
never  elbowed  or  clavate,  but  either  filiform,  moniliform, 
or  serrate,  and  with  a  short  basal  joint;  the  head  is 
sunk  into  the  thorax  as  far  as  the  eyes ;  the  parts  of  the 
mouth  are  but  little  prominent,  the  mandibles  being 
short,  triangular,  and  bifid  or  trifid  at  the  apex,  the 
maxilloe  formed  of  two  lobes,  of  which  the  inner  one  is 
unarmed,  and  the  jsalpi  terminated  by  a  subulate  or 
short  joint;  the  elytra  cover  the  sides  of  the  abdomen, 
which  is  composed  of  five  free  ventral  segments;  the 
femora  are  sometimes  thickened ;  the  tibiae  usually  not 
spurred  at  the  apex,  or  very  slightly  so;  and  the  third 
joint  of  the  tarsi  bi-lobed. 

Its  members  are  all  essentially  vegetable- feeders,  very 
rarely  attaining  any  large  size,  mostly  oval  and  convex 
in  shape;  diurnal  in  habits,  though  (except  the  Halti- 
cidce)  slow  in  their  movements ;  and  generally  punctate- 
striate,  and  of  bright  metallic  hues. 

Our  species  are  divided  into  nine  families — the  Sa- 
grid(B,  Donaciadce,  Criocerida,  C/ylhridce,  Cryptocepha- 

p  2 


212  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

lidcB,  Chrysomelidae,  Gallerucidce,  Halticida,  and  Cassi- 
didce. 

The  Sagrid^  (wliicli  comprise  some  very  large  and 
splendid  exotic  insects)  are  here  only  represented  by  a 
single  genus,  Orsodacna;  the  few  British  species  of  which 
are  of  considerable  rarity,  being  usually  found  in  the 
blossoms  of  the  whitethorn.  They,  are  small,  narrow, 
linear  insects,  exhibiting  no  particular  points  for  obser- 
vation. 

In  this  family  the  apex  of  the  mandibles  is  entire, 
without  emargination ;  and  the  labium  is  deeply  incised, 
so  as  to  become  bilobed. 

The  DoNACiAD^  have  the  antennse  long,  and  inserted 
before  the  eyes;  the  head  prominent,  and  rather  con- 
stricted behind;  the  first  segment  of  tbe  abdomen  as 
long  as  all  the  rest  together;  and  tbe  legs  long  and 
straggling,  the  femora  (and  especially  the  hinder  pair) 
being  often  much  thickened  and  toothed  on  the  under 
side. 

We  possess  two  genera,  Dotiacia  a.ndi  Hainonia ;  the 
members  of  whicb  are  exclusively  attached  to  water- 
plants  (as  the  specific  names  of  many  of  them  import), 
in  the  stems  of  which  their  naked  larvse  are  found ;  the 
pupse  being  enclosed  in  transparent  silken  cocoons,  at- 
tached to  the  roots  or  filaments.  The  Donacue  are  all 
more  or  less  coarsely  punctured  and  metallic  above,  with 
fine  silky  down  on  the  under-side ;  they  have  a  narrow 
thorax  and  somewhat  flattened  elytra,  and  are  usually 
found  in  great  numbers,  being  gregarious.  Some  of  the 
species  have  a  variegated  longitudinal  metallic  stripe  on 
each  wing-case ;  and  a  few  are  exceedingly  variable  in 
colour,  specimens  of  all  shades  from  dull  black  to  light 
brass  being  seen   together,   the  intermediate  examples 


THE    EUPODA,    OR    PHYTOPIIAGA.  213 

exhibiting  beautiful  shades  of  dark  and  light  blue^  green, 
copper,  purple,  and  red :  there  are,  in  fact,  few  prettier 
objects  than  the  broad  leaf  of  a  water-lily,  rippled  over 
by  the  clear  stream,  and  studded  with  these  living  gems 
(which,  beautiful  in  death,  are  a  thousand  times  more 
so  when  alive),  basking  in  the  summer  sun. 

Our  other  genus,  Hcemonia,  has  long  straggling  legs, 
the  apical  joint  of  the  tarsi  being  very  long  and  pre- 
hensile. Both  the  species  are  found  on  water-plants 
[Zostera  and  Potamogeton) ,  even  beneath  the  surface; 
but  H.  Curtisii  (Plate  XIV,  Fig.  2)  is  by  far  the  most 
common.  They  have  the  antennae  inserted  close  together, 
and  the  apex  of  the  elytra  produced  into  a  spine. 

The  Criocerid^  have  the  eyes  emarginate,  with  the 
antennse  inserted  within  their  front  inner  margin;  the 
mandibles  truncate  at  the  tip,  with  two  or  three  acute 
teeth,  and  the  labium  entire. 

We  possess  three  genera,  Zeugophora,  Lema,  and 
Crioceris ;  the  two  first  of  which  do  not  require  any 
especial  remark,  the  only  peculiarity  about  either  of 
them  being  that  Z.  subspinosa,  a  little  blue-black  insect 
with  reddish  head  and  thorax,  found  on  aspens,  has  a 
wary  habit  of  folding  up  its  legs  and  dropping,  on  the 
approach  of  the  net. 

The  species  of  Crioceris  are,  however,  more  conspicu- 
ous, both  from  appearance  and  economy.  One  of  them, 
C.  merd'igera,  of  great  rarity  here,  though  sometimes 
occurring  near  London  in  the  flowers  of  lilies,  is,  when 
alive,  of  a  bright  scarlet  colour,  which  fades  after  death. 
The  eggs  of  this  insect  are  laid  on  lily-leaves,  and  glued 
together ;  and  the  young  larvae,  when  hatched,  feed  for 
some  time  gregariously,  though  separating  as  they  grow 
older.     These  larvse  defend  themselves  from  the  heat  of 


214  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

the  suu^  etc.,  by  covering  their  hacks  with  their  own 
excrement,  gradually  pushed  from  the  end  of  the  intes- 
tinal canal,  the  opening  of  which  is  situated  on  the  back 
of  the  last  segment.  This  coating  dries  into  a  hard 
layer,  from  which  the  larva  can  free  itself  at  pleasure. 
When  full  grown  it  descends  to  the  ground,  in  which  it 
forms  a  polished  oval  cell. 

C  asparagi  (Plate  XIV,  Fig.  3),  a  smaller  and  much 
more  abundant  species,  is  very  prettily  marked,  and 
sometimes  does  considerable  damage  to  asparagus,  on 
which  its  short,  fleshy,  grey  larvse  feed.  This  insect 
has  been  observed  to  make  a  squeaking  noise,  similar  to 
that  of  the  Longicornes  above-mentioned. 

The  Clythrid.e  have  the  head  vertical,  and  the  an- 
tennae serrate  and  short;  their  larvae  live  in  hairy, 
leathery  cases,  which  they  drag  about,  with  their  head 
and  legs  protruding  from  the  narrow  end;  and  have, 
when  taken  out  of  their  covering,  much  the  appearance 
of  those  of  the  small  Lamellicornes. 

Our  species  are  by  no  means  common ;  occurring  in 
woods,  where  they  have  been  bred  from  ants'  nests.  C. 
tridentata,  a  greyish-brown  insect,  with  blue-black  head, 
thorax,  and  limbs,  has  very  long  front  legs ;  and  C.  qua- 
dripunctata,  as  its  name  implies,  may  be  distinguished 
by  its  four  black  spots. 

The  little  Lamprosoma  concolor  is  so  exceeding  un- 
like its  allies,  both  in  size,  shape,  and  colour,  as  to  seem 
at  first  sight  misplaced  in  this  family.  Its  structure 
will  be  readily  understood  from  its  old  generic  name, 
Oomorphus,  or  egg-shape ;  and  it  much  resembles  cer- 
tain species  of  Phadon  in  the  ChrysomeJidce. 

The  Cryptocephalid^,  also,  have  the  head  vertical, 
and  sunk  in  the  thorax ;  the  body  being  cylindrical,  and 


THE  EUPODA,  OR  PHYTOPHAGA.        215 

seeming  to  be  truncate  in  front.  Their  antennse  are 
long  and  filiform ;  their  thorax  margined ;  their  pygi- 
dium  not  entirely  covered  by  the  elytra^  and  their  eyes 
kidney- shaped. 

Our  single  genus,  Cryptocephalus,  contains  many 
brilliant  species,  found  on  hazel,  oak,  birch,  sallow,  etc. 
They  are  only  to  be  seen  during  fine  weather,  and  chiefly 
in  the  hottest  part  of  the  day,  retiring  when  the  sun  is 
overclouded.  The  approach  of  the  net,  and  sometimes 
even  the  step  or  shadow  of  the  collector,  is  enough  to 
make  these  wary  little  beauties  drop  from  their  leafy 
perch.  Their  larvse  are  enclosed  in  cases  somewhat  like 
those  of  Clythra,  supposed  to  be  formed  of  earth,  but 
which  in  one  case  has  been  found  to  consist  of  the  ex- 
crement of  the  larva,  moulded  into  shape  with  its  man- 
dibles. 

The  sexes  vary  somewhat  in  this  genus,  the  males 
being  usually  less  bulky,  and  having  longer  legs  and  an- 
tennse.  In  C.  coryli,  found  on  hazel  bushes  at  Darenth 
in  June,  the  female  is  entirely  red,  while  the  male  has 
a  black  thorax. 

C.  sexpunctatus,  found  in  the  same  place,  and  at 
Cobham,  Kent,  is  elegantly  spotted ;  though  the  palm 
of  beauty  in  this  respect  must  be  given  to  C.  decempunc- 
tatus,  recently  discovered  at  Rannoch,  by  Mr.  Sharp  and 
the  author,  on  dwarf  sallow.  This  species  is  exceed- 
ingly variable;  one  form  being  clear  yellowish-white,  with 
ten  round  black  spots ;  another  orange  with  transverse 
black  bands,  and  a  third  entirely  black.  Others  of  our 
Cryptocephali  are  wholly  of  a  lovely  green  ;  either  frosted 
(C  aureolus  andsencews;  the  latter  common  at  Mickle- 
ham  on  Hieracium)  or  dark  and  shining  (C  nitidulus, 
Cobham  and  Mickleham,  birch) .    Of  the  smaller  species 


216  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

C.  hilineatus  (Plate  XIV^  Fig.  4)  is  elegantly  banded ; 
it  is  found  commonly  by  sweeping,  etc.,  at  Micklebam. 

The  ChrysomelidyE  (or  "Golden-apple  beetles") 
have  the  bead  sunk  in  tbe  protborax,  but  more  exposed 
tban  in  tbe  last  family;  tbe  antennse  sborter,  monili- 
forra,  and  sligbtly  tbickened  towards  tbe  tips ;  tbe  legs 
of  equal  size ;  tbe  palpi  sbort ;  no  spurs  to  tbe  tibiaj ; 
tbe  tborax  fitting  closely  to  tbe  base  of  tbe  elytra;  and 
tbe  body  bemispberic  or  oval.  Tbey  are  found  on  low 
plants  and  sbrubs,  for  climbing  on  wbich  tbeir  broad 
tarsi  are  eminently  adapted. 

We  possess  several  genera  and  species  of  tbis  family, 
many  of  wbicb  are  conspicuous  for  tbeir  beauty. 

Tbe  only  large  one,  Timarcha  Icevigata,  sometimes 
known  as  "  tbe  Bloody-nosed  beetle,'^  on  account  of  its 
habit  of  distilling  a  drop  of  clear  red  fluid  from  tbe 
moutb  wben  bandied,  is  common  in  grassy  lanes :  it  is 
very  convex,  dull  but  smootb  in  texture,  and  of  an  uni- 
form blue-black  colour,  witb  exceedingly  wide  tarsi, 
especially  in  tbe  male;  wbicb,  as  usual,  is  ratber  smaller, 
not  quite  so  dull,  and  bas  longer  legs.  Its  larva  is  also 
frequently  to  be  seen  clinging  to  low  plants  in  lanes  and 
on  commons  :  it  is  of  a  sinning  bluisb-green  colour,  very 
convex,  and  elevated  in  tbe  middle. 

Chrysomela  distinyuenda  (Plate  XIV,  Pig.  5)  is  not 
uncommon  near  London,  in  grassy  places,  on  tbe  flowers 
of  Antirrhinum,  etc. ;  tbe  contrast  of  colour  afibrded  by 
its  dark  blue-black  elytra,  broadly  margined  witb  orange, 
being  very  effective. 

C.  menthastri  and  graminis,  two  of  tbe  largest,  are 
especially  conspicuous  from  tbeir  somewbat  oblong  form 
and  uniform  ricb  green  metallic  bue,  wbicb,  in  grami- 
nis especially,  runs  to  blue  and  coppery  reflections;  but 


THE  EUPODA,  OR  PHYTOPHAGA.         217 

C.  cerealis,  striped  longitudinally  and  alternately  with 
purple,  green,  gold,  and  reddish  copper,  is  perhaps  the 
most  handsome.  It  is  found  at  the  roots  of  wild  thyme 
on  Snowdon.  The  commonest  species  is  C.polita,  abun- 
dant in  grassy  places;  it  is  shining,  blue-green,  with  red- 
dish-brown elytra,  round  and  convex ;  and  it  is  from  the 
general  rotundity  and  convexity  of  the  members  of  this 
section  that  the  name  of  Cyclica  has  been  applied  to  it. 

Of  the  allied  species,  Lina  populi  and  tremulce  deserve 
notice :  both  are  blue-black  with  brown  wing-cases,  and 
not  uncommon  on  poplar  and  aspen ;  the  former  being 
distinguished  by  its  larger  size,  and  a  small  black  spot 
at  the  apex  of  its  elytra.  They  are  gregarious  in  their 
habits ;  L.  tremula  being  often  found  in  great  numbers 
and  in  all  its  stages  on  the  same  tree.  The  larvse,  which 
are  tuberculated,  whitish,  and  adorned  with  straight 
rows  of  dark-brown  spots  (somewhat  resembling  those 
of  the  common  seven-spot  Lady-bird),  have  a  custom  of 
distilling  from  their  mouth,  tubercles,  and  apparently 
all  other  available  orifices,  a  peculiar  and  strong-smelling 
yellow  fluid ;  also  emitted,  though  in  a  less  quantity,  by 
the  perfect  insect. 

This  fluid,  similar,  but  more  intense,  in  odour  to  that 
secreted  by  many  Lady-birds,  has  been  stated  to  be  a 
specific  for  toothache,  if  rubbed  into  the  gums;  the 
remedy,  however,  seems  at  once  so  unlikely  and  nauseous, 
that  nothing  but  the  recollection  of  chloroform  (origi- 
nally obtained  from  an  acid  produced  by  ants)  restrains 
one  from  dismissing  the  idea  as  absurd. 

The  pupse  of  these  insects  are  also  spotted,  and  at- 
tached to  leaves  and  twigs  by  their  tails;  having  the 
"  mortal  coil "  of  their  larva-dom  "  shuffled  off","  but  still 
clinging  to  their  extremity. 


218  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

The  oblong  species  of  Gonioctena, — some  of  wliicli  are, 
when  alive,  bright  red  with  black  spots, — are  found  on 
aspens ;  they  have  a  small  tooth  in  the  middle  of  their 
claws,  and  the  tibia;  also  strongly  and  sharply  toothed 
on  the  outer  side  just  above  the  apex. 

Gash'ophysa,  as  its  name  implies,  contains  insects  in 
which  the  abdomen  is  much  inflated, — especially  in  the 
females;  these  may  be  seen  crawling  slowly  on  path- 
ways in  cornfields,  or  on  the  common  dock,  with  their 
elytra  elevated,  and  abdominal  plates  widely  distended, 
througli  the  large  mass  of  eggs  with  which  they  are 
loaded. 

The  remaining  genera,  usually  found  on  plants  near 
water,  demand  no  comment ;  except,  perhaps,  Phratora, 
of  which  the  narrow  and  uniformly  blue  or  brassy  species 
are  exceedingly  common  on  willows,  both  in  the  summer 
ontheleaves  and  trunk,  and  in  winter  hybernating  beneath 
the  bark  in  society.  The  larvae,  also  are  gregarious,  feeding 
in  rows  upon  the  leaves,  of  which  they  devour  only  one  side. 

The  Gallerucid.e  are  mostly  oval  and  somewhat 
convex,  being  generally  decidedly  widest  behind;  their 
legs  are  nearly  uniform,  the  hind  femora  being  simple, 
and  the  front  coxse  approximated ;  their  antennae  are  of 
considerable  length,  closer  together  at  the  base  than  in 
the  ChrysomeUd(B,  and  not  thickened  at  the  apex ;  their 
head  is  inserted  in  the  thorax  almost  up  to  the  eyes, 
which  are  entire,  the  thorax  itself  being  margined  at  the 
sides,  more  or  less  hollowed  out  in  front,  and  with  pro- 
duced front  angles ;  the  maxillary  palpi  are  thickest  in 
the  middle,  with  the  apical  joints  resembling  two  cones, 
united  at  the  base ;  and  the  claws  have  a  tooth  in  the 
middle. 

They  are  of  softer  integuments  than  the  Chrysomelid<B 


THE  EUPODA;  OR  PHYTOPHAGA.  219 

and  not  so  gaily  coloured  or  metallic,  though  equally- 
diurnal  and  attached  to  plants. 

Our  largest  species  is  Adimonia  tanaceti,  a  dull  black, 
sluggish,  thickly  and  coarsely  punctured  insect,  found 
on  the  wild  tansy,  especially  in  chalky  places  on  the 
south  coast.  It  exhibits  in  a  marked  degree  the  pecu-- 
liarity  of  the  family  of  being  widest  behind;  and  its 
female  has  somewhat  the  distended  appearance  of  Gas- 
tropliysa  above  mentioned,  possessing,  also,  though  in  a 
minor  degree,  Lina'^  evil  habit  of  distilling  and  smelling. 
Of  the  others  in  this  genus,  A.  capreee  is  exceedingly 
common  on  osiers,  and  less  so  on  heath, — a  very  wide 
range  of  food-plant, — and,  when  feeding  on  the  latter, 
becomes  of  a  much  darker  colour;  and  A.  sanguinea, 
found  in  ]\  I  ay-blossom,  is  of  a  bright  red  tint. 

The  Galleruca  are  mostly  narrow  in  shape,  dull-yellow 
or  brown  in  colour,  roughly  granulated,  covered  with  a 
close  powdery  grey  pubescence,  and  gregarious ;  being 
found  in  numbers  on  willows  and  water-plants.  Their 
larvse, — which  are  sluggish,  rather  elongate,  wrinkled, 
and  with  lateral  tubercles  and  an  anal  projection,  serving 
as  an  extra  leg, — live  in  company,  and  commit  great 
ravages,  often  stripping  every  leaf  off  the  trees,  etc.,  on 
which  they  feed. 

Agelastica  halensis,  very  common  in  the  south, 
abounding  in  grassy  places  towards  the  autumn,  is  our 
brightest  species ;  it  is  upwards  of  a  quarter  of  an  inch 
long,  with  its  broad  elytra  and  the  top  of  its  head  bright 
green,  more  or  less  running  into  dark  blue,  its  mouth, 
thorax,  body  and  legs  yellow,  and  tarsi,  antennse,  and 
tips  of  tibise  black. 

Auchenia,  adorned  with  four  spots,  and  the  narrow 
delicate  Calomicrus  circumfusus  (Plate  XIV,  Fig.  6)  are 


220  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

the  only  species  we  possess  that  can  be  cousidercd  as  at  all 
variegated  in  markings ;  the  latter  (in  which  the  elytra 
always  gape  somewhat)  has  much  the  fades  of  certain  of 
the  Halticidm,  and  lives  gregariously  on  the  dwarf  furze. 

Finally,  Lyperus,  elongate,  feebly-built,  with  very 
large  granulated  eyes,  and  exceedingly  long  and  fragile 
antennae  (especially  in  the  male;  whose  body,  also,  is 
longer),  of  which  the  second  joint  is  minute,  occurs 
plentifully  on  alders,  and  other  marsh-loving  trees. 

The  Halticidjs  are  at  once  distinguished  from  the 
other  families  by  their  thickened  hinder  femora,  which 
are  formed  for  jumping;  an  exercise  in  which  they  freely 
indulge,  often  to  the  disgust  of  the  collector,  who  gets 
his  net  half  full  of  some  desired  species  (for  they  are 
usually  gregarious),  and  perhaps  succeeds  in  bottling 
only  a  dozen,  owing  to  the  extreme  activity  and  long 
leaps  of  his  temporary  captives. 

Their  antennse  are  inserted  between  the  eyes,  and,  in 
the  majority,  close  together;  their  elytra  have  the 
margin  sinuated,  aud  their  front  coxffi  arc  almost  trans- 
verse, and  not  approximated. 

We  possess  more  than  a  hundred  species  of  this  family, 
descriptions  of  which  (with  many  others)  will  be  found 
in  the  'Essai  Monographique  sur  les  Galerucites  Ani- 
sopodes  (Altises)  d'Europe,'  by  AI.  AUard,  Paris,  1861 
(extracted  from  the  Annals  of  the  French  Ent.  Society). 

They  are  all  small,  mostly  metallic,  strongly  punc- 
tured, and  often  gaily  coloured;  varying  from  a  very 
convex  and  globular  to  an  elongate  form,  but  preserving 
throughout  a  certain  likeness.  They  frequent  all  kinds 
of  plants,  but  one  species  is  generally  attached  to  its 
particular  favourite;  Thistles,  Hazel,  Mallow,  Willow, 
Mercurialis,  Salicaria,  Euphorbia^  Rubus,  Nasturtium, 


THE  EUPODAj  OR  PHYTOPHAGA.         221 

Thapsus,  Dulcamara,  Hyoscyamus,  Atropa,  Alliaria,  and 
the  Crucifera  generally,  having  all  their  peculiar  de- 
vonrers  in  this  family. 

Graptodera  contains  our  largest  species;  somewhat 
resembling  the  Gallerucida  in  shape;  usually  of  an  uni- 
form blue  or  green  in  colour ;  and  occurring  plentifully 
on  hazel,  etc. :  Hermceophaga,  considerably  smaller,  and 
very  convex,  is  exclusively  devoted  to  Mercmnalis  peren- 
nis,  the  leaves  of  which  are  riddled  by  it  to  a  large  ex- 
tent :  Crepidodera,  distinguished  by  the  abrupt  depres- 
sion in  the  middle  of  the  base  of  the  thorax,  comprises 
several  insects  of  bright  and  metallic  colours,  C.  helxines, 
aurata,  and  chloris  being  especially  bright ;  of  these  the 
first  is  the  largest  and  broadest,  found  on  poplars,  with 
entirely  yellow  antennse  and  legs  (except  the  hind  fe- 
mora), uniformly  coppery,  green,  or  blue,  and  with  the 
thorax  not  so  roughly  or  closely  punctured  as  the  second, 
which  is  smaller,  occurs  on  willows  abundantly,  has  its 
antennse,  and  sometimes  its  legs,  more  or  less  suffused 
with  dark,  and  its  thorax  often  of  a  different  colour  to 
its  elytra.  C.  chloris,  found  on  poplars,  is  narrower 
than  aurata,  always  unicolorous,  and  with  four  joints  at 
the  base  of  its  antennse  yellow,  the  remainder  being  ab- 
ruptly black. 

The  species  of  Mantura  are  remarkable  for  their  cylin- 
drical shape, — affording  a  great  contrast  to  the  larger 
and  pallid  SiJhcerodermcE,  which  resemble  nothing  so 
much  in  structure  as  half  a  microscopic  orange,  with  the 
flat  side  down. 

Aphthona  contains  some  inconspicuous  forms,  some- 
what resembling  certain  of  the  genus  Thyamis,  from 
which  they  may  be  distinguished  by  the  basal  joint  of 
their  hinder  tarsi  being  much  shorter. 


233  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

The  species  of  Phyllotreta  are  especially  addicted  to 
tlie  destruction  of  cruciferous  plants;  certain  of  them 
being  known  as  the  "Turnip-flea"  or  ''-fly,"  on  account 
of  their  ravages  upon  that  vegetable,  the  leaves  of  which 
are  both  mined  by  their  small  elongate  dotted  larvse, 
and  devoured  by  the  perfect  insect.  They  are  mostly 
black ;  often  having  on  the  elytra  yellowish-white  stripes, 
which  are  sometimes  divided  into  spots.  The  male  of 
P.  nodicornis,  a  linear  bronze-coloured  insect,  most 
abundant  on  Reseda  lutea  (wild  mignonette),  is  remark- 
able for  the  abrupt,  flattened,  and  exceedingly  conspicu- 
ous plate  formed  by  the  fourth  joint  of  its  antennfe ;  and 
P.  ochripes  (Plate  XV,  Fig,  1),  found  on  the  AUiaria, 
is  the  most  gaily  ornamented  in  the  genus.  The  striped 
species  are  often  very  troublesome  to  beginners,  but  are 
readily  separated  by  the  following  characters  : — vittula, 
very  small  and  the  most  parallel,  has  an  almost  straight 
stripe,  which  is  abruptly  and  obliquely  sloped  inwards 
at  its  upper  extremity  by  the  shoulder ;  undulata,  larger, 
and  rather  less  straight-sided,  has  the  stripe  gently  hol- 
lowed out  or  waved  in  the  middle  on  the  outer  side,  and 
slightly  and  gradually  sloped  off"  at  the  shoulder ;  nemo- 
rum,  usually  considered  as  the  "  Turnip-flea,"  though  not 
nearly  so  common  as  undidata,  is  more  coarsely  punc- 
tured and  larger  still,  and  has  yellow  tibiae, — the  same 
parts  in  the  latter  insect  being  infuscated ;  tetrastigma 
is  largest  of  all,  very  shining  black,  more  convex,  and 
with  its  stripes  (which  are  of  a  darker  yellow)  much  con- 
tracted in  the  middle,  often  quite  divided,  and  forming 
four  large  spots ;  sinuata,  very  rare  (occurring  in  Suffolk 
on  horse-radish),  resembles  a  small  undulata,  but  has 
the  stripe  notched  very  abruptly  both  in  the  middle  of 
the  outer  side,  and  at  the  shoulder ;  ochripes  has  entirely 


THE    EUPODA,    OR    PHYTOPHAGA.  223 

yellow  legs,  and  the  fifth  joint  of  the  antennae  enlarged 
in  the  male;  and  brassiccs,  the  least  of  all,  has  four 
yellow  spots,  and  resembles  a  very  small  tetrastigma, 
being,  however,  more  globose.  In  this  species,  also,  the 
fifth  joint  of  the  antennae  is  somewhat  thickened  in  the 
male. 

The  species  of  Plectroscelis  and  Chatocnema  have 
their  hinder  tibiae  armed  with  a  tooth  on  the  outer  side 
below  the  middle;  and  Thyamis,  a  genus  of  large  ex- 
tent, may  be  known  by  the  elongate  basal  joint  of  its 
hind  tarsi,  which  is  about  half  the  length  of  its  tibiae. 
Although  its  members  are  usually  of  dull-yellowish 
colours,  there  is  one,  T.  dorsalis,  of  great  beauty,  being 
intensely  black  and  shining,  with  the  thorax  and  a 
broad  sharply-defined  margin  all  round  the  elytra  bright 
red;  it  occurs  somewhat  rarely  at  Mickleham,  Wey- 
mouth, and  the  Isle  of  Wight. 

Psylliocles  is  more  robust,  compact,  and  inclined  to 
an  elongate-oval  in  outline ;  the  basal  joint  of  its  hind 
tarsi  is  elongate,  but  diff'ers  from  that  of  Thyamis  and 
its  other  allies  in  being  inserted  not  at,  but  above  the 
apex  of  its  tibiae,  which  is  sloped  off:  here,  also,  the 
antennae  are  more  distant  at  the  base. 

Of  the  remaining  genera  Apteropeda  and  Mniophila 
are  conspicuous  for  their  extreme  rotundity  and  convexity; 
A.  graminis  (Plate  XV,  Fig.  2),  either  bronze  or  bluish- 
green  in  colour,  being  abundant  in  autumn  among  all 
kinds  of  wild  plants,  and  M.  muscorum, — more  like  a 
black  seed,  or  a  little  round  Acarus,  than  a  Haltica, — 
sometimes  occurring  in  moss. 

The  CASsiDiDiE,  or  Tortoise-beetles,  are  entirely  un- 
like any  other  British  Coleoptera  (except,  perhaps,  7"%- 
malus  Ihnbatus),  on  account  of  their   broad,  flattened 


224  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

bodies.  Their  head  is  hidden  beneath  the  thoraXj  which 
is  semicircular,  and  overlaps  the  elytra;  the  parts  of  the 
mouth  are  feeble,  situated  at  the  under-side  of  the  head, 
and  received  at  rest  into  a  projection  of  the  prosternum  ; 
the  antenufe  straight,  short,  and  slightly  thickened  to- 
wards the  apex,  but  with  the  last  joint  pointed  ;  and  the 
legs  contractile,  projecting  slightly  beyond  the  elytra,  with 
simple  unspurred  tibise,  and  short  broad  tarsi,  of  which 
the  third  joint  is  deeply  Ijilobed,  and  encloses  the  apical 
joint. 

They  are  found  during  the  summer  months  on  thistles, . 
wild  mint,  etc.  ;  and,  on  account  of  their  extremely 
quiescent  nature,  slightly  convex  upper  surface,  and  flat 
under-side,  resemble  certain  Cocci  rather  more  than 
beetles.  Our  species  are  mostly  bright  green  (not 
metallic)  when  alive,  fading  after  death  to  a  much 
duller  colour :  many  of  them  are  prettily  variegated 
with  brown  speckles  or  red  stains  {Cassida  sangidno- 
lenta,  Plate  XV,  Fig.  3) ;  and  one,  C.  vittata,  found  very 
rarely, — I  believe  on  ragwort, — is  banded  alternately 
with  deep  black  and  bright  red. 

A  few,  found  chiefly  on  the  sea-coast,  are  most  beauti- 
fully and  broadly  striped  on  each  wing-case  with  gold;  but 
this  appearance,  requiring  a  certain  amount  of  moisture, 
fades  with  the  life  of  the  creature.  It  has  been  stated 
that  glycerine,  applied  under  the  elytra,  will  not  only 
retain  the  lustre  in  fresh  examples,  but  renew  it  in  old 
ones  :  I  have,  however,  tried  this  plan  without  success. 
Varnishing  the  outside  is  of  no  avail,  as  it  is  from  the 
inside  that  the  colour  proceeds. 

One  of  these  adorned  insects,  C.  oblonga,  occurs  plen- 
tifully on  the  south  coast,  on  Salicornia,  in  tufts  of 
grass,  etc.     Its  lovely  green  ground-colour  is  relieved 


THE  EUPODA^  OR  PHYTOPHAGA.         225 

by  slightly  pink  eclges^  and  the  golden  stripe  partakes 
also  of  the  hues  of  the  emerald. 

The  larvse  in  this  family  have  an  ingenious  but  unplea- 
sant habit  of  forming  their  excrement  into  an  umbrella^  as 
in  Crioceris.  They  are  broad  and  flat,  with  short  legs ; 
beset  on  the  sides  with  long  setose  spines,  and  having  a 
long  fork  bent  forwards,  and  arising  rather  above  the  anal 
orifice,  by  means  of  which  they  retain  their  excrement 
as  a  shelter.  The  pupae,  also,  are  broad  and  flat,  with 
spined  appendages  on  the  sides,  and  the  thorax  dilated, 
spined,  and  covering  the  head. 

The  transformations  of  C.  viridis, — a  very  common 
species  on  thistles, — may  readily  be  observed. 


226 


CHAPTER   XX. 

THE   PSEUDOTRIMERA. 

Tiiis^  the  last  section  of  British  beetles,  contains  a  num- 
ber of  families  of  very  difierent  structure,  but  uniting 
in  the  apparent  possession  of  three  joints  only  to  the 
tarsi.  They  are,  however,  really  composed  of  four 
joints ;  the  second,  M'hich  is  bilobed,  receiving  the  very 
minute  third,  and  the  base  of  the  apical  joint.  It  should, 
however,  be  remarked  that  many  of  the  families  intro- 
duced into  this  section  are,  in  spite  of  their  want  of 
tarsal  development,  placed  by  numerous  authors  among 
the  preceding  sections; — in  some  cases  with  apparent 
reason. 

According  to  the  usually- received  classification  in 
this  country  the  Pseudotrhnera  are  composed  of  eight 
families;  the  Erotylida,  CoccineUidce,  Endomychidce, 
Corylophida,  SpJueriadce,  Tricliopttrygidce,  Lathridiadce , 
and  Pselaphidoe. 

The  EiiOTYLiDiE,  which  in  reality  have  pseudotetra- 
merous  tarsi,  are  yet  associated  with  the  CoccineUidce 
and  Endomychidce,  as  much  on  account  of  their  habits 
as  their  general  structure  and  appearance.  Their  an- 
tennae have  a  large  three-jointed  flattened  club,  and 
their  maxillary  palpi  terminate  in  a  very  large  clavate 


THE    PSEUDOTRIMERA.  227 

joint,  from  which  latter   structure   they  were   termed 
Clavipalpi  by  Latreille. 

We  possess  three  genera,  Engis,  Triplax,  and  Tri- 
toma;  all  the  species  of  which  feed  in  fungi.  These, 
with  Endomychus  and  Lycoperdina,  are  placed  by  Thom- 
son between  the  Cryptophagidce  and  Mycetophagidce  in 
the  Necrophaga. 

Our  species  of  Engis  are  found  in  profusion  in  fungi 
on  trees ;  they  are  shining,  somewhat  quadrate-elongate 
and  convex,  polished,  dark,  and  {Immeralis)  with  either 
the  thorax  and  shoulders  of  the  elytra  reddish -yelloAv,  . 
or  [rufifrons)  with  only  the  shoulders  of  that  colour.  In- 
dividuals are  often  found  entirely  testaceous  or  brown. 

Triplax, — the  largest  species  of  which  {russicus)  is  not 
uncommon, — is  very  like  Tetratoma,  having  a  red  thorax 
and  blue-black  elytra,  being  of  the  same  build,  and  oc- 
curring in  similar  places :  the  three-jointed  club  to  its 
antennae  will,  however,  readily  distinguish  it. 

Tritoma  bipustulata  (Plate  XV,  Fig.  4),  not  uncom- 
mon in  fungoid  growth  under  bark,  or  on  the  rotten 
stumps  of  felled  trees,  is  more  rounded  and  convex  than 
its  allies. 

The  CocciNELLiD^  {Aphidiphagi  of  Latreille,  and 
Securipalpes  of  Mulsant)  are  hemispherical  and  convex 
above  and  flat  beneath,  with  elytra  covering  the  abdo- 
men, and  never  truncate  or  punctate-striate ;  a  short 
transverse  thorax,  short  antennae,  in  which  the  club  is 
three-jointed  and  flat;  the  last  joint  of  the  maxillary 
palpi  hatchet-shaped ;  the  mandibles  bifid  at  the  tip ; 
the  labrum  broad  and  laterally  rounded ;  the  legs  short 
with  contractile  tibiae,  and  the  second  joint  of  the  tarsi 
large  and  deeply  bilobed. 

To  Coccinella, — the  principal  genus  in  this  family, — 

Q  2 


228  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

belong  tlie  numerous  insects  known  generally  as  "  lady- 
birds "  or  "  lady-cows,"  so  abundant  all  over  the  king- 
dom, but  especially  in  bop-counties  and  on  the  coast, 
and  such  good  friends  to  us  on  account  of  their  "  blight"- 
destroying  habits,  for  it  is  upon  Aphides,  or  plant-lice, 
that  these  beetles  exist,  both  in  their  larval  and  perfect 
states. 

They  have  been  observed  in  the  southern  counties  to 
follow  the  Aphis  in  swarms,  unexpectedly  making  their 
appearance  by  thousands,  and  settling  upon  every  avail- 
able resting-place ;  indeed,  I  have  known  them  to  occur 
in  such  numbers  that  it  has  been  necessary  to  sweep 
them  away  from  paths  and  windows.  They  fly  strongly, 
but  are  not  rapid  or  strong  walkers,  and  have,  both  in 
the  condition  of  larva  and  perfect  insect,  a  habit  of  dis- 
tilling a  peculiar  and  pungent  yellow  oily  fluid,  similar 
to  that  of  certain  of  tlie  Chrysomelida,  and  which,  also, 
has  been  stated  to  be  a  specific  for  toothache. 

Their  patches  of  small  yellow  eggs  can  often  be  seen 
deposited  by  the  parent  insect  on  plants  infested  by 
Aphides;  and  the  slaty-blue  larvse,  which  are  tubercu- 
lated  and  spotted,  contracted  behind,  and  with  six  con- 
spicuous legs  in  front,  may  be  observed  crawling  about 
shrubs  in  gardens  or  on  walls  preparatory  to  the  change 
to  pupa,  which  is  fastened  by  the  tail,  and  does  not  get 
rid  of  the  skin  of  the  larva. 

The  large  seven -spot  and  smaller  two-spot  ladybirds 
are  well  known  to  all  observers;  the  latter  insect  is 
exceedingly  variable,  specimens  of  it  occurring  of  every 
intermediate  gradation  between  red  with  a  rudimentary 
dot  on  each  elytron  to  entirely  black.  Oddly  enough, 
it  is  entremely  difficult  to  obtain  a  variety  of  the  first- 
mentioned  beetle. 


THE    PSEUDOTRIMERA.  ,  229 

Some  of  the  species,  sueli  as  IS-jmnctata  and  19- 
punctata,  frequent  reedy  or  marshy  places;  these  are 
more  elongate  than  the  rest^  and,  when  alive,  of  a 
pinkish  tone,  with  many  spots.  Others,  obliterata 
(bearing  an  M-like  mark  on  its  thorax),  hieroglyphica 
(varying  to  deep  black),  18-guttata,  oblongo-guttata,  and 
ocellata  (the  largest,  and  conspicuous  for  the  yellow 
rim  surrounding  each  of  its  spots  during  life),  are  pecu- 
liar to  fir-trees;  and  a  few,  especially  the  delicately- 
dotted  lemon-coloured  22>-punctata  (Plate  XVI,  Fig.  5), 
and  the  little,  convex  Micraspis  16-punctata,  frequent  the 
seaside. 

Chilocorus  and  Exochomus,  both  usually  found  on  fir- 
trees,  present  much  the  appearance  of  the  Cassididcv, 
their  legs  being  short  and  retractile,  their  head  hidden, 
and  their  elytra  very  convex,  though  they  are  quite  flat 
beneath.  In  the  former  genus  the  tibise  are  armed  with 
a  tooth  in  the  middle.  In  them,  and  in  all  the  preced- 
ing species,  the  elytra  are  entirely  glabrous,  but  in  the 
remainder  of  the  family  they  are  more  or  less  clothed 
with  a  short  pubescence :  this  is  especially  evident  in 
Lasia  globosa, — a  small,  round,  convex,  reddish-brown 
insect,  variegated  with  many  small  irregular  black  spots 
and  streaks,  though  sometimes  immaculate, — common 
on  the  coast. 

The  Scymni  are  found  about  fir-trees  and  in  marshy 
places ;  they  are  very  small  and  inconspicuous,  dark  in 
colour,  and  having  at  most  a  red  spot  or  stain  on  the 
elytra.  The  larva  of  one  of  this  genus  has  been  ob- 
served to  feed  upon  small  Aphides,  and  to  be  entirely 
clothed  with  a  white  cottony  secretion. 

Lastly,  the  reddish  species  of  Coccidula  (one  of  which, 
scutellata,  has  its  elytra  spotted  with  black)  frequent 


230  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

wet  placesj  reeds,  etc.,  and  may  be  kuown  by  tlieir  com- 
paratively narrow  shape  and  posteriorly  right-angled 
thorax,  which  is  narrower  than  the  elytra. 

The  Endo.mychid/E  (termed  also  Sulcicolles)  have 
comparatively  long  antennse ;  the  thorax  impressed  be- 
hind ;  the  last  joint  of  the  maxillary  palpi  slightly 
thickened,  and  never  hatchet-shaped ;  and  the  posterior 
coxae  wide  apart. 

Two  of  our  genera,  Endomychus  and  Lycoperdina, 
are  generally  associated ;  but  the  others,  Mycetcea,  Syni- 
biotis,  and  Alexia,  are  usually  separated  and  placed  in 
other  families. 

Endomychus  contains  one  species,  coccineus,  beauti- 
fully coloured  and  marked  (Plate  XV,  Fig.  6) ;  it  occurs 
not  uncommonly  under  bark,  in  fungoid  growth,  and 
presents  a  certain  superficial  likeness  to  some  of  the 
ladybirds,  from  which  its  long,  gradually-thickened 
antennse,  more  elongate  shape,  and  palpi  of  lesser  de- 
velopment will  distinguish  it.  In  some  specimens  the 
thorax  is  entirely  red,  whilst  in  others  it  has  a  broad 
black  stripe  down  the  entire  middle.  Its  larva  has 
been  found  under  fir  and  willow  bark,  and  seems  to 
depart  entirely  from  the  type  of  its  present  allies,  being 
much  like  that  of  the  Silphidce,  flat,  with  comparatively 
long  antennse ;  the  three  first  segments  large,  and  the 
remainder  lobed  at  the  sides. 

Lycoperdina  bovista,  a  little  flatfish  black  insect, 
found  in  puff"-balls,  of  rare  occurrence,  but  plentiful 
when  found,  is  not  unlike  certain  of  the  Heteromera 
[Bhtps  or  Heliopatlies)  in  miniature.  Its  thorax  has  a 
very  deep  longitudinal  impression  on  each  side. 

Mycetcea  hirta  (a  veiy  small,  coarsely-punctured,  hairy, 
brownish,  ovate  insect,  contracted  behind,  and  abundant 


THE    PSEUDOTRIMERA.  231 

in  old  cellars)  and  Symbiotes  latus  (larger^  wider,  rarer, 
and  found  in  rotten  wood), — botli  gregarious, — are  by 
some  authors  placed  in  the  Lathridiadce,  and  by  others  in 
the  Cryptophagidce ;  and  Alexia  pilifera, — small,  round, 
globose,  set  with  delicate  but  distinct  hairs,  strongly 
punctured,  but  with  no  lateral  impressions  to  its  thorax, 
— commonly  found  in  moss,  is  sometimes  associated  with 
the  Coccinellidoi,  and  at  others  eliminated  from  all  com- 
panionship, as  an  insect  whose  true  position  cannot  be 
ascertained. 

The  CoRYLOPiiiDiE  (placed  by  continental  authors 
with  the  two  next  families,  between  Agaihidium  and 
Scaphidium  in  the  Necrophaga)  comprise  several  minute 
insects  of  very  difficult  location,  and  not  conspicuous, 
except  for  their  small  size. 

Their  head  is  small  (except  in  Clambus  and  its  allies) 
and  retractile;  their  antennae  clavate  at  the  apex;  their 
thorax  margined  at  the  sides ;  their  elytra  wide,  generally 
obtuse  at  the  apex,  and  not  covering  the  sides  of  the 
abdomen ;  their  intermediate  coxse  rather — and  the  pos- 
terior very — widely  separated;  and  the  first  segment  of 
their  abdomen  large. 

The  species  occur  in  refuse  heaps,  cut  grass,  etc.,  and 
are  difficult  to  preserve  in  good  condition  on  account  of 
their  small  size  and  feeble  structure. 

Corylophus  cassidoides  (Plate  XVI,  Fig.  1),  often 
abundant  on  the  coast,  has  its  thorax  red,  and  more  or 
less  dark  in  the  middle. 

The  genera  Clambus  and  Comazus,  the.  members  of 
which  very  closely  resemble  small  species  of  Agaihidium 
in  the  Anisotomidce,  appear  to  be  very  difficult  to  place 
in  any  arrangement.  As  far  as  external  likeness  goes 
they  might  well  be  considered  as  allied  to  that  genus. 


232  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

and  their  tarsi  would  not  be  of  much  \yeight  in  such  an 
affinity,  considering  the  irregularities  in  that  respect  of 
the  last-mentioned  family ;  but  their  antennsej  which 
are  nine-jointed,  very  slender,  and  with  the  eighth  joint 
suddenly  very  much  enlarged ;  and  their  very  large  and 
laminated  posterior  coxfe  seem  to  bring  thera  close  to 
the  Trichopterijgidce.  This  approximation  is  made  more 
likely  by  the  form  and  habits  of  the  larva  of  Coinazus 
dubius  (the  only  species  of  which  the  earlier  stages  have 
hitherto  been  recorded),  which  appear  to  accord  very 
well  with  those  of  the  Trichopterygidce. 

The  family  Sph^eriad^,  consisting  of  one  genus  and 
species,  Sphcerius  acaroides  (taken  in  the  Cambridge 
fens),  appears  also  to  have  certain  characters  in  com- 
mon with  the  Trichojiterygidxe,  viz.,  a  large  projecting 
labrum,  the  antennae  with  a  suddenly  enlarged  and 
ciliated  club,  and  very  large  triangular  posterior  coxae. 
It  differs,  however,  from  the  latter  in  having  the  abdo- 
men composed  of  only  three  segments,  wings  of  the 
ordinary  shape,  and  the  parts  of  the  mouth  (except  the 
labrum)  not  similarly  formed. 

S.  acaroides  is  of  extremely  small  size,  globose  above, 
black  and  shining,  Avith  its  anterior  femora  strongly 
toothed ;  and,  as  its  name  imports,  resembles  certain  of 
the  Acari,  or  mites. 

The  TRiCHOPTERYGiDyE  (by  far  the  most  minute  of  all 
Coleoptera,  most  of  them  being  less  than  the  sixth  of  a 
line  long)  have  eleven-jointed  antennse,  which  are  long, 
very  slender^  beset  with  hairs,  Avith  a  very  large  basal 
joint,  and  an  abrupt  thrce-jointcd  club;  their  elytra  are 
either  truncate  behind  or  cover  the  abdomen  entirely; 
their  wings  (which  are  sometimes  rudimentary)  are 
usually  twice  as  long  as  the  body,  very  narroAV,  com 


THE    PSEUDOTRIMERA.  233 

posed  of  a  thin  neck  and  broader  plate,  fringed  with 
very  long  closely-planted  hairs;  their  metathorax  is 
very  large;  their  abdomen  composed  of  from  five  to 
seven  segments,  of  which  the  first  or  the  last  is  usually 
the  largest ;  and  their  tarsi  are  composed  of  three 
joints,  the  apical  being  very  long,  and  having  a  long 
hair  between  its  claws.  The  labrum  is  usually  large 
and  transverse ;  the  mandibles  short,  arched,  and  sharp 
at  the  point ;  and  the  maxillae  have  their  stem  much 
developed  and  terminated  in  two  lobes.  In  some  of  the 
genera  the  posterior  coxse  are  very  much  enlarged. 

This  family  has  been  elaborately  monographed  by  Dr. 
Gillmeister  (Niiremberg,  1845),  whose  drawings  of  its 
minute  species,  admirably  engraved  by  Sturm,  are  mo- 
dels of  Avhat  figures  of  insects  should  be. 

Our  species  occur  under  bark,  in  wet  leaves,  marshy 
places,  refuse  heaps,  etc. ;  and  Trichopteryx  atomaria 
(one  of  the  largest),  a  black,  flattened,  square  little  in- 
sect, may  be  seen  running  actively  if  garden  stuff"  be 
shaken  over  brown  paper,  being  often  accompanied  by 
the  smaller,  narrower,  more  convex,  and  shining  Pteni- 
dium  apicale  (Plate  XV^I,  Fig.  2). 

Nossidium  pilosellum,  the  largest  of  the  family,  convex, 
and  set  with  evident  hairs,  is  rare,  but  occurs  in  pi'ofu- 
sion  when  found,  on  the  surface  of  decomposing  wood ; 
and  the  species  of  Ptinella,  elongate,  yellow,  flat,  with 
their  black  folded  wings  showing  through  their  elytra, 
live  under  bark. 

The  Lathridiad^  have  clavate  antennae  inserted  a 
little  before  the  eyes,  the  club  being  three-jointed  in 
Lathridius  and  Corticaria,  and  two-jointed  in  Holopa- 
7'amecus ;  the  latter  is  also  noteworthy  on  account  of 
the  variation   of  the  number   of  joints — from   nine  to 


234  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

eleven — in  the  antennae  of  certain  of  its  species^  of  Avliich, 
however,  we  possess  but  one,  probably  introduced  from 
abroad. 

Their  femora  are  clavate,  and  tibise  slender  and  wiry, 
•with  obsolete  apical  spurs ;  their  mentum  more  or  less 
hexagonal,  their  labial  palpi  apparently  bi-articulate,  the 
third  joint  being  soldered  to  the  second,  which  is  in- 
flated; their  mandibles  bifid  at  the  apex  (sometimes 
very  minutely  so),  and  their  maxillse  bilobed,  but  with 
the  outer  lobe  obsolete. 

These  insects  are  by  most  authors  placed  between  the 
CrytophagidcB  and  Mycetophagida,  and  a  very  clear 
statement  of  the  reasons  for  thus  locating  them  is  given 
by  Mr.  Wollaston  in  the  '  Entomologists'  Monthly  Ma- 
gazine,' vol.  i.  p.  14.  But  it  appears  from  the  evidence 
afforded  that  the  parts  of  the  mouth  are  certainly  feebly 
developed,  the  ligula  having  been  variously  described,  and 
being  not  satisfactorily  visible ;  the  labial  palpi,  although 
in  reality  not  of  so  abnormal  a  structure  as  to  consist  of 
only  two  joints,  yet  requiring  a  high  power  and  pola- 
rized light  to  shovv  even  the  suture  in  the  middle  of 
what  has  hitherto  been  considered  the  apical  joint,  and 
the  maxillse  exhibiting  a  considerable  amount  of  atrophy. 
It  would,  therefore,  seem  inadvisable  to  place  this  family 
among  those  of  so  much  higher  development,  even  if 
the  debased  structure  of  all  their  tarsi,  their  brittle  in- 
teguments, and  the  wiry  nature  of  their  legs  (which  are 
sometimes  partially  retractile),  did  not  still  further 
separate  them. 

Our  species  of  Lathridius  are  found  in  refuse  heaps, 
dry  wood,  etc.,  the  largest,  L.  lardarius  (Plate  XVI, 
Fig.  3),  occurring  plentifully  in  grassy  places  in  some 
of  the  midland  counties.     It  received  its  unsuggestive 


THE    PSEUDOTRIMERA.  235 

specific  name  on  account  of  having  been  reared  by  its 
discoverer  from  larvae  found  in  a  dry  pig's  bladder ;  and 
many  similar  instances  of  inappropriate  baptisms  occur, 
through  insects  having  been  observed  for  the  first  time 
under  accidental  circumstances. 

Another  species,  L.  nodifer,  much  smaller,  dull  black, 
with  little  humps  on  its  elytra,  is  now  very  common  in 
cut  grass,  rubbish  heaps,  etc.,  all  over  the  south  and 
midland  parts  of  the  country,  though  unknown  some 
few  years  ago.  When  quite  fresh  it  has  a  thin  white 
membrane  on  each  side  of  its  thorax,  somewhat  like  the 
pellicle  filling  up  the  marginal  notch  in  the  same  part 
of  Ochthebius, 

In  this  genus  the  body  is  never  pubescent,  or  the 
sides  of  the  thorax  crenulated,  as  in  its  ally  Corticaria, 
the  species  of  which  are  more  couvex  and  cylindrical, 
and  have  the  front  coxse  more  approximated. 

The  PsELAPHiD/E  are  often  considered  as  belonging 
to  the  Brachelytra,  apparently  for  the  sole  reason  of 
their  elytra  being  short.  They  constitute  a  very  well- 
defined  and  most  interesting  group  of  small  species, 
especially  distinguished  by  their  abbreviated  elytra,  acute 
mandibles,  prominent  granulated  eyes,  more  or  less 
abruptly  clubbed  antenna?  (of  which  the  last  joint  is 
very  large),  elongated  and  highly-developed  maxillary 
palpi,  margined  abdomen  (nearly  all  of  which  is  ex- 
posed), clavate  femora,  obsoletely-spurred  tibise,  and 
usually  single-clawed  tarsi.  They  are  shining,  hard, 
light-yellow,  brown  or  red  in  colour,  and  with  a  dis- 
tinct neck  to  the  head.  The  Pselaphidce  have  been  mo- 
nographed by  Leach,  Reichenbach,  and  Aube  ;  also  by 
Denny,  Norwich,  1825  (with  coloured  plates). 

They  are  mostly  found  in  moss,  damp  marshy  places, 


236  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

refuse  heaps,  or  ants'  nests,  and  are  supposed  to  feed  on 
Acari. 

Our  species  (most  of  which  are  very  small)  are  di- 
vided into  two  sub-families,  the  Pselaphides  and  Clavige- 
rides,  in  the  former  of  which  the  eyes  and  palpi  are  well 
developed,  and  the  antenuaj  are  eleven-jointed,  whilst 
in  the  latter  the  eyes  and  parts  of  the  mouth  are  obso- 
lete, and  the  antennse  are  five-jointed,  with  a  four- 
jointed  club. 

Of  the  Pselaphides  many  curious  forms  are  found  in 
tliis  country;  the  type  genus  P^e/ajo/w^^  affording  two, 
one  of  which,  P.  Heisii  (Plate  XVI,  Fig.  4),  is  of  fre- 
quent occurrence  in  moss,  and  may  be  known  from  its 
allies  by  its  depressed  body  (which  is  broadest  behind), 
entire  sutural  strise,  very  long  and  thin  palpi  and  legs, 
and  long  and  stout  antennse.  Its  ally,  P.  dresdensis,  is 
darker,  and  has  a  semicircular  impressed  line  at  the  base 
of  the  thorax. 

Our  species  of  Bryaxis  are  found  in  wet  marshy 
places,  among  moss  and  reeds,  at  the  sides  of  rivers, 
or  on  the  sea-shore  under  heaps  of  vegetable  matter  or 
stones.  They  have  long  antcnnie,  and  are  mostly  black 
or  dark-brown,  having  often  red  elytra,  and  being  some- 
times entirely  pale;  their  shape  is  more  convex  than 
that  of  Pselaphus,  their  dorsal  stria  abbreviated,  and 
their  thorax  (which  is  convex  and  contracted  behind) 
usually  has  three  large  punctuations  behind  and  at  the 
sides.  The  largest,  B.  sanyuinea,  has  the  antennae  very 
long  in  the  male. 

The  Bythini  are  much  smaller,  convex,  and  with  short 
antcnnce,  of  which  the  basal  joint  is  much  dilated.  In 
the  males  (which  are  by  far  the  rarest)  the  second  joint 
.also  is  subject  to  a  still  more  considerable  increase  in 


THE    PSEUDOTRIMERA.  237 

volume,  assuming  in  some  species  an  irregular  and 
toothed  appearance.  The  palpi  are  nearly  equal  in 
bulk  to  the  antennae,  the  apical  joint  being  strongly 
hatchet-shaped  and  elongate.  The  elytra  are  always 
more  or  less  distinctly  punctured  in  this  genus,  which, 
with  Bryaxis,  is  apterous. 

In  Tychus,  the  fifth  joint  of  the  antennae  is  much  en- 
larged in  the  male. 

The  species  of  TricJionyx  are  of  considerable  rarity, 
and  of  (comparatively)  large  size;  they  are  light  testa- 
ceous in  colour,  of  more  elongate  shape,  and  with  the 
antennae  widely  distant  at  the  base  instead  of  approxi- 
mated, as  in  the  preceding.  They  have  been  taken 
under  bark,  among  black  ants  in  a  tree,  with  yellow 
ants  under  stones,  and  (in  greater  quantity)  from  moss. 

The  Eupledi  resemble  Trichonyx  in  miniature,  having 
the  antennae  distant  at  the  base,  but  they  are  more  linear 
and  less  convex,  and  occur  in  rotten  wood,  refuse  heaps, 
cut  grass,  etc.,  being,  moreover,  often  taken  on  the  wing. 

Three  species,  E.  nanus  (Plate  XVI,  Fig.  5),  signatus, 
and  Karstenii,  are  not  uncommonly  found  together  in 
decaying  vegetable  matter;  and  the  collector,  who  has 
the  means  of  doing  so,  should  not  fail  to  keep  a  heap  of 
dead  leaves,  compost,  twigs,  and  cut  grass  in  his  garden, 
as  it  will  be  found  a  constant  trap  for  these  and  many 
other  species. 

Of  the  Clavigerides  we  possess  one  genus  and  species, 
Claviger  foveolatus  (Plate  XVI,  Fig.  6),  found  in  chalky 
districts  on  the  south  coast  and  Surrey  hills,  associated 
with  small  yellow  ants,  whose  nests  are  formed  under 
large  stones.  It  is  very  small,  entirely  yellow,  shining, 
eyeless,  wingless,  sluggish,  with  short  stiff  antennae,  and 
a  deep  depression  in  the  middle  of  the  abdomen. 


238  BRITISH    BEETLES. 

There  remain  the  following  five  genera,  found  in  this 
country,  which  have  no  connection  with  each  other,  and 
cannot  be  located  with  certainty  in  any  of  the  foi'cgoing 
families. 

PhloeopMIus,  usually  considered  as  allied  to  Myce- 
tophayus  and  Triphyllus,  and  placed  by  some  authors 
among  the  DasytidcB.  The  single  species  known,  P. 
Edwardst,  was  for  a  long  time  only  found  in  this  country, 
where  it  is  taken  in  Leicestershire,  Lincolnshire,  and 
Dorset,  living  in  the  old  lichen-covered  boughs  of  oak- 
trees.  It  is  an  oblong,  convex,  slightly  pubescent, 
strongly  punctured  insect ;  with  a  dark  thorax  and  grey 
elytra,  more  or  less  variegated  with  darker  lines;  and, 
unlike  the  Mycetophagidce,  is  very  sluggish.  The  three- 
jointed  club  to  its  antennse  (of  which  the  two  basal  joints 
are  thickened),  the  incrassated  apical  joint  of  its  maxil- 
lary palpi,  and  its  five-jointed  tarsi,  which  are  entire,  ap- 
pear  to  separate  this  insect  from  those  with  which  it  is 
usually  associated. 

Dlphyllus,  placed  usually  among  the  Mycetophagida, 
differs  from  the  members  of  that  family  in  its  tarsi, 
which  have  five  joints,  the  fourth  being  extremely  small, 
and  in  the  club  of  its  antennae,  which  is  composed  of 
two  joints.  Our  single  species,  lunatus,  found  in  fungi 
on  bark  in  Norfolk,  Somersetshire,  etc.,  is  very  small 
and*  dull  black,  with  striated  elytra,  bearing  a  white 
crescent-shaped  spot  in  the  middle. 

Myrmecoxemis  (placed  by  Thomson  l^etween  Lychis 
and  Ptinus  in  his  division  of  Xylophagi)  has  four-jointed 
tarsi ;  the  three  first  segments  of  the  abdomen  connate 
(the  first  not  being  longer  than  the  second) ;  the  club  of 
the  antennse  almost  four-jointed  ;  the  pygidium  exposed, 
and  the  head  not  extended  from  the  thorax. 


THE    PSEUDOTRIMERA.  239 

M.  vaporariorum  is  a  very  rare,  small^  testaceous, 
elongate,  flat,  parallel  insect.  It  has  been  associated 
with  Lathridivs,  etc.,  and  is  usually  found  crawling  on 
walls  near  hot-beds  or  dung-heaps. 

Aspidiphorus  {Coniporns,  Thorns.), — left  with  doubt 
by  Redtenbacher  and  Lacordaii-e  among  the  Byrrhidce, 
assigned  by  Erichson  to  the  Ptinida,  and  by  Latreille  to 
the  Dermestida,  and  latterly  erected  by  Thomson  into 
a  family,  the  Coniporidce,  and  placed  by  him  in  the 
Xylophagi,  between  Dorcatoma  and  Spliindus  (the  last  a 
genus  of  uncertain  position), — still  remains  unsatisfac- 
torily placed.  Its  tarsi  are  slender  and  heteromerous 
(the  first  joint  of  the  hinder  pair  being  obsolete),  with 
the  apical  joint  almost  as  long  as  all  the  rest;  the  legs 
are  not  retractile;  the  antennae  ten-jointed,  the  two 
first  joints  being  swollen,  and  the  club  elongate;  the 
clypeus  large,  and  with  a  distinct  suture ;  the  maxillse 
with  a  horny  tooth;  the  prosternura  with  no  projection 
behind  the  anterior  coxse,  but  applied  against  the  sloping 
mesosternum ;  the  middle  and  hinder  coxse  widely  dis- 
tant ;  and  the  abdomen  with  five  segments,  of  which  the 
first  is  much  the  largest.  The  only  known  species,  A. 
orbiculatus,  is  very  small,  convex,  delicately  pubescent, 
black,  with  the  legs  and  antennae  (except  the  club)  fer- 
ruginous, and  the  elytra  punctate  striate.  It  is  rare,  and 
found  in  sandy  places,  on  low  plants. 

Sphindus  (variously  associated  with  Anobium,  Cis, 
Tetratoma,  Cnjptophmjus  and  Lyctus)  has  pentamerous 
tarsi,  of  which  the  apical  joint  is  as  long  as  the  preceding 
joints  together;  its  head  ending  in  a  small  quadrangular 
rostrum ;  and  ten-jointed  antennae,  with  a  strong  three- 
jointed  club. 

S.  dubius,  very  rare  in  England  (where  it  has  occurred 


240  BRITISH    BEETT,ES. 

at  Weybridge  and  in  the  New  Forest)  is  a  small  ])itcliy- 
brown  insect,  more  or  less  variegated  with  ferruginous; 
having  fiuely-striated  elytra,  and  clothed  with  thin  de- 
pressed reddish  pubescence.  It  lives  in  Lycoperdons,  in 
which  also  its  larva  is  found.  The  latter  is  whitish,  with 
the  head,  upper  part  of  thorax,  and  last  segment  of  tlie 
abdomen  shining  black ;  and  set  with  rather  long  hairs 
on  the  sides  and  extremity. 


241 


CATALOGUE   OF  THE   BRITISH   COLEOPTERA* 


ADEPHAGA. 
GJEOBEPHAGA. 

Cicindelidae. 
CICINDELA,  Linn. 
sylvatica,  Linn. 
hybrida,  Linn. 
maritima,  Dej. 
campestris,  Linn. 
germanica,  Linn. 

Carabidse. 

LEBIADES. 
ODACANTHA,  Patjlc. 
melanura,  Linn. 

DRYPTA,  Fab. 
dentata,  Rossi. 
POLYSTICHUS,  Bon. 
vittatus,  Brulle. 

AETOPORUS,  ScJim. 
imperialis,  Germ. 

DEMETRIAS,  Bon. 
atricapillus,  Linn. 
unipiinctatus,  Germ. 

DROMIUS,  Bon. 
loiigiceps,  Dej. 
linearis,  Olio. 
agilis.  Fab. 


meridionalis,  Dej. 
quadrimaculatus,  Linn. 
quadrinotatus,  Panz. 
quadrisignitiis,  Dej. 
fasciatus,  Dej. 

sigma,  Daws. 

V.  ?  oblitus,  Boi. 
sigma,  Rossi. 

fasciatus,  Daivs. 
melanocephalus,  Dej. 

BLECHRUS,  Mots. 
maurus,  Sturm. 
METABLETUS,  Sdim. 
obscuro-guttatus,  Duf. 
truncatellus,  Linn. 
foveola,  Gyll. 

LIONYCHUS,  Wissm. 
quadi'illum,  Duf. 

LEBIA,  Latr. 
crux  minor,  Linn, 
turcica,  Fab. 
hsemorrhoidalis,  Fah. 
cyanocephala,  Linn. 
clilorocephala,  Ent.  H. 

MASOREUS,  Dej. 
Wetterhalii,  Gyll. 

TARUS,  Clairv. 
humeralis.  Fab. 


axillaris,  Fah. 
vaporariorum,  Linn. 

BRACHINUS,  Weber. 
crepitans,  Litm. 
explodens,  Diif. 

V.  ?  glabratus,  Dej. 
sclojjeta,  Fab. 

SCARITIDES. 
CLIVINA,  Laf. 

fossor,  Linn.  ^ 

coUaris,  Hbst. 

DYSCHIRIUS,  Panz. 
nitidus,  Dej. 
impunettf)ennis,  Daivs. 
politus,  Dej. 
extcnsus,  Putz. 

elongatulus.  Daws. 
salinus,  ScTi. 
angvistatus,  Ahr. 
jfjunus,  Datvs. 
obscurus,  Gi/ll. 
thoracicus,  Fab. 
a^neus,  Dej. 
globosus,  Hbst. 

CARABIDES. 
NOTIOPHILUS,  Dum. 
aquaticus,  Linn. 
palustris,  Duf. 
rufipes,  Curt. 


*  Such  genera  and  species  as  are  printed  in  italics  ai'e  reputed  to  be  British, 
but  require  further  evidence  before  they  can  be  considered  truly  indigenous. 


242 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 


biguttatus,  Fab. 

V.  4-punctatiis,  Dej. 
substriatus,  Waterh. 

ELAPHRUS,  Fah. 
uliginosus,  Fab. 
cupreus,  Duf. 
lappoiiicus,  Gyll, 
riparius,  Linn. 

BLETHISA,  Bon. 
multipunctata,  Linn. 

LEISTUS,  Frohl. 
spinibarbis,  Fab. 
fulvibarbis,  Dej. 
inontanus,  Stepli. 
ferrugineus,  Linn. 
rufescens,  Fab. 

NEBRIA,  Lat. 
complanata,  Linn. 
lirida,  Linn. 
brevicollis,  Fah. 
Gylleiihalii,  Sch. 

PELOPHILA,  Dej. 
borealis,  PayJc. 

CALOSOMA,  Weber, 
si/coplianfa,  Linn. 
iuquisitoi",  Linn. 

C  ARAB  US,  Auct. 
intricatus,  Linn. 
catenulatus,  Scop. 
monilis,  Fab. 

V.  consitiis,  Panz. 
arvensis,  Fab. 
granulatus,  Linn. 
cancellatus,  III. 
clathratus,  Linn, 
auratus,  Linn. 
nitt'ns,  Linn. 
violaoeus,  lAnn. 
convexun,  Fab. 
glabratus,  Pai/l-. 
nemoralis,  Mull. 

CYCHRUS,  Fab. 

rostratiis,  Linn. 

CHLJENTADES. 
PANAG.EUS,  Lat. 
crux  major,  Linn. 


quadripiistulatus,  St. 

LORICERA,  Lat. 
pilicornis,  Fab. 

LICINUS,  Lat. 
depressus,  Pai/k. 
silplioides,  Fab. 

BADISTER,  Clairv. 
bipustnlatus,  Fab. 
iinipustulatus,  Pan. 
peltatus,  Panz. 
humeralis,  Don. 

CALLISTUS,  Lat. 
lunatus,  Fab. 

CHL.ENIUS,  Pon. 
sulcicoJlis,  PayJc. 
holosericeiis,  Fab. 
nigricornis,  Fab. 
Schrankii,  Duf. 
agrorum,  Olir. 
vestitus,  Pat/k. 

CODES,  Bon. 
lielopioides,  Fab, 

FEEONIADES. 

POGONUS,  Dej. 
luridipennis,  Germ. 
clialceus,  Marsh. 
littoralis,  Diif. 

PATROBUS,  Dej. 
excavatus,  Paijl-. 
assimilis,  Chaud. 

clavipes,  Thorns. 
septeiitrionis,  Dej. 

V.  rubripennis.  Thorn. 

PRISTONYCIIUS,  Dej. 
terricola,  Hbst. 

SPHODRUS,  Clairr. 
leucopbthabnus,  Linn. 
CALATHUS,  Pon. 
piceiis,  Marsh. 
cisteloides,  Panz. 
flaripes,  Fourc. 
fusciis,  Fab. 
mollis,  Marsh. 
melanoceplialus,  Linn. 


V.  niibigena,  Halid. 
micropterus,  Dnf. 

TAPHRIA,  Bon. 

nivalis,  Panz. 
ANCIIOMENUS,^«r^. 
aiigusticollis.  Fab. 
livens,  Gt/U. 
prasinus,  Fab. 
albipes,  Fab. 
oblongus.  Fab. 
margiuivtus,  Linn. 
sexpunctatus,  Linn. 
ericeti,  Panz. 
parumpunctatus,  Fab, 
gracilipes,  Duf. 
vidiiiis,  Panz. 
versutus,  Sturm. 
moestus,  Duf. 
at  rat  us,  Duf. 
fuliginosus,  Panz. 
gracilis,  Sturm. 
scdtulus,  Dej. 
micans,  ISicol. 
piceus,  Linn. 
Thoreyi,  Dej. 

pelidnus,  Pay.,  n.  Dif. 
quadripunetatus,  Deg. 

OLISTHOPUS,  Dej. 

rotundatus,  Payk. 

PTEROSTICHUS.Jmc;;. 

cupreus,  Linn. 

V.  ?  versicolor,  Sturm. 
diinidiatus,  Oliv, 
lepidiis,  Fab. 
striola.  Fab. 
niger.  III. 

]iarumptmctatns.  Germ. 
oblongo-punctatus.  Fab. 
picimaniis,  Duf. 
madidus,  Fab. 
letbiops,  Panz. 
aterrimus,  Payk. 
orinomus,  Sfeph. 
melanarius.  III. 
nigrita,  Fab. 
antbraciiuis,  III. 
gracilis,  Dej. 
minor,  Sahib. 
verualis,  Panz, 


CATALOGUE    OF    THE    BRITISH    COLEOPTERA. 


243 


inpequalis,  Marsh, 
streimus,  Panz. 
diligens,  Sturm. 
ruBcollis,  Marsh. 

STOMIS,  Clairv. 
pumicatus,  Panz. 

BROSCUS,  Panz. 
cephalotes,  Linn. 

MISCODERA,  Bsch. 
arct-ica,  Payh. 

ZABRUS,  Clairv. 
gibbus,  Fah. 

AMARA,  Bon. 
obsoleta,  Dej. 
similata,  Gyll. 
acuminata,  Payh. 
trivialis,  Gyll. 
spreta,  Dej. 
lunicollis,  Schio. 
communis,  Panz. 
curta,  Dej. 
familiaris,  Duf. 
lucida,  Duf. 
tibialis,  Payk. 
strenua,  Zimm. 
plebeia,  Gyll. 
ino;enua,  Duf, 
bifrons,  Gyll, 
infima,  Duf. 
rufocincta,  Sahli. 
patricia,  Duf. 
consularis,  Diif. 
apricaria,  Fab. 
fulva,  Dey. 
aulica,  Panz. 
convexiuscula,  Marsh. 

HAKPALIDES. 

ANISODACTYLUS, 
Dej. 

binotatus,  Fab. 

V.  /  ati'icornis.  Staph. 
poeciloicles.  Staph. 

DIACHROMUS,&Ms, 
germanus,  Linn. 


DICHIROTRICHUS, 
Du  Val. 
pubescens,  Payh. 
obsoletus,  Dej. 

HARPALUS,  Lat. 

sabulicola,  Panz. 
diffinis,  Dej. 

?  rotunclicollis,  Wat. 
Cat. 
obscurus,  Fab.,  nee  Daios. 
azureus,  Fab. 
punctatidus,  Duf, 
cordatus,  Duf. 
riipicola,  Sturm. 
puncticollis,  Payh. 

V.  ?  parallelus,  Dej. 
cribellum,  Staph. 
ruficornis,  Fab. 
griseus,  Panz. 
seneus,  Fab. 
honestus,  Duf. 
sulphuripes,  Germ, 
luteicornis,  Duf. 
attenuatus,  Staph. 
tenebrosus,  Dej. 
discoideus,  Fab. 
latus,  Linn. 
rubripes,  Duf. 
cupreus,  Daj. 
easpius,  Steven. 
tardus,  Panz. 
melancholicus,  Dej. 
serripes,  Schon, 
servus,  Duf. 
anxius,  Duf. 
neglectus,  Daj, 
vernalis,  Fab. 

STENOLOPHUS,  Meg. 

teutonus,  Schr. 
Skrimshiranus,  Stepih. 
vespertinus,  III, 
elegans,  Dej. 
consputus,  Duf. 
meridianus,  Linn, 
dorsalis,  Fab. 
brunnipes,  Sturm, 
derelictus,  Daivs. 
flavicollis,  Sturm. 
exiguus,  Dej. 
V,  luridus,  Daj. 


BRADYCELLUS,  Fr. 

placidus,  Gyll. 
cognatus,  G'/ll. 
distinctus,  Dej. 
f'ulvus,  Marsh. 
hnrpalinus,  Dej. 
collaris,  Payh. 
similis,  Dej. 

TRECHIDES, 
TRECHUS,  Clairv, 
discus,  Fab. 
micros,  Hbst. 
longicornis,  Sturm, 
rubens,  Fab. 
lapidosus,  Daios. 
rivularis,  Gyll. 
minutus,  Fab. 
obtusus,  Er. 
secalis,  Payh. 

^PYS,  Leach. 
marinus,  Strom. 
Robinii,  Lah. 

BLEMUS,  Ziegl, 
areolatus,  Creutz. 

BEMBIDIADES, 
LYMN^UM,  Steph. 
nigropiceum,  Marsh. 

CILLENUM,  Curt. 
laterale,  Sam. 

BEMBIDIUM,  Lat. 
Fockii,  Humm. 
quadrisignatum,  Duf, 
scutellare,  Germ, 
bistriatum,  Diif. 
obtusum,  Sturm. 
qninquestriatum,  Gyll. 
rufescens,  Guerin. 
biguttatum,  Fab. 
a?neum,  Germ. 
guttula,  Fab. 
Mannerheimii,  Sahl. 
femoratum,  Sturm. 
bruxellense,  Wesm. 
concinnum,  Steph, 
littorale,  OUv, 
fluviatile,  Dej, 
R   2 


244 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 


lunatum,  Duf. 
saxatile,  Oyll. 
testaceuui,  Duf. 
decorum,  Fanz. 
stomoides,  Dej. 
mouticola,  Sturm. 
iiitidulum,  Marsh. 
affiue,  Stepli. 
tibiule,  Duf. 
atroca^rvilemn,  Steph. 
prasinum,  Duf. 
flaminulatum,  Clairv. 
ustvilatum,  Linn. 
obliquum,  Sturm. 
adust  inn,  Schaum. 
fumigatum,  Dpf 
epluppium,  Ilarsli. 
assimile,  GtfU. 
Clarkii,  Daivs. 
niffricorne,  Oijll. 
lampros,  Hhst. 
Schuppelii,  Dej. 
gilvipes,  Sturm. 
pusillum,  Gyll. 
doris,  Fanz. 
normannum,  Dej. 
Stunnii,  Fanz. 
articulatum,  Fanz. 
quadriguttatum,  Fab. 
caUosuin,  Kilst. 
quadi-imaculatum,  Linn. 
bipuuctatutn,  Linn. 
punctulatum,  Drap. 
pallidipenne,  ///. 
paludosum,  Fanz. 

TACHYPUS,  Meg. 
flaripes,  Linn. 
pallipes,  P«/. 

EYDSADEPEAGA. 

Dytiscidse. 

HALIPLIDES. 

HALIPLUS,  Lat. 

elcvatus,  Fanz. 
mucronatus,  Steph. 
fulvus,  Fab. 
flavicolUs,  Sturm. 
variegatus,  Sturm. 
affiiiis,  Steph. 
ruficoUis,  Deff. 


fliiviatilis,  Aub4. 
obliquus,  Fab. 
confinis,  Steph. 
lineatocoUis,  Marsh. 

CNEMIDOTUS,  III. 
cffisus,  Dtf. 

PELOBIADES.  . 

PELOBIUS,  Sclwn. 

Hermanni,  Fab. 

HYDROPOKIDES. 

HYPHYDRUS,  III. 

ovatus,  Linn, 
variegatus,  Auhe. 

HYDROPORUS,  CI. 

inipqualis,  Fab. 
quinquelineatus,  Zett. 
reticvdatus,  Fal). 
decoratus,  Ggll. 
geuiinus,  Fab. 
12-pustidatus,  Fab. 
elegans.  III. 
Davisii,  Curt. 
assimilis,  Fagk. 
septenti-ionalis,  Ggll. 
rivalis,  Ggll. 
halensis,  Fab. 
griseostriatus,  De  G. 
picipes,  Fab. 
paralleiogrammiis,  Ahr. 
uovemlineatus,  Steph. 
confluens,  Fah. 
dorsalis,  Fab. 
lat  us,  Steph. 
ervtliroceplialus,  Linn. 

rufitVons,  Duf. 

marginatus,  Dif. 

derelictus,  Clark. 

planus,  Fab. 

pubesceus,  Ggll. 

xanthopus,  Steph. 

nitidus,  Sturm. 

ferruginous,  Steph. 

memnonius,  Nicol. 

Gyllenhalii,  Schi. 

melanarius,  Sturm. 

nigrita,  Fah. 

1111  lanof-eplialus,  Ggll. 

tristis,  Fagk. 


umbrosus,  Ggll. 
angustatus,  Sturm, 
obscurus,  Sturm. 
celatus,  Clark. 
vittida,  Er. 
Scalesianus,  Steph. 
tinctus,  Clark. 
palustris,  Linn. 
lineatus,  Oliv. 
flavipes,  Oliv. 
granularis,  Linn. 
pictus,  Fab. 
lepidus,  Oliv. 

DYTISCIDES. 

HYDATICUS,  Leach. 

trail  sversalis.  Fab. 
Hybneri,  Fab. 
stagnalis,  Fab. 
cinereus,  Fab. 

ACILIUS,  Leach. 
sulcatus,  Linn. 
fasciatus,  Deg. 

FUNECTFS,  Er. 
sticticus,  Linn. 

DYTISCUS,  Linn. 
lapponicus,  Ggll. 
cireumflexus.  Fab. 
circumeinctus,  Ahr. 
marginalis,  Linn. 
dimidiatiis,  Bergst. 
punctulatus.  Fab. 

CYBISTEE,  Curtis. 
Roeselii,  Fab. 
COLYMBETES,  Clairv. 
fuscus,  Linn. 
jndverosus,  Sturm. 
notatus,  Fab. 
exoletus,  Forst. 
bistriatus,  Brrgst. 
adspersus,  Fab. 
Grapii,  Ggll. 

ILYBIUS,  Er. 

ater,  Deg. 
sexdentatus,  Schi. 
obscurus,  Marsh. 
fenestratus,  Fab. 


CATALOGUE    OF    THE    BRITISH    COLEOPTERA. 


245 


guttiger,  Gi^ll. 
angustior,  Gfill. 
uliginosus,  Linn. 

AQABUS,  Leaeh. 
agilis,  Fah. 
arcticus,  PayTc. 
uliginosus,  PayTc. 
femoralis,  PayTc. 
congener,  PayTc. 
Sturmii,  Gyll. 
chalconotus,  Panz. 
maculatus,  Linn. 
abbreviatus,  Pab. 
didynius,  Oliv. 
brunneus,  Fab. 
pahidosus,  Fah. 
bipunctatus,  Fah. 
conspersiis,  MarsTi. 
guttatus,  PayTc. 
fontinalis,  Stej^Ti. 
afBnis,  PayTc. 
striolatus,  Gyll. 
bipustulatus,  Linn, 
sexualis,  Eeiche. 

LACCOPHILUS,  LeacTi. 
minutus,  Linn. 
hyalinus,  L>eff. 
variegatus,  Germ. 

NOTERUS,  Clairv. 
crassicornis,  Fab. 
semipiuictatus,  Fab. 

Gyrinidse. 
GYRINUS,  Geoff. 
marinus,  Gyll. 
natator,  Linn. 
niiniitus,  Fah. 
bicolor,  PayTc. 
xn'inator,  III. 

ORF.CTOCHILUS,^:*. 

villosus,  Fah. 

BEACHELYTRA. 
Aleocharidse. 
AUTALIA,  LeaeTi. 
impressa,  Oliv. 
pimcticollis,  STiarp. 
rivularis,  Gr. 


BORBOROPORA,  Ktz 

Kraatzii,  Fuss. 

FALAGRIA,  LeacTi. 
sulcata,  PayTc. 
sulcatula,  PayTc. 
thoracica,  Stej}^,. 
obscura,  Grav. 

BOLITOCHARA, 

Mann. 
lucida,  Grav. 
hmulata,  PayTc. 
bella,  MdrTc. 
obliqua,  Er. 

PHYTOSUS,  Curt. 
spinifer,  Ciirf. 
balticus,  Ktz. 

nigriventris,  Wat.  Oat. 

READINGIA, 
Scott,  M.S. 
thalassina,  Scott,  M.S. 

SILDSA,  i:r. 
rubiginosa,  JEr. 

O GALEA,  Er. 

picata,  StepTi,. 
rivularis,  Miller. 
badia,  F!r. 

ISCHNOGLOSSA,   Kz. 
corticalis,  SlepTi. 
corticina,  Fr. 

LEPTUSA,  Kz. 

analis,  Ktz. 
fuiuida,  Kr. 
ruficoUis,  Er. 

THTASOPHILA,  Kz. 
angulata,  Er. 
inquilina,  MdrTc. 

Kirbyi,     Jans.      (Eu- 

ryusa) . 

EURYUSA,  Er. 

sinuata,  Er. 
laticoUis,  Heer. 

HOMCEUSA,  Kz. 

acuminata,  Marl:. 
HAPLOGLOSSA,  Kz. 

geutilis,  Liien. 


pulla,  Gyll. 
nidicola,  Fairm. 
prsetexta,  Er. 

ALEOCHARA,  Grav. 
ruficornis,  Grav. 
fuscipes,  Fah. 

V.  lata,  Gyll. 
bimaculata,  Ste. 
bipunctata,  01. 
brevipennis,  Grav. 
fumata,  Grav. 
lanuginosa,  Grav. 
obscurella,  Grav. 
Fauvelii. 
Kirbii,  Sfeph. 
procera,  Er. 
spadicea,  Er. 
moesta,  Grav. 
mycetophaga,  Kz. 
moerens,  Gyll. 

sanguinea,  Ste. 
bisignata,  Er. 
bilineata,  Gyll. 
nitida,  Gr. 
inconspicua,  Aube. 
morion,  Gr. 

DINARDA,  Mann. 
Mterkellii,  Kies. 
dentata,  Grav. 

LOMECHUSA,  Gr. 

strumosa,  Fah. 

ATEMELES,  Eillwyn. 
paradoxus,  Gr. 
emarginatus,  PayTc. 

MYRMEDONIA,  Er. 

Haworthi,  StepTi. 
collaris,  PayTc. 
bumeralis,  Gr. 
cognata,  MdrTc. 
fiinesta,  Gr. 
limbata,  PayTc. 
lugens,  Or. 
laticollis,  MdrTc. 
plicata,  Er. 
canaliculata.  Fab. 

ILYOBATES,  Kz. 

nigricollis,  PayTc. 
projjinqua,  Auhe. 
forticoruis,  Lac. 


246 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 


CALLICERUS,  Curtis. 
obscurus,  Gr. 
rigidicornis,  Er. 

CALODERA,  Mann. 
nigrita,  Mann. 
sethiops,  Gr. 
umbrosa,  Er. 
riparia,  Er. 

ISCHNOPODA,  Steph. 
loiigitarsis,  Steph. 
rubicunda,  Er. 

TACHYUSA,  Er. 
constricta,  Er. 
coarctata,  Er. 
scitiila,  Er. 
leiicopa,  Marsh. 
umbratica,  Er. 
atra,  Gr. 
con  color,  Er, 
uvida,  Er. 
sulcata,  Kies. 

OCYUSA,  Ez. 
IB  aura,  Er. 
picina,  Auhe. 

OXYPODA,  Mann. 
riificornis,  Mann. 
luteipennis,  Er. 
vittata,  Mdrh. 
Ojiaca,  Gr. 
longiuscula,  Gr. 
lentula,  Er. 
umbrata,  Er. 
brcTicornis,  Steph. 
oxigua,  Er. 
cxoleta,  Er. 
rufula,  Muls. 
altenians,  Gr. 
lucens,  Muls. 
glabriventris,  Et/e. 
formiceticola,  Mark. 
liajmorrhoa,  Mann. 
aterrima,  Waterh. 
iiigrina,  Waterh, 
iiigrofusca,  JVaterh. 
annularis,  Mann. 
misella,  Ktz. 
?  lielvola,  Er. 
brachyptcra,  Steph. 


HOMALOTA,  3fann. 
currax,  Kz. 
dehilicornis,  Er. 
vclox,  Ktz. 
fragilicornis,  Kz. 
pagiina,  Er. 
vestita,  Gr. 
oblonga,  Er. 
nitidula,  MdrTc. 
vicina,  Steph. 
graniinicola,  Gr. 
languida,  Er. 
sulcifrons,  Steph. 
})lanifrons,  Waterh. 
gregaria,  Er. 
cambrica,  Woll. 
fluviatilis,  Kraatz. 
imbecilla,  Waterh. 
elongatula,  Gr. 
bygrotopora,  Kz. 
Inridipeniiis,  Mann. 
luteipes,  Er. 
fragilis,  Kz. 
labilis,  Er. 
ca^rulea,  Sahib. 
plumbea,  Waterh. 
f'allax,  Kz. 
longula,  Heer. 
puncticeps,  Tlioms. 
maritima,  Waterh. 
occulta,  Er. 
niontioola,  Thorns. 
excellens,  Kz. 
incaua,  Er. 
nigella,  Er. 
fpquita,  Er. 
augiistula,  Mann. 
linearis,  Gr. 
pilicornis.  Thorns. 
pilosa,  Kraatz. 
debilis,  Er. 
deformis,  Kz. 
plana,  3Iann. 
inimersa,  Er. 
cuspidata,  Er. 
gemina,  Er. 
analis,  Gr. 
?  soror,  Ktz. 
iTgra,  Eeer. 
palleola,  Er. 
cxilis,  Er. 
iucouspicua,  Er. 


vilis,  Er. 
parallela,  Mann. 
flavipes,  Gr. 
confusa,  Murk. 
anceps,  Er. 
bruunea,  Fab. 
liepatica,  Er. 
xanthoptera,  Steph. 
euryptera,  Steph. 
trinotata,  Thorns. 
triangulum,  Kz. 
nigricornis,  Steph. 
sublinearis,  Kz. 
nigritula,  Gr. 
fuscofemorata,  Wat. 
sodalis,  Er. 
divisa,  Mark. 
Thomsoni,  Jans. 
coriaria.  Miller. 
angusticollis,  Thorns. 
autumnalis,  Er. 
variabilis,  Kz. 
nigra,  Kz. 
cinnamomea,  Gr. 
hospita,  Mark. 
subterranea,  Muls. 
scapularis,  SaJilb. 
dilaticornis,  Ktz. 
liturata,  Stepti. 
oblita,  Er. 
amicula,  Steph. 
sordidula,  Er. 
inquiutila,  Er. 
marcida,  Er. 
subrugosa,  Kies. 
intermedia.  Thorns. 
longicornis,  Gr. 
villosula,  Kz. 
laevana,  Mills. 
atramentaria,  Gi/ll. 
palustris,  Kies. 
lepida,  Ktz. 
sordida,  Marf,h. 
melanaria,  Mann. 
aterrima,  Gr. 
pygmsea,  Gr. 
laticollis,  Steph. 
castanipes,  Steph. 
parva,  Salilb. 
picipes,  Steph. 
fungi,  Gr. 
orbata,  Er. 


CATALOGUE    OF    THE    BRITISH    COLEOPTERA. 


147 


piilchra,  Kr. 
clientula,  £r. 
notlia,  Ur. 
tibialis,  Ueer. 
cireellaris,  G-r. 
csesula,  lEr. 

PLACUSA,  Ilr. 
infima,  Er. 
puinilio,  Grav. 

PHLCEOPORA,  Er. 
reptaus,  Qr. 
corticalis,  Gr. 

HYaRONOMA,  Er. 
dimidiataj  Gr. 

SCHISTOGLOSSA,  Kz. 
viduata,  Er. 

OLIGOTA,  Mann. 
pygmaja,  Ktz. 
pusillima,  Gr. 
atomaria,  Er. 
iiiflata,  Mann. 
granavia,  Erichs. 
flavicornis,  Lac. 
apicata,  Er. 

ENCEPHALUS,W'-e*<w. 

complicans,  Westw. 

GYROPHJSNA,  Mann. 
geiitilis,  Er. 
pulchella,  Heer. 
alfinis,  Sahib. 
nana,  Pai/k. 
fasciata,  Marsh. 
liievipennis,  Thorns, 
lucidula,  Er. 
minima,  Er. 
manca,  Er. 
strictaiia,  Er. 

AGARICOCHARA,  Kz. 

lajvicoUis,  Kraatz. 

DIGLOSSA,  Halid. 
mersa,  Halid. 

MYLL.ENA,  Er. 
dubia,  Erichs. 
intermedia,  Erichs. 


minuta,  Erichs. 
gracilis,  Matth. 
elongata,  Matth. 
brevicornis,  Matth. 
infuscata,  Kraatz. 

GYMNUSA,  Karsten. 
brevicoUis,  Payk. 
Tariegata,  Kies. 

DINOPSIS,  3Iatth. 
erosus,  Steph. 

Tachyporidse. 

HYPOCYPTUS,  Schiip. 

longicornis,  PayTc. 
piilicarius,  Erichs. 
discoideus,  Erichs. 
anisotomoides,  Steph. 
?  seminulum,  Er. 
?  pjgmseus,  Kraatz. 

TRICHOPHYA,  Mann. 
pilicornis,  Mann. 

HABROCERUS,  Kr. 

capillaricornis,  Grav. 

LEUCOPARYPHUS, 
Kz. 

silphoides,  Linn. 

TACHINUS,  Grav. 
Immeralis,  Grav. 
proximus,  Ktz. 
pallipes,  Grav. 
rufipes,  Fah. 
flavipes,  Fah. 
rufipennis,  Gyll. 
scapularis,  Steph. 
bipustulatus,  Grav. 
subterraneus,  Linn. 
marginellus,  Fab. 
laticollis,  Grav. 
collai'is,  Grav. 
elongatulus,  Grav. 

TACHYPORUS,   Grav. 
obtiisus,  Linn. 

v.  nitidicollis,  Ste'ph. 

ruficollis,  Wat.  Cat. 
formosvis,  Matth. 
?  abdominalis,  Er. 


solutns,  Erichs. 
chrysomelinus,  Linn. 
hypnorum,  Fab. 
piisillus,  Grav. 
liumerosus,  Grav. 
tersus,  Er. 
trans versalis,  Grav. 
scitulus,  Er. 
brunueus,  Fa'>. 

LAMPRINUS,  Heer. 

saginatus,  Grav. 

CONURUS,  Steph, 

litoreus,  Linn. 
pubescens,  Grav. 
immacidatus,  Steph. 
pedicularius,  Grav. 
lividus,  Er. 
bipunctatus,  Er. 

BOLITOBIUS,  Steph, 
analis,  PayTc. 
cingulatus,  Mann. 
inclinans,  Grav. 
formosus,  Grav. 
atricapillus,  Fab. 
trinotatus,  Er. 
exoletus,  Er. 
pygmseus,  Fab. 

BRYOPORUS,  Kr. 

cernuus,  Grav. 
castaneus,  H.  and  Bold. 

MYCETOPORUS,i/a«. 
lucidus,  Er. 
punctus,  Grav. 
splendens,  Marsh. 
brunneus,  Marsh. 
longulus,  Mann. 
lepidiis,  Grav. 
angularis,  Muls. 
nanus,  Grav. 
clavicornis,  Steph. 
splendidus,  Grav. 
longicornis,  Ktz. 

Quediadse. 

ACYLOPHORUS, 

Nord. 

glabricollis,  Lac. 


248 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 


EUEYPORUS,  Er. 

picipes,  Paylc. 
HETEEOTHOPS,  Stejj. 
pi'ffiviiis,  Er. 
binotatus,  StepJi. 
dissiniilis,  Grav. 
quadripunctuhis,  Grav. 

QLTEDIUS,  Leach. 
dilatatns,  Fah. 
lateralis,  Grav. 
fulgidus,  Er. 
truncicola,  Fairm. 
cruentus,  Oliv. 
xanthopus,  Er. 
longicornis,  Kr. 
scitus,  Grav. 
Iffivigatus,  Gyll. 
impressiis,  Panz. 
brevis,  Er. 
molochimis,  Grav, 
tristis,  Grav. 
fuliginosus,  Grav, 
picipes,  Mann. 
fumatns,  Steph. 
umbriinis,  Er. 
ruficollis,  Steph, 
maurorufus,  Grav. 
humeralis,  Steph. 
fuseipes,  Steph. 
fulvicollis,  Sfep/i. 
semiobsGurus,  Marsh. 
semiseneus,  Steph. 
atteniiatus,  Gyll. 
boops,  Grav. 
auricomus,  Kies. 
infuscatus,  Er. 

ASTRA PjEUS,  Grav. 
ulmi,  Rossi. 

Staphylinidse. 
CREOPIIILUS,  Kirhi/. 
maxillosus,  Linn. 

EMUS,  Leach.      ' 
hirtus,  Linn. 

LETSTOTEOPIIUS, 

Pert. 
nebidosus,  Fab. 
murinus,  Linn, 


STAPHYLINUS,  Linn. 

stercorarius,  Oliv. 
latebricola,  Grav, 
fulvipes,  Scop. 
pubescens,  Deg. 
erytliropterus,  Linn. 
cscsarius,  Ceder. 

OCYPUS  (Kirby),  Er. 

olens,  Midi, 
cyaneus,  Payk, 
similis,  Fab. 
bruunipes,  Fab. 
fuscatus,  Grav. 
cupreus,  Rossi, 
pedator,  Grav. 
atcr,  Grav. 
morio,  Grav. 
compressus,  Marsh. 

PHILONTHUS,  Leach. 

splendens,  Fab. 
intermedins,  Lac. 
laminatus,  Steph, 
succieola,  Thorns. 

carbonarius,  Wat.  Cat. 
punctiventris,  Kraatz. 
temporalis,  Muls. 
a>neus,  Rossi. 
scutatiis,  Er. 
decorus,  Grav. 
politus,  Fab. 
lucens,  Mann. 
iimbratilis,  Grav, 
Tarius,  Gi/ll. 
albipes,  Grav, 
atratus,  Grav. 
marginatus,  Fab, 
lepidus,  Grav. 
sordidus,  Grav, 
fimetarius,  Grav. 
cephalotes,  Grav. 
fuscus,  Grav. 
xaiitlioloma,  Grav, 
fucicola,  Steph. 
ebeninus,  Grav. 
corvinus,  Er. 
fumigatus,  Er, 
saiiguinolcntiis,  Grav. 
tiipustulatus,  Panz. 
longicornis,  Steph. 


varians,  Payl; 
agilis,  Grav. 
debilis,  Grav. 
ventralis,  Grav, 
discoideus,  Grav, 
vernalis,  Grav. 
quisquiliarius,  Gyll, 
splendidulus,  Grav, 
therinarum,  Auhe. 
fumarius,  Grav. 
nigrita,  Nord. 
micans,  Grav. 
rubri]iennis,  Steph. 
?  fulvipes,  Fab. 
nigntulus,  Grav, 
puUiis,  Nord. 
punctus,  Grav. 
puella,  Nordm. 
ciiierascens,  Grav. 
villosulus,  Steph. 
signaticoriiis,  Muls, 
procerulus,  Grav. 
prolixiis,  Er. 
sericeus,  Holme. 

Xantholinidse. 
XANTHOLINUS,Z>aAZ. 

fulgidus,  Fab, 
glabratus,  Grav, 
glaber,  Nord. 
punctulatus,  Payk. 
ocbracens,  Gyll, 
atratus,  Heer, 
tricolor.  Fab. 
linearis,  Oliv. 
longiventris,  Lleer, 

LEPTACINUS,  Er, 

parumpunctatus,  Gyll, 
batycbrus,  Gyll, 
linearis,  Grav. 
formicetorum,  Mark, 

OTHIUS,  Steph. 

fidvipennis,  Fab. 
la'yiusculus,  Kirby. 
mclanocephalus,  Grav. 

BAPTOLTNUS,  Kr, 

alternanSj  Grav. 


CATALOGUE    OF    THE    BRITISH    COLEOPTERA. 


249 


Psederidse. 
LATHROBIUM, 

Grav. 
brunnipes,  Fah. 
elongatum,  Linn. 
boreale,  Hoch. 

geminum,  Ktz. 
fiilyipeuue,  Grav. 
rufipenne,  Gyll. 
multipunctum,  Grav. 
angusticolle,  Lac. 
quadratum,  Payh. 
terminatum,  Grav. 
punctatum,  Norcl. 
filiforme,  Grav. 
longulum,  Grav. 
pallidum,  Nord, 

ACHENIUM,  Leach. 
depressum,  Grav. 
hu7nile,  Nicol. 

CRYPTOBIUM,  Mann. 
fracticorne,  Paylc. 
STILICUS,  Lat. 

RlTGiLtrs,  Leach. 
fragilis,  Grav. 
rufipes,  Ger. 
siibtilis,  Er. 
similis,  Er. 
geniculatus,  Er. 
affinis,  Er, 
oi'biciilatus,  Payh. 

SCOPiEUS,  Er. 

IgeTigatus,  Gyll. 
sulcicoUis,  Stej^h. 

LITHOCHARIS,  Lac. 
castanea,  Grav. 
niaritima,  Auhe. 
fiiseula,  Mann. 
brunnea,  Er. 
ripieola,  Ktz. 
apicalis,  Kr. 
ochracea,  Grav. 
obsoleta,  Nord. 
melanocepliala,  Fah, 
tricolor,  Marsh. 

SUNIITS,  Leach. 
filiformis,  Latr. 


intermedius,  Er. 
angustatus,  Payk. 

P^DERUS,  Grav. 
littoralis,  Grav. 
riparius,  Linn. 
fuscipes,  Curt. 
caligatus,  Er. 
rujicollis,  Fah. 
sanguinicollis,  Sfeph. 

StenidsB. 
EV.ESTHETUS,  Grav. 
scaber,  Grav. 
Ifeviusculus,  Mann. 
ruficaijillus,  Lac. 

DIANOUS,  Leach. 
cajrulescens,  Gyll. 

STENUS,  Lat. 
bigiittatus,  Linn. 
biiJiinctatus,  Er. 
guttula,  Miil. 
bimaculatus,  Gyll. 
Juno,  Fah. 
asphaltinus,  Er. 
ater,  Mann. 
longitarsis,  Thorns. 
buphthajmus,  Grav. 
morio,  Er. 
atratulus,  Er. 
melanarius,  Sfeph. 
iucrassatus,  Er. 
melanopus,  Marsh. 
nitens,  Stejjh. 
canaliculatus,  Gyll. 
opacus,  Er. 

?  debilis,  Diet.  M.S. 
pusillus,  Kirhy. 
exiguus,  Er. 
speculator,  Lac. 
Rogeri,  Ktz. 

?  Sylvester,  Crotch  Cat. 
scrutator,  Er. 
lustrator,  Er. 
Gruynemei'i,  Du  Val. 
proditor,  Er. 
Argus,  Grav. 
submarginatus,  Steph. 
fuscipes,  Grav. 
cii'cularis,  Grav. 


nanus,  Steph. 

deelaratus,  Er. 
crassus,  Steph. 

nigritulus,  Er. 

crassiventris.  Thorns. 

V.  littoralis,  Thorns. 
nigritulus,  Gyll. 

unicolor,  Steph. 
brunnipes,  Steph. 
opticus,  Grav. 
binotatus,  Ljungh. 
pubescens,  Steph. 
plantaris,  Er. 
bifoveolatus,  Gyll. 

nitidus,  Steph. 
brevicollis.  Thorns. 

foveicollis,  Kr. 

bifoveolatus,  Er. 
picipes,  Steph. 
picipennis,  Er. 
nitidiuscidus,  Stepli. 
gonjmelas,  Steph. 
ossium,  Step>h. 
impressus,  Germ. 
geniculatus,  Grav. 
^v\ch.som,(Janson, M.S.J 
Rye. 

flavipes,  Er.  nee  Steph. 
fuscicoruis,  Er. 
palustris,  Er. 
pallipes,  Qrav. 
fiavipes,  Steph. 

filum,  Er. 
Kiesenwetteri,  Eos. 
tarsalis,  Ljungh. 
oculatus,  Grav. 
solutus,  Er. 
cicindeloides,  Grav. 
fulvicornis,  Steph. 
latifrons,  Er. 
fornicatus,  Steph. 

Oxytelidse. 
OXYPORUS,  Fab. 
rufus,  Linn, 
niaxillosits,  Fab. 

BLEDIUS,  Leach. 
taurus.  Germ. 
bicornis,  Germ. 
tricornis,  Hhst. 
unicornis,  Germ. 


250 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 


taJpa,  Gryll. 
subterraneiis,  Er. 
fuscipes,  Ri/p. 
areiiariiis,  Pmih. 
opacus,  Block. 
fracticornis,  PaijJc. 
femoralis,  Gyll. 
longulus,  Er. 
atricapilhis,  Germ. 
crassicoUis,  Lac. 
erraticus,  Er. 

PLATYSTETHUS, 

3Ian. 
cornutus,  Grav.y 
morsitans,  PayTc. 
capito,  Heer. 
iiodifrons,  Sahib. 
nitens,  Sahib. 

OXYTELUS,  Mann. 
rugosus,  Fab. 
iiisecatus,  Grav. 
sculptiis,  Grav. 
piceus,  Grav. 
laqueatus,  Marsh. 
inustus,  Grav. 
sciilpturatus,  Grav. 
nitiduliis,  Grav. 
maritimus,  Thorns. 
coinplanatus,  Er. 
clepressiis,  Grav. 
speculifrons,  Kr. 

HAPLODERUS,  Steph. 
ca?latus,  Grav. 
ANCYROPHORUS,A';. 
onialinus,  Er. 
longipennis,  Fairm. 

TROaOBHLCEUS, 

Mann. 
arcuatus,  Sttph. 
riparius,  Lac. 
biliiieatus,  Er. 
elongatulus,  Er. 
fuliginosus,  Grav. 
corticinus,  Grav. 
lialophilus,  Kiel. 
fovi'olatu-:.  Sahib. 
pusillus,  Grav. 
tenellus,  Er. 


THIX0BIU3,  Kies. 
bruimeipennis,  Kr. 
longipennis,  Kies. 
brevipennis,  Kies. 

SYNTOMIUM,  Curt. 
seueum,  Miill. 

COPROPHILUS,  Lat. 
striatulus,  Fab. 

ACROGNATHUS,  Er. 
mandibularis,  Gyll. 
DELEASTER,  Er. 

dichrous,  Grav. 

Homaliadse. 

ANTHOPHAGUS, 

Grav. 
alpinus,  Fab. 
testaceus,  Grav. 

GEODROMICUS,i?eJi;. 

nigrita,  Mill. 
globulicoUis,  Mann. 

LESTEVA,  Lat. 
bicolor,  Fab. 
Sliarpi. 

pubescens,  Mann. 
punctata,  Er. 

ACIDOTA,  Steph. 
crenata,  Fab. 
cruentata,  Mann. 

OLOPHRUM,  Er. 

piceum,  Gyll. 
fuscuiu,  Er. 

LATHRIM.EUM,  Er. 

atroceplialiim,  Gyll. 
uuicolor,  MarsJi. 

DELIPHRUM,  Er. 

tectum,  Payh. 

ARPEDIUM,  Er. 
bracliyptei'um,  Grav. 

PHILORINUM,  Kr. 
liumile,  Er. 


MICRALYIIMA, 

IVestw. 
brevipenue,  Gyll. 
CORYPHIUM,  Steph. 
angusticolle,  Steph. 

HOMALIUM,  Grav. 
Iseviusculum,  Gyll. 
riparium,  Thorns. 
septentrionis,  Thorns. 
rivulare,  Payh. 
fossulatum,  Er. 
Alkrdi,  Fairm. 
rugulipenne,  Rye. 
csesuni,  Grav. 
nigriceps,  Kies, 
oxyacanthte,  Grav. 
exiguuin,  Gyll. 
monilicorne,  Gyll. 
planum,  Payk. 
lapponicum,  Zett. 

pineti,  Thorns. 

con  forme,  Ktz. 
pusillum,  Grav. 
deplanatuni,  Gyll. 
concinnum,  Marsh. 
testaceum,  Er. 
vile,  Er. 
brevicorne,  Er. 
salicis,  Gyll. 
crassicoi'ne.  Matt, 
floi-ale,  Fah. 
nigrum,  Grav. 
loptcrum,  Steph, 
striatum,  Grav. 
pygniijeum,  Payk. 
iniiatum,  Gyll. 

EUSPHALERUM,  Kz. 
primuliB,  Steph. 
ANT H OPIUM,  Leach. 
minutum,  Fab. 
torquatum,  Marsh. 
oplithahnicum,  Payk. 
sorbi,  Gyll. 

Protinidse. 

PROTINUS,  Lat. 

ovalis,  Steph. 
brachypterus,  Lat. 


CATALOGUE  OF  THE  BRITISH  COLEOPTERA. 


251 


macropterus,  Gi/ll. 
atomarius,  Er. 

MEGAIITHRUS,^«%. 

depresses,  Er. 
sinuatocoUis,  Lac. 
denticoUis,  Beck. 
hemiptei'us,  III. 

PHLCEOBIUM,  Er. 
clypeatum,  Hull. 

PhlcEocharidse. 
PHLCEOCHARIS,  Man. 
subtilissima,  Mann. 
PSEUDOPSIS,  Neiom. 
sulcatus,  Newm. 

PiestidsB. 

PROGNATHA,  Lat. 

quadi'icornis,7i  tV.  and  Sp. 

Micropeplidse. 

MICROPEPLUS,  Lat. 

porcatus,  Fai. 
staphylinoides,  Marsh,. 
tesserula,  Curt. 
margaritse,  Du  V. 
V.  fulvus,  Er. 

NECROPHAGA. 
Silphidse. 

SILPHIDES. 
NECROPHORUS,  Fab. 
germanicus,  Linn. 
humator,  Fab. 
vestigator,  Sersch. 
interruptns,  Steph. 

V.  gallicns,  Bu  Val. 
ruspator,  Er. 

v.raicrocephalus,  Thms. 
mortuorum,  Fab. 
vespillo,  Linn. 

NECRODES,  Leach. 
littoralis,  Linn. 

SILPHA,  Linn. 
thoracica,  Linn. 


rugosa,  Linn. 
dispar,  Hbst. 
sinuata.  Fab. 
opaca,  Linn. 
tristis,  III. 
nigrita,  Creutz. 
obscura,  Linn. 
reticulata,  Fah. 
quadripunctata,  Linn. 
Irevigata,  Fab. 
atrata,  Linn. 
subrotundata,  Leach. 

CHOLEVIDES. 
CHOLEVA,  Lat. 
angustata,  Fab. 

V.  ?  vSturmii,  Bris. 

V.  ?  intermedia,  Kr. 

V.  ?  cisteloides,  Frohl. 
spadicea,  Sturm. 
agilis.  III. 
fusca.  Pans. 
nigricans,  Spence. 
coracina,  Kelln. 
morio,  Fab. 
longula,  Kelln. 
nigrita,  Er. 
grandicollis,  Er. 
Kirbyi,  Spence. 
pilicornis,  Thorns. 

longida,  Murray. 
tristis,  Pam. 
chrysomeloides,  Panz. 
Watsoni,  Sp. 
fumata,  Sp. 
velox,  Sp. 
Wilkin  ii,  Sp. 
anisotomoides,  Sp. 
sericea.  Fab. 
varieornis,  Rosen. 
colonoides,  Kr. 

COLON,  Ebst. 
viennense,  Hbst. 
puncticolle,  Kr. 

deiitii^es,  Er. 
Zebei,  Kr. 
deutipes,  Sahib. 

spinipes,  Hal. 
appeiidieiilatum.  Sahib, 
calcaratum,  Er. 
angulare,  Er. 


serripes.  Sahib. 

fusculum,  Er. 
brunnenm.  Lair. 
latum,  Kraatz. 

ADELOPS,  Tellh. 
Wollastoni,  Jans. 

LEPTINUS,  Miill. 
testaceus,  Miill. 

SPH^RITES,  Di(f. 
glabratiis,  Fah. 

Scydmsenidse. 
EUMICRUS,  Lap. 

tarsatus,  Miill. 
SCYDM^NUS,  Lat. 
Godarti,  Lat. 
scutellaris,  Miill. 
collaris,  Miill. 
pusillus,  Miill. 
exilis,  Er. 
angulatus,  Miill. 
elongatulus,  Miill. 
rubicundus,  Schaum. 
Sparshallii,  Denny. 
pumilio,  Schaiim. 
denticornis,  3JiUl. 
rutilipennis,  Miill. 
hirticoUis,  III. 
nanus,  Schaum. 

CEPHENNIUM,  MiiU. 

thoracicum,  Miill. 
?  intermedium,  Aube. 

EUTHIA,  Steph. 

plicata,  Gyll. 
Schaumii,  Kies. 
scydmaenoides,  Steph. 

Anisotomidse. 
HYDNOBIUS,  Schm. 
Perrisii,  Fairm. 
punctatissimus,  Steph. 
punctatus,  Sturm, 
spinipes,  Gyll. 
strigosus,  Schm. 

ANISOTOMA,  Knock. 
cinnamomea,  Panz. 


252 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 


rugosa,  Sfpfh. 
Trit'pkii,  Schm. 
picea,  III. 
obesa,  Schm. 

V.  brunnea,  Sturm. 
dubia,  Kugel. 
fiirva,  Er. 
ciliaris,  Schm, 
ovalis,  Schm. 
calcarata,  Er. 
nigrita,  Sch. 
badia,  Sturm. 
pai'vula,  Sahib. 
litura,  Slejjh. 

oruata,  Fairm. 

CYKTUSA,  Er. 

minuta,  Ahr. 

COLENIS,  Er. 
dentipos,  GyU. 

AGAEICOPHAGUS, 

Schm. 
ceplialotes,  Schm. 

LIODES,  Lat. 
humeralis,  Fab. 
glaber,  Kiig. 
castaneiis,  Hhst. 
orbicularis,  Hbst. 

AMPHICYLLTS,  Er. 

globus,  Fab. 

AGATHIDIUM,  III. 
nigripenne,  Fab. 
Isevigatum,  Er. 
atrum,  Payh. 
serniiiulura,  Linn. 
rotundatum,  Gyll. 
varians,  Beck. 
rhinoceros,  Sharp. 
nigrinum,  Sturm. 
clypeatum.  Sharp. 

maudibulare,  Wat.  Cat. 
convcxum,  Sharp. 

piceum,  Crotch  Cat. 
marginatum,  Sturm. 

Scaphidiadse. 

SCAPHIDIUM,  Oliv. 
quadrimaculatum,  Oliv. 


SCAPHISOMA,  Leacli. 
agaricina,  Oliv. 
boleti,  Panz. 
assimilis,  Er. 

Histeridse. 
niSTER,  Linn. 
quadrimaculatus,  Linn. 
sinuatus.  III. 
quadrinotatus,  Scri. 
unicolor,  Linn. 
neglectus.  Germ. 
cadaverinus,  Ent. 
succicola.  Thorns. 
merdarius,  Ent.  Ref. 
carbonarius.  111. 
marginatus,  Er. 
piu'purascens,  Hbst. 
stercorarius,  Ent. 
bis-sexstriatus.  Fab. 
biniacidatus,  Linn. 
12-striatus,  Schr. 

V.  ?  14-striatus,  Gi/ll. 

HETiEEIUS,  Godet. 
sesquicornis,  Preys. 

DENDEOPHILUS, 

Lea. 
punctatus,  Hbst. 
pygmocus,  Linn. 

CARCINOPUS,  Mars. 
14-striatus,  Steph. 
minimus,  Aube. 

PAROMALUS,  Er. 
Qaviconiis,  Hbst. 
SAPRINUS,  Er. 

piceus,  Payk. 
rotundatus,  III. 
nitidulus,  Payk. 
a?neus,  Fah. 
immundus,  Gyll. 
virescens,  Payk. 
4-striatu9,  Ent. 
rugifrons,  Payk. 
mctaliicus,  Hbst. 
maritinms,  Steph. 

TERETRIVS,  Er. 

picipes,  Fab. 


ONTHOPHILUS,  Lea. 

suleatus,  Fab. 
exaratus,  III. 
striatus,  Fab. 

PLEQADERUS,  Er. 
dissectus,  Er. 

ABRJ2US,  Leach. 
globosus,  Ent.  H. 
granulum,  Er. 

ACRITUS,  Le  Conte. 
punetum,  Aube. 
nigricornis,  Ent.  H. 
minutus,  Payk. 

Nitidulidse. 

BRACHYPTERIDES 

CERCUS,  Lat. 

pedicularius,  Linn. 
bipustulatus,  Payk. 
rufilabris,  Latr. 

BRACHYPTERUS, 
ETiiy. 

gravidas.  III. 
urticai,  Fah. 
pubescens,  Er. 

CAEPOPHILIDES. 

CARPOPHILUS.iVf^A 
hemipterus,  Linn, 
sexpustulatus.  Fab. 

NITIDULIDES. 

EPUR.EA,  Er. 

10-guttata,  Fab. 
diffusa,  Bris. 
a^stiva,  Linn. 
melina,  Er. 
delcta,  Er. 
obsoleta.  Fab. 
neglocta,  Heer. 
])arvula,  Sturm. 
a.ngustula,  Er. 
oblonga,  Hhst. 
pusilla,  Hbst. 
longula,  Er. 
florea,  Er. 

melanocephala,  Marsh. 
limbata,  Fab. 


CATALOGUE    OF    THE    BRITISH    COLEOPTERA. 


253 


NITIDULA,  Fab. 
bipustulata,  Linn, 
flexiiosa.  Fab. 
rufipes,  Steph. 
quadripustulata,  Fah. 

SORONIA,  Er. 
punctatissima,  III. 
gi'isea,  Linn. 

AMPHOTIS,  Er. 

marginata,  Fah. 

OMOSITA,  Er. 
depressa,  Linn. 
colon,  Linn. 
discoidea,  Fah. 

THALYCEA,  Er. 

sericea,  Sturm. 

PEIA,  Kirby. 
dulcainarse,  III. 
MELIGETHES,  Kirbi/. 
rufipes,  Gyll. 
lumbaris,  Sturm. 
serieus,  Fab. 
viridescens,  Fah. 
coracinus,  Sturm. 
corviniis,  Er. 
symphjti,  Sturm. 
difficilis,  Sturtn. 
memnonius,  Er. 
pedicidarius,  Gyll, 
seiTipes,  Gyll. 
umbrosus,  Sturm. 
maurus,  Sturm. 
seniculus,  Er. 
flavipes,  Sturm. 
picipes,  Sturm. 
lugubris,  Sturm. 
distinctus,  Er. 
erythropus,  Gyll. 
exilis,  Sturm. 
solidiis,  Er. 

POCADIUS,  Er. 
ferrugineus,  Fah. 

CYCHEAMIDES, 
CYCHRAMUS,  Kugel. 
liiteus,  Fab. 


fungicola,  Keer. 

PHALACBIDES. 
PHALACRUS,  Paylc. 
corruscus,  Payh. 
substriatus,  Gyll. 
caricis,  Sturm. 

OLIBRUS,  Er. 

corticalis,  Panz. 
seiieus,  Fab. 
liquidiis,  Er. 
atKnis,  Sturm. 
millefolii,  Payk. 
pjgmffius,  Sturm. 
geminus,  III. 
piceus,  Er. 
obloiigus,  Er. 

IPIDES. 

CRYPTARCHA,  Shuclc. 
strigata,  Fah. 
imperialis,  Fab. 

IPS,  Fah. 
4-guttatus,  Fah. 
4-pimctatus,  Hbst. 
•J-pustulatus,  Fab. 
ferrugineus,  Fah. 

RHIZOPHAaUS.S-J*;!. 

depressus,  Fab. 
cribratiis,  Gyll. 
ferrugineus,  Payh. 
perforatus,  Er. 
parallelocoUis,  Gyll, 
nitididus,  Fab. 
dispar,  Paylc. 
politus,  Fah. 
bipustulatus,  Fab. 
caeruleus,  Waltl. 

Trogositidse. 

NEMOSOMA,  Lat. 
elongata,  Linn. 

TROGOSITA,  Oliv. 
maimtanica,  Linn. 

THYMALUS,  Lat. 
limbatus,  Fab, 


Colydiadse. 

SARROTRIUM,  III. 
clavicorne,  Linn. 
ENDOPHLCEUS,  Er, 
spinulosus,  Lat. 

DITOMA,  III. 
crenata,  Hbst. 

SYNCHITA,  Bellw. 
juglandis,  Fab. 

CICONES,  Curt, 
variegatus,  Hellw. 

COLYDIUM,  Fab. 
elongatum,  Fab. 

TEREDUS,  Shuch, 
nitidus,  Fah. 

OXYL^MUS,  Er. 
cylindricus,  Panz. 
csesus,  Er. 

AGLENUS,  Er. 

brunneus,  Oyll. 
ANOMMATUS,  Wesm. 
12-striatus,  Milll. 

CERYLON,  Lat. 
histeroides,  Fah. 
ferrugineum,  Steph. 
?  deplanatum,  Oyll. 

MONOTOMA,  Hbst. 

conicicoUis,  Atihe. 
angusticoUis,  Gyll. 
spinieollis,  Aube. 
picipes,  Payh. 
brevicollis,  Aube. 
quadricollis,  Aube. 
rufa,  Redt. 

sub-4-foveolata,  Wat. 
quadrifoveolata,  Aube. 
longicollis,  Gi/ll. 

Cucujidse. 

PEDIACUS,  Shucl: 
dermestoides,  Fab. 


254 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 


L^MOPHLGEUS,  Er. 

ferrugineus,  Steph. 
duplicatus,  Waltl. 
pusillus,  Schon. 
bimaculatus,  Payk. 
ater,  Oliv. 
clematidis,  Er. 

DENDROPHAGUS, 

Sell  on. 

crcnatiis,  FayTc. 

BRONTES,  Eah. 
plana  t  us,  Linn. 
PSAMMCECUS,  Bond. 
bipunctatus,  Fah. 

SILVANUS,  Lat. 
frimientarius,  Fah. 

?  siuunamensis,  Linn. 
bidentatus.  Fab. 
uuidentatiis.  Fab. 
adveua,  WaUl. 

NAUSIBIUS,  Schaum. 
dentatus.  Marsh. 

Cryptophagidse. 

ANTHEROPHAGUS, 
Knock. 

nigricornis,  Fab. 
silaceus,  Hbst. 
pallens,  Oliv. 

CRYPTOPHAGUS, 

Hbst. 
populi,  Payk. 
Ijcopcrdi,  Hbst. 
setulosus,  Sturm. 
pilosus,  Gyll. 
saginatus,  Sturm. 
iinibratus,  Er. 
soanicus,  Linn. 
badius,  Sturm. 
afllnis,  Sturm. 
cellaris.  Scop. 
acutangidus,  Oiill. 
dentatus,  Hbst. 
ruficornis,  Steph. 
clistinguendus,  Sturm, 
bicolor,  Sturm, 
serratus,  Oyll, 


vini,  Pam. 
pubescens,  Sturm. 

PARAMECOSOMA, 

Curtis. 

melanocepbala,  Hbst. 
ATOMARIA,  Steph. 

feiTuginea,  Sahib. 

fimetarii,  Hbst. 

fumata,  Er. 

Barani,  Bris. 

nigriventris,  Steph. 

umbrina,  Gyll. 

diluta,  Er. 

linearis,  Steph. 

elongatula,  Er. 

peltata,  Kr. 

fuscipes,  Gyll. 

pusilla,  Payk. 
atrieapilla,  Stej^h. 

V.  ?  berolinensis,  Kr. 
fuscata,  Schon. 
rhenana,  Kr. 
gutta,  Step)h. 
mesomelas,  Hbst. 

V.  atra,  Woll. 
basalis,  Er. 
munda,  Er. 
impressa,  Er. 
nigripennis,  Payk. 
Hislopi,  Woll. 
apicalis,  Er. 
analis,  Er. 
ruficornis,  Marsh. 
versicolor,  Er. 

EPISTEMUS,  Westiu. 
globosus,  Waltl. 
globulus,  Payk. 

Mycetophagidse. 

MYCETOPHAGUS, 

Hellw. 

4-pustulatus,  Linn. 
piceus.  Fab. 
atoniarius.  Fab. 
multipunetatus,  Fab. 
populi.  Fab. 
quadriguttatus,  Milll. 

TRIPHYLLUS,  Meg. 
puuctatus,  Fab. 


\  suturalis,  Fah. 

LITARGUS,  Er. 
bifdsciatus,  Fab. 

TYPH^A,  Kirhy. 
fumata,  Linn. 

Dermestidse. 

DERMESTES,  Linn. 
vidpinus,  Fab. 
Frischii,  I{ug. 
niurinus,  Linn. 
undulatus,  Brahm, 
laniarius,  Lll. 
lardarius,  Linn. 

ATTAGENUS,  Latr. 

pellio,  Linn, 
rerhasci,  Linn. 

MEGATOMA,  Herhst. 
undata,  Linn. 

TIRESIAS,  StepA. 
serra.  Fab. 

ANTHRENUS,    Geoffr. 
scrophularice,  Linn. 
pimpinellce,  Fab. 
varius.  Fab. 
inuseorum,  Linn, 
clariger,  Er. 

TRINODES,  Meg. 
hirtus.  Fab. 

Byrrhidse. 

NOSODENDRON,  Lat. 

fasciculare.  Fab. 
SYNCALYPTA,  Dillw. 
setigera.  III. 
spinosa,  Rossi. 

BYRRHUS,  Linn. 
Dennii,  Curt. 
)iilula,  Linn. 
fasciatus,  Fab. 
dorsal  is,  Fah. 
murinus.  Fab. 

CYTILUS,  Er. 
varius,  Fab, 


CATALOGUE    OF    THE    BRITISH    COLEOPTEBA. 


255 


MORYCHUS,  Er. 

reneus,  Fah. 

SIMPLOCAETA,  Steph. 
seraistriata,  Fab. 

LIMNICHUS,  Lat. 
pygmeeus,  Sturm. 

Heteroceridse. 
HETEROCEEUS,  Bosc. 

rectus,  Waterh. 
llexuosus,  Steph. 
obsoletus,  Curt. 
niarginatus,  Fab. 
Icevigatus,  Panz. 
fusculiis,  Kies. 
sericausj  Kies. 

Parnidse. 

PARNIDES. 
PAENUS,  Fab. 
prolifericornis,  Fab. 
auriculatus,  III. 

POTAMINUS,  Sturm. 

substriatus,  Miill. 

ELMIDES. 

LIMNIUS,  Er. 

tubercular  us,  IlilU. 

ELMIS,  Lat. 

fenens,  Mull. 
Volkmari,  Panz. 
parallelopipedus,  Miill. 
siibviolaceiis,  Miill. 
cupreus,  Miill. 
niteiiS;  Miill. 

Georyssidse. 
GEOEYSSUS,  Lat. 
pygmseus,  Fab. 

Hy  dr  ophilidse . 
SPEECHEUS,  Fab. 
emarginatus,  Fab. 
HYDEOCHUS,  Germ. 
brevis,  Mbit. 


carinatus,  Germ. 
elongatus,  Fab. 
angustatus,  Miill. 

HELOPHOEUS,  Fab. 
rugosus,  Oliv. 
nubilus,  Fab. 
aquations,  Linn. 
iiitei'medius,  Muls. 
Mulsanti. 

dorsalis,  Muls. 
grariularis,  Linn. 
griseus,  Hbst. 
dorsalis,  Marsh. 
arvernicus,  Muls. 

pumilio,  Wat.  Cat. 
nanus,  Sturm. 

OCHTHEBIUS,  Leach. 
exscnlptus,  Miill. 
margipallens,  Lat. 
marinus,  Payk. 
seneus,  Waterh. 
pygmreus,  Fab. 
bicolon,  Steph. 
rufimarginatus,  Steph. 
exaratus,  Muls. 
seratus,  Steph. 
punctatus,  Steph. 

HYDE^NA,  Kug. 
testacea,  Curt. 
riparia,  A'wrjf. 
nigrita,  Miill. 
gracilis,  Miill. 
atricapilla,  Waterh. 
pygraaea,  Waterh. 

LIMNEBIUS,  Leach. 
truncatellus,  Thunb. 
marginalis,  Steph. 
papposus,  Muls. 
iiitidus,  Marsh. 
picinus.  Marsh. 

BEEOSUS,  Leach. 
spinosus  (Stev.),  Schon. 
triceps,  Curtis. 
Inridus,  Linn. 
affinis,  Lirulle. 

LACCOBIUS,  Er. 

minutus,  Linn. 
I  nigx'iceps,  Thorns. 


HY'DEOUS,  Leach. 
piceus,  Linn. 

HYDEOPHILUS, 
Geoff. 

caraboides,  Linn. 
HYDEOBIUS,  Leach. 
oblongus,  Hbst. 
fuscipcs,  Linn. 
bicolor,  Payk. 
a^neus,  Germ. 
limbatvis,  Fab. 

PHILHYDEUS,  Solier. 
maritimus,  Thorns. 
testaceus,  Fah. 
melauocephalus,  Fab. 
nigricans,  Zett. 
ovalis.  Thorns. 
marginellus.  Fab. 
livid  us,  Forst. 

Cn.ETAETHEIA,  Wat. 
seiuinulum,  Payk. 

Spliseridiadse. 

CYCLONOTUM,  Er. 

orbiculare,  Fab. 

SPH^EIDIUM,  Fab. 
scarabiieoides,  Linn. 
bipustulatum.  Fab. 

CEECYON,  Leach. 

obsoletum,  Gyll. 
hnemorrhoidale,  Fab. 
lia^raorrhouni,  Gyll. 
latcrale.  Marsh. 
aquaticum,  Muls. 
flavipes.  Fab. 
littorale,  Gyll. 
depressum,  Steph. 
unipunctatum,  Linn. 
quisquilium,  Linn. 
melanocepbalum,  Linn.. 
terminal  um,  Marsh. 
pygrnfeum,  Itl. 
nigriceps.  Marsh. 
minutum.  Fab. 
lugubre,  Payk. 
anale,  Payk. 


256 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 


MEGASTERNUM, 

Unh. 
obscurum,  Marsh. 

CRYPTOPLEURUM, 

Muls. 

atomai'ium,  Fab. 


LAMELLICORNES. 

PLEUROSTICTI. 

Cetoniadse. 

GNORIMUS,  Lep. 
variabilis,  Linn. 
uobilis,  Linn. 

TRICHIUS,  Fab. 
fasciatus,  Linn. 
abdominabs,  Men. 

CETONIA,  Fab. 
aurata,  Linn. 
floricola,  Hbst. 
V.  aenea,  O^ll. 
stictica,  Linn. 

Rutelidse. 

ANOMALA,  Kijp. 

Frischii,  Fab. 
Donovani,  Marsh. 

PHYLLOPERTHA, 

Kir. 
horticola,  Linn. 
V.  suturalis,  New. 

Melolonthidse. 

POLYPIIYLLA, 
Harris. 
fullo,  Linn. 

MELOLOXTHA,  Fab. 
vulgaris,  Fab. 
bippocastani,  Fab. 

RHIZOTROGUS,  Lat. 

solstitialis,  Linn. 
oc-lu'aceus,  Knovh. 


Sericidae. 
SERICA,  MacL. 
brimnea,  Linn. 
IIOMALOPLIA,  Steph. 
ruricola,  Fab. 

Hopliadse. 

HOPLIA,  III. 
pbilantlius,  Suh. 

LAFAROSTICTI. 

Geotrupidse. 

GEOTRUPES,  Lair. 
stercorarius,  Linn. 

V.  pntridarius,  Esch. 
mutator,  Marsh. 
sylvaticus,  Panz. 
vernalis,  Linn. 

TYPHOSUS,  Leach. 
vulgaris.  Leach. 

ODONT.EUS,  Meg. 
mobibcornis,  Fab. 

Copridae. 
ONTHOPHAGUS,  Lat. 
taurus,  Linn. 
nutans,  Fab. 
vacca,  Linn. 
coenobita,  Herhst. 
iracticornis,  Preys. 
nucliieornis,  Linn. 
ovatus,  Linn. 

COPRIS,  Geoff. 
lunaris,  Linn. 

Aphodiadse. 

APIIODIUS,  III. 
crraticus,  Linn. 
subterraueus,  Linn. 
fossor,  Linn. 

lurmorrhoidalis,  Linn.       I 
scybalarius,  Fab. 
foetens,  Fab. 
fimetarius,  Linn. 
ater,  DeG. 


constans,  Duf. 
granarius,  Linn. 
jjutridus,  Creutz. 
lapponum,  Gt/ll. 
foetidus,  Fab. 
sordidus,  Fab. 
rufesceus,  Fab. 
nitidubis,  Fab. 
himaculatu.i,  Fab. 
plagiatus,  Linn. 
lividus,  Oliv. 
inquiuatus,  Fab. 
sticticus,  Panz. 
conspurcatus,  Linn. 
tessulatus,  Payk. 
Zenkei'i,  Germ. 
porous,  Fab. 
tristis,  Panz. 
pusillus,  Hbst. 
quadrimaculatus,  Linn. 
nierdarius,  Fab. 
prodromus,  Muls. 
punctato-sidcatus,  Strm. 
contaminatus,  Hbst. 
obliteratus,  Panz. 
rufipes,  Linn. 
luridus,  Fab. 
depressus,  Kug. 
pecari,  Fab. 
arenarius,  Oliv. 
sus,  Hbst. 
testudinarius,  Fab. 
villosus,  Gyll. 
poi'catus.  Fab. 

AMMCECIUS,  Mills. 
brevis,  Er. 

PSAMMODIUS,  Gyll. 
sulcicoUis,  III. 
porcicollis,  III. 

.3IGIALIA,  Latr. 
sabuleti,  Payk. 
rufa,  Fab. 
areuaria,  Fab. 

Trogidae. 

TROX,  Fab. 
sabulosus,  Linn. 
scaber,  Linn. 
bispidus,  Laich. 


CATALOGUE    OF    THE    BRITISH    COLEOPTERA. 


557 


Lucanidse. 

LUCANUS,  Linn. 
cervus,  Linn. 

DORCUS,  MacL. 
parallelopipedus,  Linn. 
SINODENDRON,flZZ«y. 
cjlindi'icom,  Linn. 

STERNOXI. 
Buprestidae. 
DICERCA,  Esch. 
cBnea,  Linn. 

ANTHRAXIA,  Esch. 
sal  ids.  Fab. 
nitidula,  Linn. 

AGRILUS,  Solier. 
biijuttatus,  Fab. 
siuuatus,  Olivi. 
viridis,  Linn. 
angustulus,  ///. 
laticoruis,  Lll. 

APHANISTICUS,   Lat. 
pusillus,  Oliv. 

TRACHYS,  Fab. 
niinutus,  Linn. 
pyginffius,  Fah. 
nanus,  Fab. 

Eucnemidse. 

THROSCUS,  Lat. 
dermestoides,  Linn. 
obtusus,  Cxwt. 

MELASIS,  Oliv. 
buprestoides,  Linn. 
MICRORHAGUS,  Escli. 
pygmseus,  Fab. 

Elateridse. 

AGRYPNIDES. 
ADELOCERA,  Lat. 
varia.  Fab. 


LACON,  Germ. 
mm'iuus,  Linn. 

ELATERIDES, 
ATHOIJS,  Esch. 
niger,  Linn. 
rhombeus,  Oliv. 
undulatus,  DeG. 
hremorrhoidalis,  Fab. 
vittatus,  Fab. 
diflbrmis,  Luc. 

campyloides,  Newm. 
longicollis,  Oliv. 

LIMONIUS,  Esch. 
cylindricus,  Fat/h. 
mniutiis,  Fab. 

CRATONYCHUS,  Lac. 
niger,  Fab. 
castanipes,  Payk. 
rufipes,  Hbst. 

ELATER,  Linn. 
sanguineus,  Linn. 
lythropterus,  Germ. 
sanguinolentus,  Schr. 
pomonse,  Steph. 
pomorum,  Hbst. 
elongatulus,  Oliv. 
balteatus,  Linn. 
tristis,  Linn. 
aethiops,  Lac. 

brunnicornis.  Germ. 

rufitarsis,  Desv. 

V.  sci'ofa.  Germ. 
nigrimis,  Hbst. 

MEaAPENTHES,A7e* 

sanguinicollis,  Panz. 
higens,  Reclt. 
tibialis,  Lac. 

CRYPTOHYPNUS, 

Esch. 
maritimus.  Curt. 
riparius.  Fab. 
dermestoides,  Hbst. 
quadripustulatus,  Fah. 

CARDIOPHORUS,  Er 

thoracicus.  Fab. 
ruficollis,  Linn. 


asellus,  Ef. 
ciuereus,  Hbst. 

LUDIUS,  Lat. 

ferrugineus,  Linv. 

CORYMBITES,  Lat. 

castaneus,  Linn. 
pectinicornis,  Linn. 
cupreus,  Fab. 
tessellatus,  Linn. 
quercus,  Gyll. 

* 
impressus.  Fab. 
metallicus,  Payh. 
feneus,  Linn. 
bipustulatus,  Linn. 
holosericeus,  Fah. 

SYNAPTUS,  Esch. 
filiformis,  Fab. 

AGRIOTES,  Esch. 
pilosus,  Panz. 
liueatus,  Linn. 
obseurus,  Linn. 
sputator,  Fab. 
acuniinatus,  Steph. 
?  pallidulus.  III. 
ustulatus,  Schall. 

SERICOSOMUS,  Steph, 
brunneus,  Linn. 

DOLOPIUS,  Esch. 
marginatus,  Linn. 

ADRASTUS,^scA. 
pallens,  Fab. 

CAMPYLIDES. 
OAMPYLUS,  Fisch. 
linearis,  Linn. 

MALACODERMI. 

Atopidse. 

DASCILLUS,  Lat. 

cervinus,  Linn. 

Cyphoiiid99. 
HELODES,  Lat. 
pallidus,  Fab. 
S 


258 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 


marginatus,  Fah. 
lividus,  Fah. 

PRIONOCYPHON, 
Eedt. 
serricornis,  Miill. 

CYPHON,  Payk. 
coarctutus,  Payk. 
iiitidulus,  Thorns. 
fuscicornis,  Thorns. 
variabilis,  Thunb. 
padi,  Linn. 
oclxraceus,  Steph. 

HYDROCYPHON, 

Redt. 
deflexicoUis,  Miill. 
SCIRTES,  in. 

heraisphfericus,  Linn. 
oi'bicularis,  Pavz. 

Eubriadse. 
EUBRIA,  Redt. 
palustris,  Germ. 

Lyeidse. 
DICT  YOPTE  RUS,Za!!n 
Aurora,  Fah. 
luimitus,  Fab. 

Lampyridse. 

LAMPYRIS,  Geoffr. 
noctiluca,  Linn. 

Drilidse. 

DRILUS,  Oliv. 
flavescens,  Oliv. 

Telephoridae. 

TELEPHORUS,  Schiiff. 
abdominalis,  Fab. 
fuscus,  Fah. 
rusticus,  Fall. 
lividus,  Linn. 

V.  dif^par,  Fab. 
pellucid  us,  Fab. 
obseiu'us,  Linn. 
nigrifans,  Fah. 

V.  ?  discoideus,  Steph. 


rufus,  Linn. 

V.  litiiratus,  Fall. 
figuratiis,  Mann. 
bic'olor,  Fah. 
scoticus. 

21*  sp.  ?  Wat.  Cat. 
eljpeatus,  III. 
lateralis,  Linn. 
tlioracicus,  Gyll. 
flavilabris,  Fall. 

* 
melaiiurus.  Fab. 
unicolor,  Curt. 
fuseicornis,  Oliv. 
testaceiis,  Linn. 
liinbatus,  Thorns. 
pallidas.  Fab. 
paludosus,  Fall. 
elongatus,  Fall. 

PODABRUS,  Fisch. 
lateralis,  Linn. 

SILIS,  Redt. 
ruficollis,  Fab. 

MALTHINUS,  Latr. 
faseiatus,  Fall. 
balteatus,  Suffr. 
flaveoliis,  Payk. 
frontalis,  Mamh. 

MALTHODES,  Kies. 
niarginatus,  Latr. 
mysticus,  Kies. 
fibulatus,  Kies, 
dispar.  Germ. 
tlavoguttatus,  Kies. 
sangLiiuolentus,  Linn. 
at 0111  us.  Thorns. 

brevicoUis,  Kies.,   nee 
Payk. 

Melyridse, 

MALA  CHI  as,  Fah. 
R'lieus,  Linn. 
bipustulatus,  Linn. 
viridis,  Fab. 
ruarginellus,  Fab. 
spinosus,  Erichs. 

* 
pulicarius,  Fab. 

ruiicollis,  Oliv. 


rubricollis,  Marsh. 

ANTHOCOMUS,  Er. 
termiiiatus,  Men. 

ruflcoUis,  Fah. 
sanguinoleiitus,  Fah. 
faseiatus,  Linn. 

DASYTES,  Fah. 
nobilis,  III. 
subseneus,  Schon. 

st>ratus,  Steph. 
pluinbaais,  jVull. 

flavijies,  Wat.  Cat. 
niger,  Linn. 

lIAFLOCNEUVS,Step. 

uigrieornis,  Fah. 
impressus,  Marsh. 

DOLICHOSOMA,  Step. 
linearis.  Fab. 

Byturidae. 
BYTURUS,  Latr. 
tomentosus,  Fab. 
fumatus,  Fab. 

TELMATOPHILUS, 
Seer. 

sparganii,  Ahr. 
obseurus,  Fab. 

caricis,  Oliv. 
brevicollis,  Auhe. 
tyjDlise,  Fall. 

V.  ?  Sfhonherri,  Gyll. 

Cleridse. 

CLEKIDES. 

TILLUS,  Oliv. 
elongatus,  Linn. 
unifasciatus,  Fab. 

CLERUS,  Geoffr. 
formicarius,  Linn. 

OPILUS,  Latr. 
mollis,  Linn. 
uiiivittatus,  Rossi. 

TRICHODES,  Fah  . 
aloearius,  Fah, 


i 


CATALOGUE    OF    THE    BRITISH    COLEOPTERA. 


259 


ENOPLIADES. 

CORYNETES,  Rbst. 
cseruleus,  DeG. 

NECROBIA,  Steph. 
violacea,  Linn. 
rufipes,  Fab. 
ruficollis,  Fah. 

Lymexylidas. 

HYLECCETUS,  Lat. 
dermestoides,  Fab. 

LYMEXYLON,  Fab. 
navale,  Linn. 

Ptinidse. 

PTINIDES. 
GIBBIUM,  Scop. 
scotias,  Fah. 

MEZIUM,  Curt. 
afEne,  Boiehl. 
sulcatum,  Steph. 

NIPTUS,  Boield. 
hololeucus,  Fald. 

PTINUS,  Linn. 
crenatus,  Fab. 
liclienum,  Harsh. 
latro,  Fab. 
fur,  Linn. 

sexpunctatns,  Panz. 
germanus,  Fab. 

HEDOBIA,  Sturm. 
imperialis,  Linn. 

ANOBIADES. 

O  CHINA,  Strm. 
hederse,  Miill. 

PTILINUS,  Geoff. 
pectlaicornis,  Linn. 

XYLETINUS,  Latr. 
ater,  Panz. 

LASIODERMA,  Steph 
testacea,  Steph. 


DORCATOMA,  Eerbst. 
vubens,  Ent.  H. 
flavicornis,  Fab. 
chrysomelina,  Sturm, 
dresdensis,  Hbst. 
bovistae,  Ent.  H. 

DRYOPHILUS,  Chev. 
pusillus,  Gyll. 
auobioides,  Chev. 

ANOBIUM,  Fah. 
castaneum,  Fah. 
rufipes,  Fah. 
striatum,  Oliv. 
fulvicorne,  Sturm. 
pertiriax,  Linn. 
denticoUe,  Panz. 
pulsator,  Sohdll. 

tessellatum,  Fah. 
paniceum,  Linn. 
raolle,  Linn. 
abietis,  Fah. 
nigrinum,  Sturm. 
plumbeum,  ///. 

Bostrichidae. 

BOSTRICHUS,  Geoff. 
capucinus,  Linn. 

DINODERUS,  Steph. 
substriatus,  Steph. 
DINODERUS,  Schaum. 
substriatus,  Paylc. 
RHIZOPERTHA,  Step. 
pusilla,  Fab. 

Lyctidse. 

LYCTUS,  Fah. 
canaliculatus,  Fab. 
bruuueus,  Steph. 

Cioidse. 

RHOPALODONTUS, 

Mel. 
perforatus,  Oyll. 
CIS,  Lat. 
boleti,  Scop. 


villosulus,  Marsh. 
micans,  Hbst. 
liispidus,  Paijk. 
pygrafeus.  Marsh, 
festivus,  Panz. 
faseatus,  Melt. 
alni,  Gyll. 
bidentatus,  Oliv. 
uitidus,  Hbst. 
lineatocribratus,  Mel. 

ENNEARTHRUM, 

Mell. 
coruutum,  Gyll. 
fronticorne,  Panz. 
afBne,  Gyll. 

OCTOTEMNUS,  Mell. 
glabriculus,  Gyll. 


HETEROMERA. 
Blaptidae. 

BLAPS,  Fab. 
mortisaga,  Linn. 
mucronata,  Lat. 
similis,  Lat. 

Coniontidae. 

CRYPTICUS,  Lat. 
quisquilius,  Linn. 

Pedinidse. 

HELIOPATHES,  Lac. 
gibbus,  Fab. 

HopatridsB. 

HOPATRUM,  Fab. 
sabulosum,  Linn. 

MICROZOUM,  Steph. 
tibiale,  Fah. 

Tractiyscelidse. 

PHALERIA,  Lat. 
cadaveriua,  Fab. 

s2 


260 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 


Bolitopliagidse. 

BOLITOPHAGUS,  III. 
reticulatus,  Linn. 

HELEDONA,  Lat. 
agaricola,  Hbst. 

Diaperidae. 

DIAPERIS,  Geoff. 
boleti,  Linn. 
SCAPHIDEMA,  Redt. 
metallica,  Fab. 

PLATYDEMA,  Lap. 
violacea,  Fah. 

ALPHITOPHAGUS, 

Steph. 
quadripustulatus,  Steph. 

Ulomidse. 

TRIBOLIUM,  MacL. 
errugineixm,  Fah. 

GNATHOOERUS, 

Thnb. 
cornutus,  Fab. 

HYPOPHLCEUS,  Ullw. 
castaneus,  Fab. 
bieolor,  Oliv. 
depressus,  Fab, 

ALPHITOBIUS,  Steph. 
diaperinus,  Panz. 
piceus,  Oliv. 

Tenebrionidse. 

TENEBRIO,  Linn. 
obscurus,  Fab. 
molitor,  Linn. 

Helopidse. 

HELOPS,  Fab. 
Cirruleus,  Linn. 
striatus,  Fourcr. 
pallidas,  Curtis. 


Cistelidse. 
MYCETOCHARIS, 
Lat. 
bipiistulata,  III. 

GONODERA,  Muls. 
fulvipes,  Fab. 

CISTELA,  Fab. 
ceramboides,  Linn. 

ISOMIRA,  Muls. 
murina,  Linn. 

ERYX,  Steph. 
ater,  Fab. 

CTENIOPUS,  Solier. 
siilphureus,  Linn. 

OMOPHLUS,  Solier. 
amerinse,  Curtis. 

Lagriadse. 
LAGRIA,  Fab. 
liirta,  Linn. 

Tetratomidse. 
TETRATOMA,  Fab. 
t'ungoriiui,  Fab. 
Desmarestii,  Lat. 
aucora,  Fab. 

Melandryadee. 

ORCHESIA,  Latr. 
undulata,  Kr. 
micans,  Panz. 
minor,  Walker. 

HALLOMENUS,  Panz. 
Immeralis,  Panz. 

ANISOXYA,  Muls. 
fijscida,  ///. 

?  Hall.fuscus,  Wat. Cat. 

ABDERA,  Steph. 
ipiadi'ifasciata,  Curtis. 
bifasciata,  Marsh. 

DIRCJilA,  Fab. 
Isevigata,  Hellen. 
PHLffiOTRYA,  Steph. 
Stepliensii,  Ln  V. 


rufipes,  Steph. 
HYPULUS,  Patjh. 
qiieroinus,  Paylc. 

MELANDRYA,  Fab. 
caraboides,  Linn. 
canaliculata.  Fab. 

SCRAPTIA,  Lat. 

fusca,  Lat. 
nigricans,  Steph. 

COXOPALPUS,  Gyll. 
testaceus,  Oliv. 

V.  ?  Vigorsii,  Steph. 

OSPHYA,  III. 
bipunctata,  Fab. 

Py  rrho  chro  adse . 

PYRRH0CHR0A,/'a6. 

coccinea,  Linn. 
rubens,  Fab. 
pectinicornis,  Linn. 

PYTHO,  Latr. 

depressus,  Linn. 

Anthicidse. 
NOTOXUS,  Geoff. 
monoceros,  Linn. 

ANTHICUS,  Payk. 
liumOis,  Germ. 
instabilis,  Schmidt. 
bimaeulatus,  ///. 
autherimis,  Linn. 
tristis,  Schmidt. 
Seliaumii,  Woll. 
angustatus,  Cvrfis. 
pedicularius,  SchranTc. 

XYLOPHILUS,  Bon. 
|)opulneus,  Fab. 
oculatus,  Payk. 

Mordellidee. 

MOEDELLIDES, 
TOMOXIA,  Costa. 
biguttata,  Casteln. 

MORDELLA,  Linn. 
fasciata,  Fab. 


CATALOGUE  OF  THE  BRITISH  COLEOPTERA. 


261 


MORDELLTSTENA, 

Costa. 
abdominalis,  Fai. 
punvila,  Gt/U. 
pusilla,  Redt. 
humeralis,  Linn. 

V.  ?  bruniiea,  Fah. 
lateralis,  Oliv. 

ANASPIS,  Geojf. 
frontalis,  Linn. 
forcipata,  Muls. 
Geoffroyi,  Mull. 
ruficoUis,  Fab. 
thoracica,  Linn. 
subtestacea.  StepJi. 
macidata,  Fourcr. 

EHIPIPHOEIDES. 
EHIPIPHORUS,  Fab. 
paradoxus,  Linn. 

Meloidse. 

MELOE,  Linn. 
proscarabseus,  Linn. 
violacea,  Marsh. 
autumnalis,  Oliv. 
rugosa.  Marsh. 
cicatricosa,  Leach. 
variegata,  Donov. 
breTicollis,  Panz. 

LYTTA,  Linn. 
vesicatoria,  Linn. 
SITARTS,  Lat. 

muralis,  Forst. 
humeralis,  Fah. 

CEdemeridse. 
ISCHNOMERA,  Steph. 
melanura,  Linn. 

ASCLERA,  Schm. 
sanguinicollis,  Fah. 
ca?rulea,  Linn. 

DRYOPS,  Fah. 
femoratus,  Fah. 

CEDEMERA,  Oliv. 
cserulea,  Linn. 
lurida,  Marsh. 


MYCTERUS,  Oliv. 
curculionides,  Fah. 

Salpingidse. 
SALPINGDS,  III. 
foveolatus,  Ljun. 
ater,  Paylc. 
castaueus,  Panz. 

LISSODEMA,  Curt. 
denticollis,  Gyll. 

4-guttata.  Lep. 
cursoi",  Gyll. 

RHINOSIMUS,  Lat. 
ruficollis,  Linn. 
viridipennis,  Sfeph. 
planirostris,  Fab. 

EHYNCHOPHOEA. 
Bruchidse. 

BRUCHUS,  Linn, 
pisi,  Linn. 
rufimanus,  Schon. 
affinis,  Froh. 

flavimaims,  Sch. 
loti,  Payk. 
semiuarius,  Linn. 
luteicornis.  111. 
pectinicornis,  Linn, 
ater,  Marsh. 

villosus,  Sturm. 
eisti,  Fah. 

Anthribidse. 

BRACHYTARSUS, 

Sch'dn. 
scabrosus,  Fah. 
varius,  Fab. 

TROPIDERES,  ScMn. 
albirostris,  Hhst. 
niveirostris,  Fah. 
sepicola,  Hhst. 

PLATYRHINUS,  CI. 

latirostris.  Fab. 

ANTHRIBUS,  Fah. 
albinus,  Linn. 


CH0RAGUS,A7;-. 
Sheppardi,  Kir. 

Attelabidge. 
APODERUS,  Oliv. 
coryli,  Linn. 

ATTELABUS,  Linn. 
cureulionoides,  Linn. 

Rhinomaceridse. 

RHYNCHITES,  Hhst. 
betulae,  Linn. 
megacephalus.  Germ. 
pubescens,  Fab. 
ophthalmicus,  Steph. 
nanus,  Payk. 
conicus,  III. 
pauxillus.  Germ. 
alliarife,  Payk. 
germanicus,  Hhst. 
sequatus,  Linn. 
coTuleocephalus,  Schall. 
Eeneovirens,  Marsh. 
V.  fragrariee,  Sch. 
cupreus,  Linn. 
betuleti.  Fab. 
populi,  Linn. 
auratus,  Scop. 
Bacchus,  Linn. 

RHINOMACER,  Fab. 
attelaboides,  Fab. 

Apionidse. 

APION,  Hhst. 
cracca;,  Linn. 
pomouse,  Fab. 
subulatum,  Kir. 
Toras,  Hhst. 
ervi,  Kir. 
ononis,  Kir. 
Waltoni,  Sfeph. 
l^avidum,  Germ. 
livescerum,  Schon. 
Gjllenhali,  A'«V. 
Spencii,  Kir. 
wthiops,  Hhst. 
punctigerum,  Germ. 
pisi,  Meg. 


262 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 


afei",  Schon. 

loti,  Kir. 

filirostre,  Kir. 

scutellare,  Kir. 

tenue,  Kir. 

seiiieulum,  Kir. 

simile,  Kir. 

rirens,  Hbd. 

astragali,  Payk. 

striatum.  Marsh. 

immune,  Kir. 

sorbi,  Hbst. 

pubescens,  Kir. 

Curtisii,  Cvrt. 

coiiflucns,  Kir. 

stolidum,  Germ. 

Levigatum,  Kir. 

a?neum,  Fab. 

radiolum.  Marsh. 

cnrduorum,  Kir. 

onopordi,  Kir. 

ebc'uinum,  Kir. 

nieliloti,  Kir. 

violaceum,  Kir. 

hydrolapathi,  Marsh. 

frumentariuTTi,  Linn. 

rubens,  Sieph. 

sanguineum,  DpG. 

cruentatum,  Walt. 

miniatum,  Schon. 

minimum,  Mist. 

sedi,  Germ. 

humile,  Germ. 

limonii,  Kir. 

mMi'cliieum,  Hbst. 

afline,  Kir. 

llookeri,  Kir. 

vicinura,  Kir. 

atomarium,  Kir. 

flavimanum,  Schon. 

Ternale,  Fab. 

malvse,  Fab. 

rufirostre,  Fab. 

pallipes,  Kir. 

Gcrraari,  }Falt. 

Ticiae,  Paifk. 

flavipes.  Fab. 

nigritarse,  Kir. 

assimile,  Kir. 

Eoliemanni,  (Boh.)  Schon. 
ononidis,  Gi//L 
ouonicola,  Bach, 


fagi,  Linn. 
trifolii,  Linn. 
Schoenlierri,  Waf. 
varipes,  Germ. 
iKvicoUe,  Kir. 
diffonne,  Germ. 
dissimile,  Germ. 

OXYSTOMA,  Diim. 
fuscirostris,  Fab. 
ulieis,  Fosf. 
genista,  Kir. 

Brachyderidse. 
CNEORHINUS,  Schon. 
geminatus,  Fab. 
exaratus.  Marsh. 

STR0PH0S0MUS,i?/7/. 
coryli,  Fab. 
obesus,  Marsh. 
fulvicornis,  Walt. 
retusus,  Marsh. 
hirtus,  Schon. 
faber,  Hbst. 
iimbatus,  Fab. 

SCIAPHTLUS,  Schon. 
mui'icatus,  Fab. 

TANYMECUS,  Germ. 
palhatus,  Fab. 

SITONES,  Germ, 
ijressorius.  Fab. 
griseus.  Fab. 
Ilavescens,  Marsh. 
suturalis,  Sfeph. 
sulcifrons,  Thunh. 
tibialis,  Hb.st. 
erinitus,  Olir. 
Watei'housei,  Walt. 
cambricus,  Steph. 
i-egensteinensis,  Hbst. 
puncticollis,  Sfeph. 
liiieatus,  Linn. 
hispidulus.  Fab. 
nieliloti,  Halt. 
liumeralis,  S/eph. 

POLYDROSUS,    Germ. 
undatus.  Fab. 
niicans,  Fab. 


flavipps,  DpG. 
pterygomalis,  Schon. 
sericeus,  Schall. 
planifrons,  Schon. 
chrysomela,  Oliv. 
confluens,  Sfeph. 
cervinus,  Linn. 

METALLITES,  Schon. 

marginatus,  Steph. 

Cleonidse. 

CLEONUS,  Meff. 
ophthahnieus,  Fossi. 
nebulosus,  Linn. 
glaucus,  Fab. 
sulcirostris,  Linn. 
albidus,  Fab. 

ALOPHUS,  Schon. 
triguttatus,  Fab. 

LIOPHLCEUS,  Germ. 
nubilus,  Fab. 

BARYjVOTUS,  Germ. 
obseurus,  Fab. 
moerens,  Fab. 

TROPIPHORUS,  Scho. 
mercurialis.  Fab. 
carinatus,  Miill. 

TANYSPHYRUS, 

Germ. 
lemnse,  Payk. 

HYLOBIUS,  Germ. 
abietis,  Linn, 
pina.ttri,  Gyll. 

MOLYTES,  Schon. 
germanus,  Linn. 
coronatus,  Lat. 

LIOSOMUS,  Steph. 
ovatulus,  Clairv. 

PLINTH  US,  Germ. 
caliginosus,  Fab. 

PROCAS,  SfepJi. 
picipes,  Mar.sh. 
grauulicoUis,  Walt. 


CATALOGUE  OP  THE  BRITISH  COLEOPTERA. 


263 


PIIYTONOMUS,  Selwn 
punctatus,  Fah. 
fiiscidilatiis,  Hbst. 
polygon!,  Linn. 
Pollux,  Fnb. 
rumicis,  Linn. 
tigrinus,  Dej. 
plantaginis,  L)eG. 
nigrirostris,  Fab. 
trilineatus,  Marsh. 
murinus,  Fab. 
variabilis,  Hbst. 
meles,  Fab. 
suspiciosus,  Hbst. 
arundinis,  Fab. 

LIMOBIITS,  Schon. 
dissimilis,  Hbst. 
mixtus,  Dej. 

Byrsopsidse. 

GEONOPS,  Schon. 
lunatus.  Fab. 

OtiorhynchidaB. 
PHYLLOBIUS,  Schon. 
calcaratus,  Fab. 
alneti,  Fai. 
pyri,  Linn. 
argentatus,  Linn. 
maculicornis.  Germ. 
oblongns,  Linn. 
poinoofe,  Olio. 
iiniformis,  Marsh. 
viridicoUis,  Fab. 

TRACHYPHLCEUS, 

Germ. 

Sf'abcr,  Linn. 
seabriciiliis,  Linn. 
squamulatus,  Oliv. 
aristatus,  Gifll. 
alternans,  Schon. 
spiniraanus.  Germ. 

CCENOPSTS,  Bach. 
fissirostris,  Walt. 
Waltoni,  ScJion. 

OMIAS,  Schiin. 
hirsutulus,  Fab. 


Bohemaiini,  Schon, 
brunnipes,  Oliv. 

BARYPITHES,  Luv. 
sulcifrons,  Schon. 

PERITELUS,  Germ. 
griseus,  01. 

OTIORHYNCHUS, 

Germ. 
?  fuscipes,  Oliv. 
tenebricosus,  Hbst. 
imicolor,  Hbst. 

ebeninus,  Schon. 
ati'oapterus,  DeG. 
raucu8.  Fab. 
scabrosus.  Marsh. 
ligneus,  Oliv. 
septentrioais,  Hbst. 
maurus,  Gi/ll. 
monticola.  Germ. 
picipes.  Fab. 
sulcatus,  Fab. 
ligustici,  Linn. 
riigifrons,  Gi/ll. 

V.  ?  ambiguus,  Scho. 
ovatus,  Linn. 
pabulinus,  Panz. 

Erirhinidse. 
LIXUS,  Fab. 
ascanii,  Linn. 
paraplecticus,  Linn, 
turbatus,  Schon. 

gemellatus,  Gi/ll, 
angustatus,  Fab. 
bieolor,  Oliv. 
filiformis,  Fab. 

LARINUS,  Schup. 
carliiiae,  Oliv. 
RHmOCYLLUS,  Germ. 
latirostris,  Lat. 

PISSODES,  Germ. 
pini,  Linn. 
notatus,  Fab. 

MAGDALTNUS,  Germ. 
phlegmaticus,  Hbst. 
cai'bonarius,  Linn. 


atramentarius,  Marsli. 
cerasi,  Linn. 
pruni,  Linn. 

ERIRHINUS,  ScUn, 

festuc£e,  Herbst. 
nereis,  Payk. 
scirrhosus,  Schon. 
pillumus,  S'nrm. 
acridulus,  Linn. 
sethioiDs,  Fab. 
bimacnlatus,  Fab. 
scirpi.  Fab. 

* 
vorax,  Fab. 
tremulae,  Pai/Tc. 
eostirostris,  Schon. 
niaculatus,  Marsh. 
aiEnis,  Payk. 
tneniatus,  Fah. 
salicis,  Walt. 
salicinus,  Gi/ll. 
majalis,  Pai/k. 
pectoralis,  Panz. 
agnathus,  Schon. 
tortrix,  Linn. 
validirostris,  Schon. 

G-RYPIDIUS,  Schon. 
equiseti,  Fab. 

ELLESCHUS,  Meg. 
bipunctatns,  Linn. 
scanicus,  Pai/k. 

BRAC1101<SYX,  Schon. 
indigena,  Hbst. 
ANTHONOMUS,  Germ. 
pomorum,  Linn. 
ulmi,  DeG. 
pediculai'ius,  Linn, 
pubescens,  Payk. 
rubi,  Hbst. 

BALANINUS,  Germ. 
turbatus,  Gyll. 
niicum,  Linn. 
Tenosus,  Germ. 
villosus,  Fab. 
cerasorum,  Hbst. 
brassiere.  Fab. 
pyrrlioceras.  Marsh. 


264 


BKITISH    BEETLES. 


■AMALUS,  Sc7/d,i. 

scortillimi,  Hbst. 

TYCniUS,  Germ. 

5-punctatus,  Linn. 
■veniistus,  Fab. 
polylineatus,  Germ. 
Schncideri,  Hbst. 
iiigrirostris,  Wat. 
tomen^osus,  Hbst. 
Kirbii,  Wat. 

flavicollis,  v.,  Sc7ton. 
junceus,  Reich. 
meliloti,  {Kirby),  Steph. 
hsematocephaliis,  Schon. 
pygmsevis,  £ris. 

brevicornis,  Wat. 

MICCOTROGUS, 

Schdn. 

picirostris,  Fab. 
SMICRONYX,  Schon. 

jungennannise,  Reich. 
cicur,  Reich. 
pygmseus,  Curt. 

SIBYNES,  Germ.' 
canus,  Hbst. 
arenaria?,  Steph. 
primitus,  Hbst. 
potentillffi,  Koch. 

ACALYPTUS,  Schon. 
carpini,  Hbst. 

ANOPLUS,  Scliiip. 
plant.aris,  Noez. 

ORCHESTES,  HI. 
querens,  Linn. 
sputellaris,  Fab. 
riifiis,  Olip. 
inelanoeephalus,  Oliv. 
alni,  Linn. 
ilicis,  Fab. 
fagi,  Linn. 
praterisis,  Germ. 
iota,  Fab. 
lonicercB,  Fah. 
avellarire,  Don. 
rusei,  Hbst. 


TACHYERGES,  Schon. 
salicis,  Linn. 
stigma,  Germ. 
saliceti,  Fab. 

RHAMPIIUS,  Clair. 
flavicornis,  Clair. 

ORTHOCH.ETES, 

MitlL 
setiger,  Germ. 
TRACnODES,  Schiip. 
liispidus,  Linn. 

Baridiadse. 
BARIDIUS,  Germ. 
T-albinii,  Linn. 
laticollis,  Marsh. 
picieornis.  Marsh. 
lepidii.  Germ. 
arialis,  Oliv. 

Cryptorhy  nchidse . 

CRYPTORHYNCIiUS, 
HI. 

lapatlii,  Linn. 

CCELIODES,  Schon. 
quercus,  Fah. 
ruber.  Marsh. 
rubicundiis,  PayJc. 
subrufus,  Hbst. 
geranii,  Fa//k. 
exiguus,  01. 
4-maculatus,  LJnn. 

didvmus,  Fah. 
fuliginosus,  Marsh. 

guttula,  Wat.  Cat. 

RHYTIDOSOMUS,<S'ife. 
globulus,  Hbst. 

OROBITIS,  Germ. 
cjaneus,  Linn. 

MONONYCHUS, 

Schiip. 

pseudacori,  Fab. 

ACALLES,  ScMn. 
ptinoides,  Marsh. 
misellus,  Schon. 


roboris,  Curt. 

BAGOiJS,  Germ. 
binodulus,  ILbst. 
limosus,  G(ill. 
petrosus,  Hbst. 
frit,  Hbst. 
lutulosus,  Gyll. 
tempestivus,  Hbst. 
lutosus,  Gyll. 
lutulentus,  Gyll. 

LYPRUS,  Schon. 
cylindrus,  Puyk. 
HY"DRONOMUS,5e;/o«. 

alismatis,  Marsh. 

LITODACTYLUS, 

Redt. 
velatus,  Bech. 
leucogaster.  Marsh. 

PACHYRHINUS,  Step. 
coiTiari,  Hbst. 
Waltoui,  Schon. 
4-tuberculatns,  Fab. 
4-iiodosus,  Gyll. 
4-cornis,  Gyll. 
canaliculatus,  Schon. 

RHINONCUS,  Schon. 
pericarpius,  Fab. 
subfiisciatus,  Gyll. 
Castor,  Fab. 
inconspectus,  Hbst. 
bruchoides,  Hbst. 

CEUTHORHYNCHUS 

Schon. 
suturalis.  Fab. 
syrites.  Germ. 
assimilis,  PayJc. 
erysimi.  Fab. 
contractus,  Marsh. 
cochlearite,  Gyll. 
constrictus,  Marsh. 
ericcc,  Gyll. 
setosus,  Schon. 
litura.  Fab. 
trimaeulatus,  Fah. 
jiolliuarius,  Fost. 
uigroterunnatus.  Wall. 
mistus,  Mills. 


CATALOGUE  OF  THE  BRITISH  COLEOPTERA. 


265 


Tidiiafus,  Gt/Jl. 
angulosus,  Boh. 

impressicoUis,  Litt. 
qiiadridens,  Paiiz. 
inelanostictus,  Marsh. 
campestris,  Q-i/ll. 

chrysanthemi,  Dliill. 

V.  ?  vicinus,  Bris.  MS. 
rugulosus,  Hbst. 

melanostigma,  Marsh. 
asperifoliarum,  Steph. 
crux,   Walt.  MS. 
crassidentatus,       Marsh. 

MS. 
urticoe,  Schon. 
ecliii,  Fab. 
marginatus,  PayTc. 

V.  ?  puiictiger,  Gyll. 
resedse,  Marsh. 
verrucatus,  Gyll. 

biguttatus,  Schon. 
sulcicollis,  Gyll. 
alliai'isB,  Bris. 

inornatns,  Wat. 
tarsalis,  Schon. 
piloisellus,  Gyll. 

liispidulus,  Slev.  MS. 
rapse,  Gyll. 

inafiectatns,   Walt. 
cyanipennis,  III. 
chalybseus,  Germ. 
hirtulus,  Schiip. 

CEUTHOEHYNCHI- 

DEUS,  z>«r. 
horridus,  Fah. 
troglodytes,  Fah. 

V.  ?   Chevrolatii,  Bris. 
MS. 

v.?{rontayis,  Bris.  MS. 
pygma^us,  Gnyon,  MS. 
terminatus,  Hbst. 
melanarius,  Steph, 
nigrinus,  Marsh. 
?  qiiercieola.  Fab. 
?  minimus,  ( Walt,  in  lit.) 

Rye. 
?  hepaticus,  Gyll. 
floralis,  Payk. 
pyrrhorhynchus,  Marsh. 
pumilio,  Gyll. 

Poweri,  Rye. 


POOPHAGUS,  Schon. 
sisynibrii,  Fab. 
uasturtii,  Spence. 

TAPINOTUS,  Schon. 
sellatus,  Fah. 

Cionidse. 

CIONUS,  Clairv. 
scrophularise,  Linn. 
verbasci,  Fab. 
thapsus,  Fab. 
blattarifc,  Fab. 
pulchellus,  Hbst. 

NANOPHYES,  Schon. 
lythri,  Fab. 

GYMjVETRON,   Schon. 
pascuorum,  Gyll. 
villosukim,  Gyll. 

beccabungae,  Walt. 
beccabungse,  Linn. 

V.  veronicse,  Germ. 
labile,  Hbst. 
rostellum,  Hbst. 
melanarium,  Germ. 
noetis,  Hbst. 
coUinum,  Gyll. 
linaria;,  Panz. 

MIARUS,  Schon. 
gramiuis,  Gyll. 
plautarum,  Dej. 
campanulfe,  Linn. 
micros.  Germ. 

MECINUS,  Germ. 
pyraster,  Hbst. 
collaris,  Germ. 
eirculatus,  Marsh. 

Calandridae. 

SITOPHILUS,  Schon. 
granarius,  Linn. 
oryzse,  Linn. 

Cossonidse. 

COSSONUS,  Clairv. 
linearis,  Fab. 


MESITES,  Schon. 
Tardii,  Steph. 

PHLCEOPHAGUS, 

Schon. 
seneopiceus,  Schon. 
spadix,  Hbst. 

RHYNCOLUS,  Creutz. 
chloropus,  Fab. 
cylindrirostris,  Oliv. 
truncorum,  Germ. 

PENTAETHRUM, 

Wall. 
Huttoni,  Woll. 

Hylesinidge. 

HYLASTES,  Er. 

cunicularius,  Ratz. 
ater,  Payk. 
angustatus,  Hbst. 
opacus,  Er. 
palliatus,  Gyll. 
obscurus,  Marsh. 

HYLURGUS,  Lat. 
piniperda,  lAnn. 
pilosus,  Ratz. 

HYLESINUS,  Fah. 
crenatus,  Fah. 
oleiperda,  Fab. 
fraxini,  Fab. 
vittatus,  Fab. 

PHLGEOPHTHORUS, 

Woll. 
rhododactylus.  Marsh. 
SCOLYTUS,  Geoffr. 

Ratzeburgii,  Jans. 
destructor,  Olir. 
multistriatus,  Marsh. 
pruni,  Ratz. 
intricatus,  Ratz. 
rugulosus,  Ratz. 

XY'LOTERUS,  Er. 

domesticus,  Linn. 
lineatus,  Oliv. 


2G6 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 


IIYPOTHEMENUS, 

West. 
eruditus,  West 

CRYPHALUS,  JEr. 

tilifp,  Fai. 
fagi,  Fah. 
piceae,  Rafz. 
binodulus.  Satz. 
abietis,  Rafz. 

TOMICUS,  Lafr. 

stenoffrapJius,  I^iif- 
typographiis,  Linn. 
acuminatus,  Gyll. 
laricis,  Fab. 
bispinus,  Ratz. 
bidens,  Fab. 
chalcographiis,  Linn. 
dispar,  Fab. 
villosus,  Fab. 
dryographus,  Er. 
Saxesenii,  Ratz. 
micrographus,  GyU. 
?  flavus,  Sttph. 

PLATYPUS,  Hbst. 
cvlindrus,  Fab. 


LOXGICOrxXES. 

Prionidse. 
PEIONUS,  Geoff. 
coriarius,  Linn. 

Cerambyeidse. 

CERAMBYCIDES. 
AROMIA,  Serv. 
moschata,  Linn. 

CALLIDIADES, 
CALLIDIUM,  Fab. 
violaceum,  Linn, 
sanguineum,  Linn. 
alni,  Linn. 
variabilc,  Linn. 

HYLOTRUPES,  Serv. 
bajulus,  Linn. 


ASEMUM,  HscJi. 
striatum,  Linn. 

CLYTIDES. 
CLYTUS,  Fab. 
arcuatus,  Linn. 
arietis,  Linn. 
mjsticus,  Linn. 

OBEIADES. 
OBRIUM,  Lat. 
cantliai'inum,  Linn. 

GRACILIA,  Serv. 
pygmsea.  Fab. 

Lamiadse. 

LAMIADES, 
LAMIA,  Fab. 

textor,  Linn. 

MONOCHAMUS,  Muls. 

sartor.  Fab. 

sutor,  Linn. 

ASTIJVOMUS,  Redt. 
ajdilis,  Linn. 

LIOPUS,  Serv. 
nebulosus,  Linn. 

POGONOCnCERUS, 
Lat. 
fasciciilaris,  Panz. 
hispidus,  Linn. 
pilosus,  Fab. 

SAPERDIDES, 
MESOSA,  Serv. 
nubila,  Oliv. 
AaAPANTHIA,  Serv. 
lineatocollis,  Don. 

SAPERDA,  Fab. 
carcharias,  Linn. 
scalaris,  Linn. 
populnoa,  Linn. 

TETROPS,  Kirby. 
pi'a;ustus,  Linn. 


STENOSTOLA,  Muls. 
nigripes,  Fab. 

OB  ERE  A,  Muls. 
ocidata,  Linn. 

PHYTCECIA,  Muls. 
cylindrica,  Linn. 

Lepturidse. 

MOLORCHIDES. 

MOLORCHUS,  Fab. 
minor,  Linn. 
unibellatarum,  Linn. 

LEPTUBIDES. 

RHAGIUM,  Fab. 
inquisitor,  Fab. 
indagator,  lAnn. 
bifasciatum,  Fab. 

TOXOTUS,  Serv. 
meridianus,  Linn. 

PACHYTA,  Serv. 
octomaculata,  Fah. 
collaris,  Linn, 

STRANGALIA,  Sei-v. 
aurulenta.  Fab. 
quadrifasciata,  Linn. 
revestita,  Linn. 
avmata,  Herbst. 
attenuata,  Linn. 
nigra,  Linn. 
melanura,  Linn. 

LEPTURA,  Linn, 
virens,  Linn. 
rufa,  Brulle. 
sc'utellata.  Fab. 
tomentosa,  Fab. 
sanguinolenta,  Linn, 
livida,  Fah. 

ANOPLODERA,  Muls. 
sexguttata,  Fab. 

GRAMMOPTERA, 

Serv. 
\iv\\9.  Fab. 
analis,  Panz. 


CATALOGUE  OF  THE  BRITISH  COLEOPTERA. 


267 


rnficornis,  Fah. 
praeusta,  Fab. 

EUPODA. 
Sagridse. 
OESODACJSTA,  Lat. 
cerasi,  Oliv. 
nigi-iceps,  Duf. 
humeralis,  Lair. 

Donaeiadse. 

DONACIA,  Fab. 
crassipes,  Fab. 
bideiis,  Oliv. 
dontata,  Hop. 
sparganii,  Ahr. 
dentipes,  Fab. 
sagittarise,  Fah. 
obscura,  Gyll. 
leinnse,  Fab. 
thalassina,  Germ, 
iinpressa,  Payk. 
linearis,  Hop. 
typlioe,  Brahm. 
simplex,  Fab. 
hydrochaeridis,  Fah. 
iTienyanthidis,  Fah. 
soricei,  Linn. 
aquatica,  Linn. 
nigra,  Fah. 
atlinis,  Kunze. 

H^MONIA,  Lat. 
equiseti,  Fab. 
Curtisii,  Lac. 

Crioceridse. 

ZEUGOPHORA,A'«wze, 

subspiuosa,  Fab. 
ilavicollis,  Marsh. 
Tiirneri,  Power. 

LEMA,  Fab. 
puncticollis,  Curt. 
cyanella,  Fab. 
Eric'hsonii,  Si(ff. 
mclanopa,  Linn. 

CRIOCERIS,  Geoff. 
niordigera,  Fab. 


duodecimpunctata,  Linn- 
asparagi,  Linn. 

Clytliridae. 

CLYTHRA,  Laich. 
tridentata,  Linn. 
quadi'ipuiictata,  Linn. 
Irpviuscula,  Ratz. 

LAMPROSOMA,  Kirb. 
concolor,  Sturm. 

Cryptocephalidse. 

CRYPTOCEPHALUS, 

Geoff. 
imperialis,  Fab. 
coryli,  Linn. 
sexpunt'tatus,  Linn, 
variahi/is,  Schn. 
avireolus,  'S^"^. 
sericPus,  Linn, 
■pini,  Linn. 
nitidalus,  Gyll. 
inorrei,  Linn. 
10-puTictatus,  Linn. 

V.  botlinicus,  Linn. 
punctiger,  Payk. 
flavilabris,  Payk. 
bipunctatus,  Linn. 

V.  lineola,  Fab. 

?'.  ?  bipustulatus,  Fab. 
bilineatus,  Linn. 
miiiutus,  Fab. 
pusilhis,  Fab. 
labiatus,  Linn. 
Wasastjeriiii,  Gyll. 
querceti,  Siff. 

?  geminus,  Wat.  Cat. 
frontalis,  Marsh. 

Chrysomelidse. 

TIMARCHA,  Latr. 
laevigata,  Linn. 
coriaria,  Fab. 

CHRYSOMELA,  Linn. 
Banksii,  Fab. 
staphjla'a,  Linn. 
varians.  Fab. 
gottingcusis,  Linn. 


hsemoptera,  Linn. 
sanguinolenta,  Linn. 
distinguenda,  Steph. 
marginata,  Linn. 
menthastri,  Suffrian. 
graminis,  Linn. 
fastuosa,  Linn. 
cerealis,  Linn. 
polita,  Linn. 
lamina,  Fab. 

V.  Hobsoni,  Steph. 
fucata,  Fah. 
didjmata,  Scriba. 

LIN  A,  Eedt. 
aenea.  Fab. 
populi,  Linn. 
longicollis,  Sifff. 

tremulse,  Wat.  Cat. 

GONIOCTEISA,  R'idt. 
rufipes,  Gyll. 
10-punctata,  Linn, 
affinis,  Schon. 
litura,  Fab. 
pallida,  Linn. 

GASTROPHYSA,  Chev. 
poljgoni,  Linn. 
raphani.  Fab. 

PLAGIODERA,  Redt. 
clavicornis,  Steph. 

PH.EDON,  Lat. 
tumidulum,  Sfeph. 
armoracife,  Linn. 
betulse,  Linn. 
concinniim,  Steph. 

PHRATORA,  iZec^i^.   • 
Tulgatissima,  Linn. 
vitellinse,  Linn. 

PRASOCURIS,  Lat. 
aucta,  Fab. 
marginella,  Linn. 
bannoverana.  Fab. 
pliellandrii,  Linn. 
beccabunga3,  Lll. 

Gallerucidse. 
ADIMONIA,  LaicJi. 
tanaceti,  Linn. 


>68 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 


villiP,  Kilnst. 
caprete,  Linn. 
sariguinea,  Fah. 

GALLERUCA,  Fab. 
lineola,  Fab. 
calmariciisis,  Linn. 
tenella,  Linn. 
sagittariae,  Gi/ll. 
iiymphoeaj,  Linn, 
vibiinii,  Paifk. 

AGELASTICA,  Redi. 
alni,  Linn. 
lialensis,  Linn. 

AUCHENIA,  Steph. 
cjuadriraaculata,  JJnn. 
CALOMICRUS,  Steph. 
circumfusus,  Marsh. 

LYPERUS,  Geoff. 
rufipes,  Fab. 
tlavipes,  Linn. 

Halticidse. 

GRAPTODERA,  Chevr. 
consobrina,  Duft. 
cui'vli,  All. 

ampelophaga,  Wat.Cat. 
?  puiilla,  Duf. 
oleracea,  Linn. 

HERM-EOPHAGA, 

Fuud. 
mercui'ialis,  Fab. 
CREPIDODERA,  Chev. 
transversa,  Marsh. 
ferriiginea,  Scop. 
ruflpes,  Lin)o. 
nitidula,  Linn. 
lielxines,  Linn. 
aurata,  Marsh. 
cliloris,  Foud. 
jModeeri,  Linn. 
pubescens,  Ent.  H. 
atropjc,  Fondr. 
Tent  ml  is,  lU. 
salicari*,  Paylc. 

MANTURA,  Steph. 
rustica,  Linn. 


obtusata,  Gyll. 
clirysanthemi,  Ent.  LI. 
Mattliewsii,  Curt. 

BATOPHILA,  Foud. 
I'ubi,  Payk. 
serata,  Marsh. 

PODAGRICA,  Kiist. 
fuscipes,  Fab. 
fuscit'ornis,  Lhin. 

APHTHOXA,  Chevr. 
ct/parissi(B,  Ent.  H. 
lutescens,  Gyll. 
nigriceps,  Redt. 
pscudacori,  Marsh. 
eupborbiii;,  Sidir. 
ati'OC!T?rulea,  Steph. 
hilaris,  Steph. 
lierbigrada,  Cart. 

PIIYLLOTRETA,i='oMd 

nodicomis,  Marsh. 
lepidii,  Ent.  LL. 
meltena,  III. 
atra,  Payk. 

V.  ?  poeciloeeras,  Com. 
punetulata,  Foud. 
vittida,  Redt. 
undulata,  Kuts. 
nemorum,  Linn. 
tetrastigma,  Com. 
sinuata,  Steph. 
ochripes,  Curtis. 
brassicae,  Fab. 
PLECTR08CELIS,  Ltr. 

conciniia,  Marsh. 

* 
Salilbergii,  Gyll. 
aridella,  Payk. 
aridula,  Giill. 
confusa,  Bohem. 

THYAMIS,  Steph. 
holsatica,  Fab. 
dorsalis,  Fab. 
quadripustiilata,  Fab. 
anclmssB,  Payk. 
obliterata,  Ros(^n. 
parvula,  Payk. 
hrunnea,  Duf. 
fiiscula,  Kuts. 
lurida,  Gyll. 


minuscnla,  Fond. 
llavicornis,  Steph. 
la? vis,  Duf. 
pelliicida,  Foud. 
eanescens,  Foud. 
jacoba;se,  Wuterh. 
tabida.  Fab. 

V.  ?  thajisi,  Marsh. 
exoleta,  Linn. 
ocbroleuca,  Marsh. 
gracilis,  Kuts. 
ballota?,  Marsh. 
Waterhousei,  Kuts. 
Reichei,  Allard. 
pusilla,  Gyll. 
lycopi,  Foud. 
nasturtii.  Fab. 
suturalis.  Marsh. 
fuseicoUis,  Steph. 
atricilla,  Gyll. 
atricapilla,  L>uf. 
melanocepliala,  Gyll. 

PSYLLTODES,  Lot. 
dulcamarse,  Ent.  H. 
chalcomerus,  III. 
napi,  Ent.  R. 
liyoscyami,  Linn. 
clirysocephalus,  Fab. 
luridipennis,  Kuts. 
cyanopterus,  III. 
niarcidiis,  III. 
caproiiitens,  Forst. 
])icipes,  Redt. 
attenuatus,  Ent.  H. 
atricilhis,  Linn. 
luteolus,  Mull. 
picinus.  Marsh. 

DIBOLTA,  Lat. 
cynoglossi,  Ent.  LL. 
APTEROPEDA,  Chev. 
graminis,  Panz. 
globosa,  Panz. 
splendida,  All. 

MNIOPHILA,  Steph. 
muscorum,  Ent.  H. 
SPH^RODERMA,  Ste. 
testacea,  Fab. 
centaureae,  Steph. 


CATALOGUE  OF  THE  BRITISH  COLEOPTERA. 


269 


Cassididse. 

CASSIDA,  Liiin. 
miu-i'oea,  Linn. 
vittata,  Fab. 
vii'idis,  Linn. 
Tibex,  Fab. 
sanguinolenta,  Fah. 
oblonga,  LIL 
nobilis,  Fab. 
marffaritacea.  Fab. 
nebulosa,  Linn, 
ferruginea.  Fab. 
obsoleta,  III. 
equesti'is,  Fah. 
hemisphffii'ica,  Hhst. 

PSEUDOTRIMERA. 

Erotylid83. 

ENGIS,  Fah. 
humeralis,  Fah. 
rufifrons,  Fab. 

TRIPLAX,  Payk. 
russicns,  Linn, 
rujicollis,  Lac. 
seneus,  Payk. 
rufipes,  Panz. 
nigriceps,  Lac. 

TRITOMA,  Fah. 
bipustiilata,  Fab. 

Coccinellidse. 
HIPPODAMIA,  Muls. 
13-puuctata,  Linn. 

COCCINELLA,  Linn. 
19-punctata,  Linn. 
mutabilis,  iScriba. 
obliterata,  Linn. 
bipunctata,  Linn. 
11-punctata,  Linn. 
sejitempunctata,  Linn. 
labilis,  MuJs. 
qninquepuiictata,  Linn. 
hieroglypliica,  Linn. 
variabilis,  III. 
impustulata,  Linn. 
18-guttata,  Linn. 
obloiigoguttata,  Linn. 


ocellata,  Linn. 
14-guttata,  Linn. 
16-giittata,  Linn, 
bissexguttata.  Fab. 
14-piinctata,  Linn. 
22-punctata,  Linn. 

MICRASPIS,  Reclt. 
12-punctata,  Linn. 
CHILOCORUS,  Leach. 
renipustulatus,  Scriba. 
bipustulatus,  Linn. 

EXOCHOMUS,  Redt. 
quadripustulatus,  Linn. 

HYPERASPIS,  Redt. 
reppensis,  Hbst. 

LASIA,  Hope. 
globosa,  Schn. 
PLATYNASPIS,  Redt. 
villosa,  Four. 

SCYMNUS,  Kvg. 
quaclrilunulatus,  III. 
frontalis,  Fab. 
discoicleus,  III. 
Mulsanti,  Waterh. 
limbatus,  Steph. 
aiialis,  Fah. 
hsemorrhoidalis,  Hbst. 
capitatus,  Fab. 
pyginseus,  Four. 
iiigrinus,  Kug. 
minimus,  Payk. 
ater,  Kug. 

RHIZOBIUS,  Stepl. 
litura.  Fab. 

COCCIDULA,  Kug. 
scutellata,  Hbst. 
rufa,  Hbst. 

Endomyeh.id88. 

ENDOMYCHUS,  Panz. 
coccineus,  Linn. 
LYCOPERDIXAjXa;;. 
bovistae,  Fah. 

MY^CET.EA,  Stefh. 
,hii"ta,  Marsh. 


SY^^MBIOTES,  Redt. 
latus,  Redt. 

ALEXIA,  Steph. 
pilifera,  Miill. 

Corylophidge. 

SACIUM,  Le  Comte. 
pusilkim,  Gyll. 
SERICODERUS,  Steph. 
lateralis,  Gyll. 
CORYLOPHFS,  Leach. 
cassidoides,  Marsh. 
ORTHOPERUS,  Steph. 
brunnipes,  Gyll. 
atom  us,  Gyll. 

CLAMBUS,  Fisch. 
minutus,  Sturm. 
armadillo,  DeG. 
pubescens,  Redt. 

COMAZUS,  Fairm. 
dubius,  Marsh. 

Sphseriadse. 

SPH.ERIUS,  Waltl. 
acaroides,  Waltl. 

Tr  ichoptery  gidse . 
PTINELLA,  Motsch. 
britannica,  Matth. 
Proteus,  Matth. 
Maria,  Matth. 
tesfcacea,  Heer. 

limbata,  Heer. 

V.  aptera,  Guer, 

V.  ?  ratisbonensis.  Gill. 
punctipennis,  Fairm. 

V.  denticollis,  Fairm. 
tenella,  Fr. 
gracilis,  Gillm. 

V.  angustula,  Gillm. 

PTERYX,  Matth. 
sutnralis,  Heer. 
TRICHOPTERYX,i:«>. 
atomaria,  DeGeer. 
grandicollis,  Mann. 


270 


BRITISH    BEETLES. 


fascicularis,  Serhsi. 
lata.  Mots. 
tlioracica,  Gillm. 
convesa,  Matth. 
suffocata,  Ualid. 
fucicola,  All. 
attenuata,  Gillm. 
brevipemiis,  Er. 
Guei'inii,  All. 
pyguifea,  Er. 
brevis,  Mots. 
?  puiaila,  Er. 
Kii-bii,  Matth. 
anibigua,  3Iatth. 
sericans,  Heer. 
bovina,  Mots. 
picicornis,  Mann. 
(lispar,  Matth. 
siuiilis,  Gillm. 

MICEUS,  Matth. 
filicornis,  Fairm. 
puk-hellus,  Gillm. 

ELACHYS,  31atth. 
abbreviatellus,  Heer. 
PTILIUM,  Er. 
brevicolle,  Matth. 
Kunzei,  Heer. 
saxonicum,  Gillm. 
angustatum,  Er. 
fuscum,  Er. 
coarctatum,  Haliday. 
iiiinutissimum,  Gyll. 
afRne,  Er. 
canaliculatuin,  Er. 
discoideum,  Gillm. 
inquilinum,  Er. 
insigne,  3Iatth. 
minimum,  Hbst. 

PTENIDIUM,  Er. 
punctatum,  Gj^ll. 
fuscicome,  Er. 

picipes,  Matth. 
pusillura,  Gi/ll. 
Isevigatum,  Er. 
fonnicetoi-um,  Ktz. 
apicale,  Er. 
turgidum,  Thorns. 

N08SIDIUM,  Er. 
pilosellum,  Marsh. 


Lathridiadae. 

HOLOPAEAMECUS, 

Curtis. 
singularis,  Beck. 

LATHEIDIUS,  III. 
lardarius,  DeGeer. 
angusticollis,  Humm. 
nodifer,  Steph. 
minutus,  Linn. 
transversus,  Oliv. 
testaceiis,  Steph. 
carinatus,  Gt/ll. 
ruficollis,  Marsh. 
elongatus,  Curtis. 
rugosus,  Hhst. 
filitbrmis,  Gijll. 

COETICAEIA,  Marsh. 
punctulata,  Marsh. 
crenulata,  Giill. 
deiiticulata,  Gi/ll. 
fulva,  Chevr. 
serrata,  Paylc. 
cylindrica,  Mann. 
elongata,  Gyll. 
ferruginea,  Gyll. 
gibbosa,  Payk. 
Wollastoni,  Waterh. 
fuscula,  Gyll. 
ciu'ta,  Wall. 

Pselaphidae. 

PSELAPHIDES. 

BATEISUS,  Aube. 
venustus,  Reich. 

PSELAPHUS,  Hhst. 
Heisei,  Hbst. 
dresdensis,  Hbst. 

BEYAXIS,  Leach. 
sanguinea,  Fab. 
simplex,  Waterh. 
fossulata,  Reich. 
Helferi,  Schm. 
Lefebvrii,  Auhi. 
liaematica,  Reich. 
jmicorum,  Leach. 
impressa,  Pauz. 


BYTHTNUS,  Leach, 
clavicornis,  Panz. 
glabricollis,  Leach. 
puncticollis,  Denny. 
biilbifer,  Reich. 
Curtisii,  Leach. 
securiger,  Reich. 
Burrellii,  Denny. 

TYCHUS,  Leach. 
niger,  Payk. 
TEICHONYX,  Chaud. 
sulficolUs,  Reich. 
Miirkelii,  Aube. 

EUPLECTUS,  Leach. 
Kunzei,  Aube. 
Dennii,  Waterh. 
Kii'bii,  Denny. 
nanus,  Reich. 
signatus,  Reich. 
Karsteiiii,  Reich. 
ambiguus,  Reich. 
bicolor,  Denny. 

TEIMIUM,  Aul4. 
brevicorne,  Reich. 

CLAVIGERIDES. 
CLAYIGEE,  Preyssl. 
foveolatus,  Miill. 


The  sittiation  of  the  fol- 
lowing genera  is 
uncertain. 

PHLCEOPHILUS, 

Steph. 
Edwardsii,  Steph. 

DIPHYLLUS,  StejjJi. 
lunatus,  Fab. 
ASriDOPHOEUS,  Lat. 
orbiculatus,  Gj/ll. 

SPHINDUS,  Chev. 
dubius,  Gyll. 

MYEMECOXENUS, 
Chev. 
vaporariorum,  Guer. 


INDEX. 


Abdera,  164. 
Acalles,  193. 
Achenium,  84. 
Acidota,  89. 
Acilius  sulcatus,  65. 
Acritus,  97. 
Acrognathus,  88. 
Acylophonis,  79. 
Adelognathes,  175. 
Adelops,  94. 
Adepliaga,  43. 
.  Adimoiiia  caprese,  219. 

sanguinea,  219. 

•         tanaceti,  219. 
Adrastus,  134. 
iEgialia,  120. 
..Epys,  58. 

Agabus  maculatus,  65. 
Agaricophagus,  95. 
Agathidium,  95,  96. 
Agelastica  lialensis,  219. 
Agrilus  biguttatus,  129. 
Agriotes,  134. 
Agrypnides,  132. 
Aleochara,  74. 
Aleocharidse,  74,  75. 
Alexia  pilifera,  231. 
Alophus  triguttatus,  183. 
Alpliitobius,  158. 
Alula,  26,  65. 
Amara  fulva,  55. 
Ametabola,  5. 
Ammcecius,  120. 
Amphicyllis,  95. 
Amphimalliis,  115. 
Auchomeuus  6-piinctatus,  56. 


Ancystronyclia,  142. 
Anisodactylus,  57. 
Anisotoma  cinuaiaomea,  95. 
AiiisotomidsB,  94. 
Aunelidse,  structure  of,  5. 
Anobiades,  146. 
Anobium  tessellatum,  148. 
Anommatus,  102. 
Anomalidcs,  114. 
Anopleura,  5. 
. Antennae,  23. 
Anthasia,  129. 
Anthicidse,  165. 
Antbicus  instabilis,  166. 
Anthobium,  89. 
Anthocomus,  142. 
Anthouomus,  190. 
Anthophagus  alpinus,  89. 
Anthribidse,  178. 
Autiodontalgicus,  188. 
Aphidipbagi,  227. 
Apbodlada^  120. 
Apbodius  inquiuatus,  120. 
Aphtbona,  221. 
Apion  difforme,  182. 
Apionidse,  181. 
Apoderus  coryli,  180. 
A]iteropeda  graminis,  223. 
Araclmida,  structure  of,  4. 
Aroniia  moscbata,  205. 
Articulata,  structure  of,  2. 
Asemum  striatum,  206. 
Aspidopborus  orbiculatus,  239. 
Astinomus  wdilis,  207. 
Astrapaeus,  79. 
Atemeles  emarginatus,  75. 


Q.7Q, 


INDEX. 


Atlious  hfemorrlioidalis,  133. 

Atom  aria,  103. 

AtopidsD,  136. 

Attelubidse,  179. 

Attelabus  curculionides,  180. 

Aucheiiia,  219. 

Autalia,  7^. 

Badister,  55. 
BagiJus,  193. 
Balaiiiiius  brassiere,  191. 

cerusoruni,  191. 

glandium,  191. 

nucviui,  177,  190. 

Tillosus,  lyl. 

Baptoliiius  alteruans,  83. 
Baridiadse,  192. 
Baridius,  192. 
Bembidiades,  58. 
Berabidium  bistriatum,  58. 

iiammulatum,  58. 

pallidipeiinc,  59. 

paludosum,  59. 

Benzine,  37. 
Blaps  mucronata,  154, 
BlaptidiE,  154. 
Blechrus  maurus,  49. 
Bledius,  50,  86,  87. 
Blemus  areolatus,  58. 
Blethisa,  52. 
Blister-beetle,  171. 
Bloody-nosed  beetle,  216. 
Bolitobius  atricapillus,  78. 
Bolitochara,  74. 
Bolitophagidse,  156. 
Bolitophagus  crenatus,  156. 
Bombardier-beetle,  49. 
Books  : — 

Allard,  Ralticidre,  220. 

Aube,  Water-b-ellea,  67. 

Burraeister,  Manual,  29. 

Candeze,  Elaterid(B,  134. 

Curtis,  Genera,  29. 

Dawson,  Geodephaga,  45. 

Denny,  Pselaj)hid(B,  94,  235. 

Entomolofiists'  Annual,  45. 

Entomologists'  Monthly  Maga- 
zine, 78,  86,  182,  234. 

Ericlison,  Inn.  Deutschl.,  30,45 

Mark  Brand.,  30. 

Scoli/tidce,  196. 


Books — contimied. 

Ericlison,  Sfaphi/Iinidce,  72. 
Fabre,  3Ieloe,  171. 
Fairmaire,  Faune  Fran^.,  30. 
Gilhneister,    Trlchojitert/gidce, 

233. 
Gyllenhal,  Ins.  Suecica,  30. 
Kirby   and    Spence,    Introduc- 
tion, 16. 
Kraatz,  Colon,  94. 

Lacordaire,  Genera,  30,  171. 

Marseul,  do,  Risteridce,  98. 

Mellie,  Cis,  150. 

Mulsant,  Longicornes,  210. 

Murray,  Cat  ops,  94. 

Newport,  Meloe,  171. 

Putzeys,  3Ion.  des  Chirnas,  50. 

Batzeburg,  Forst.  Ins.,  196. 

Bedtenbaeher,  Faun.  Austr.,  30. 

Schonherr,  Curculionidce,  176. 

Stephens,  Illustrations,  29. 

Manual,  29. 

Stierlin,  Otiorhynchus,  187. 

Strauss-Dijrckheim,  12. 

Thomson,  Skand.  Col.,  30. 

Tournier,  Colon,,  94. 

Walton,  Curculionidce,  176,182. 

Waterhouse,  Catalogue,  37. 

Gyrophcena,  76. 

Westwood,  Introduction,  29. 

Wollaston,  Atomaria,  103. 
Bostriehidffi,  148,  199. 
Bostrichus  capucinus,  149. 
Brachelytra,  68. 
Braehinus  crepitans,  49. 
Braehyderidfe,  182. 
Brachypterides,  98. 
Brachyrhynchi,  176. 
Brachytarsus  scabrosus,  178. 

yarius,  179. 

Broseus,  56. 
Bruejiidse,  177. 
Bruehus  pisi,  178. 

rufimanus,  178. 

Bryaxis  sanguinea,  236. 
Buprestidffi,  127. 
Burying-beetles,  93. 
Byrrliid.T,  105. 
Byrrhus  faseiatus,  105. 
Byrsopsidje,  185. 
Bythinus,  236. 


INDEX. 


273 


Bytm-ida?,  143, 

Calandridae,  195. 
Callicerus,  75. 
Callidiades,  205. 
Callidium  alni,  20G. 

violaceum,  20G. 

Callistus  lunatus,  54. 
Calosoma  sycophanta,  52. 
Campylides,  134. 
Cam])ylus  linearis,  134. 
Canthai'is,  171. 
Carabidoe,  46. 
Carabides,  50. 
Carabus  monilis,  51, 

nemoralis,  51. 

niteiis,  51. 

violaceus,  51. 

Cardinal-beetle,  165. 
Carpophilides,  98. 
Carpophilus  hemipterus,  98. 
Cassida  oblonga,  224. 

sanguinolenta,  224, 

viridis,  225. 

vittata,  224. 

Cassidida;,  223. 

Catalogue  {Waterhoiises),  37. 

Catops,  94. 

CeUar-beetles,  55. 

Cerambyeidfe,  203. 

Cer.ambycides,  204. 

Cercus  pedicularius,  98, 

Cercyon,  109. 

Cerylon,  102. 

Cetonia  senea,  114. 

aurata,  114. 

Cetoniadse,  113. 
Ceuthorhynchideus,  194. 
Ceuthorhynchus,  194. 
Chafers,  110. 
Cliilocorus,  229. 
Chlaeuiades,  53. 
Chlaenius  vestitus,  53. 
Choleva,  94. 
Cholevides,  93. 
Choragus  Sheppardi,  179. 
Chrysomela  cerealis,  217. 

distinguenda,  216. 

graminis,  216. 

■ menthastri,  216. 

polita,  217. 


Chrysomelidffi,  216. 
Cliurchyard-beetle,  154. 
Cicindela  campestris,  47. 

germanica,  47. 

sylvatica,  48. 

Cicindelidfe,  46. 

Cicones  variegatus,  102, 

Cioidffi,  150. 

Cionidae,  194. 

Cionus  blattarite,  195. 

Cis  boleti,  151. 

Cistela,  161. 

CistelidiB,  160. 

Clambus,  231. 

Claviger  foveolatiis,  237, 

Clavigerides,  237. 

Clavipalpi,  227. 

Cleonidse,  183. 

Cleonus,  183. 

Cleridse,  144. 

Clerus  formicarius,  145. 

Clivina  collaris,  50. 

Clypeus,  22. 

Clytlira  quadripunctata,  214. 

tridentata,  214, 

Clythridse,  214. 
Clytides,  206. 
Clytus  arietis,  207. 
Cnemidotus,  62. 
Coecidula  scutellata,  229. 
Coccinella  hieroglyphica,  229. 

obliterata,  229. 

oblougo-guttata,  229. 

ocellata,  229. 

18-guttata,  229. 

19-punctata,  229. 

13-punctata,  229. 

22-punotata,  229. 

Cockchafer,  115. 
Cceliodes  didymus,  192. 
Coleuis,  95. 
Coleoptera,  divisions  of ,  42. 

metamorphosis  of,  9,  10. 

structure  of  9, 11,  21. 

Collecting,  38. 
Collecting-bottle,  32. 
Colon,  94. 
Colydiada;,  102. 
Colydium,  102. 
Comazus,  231. 
Conicoxse,  153, 


274 


INDEX. 


Coniontidse,  154. 
Coniporus,  239. 
Conopalpus,  164. 
Coprid£E,  118. 
Copris  luuaris,  119. 
Coi'n-weevil,  195. 
Corticaria,  233,  235. 
Corylophidae,  231. 
Coryloplius  cassidoides,  231. 
Corynibites  cupreiis,  134. 

pectiniconiis,  134. 

Corynetes,  144,  145. 
Cossonida?,  195. 
Cossoniis  linearis,   196. 
Coxa,  25,  26,  27. 
Creophilus  maxillosus,  81. 

V.  eiliaris,  81. 

Crepidodera  aurata,  221. 

chloris,  221. 

helxines,  221. 

Crioceridse,  213. 
Ci'ioceris  asparagi,  214. 

merdigera,  213. 

Crustacea,  structure  of,  3. 
Cryptarcha,  100. 
Crypticus  quisquilius,  154. 
Cryptobium  fracticorne,  84. 
Cryptocephalidse,  214. 
Cryptocephalus  aureolus,  215. 

bilincatus,  216. 

coryli,  215. 

■ 10-punctatus,  215. 

■         nitidulus,  215. 

sericeus,  215. 

sex-punctatus,  215. 

Cryptoliypnus  dermestoides,  134. 
Cryptophagidse,  103. 
Cryptopliagus  scanicus,  103. 
Cryptopleiirum,  109. 
Cryptorhynchidae,  192. 
Cryptorliynchus  lapatlii,  102. 
Cteniopus,  161. 
Cucujidfe,  103. 
Cibister,  63,  65. 
Cychi'amides,  99. 
Cychramus,  100. 
Cvchrus  rostratus,  52, 
Cyelica,  217. 
Cyclonotum,  109. 
Cyplionida?,  136. 
Cyrtusa,  95. 


Dascillus  cerTinus,  136. 
Death-watoh,  148. 
Deleaster,  88. 
Dermestes  lardarius,  104. 
Dermestidfe,  104. 
Devil's  coach-horse,  68. 
Diacliromus  germainis,  57. 
Diamond-beetle,  177. 
Dianous  c^erulesceus,  85. 
Diaperidse,  156. 
Diaperis  boleti,  157. 
Dichirotrichus  obsolctns,  57. 
Dictyopterus  Aurora,  138. 
Dinarda,  75. 
Diphyllus  lunatus,  238. 
Dissection,  14. 
Dolopius,  134. 
Donacia,  212. 
Donaciadse,  212. 
Dorcatoma,  147. 
Dorcus,  eye  of,  22. 

parallelopipedus,  124. 

Dorytomus,  189. 
DrilidcT,  139. 
Drilus  flavescens,  140. 
Dromius,  49. 
Dryops  femoratus,  172. 
Dryjjta  dentata,  49. 
Dung-beetles,  117. 
Dyschh'ius,  50. 
Dytiscidte,  61. 
Dytiscides,  63. 

Dytiscus  marginalis,  abdomen  of, 
28 

,  head  of,  22.  23. 

,  larva  of  10,  65. 

,  pupa  of,  10. 

,  thorax  of, 

mesothorax,  25. 

metanotum,  26. 

■ ■  metasteniuni,  27. 

pronotum,  24. 

prostenium,  25. 

Dytiscus  punctulatus,  64. 

Ebfeus,  142. 

Elaphrus,  53. 

Elateridte,  131. 

Elaterides,  132. 

Elater  sanguinolentus,  133. 

Eledona  agaricola,  156. 


INDEX. 


275 


Elmides,  106. 
Elytra,  26. 
Emus  hirtus,  81. 
Encephalus  couii^licans,  76. 
Eudomychus  cocciueus,  230. 
Eugis  humeraKs,  227. 

rufifrons,  227. 

Ennearthrum,  151. 
Enopliades,  144. 
Entimus  imperialis  {exotic),  177. 
Epimera,  25,  26,  27. 
Episterna,  25,  26,  27. 
Epursea,  99. 
Erirliinidffi,  187. 
Erii'liinus  festucae,  189. 

tseiiiatiis,  190. 

vorax,  190. 

ErotylidfE,  226. 
Eryx  ater,  161. 
Eubriadse,  137. 
Eubria  palustris,  137. 
Eucnemidffi,  129. 
Eugleues,  166. 
Eumicrus  tarsatus,  94. 
Euplectus  Karstenii,  237. 

uanus,  237. 

signatus,  237. 

Eupoda,  211. 
Euryporus,  79. 
Eusphalerum,  89. 
Evpesthetus,  85. 
Examination  of  insects,  14,  15. 
Exochomus,  229. 

Femur,  25. 
Feroniades,  55. 
Fungicola,  148. 

Galleruca,  219. 
Gallerucidfe,  218. 
Gastrophysa,  218. 
Geodephaga,  43. 
Gcodromicus,  88. 
Georyssidse,  106. 
Georyssus  pygmeeus,  107. 
Geotrupes  stercorarius,  117. 

vernalis,  118. 

Geotrupidse,  116. 
Gibbium,  147. 
Globicoxse,  153. 
Glow-woi'm,  138. 


Gnathocerus,  157. 
Gnorimus,  113. 
Gonatoeeri,  176. 
Gonioctena,  218. 
Gracilia  pygmasa,  207. 
Graptodera,  221. 
Grouops  lunatus,  185. 
Gum-tragacanth,  34. 
Gymnetron,  195. 
Gyrinidse,  66. 
Gyrinus,  22,  65,  GQ. 
Gyrophseua,  74,  77. 

Habrocerus,  78. 
Hfemonia  Curtisii,  213. 
Haliplides,  61. 
Haliplus  elevatus,  62. 

obliquus,  62. 

Hallomenus,  163. 
Halticidaj,  220. 
Haploglossa,  75. 
Harpalides,  57. 
Harpalus  ruficornis,  57. 
Hedobia  imperialis,  147. 
Heliopathes  gibbus,  155. 
Helophorus  rugosus,  108. 
Helopidae,  159. 
Helops  creruleus,  159. 

palKdus,  160. 

striatus,  160. 

Hermseophaga,  221. 
Heterocerida?,  105. 
Heteromera,  41,  152. 
Heterothops,  79. 
Hister  bimaculatus,  97. 
Histeridse,  96. 
Holoparamecus,  233. 
Horaaloplia,  116. 
Homalota  gregaria,  76. 
HoracEusa,  75. 
Hoplia  philanthus,  116. 
Hoplidffi,  116. 
Hydaticus,  63. 
Hydradephaga,  60. 
Hydrsena,  108. 
Hydrobius  fuscipes,  108. 
Hydronomus,  193. 
Hydvophilidse,  107. 
Hydroporides,  62. 
Hydroporus  rivalis,  62. 
Hydrous  piceus,  108. 


276 


INDEX. 


Hylastes,  197. 

Hyleca3tus  dermestoicles,  146. 
Hylesiniclse,  196. 
Hylesinus  vittatus,  197,  198. 
Hylobius  abietis,  184.. 
Hylotriipes  bajulus,  206. 
Hylurgus  piniperda,  197. 
Hypera,  184. 
Hyphydi'us  oratus,  63. 
Hypocyptus,  77. 
HypophlcEus  bicolor,  158. 
Hypothemeuus  eruditus,  198. 
Hypulus  quercinus,  164. 

Ilyobates,  75. 

Insecta,  4,  6,  7. 

Ipides,  100. 

Ips  ferrugiiieus,  100. 

Ischnoglossa,  74. 

Ischnomera  melanura,  23,  172. 

Labial  palpi,  23,  24. 

Labium,  23. 

Labrum,  22. 

Laccophilus,  65. 

Lacon  murinus,  132. 

Lady-birds,  228. 

Lsemophlceus,  103. 

Lagriadsp,  161. 

Lagria  birta,  161. 

Lamellicornes,  110. 

Lamiad«,  203. 

Lamiades,  207. 

Lamia  textor,  207. 

Lamprosoma  concolor,  214. 

Lampyrida%  138. 

Lamjiyris  noctiluca,  138. 

Lapavosticti,  112. 

Larinus,  188. 

Larva?,  10,  46,  47,  61,  65,  66,  67, 
71,  97,  99,  104,  108,  111,  124, 
128,  133,  140,  141,  145,  155, 
159,  160,  161,  169,  170,  177, 
198,  199,  203,  204,  213,  217, 
225,  etc. 

Lasia  globosa,  229. 

Lalhridiada-,  233. 

Lathridius  lardariiis,  234. 

nodifer,  235. 

Lathrimeemri,  89. 

Lebia  chlorocephala,  49. 


Lebia  crux-minor,  48. 

Lebiades,  48. 

Leptacinus  formicetorum,  82. 

Leptinus,  94. 

Lepturidae,  203,  209. 

Lepturides,  209. 

Lestera,  88. 

Licinus  silphoides,  54. 

Ligula,  23,  24. 

Limniehus,  105. 

Limobius,  185. 

Lina  populi,  217. 

tremulse,  2l7. 

Liodes,  95,  96. 
Lionychus  quadrillum,  49. 
Liosomus,  184. 
Litodactylus,  194. 
Lixus  bicolor,  188. 

parapleeticus,  188. 

Lomechusa,  75. 
Loiigicornes,  201. 
Loricera,  54. 
Lucanid;^,  121,  122. 
Lucanus  cervus,  122. 
Ludius  ferrugiueus,  133. 
Lycidse,  137. 

Lycoperdina  bovista?,  230. 
Lyctida?,  149. 
Lyctus  canaliculatus,  150. 
Lymexylidae,  145. 
Lymexylon,  146. 
Lyperus,  220. 
Lyprus,  193. 
Lytta  vesicatoria,  171. 

Magdalis  carbonarius,  189. 
Malacbius,  142. 
Malacodenni,  135. 
Maltliinus,  142. 
Malthodes,  142. 
Mandibles,  22. 
Mantura,  221. 
Maxillip,  23. 
Maxillary  palpi,  23. 
Meal-worm,  159. 
Mecorhynchi,  176,  187. 
Megartlu-us,  89,  90. 
Megastcrnum,  109. 
Meland  i*ya  caraboides,  163. 
Meland  i-yad»,  162. 
Melasis  buprestoides,  130. 


INDEX. 


277 


Melasoma,  153. 
Meligethes,  99. 

Meloe,  transformations  of,  169. 
Meloida?,  168. 
Melolontha,  115. 
Melolonthida?,  115. 
Melyridae,  142. 
Mentiim,  23,  24. 
Mesites  Tardii,  196. 
Mesonotum,  26. 
Mesosternum,  26. 
Mesothorax,  25. 
Metanotum,  26. 
Metasternum,  26. 
Metatliorax,  24. 
Mezium,  147. 
Miarus,  195. 
Miccotrogus,  191. 
Micralymma  brevipennis,  89. 
Micraspis,  229. 
Micropeplidse,  91. 
Micropeplus,  70. 

niargaritce,  91. 

tesserula,  91. 

Microrhagus,  130. 
Microzoum,  155. 
Miscodera  arctica,  56. 
Mniophila  muscoruiu,  223. 
Mollusca,  structure  of,  2. 
Molorchus  umbellatarum,  209. 
Molytes,  184. 
Molytidje,  183. 
Mononychus  pseudacori.  193. 
Monotonia,  102. 
Mordellid^,  166. 
Musk-beetle,  205. 
Mycel-^a  hirta,  230. 
Mycetochai'is  bipustulata,  160. 
Mycctopliagidae,  104. 
Mycetophagus   miiltipunctatus, 

104. 
Mycetoporus,  78. 
Mycterus  cnrculionides,  172. 
Myllsena,  74,  76. 
Myriapoda,  strtccttire  of,  5. 
Myrmecoxenus  Taporariorum,  238. 
Myrmedonia  funesta,  75. 

Nanophyes,  195. 
Nausibius,  103. 
Necrobia,  145. 


Necrophaga,  92. 
Necrophorus  mortuorum,  93. 
Nemosoma  elongata,  101. 
IVets ;  sweeping,  31, 

umbrella,  31. 

water,  32. 

Nitidulidfp,  98. 
Nosodendron,  105. 
Ncssidium  pilosellum,  233. 
Noterus,  65. 
NotiophiliTs,  53. 
Notoxus,  166. 
Nut-Weevil,  177,  190. 

Obriades,  207. 

Obrium  cantharinum,  207. 

Occiput,  22. 

Ocelli,  23,  70. 

Octotemnus,  151. 

Ocypus  compressus,  82. 

morio,  82. 

olens,  68,  81. 

Ocyusa,  74. 

Odacantha  melanura,  49. 

OEdemera  crerulea,  172. 

(Edemeridffi,  171. 

Oil-beetles,  168. 

Olophrum,  89. 

Omalidje,  88. 

Oraalium,  23,  89. 

Omalium  jjlanum,  89. 

Omosita,  99. 

OnthophagTis,  119. 

Onthophilus  striatus,  97. 

Oomorphus,  214. 

Opatridse,  155. 
Opatrura  sabulosum,  155. 
Opilus,  145. 
Orchesia  undulata,  163. 
Orchestes,  191. 
Orectoclii]us  villosus,  67. 
Orobitis,  193. 
Orsodaena,  212. 
Ortliocha?tes,  192. 
Osphya  bipunctata,  164. 
Othius,  82. 
Otiorhyuchidfe,  185. 
Otiorhynchus  picipes,  187. 

sidcatus,  187. 

Oxypoda,  76. 
Oxyporus  rufiis,  87. 


INDEX. 


Oxytelidte,  86. 
Oxytelus,  87. 

Paederidse,  83. 
Psederus  caligatus,  84. 
Palpi,  23. 
Palpicornes,  107. 
Paraglossae,  24. 
Parapleura,  27. 
ParnidiB,  106. 
Pea-beetle,  178. 
Peetinieornes,  122. 
Pedilidtp,  166. 
Pedinidse,  154. 
Pelobius  Hermauui,  62. 
Pentamera,  41. 
Phalacrides,  100. 
Phaleria  cadaverina,  156. 
Phaiierognathes,  175. 
Philhydrida,  107. 
Philonthus,  80,  82. 
Plilocobium,  71. 

clypeatum,  90. 

Phloeocliaridse,  90. 
Phloeocharis  subtilissiraa,  90. 
Phloeophihis  Edwardsi,  238. 
Phloeopora,  74. 
Phratora,  218. 
Phyllobius  argentatiis,  186. 

viridicollis,  186. 

Phyllopertha  horticola,  115. 
Pliyllotreta  bi'assicse,  223. 

nodicoruis,  222. 

ocliripes,  222. 

siuuata,  222. 

tetrastigma,  222. 

uudulata,  222. 

vittula,  222. 

Phytouomus  trilineatus,  184. 
Phytophaga,  211. 
PiestidfE,  90. 
Pins,  36. 

Pissodes  pini,  188. 
Platydcma,  157. 
Platypus  cylindrus,  199. 
Platyrhinus,  179. 
Platystethus,  87. 
Plectro8celis,  223. 
Pleurosticli,  112,  113. 
Plintluis,  184. 
Pcecilus,  55. 


Pogonochoerus,  208. 
Pogonus,  55. 
Polydrosus,  182. 
Post-scutellum,  25. 
Prsescutum,  25. 
Prionida?,  203. 
Prionocyphon,  137. 
Prioniis  coriarius,  204. 
Pristoiiychus,  55. 
Prognatha  quadricoruis,  90. 
Pronotum,  24. 
Prosternum,  25,  26. 
Prothorax,  24. 
Protiuides,  89. 
Psammodius,  120. 
Psamnicechus,  103. 
Pselapliidse,  235. 
Pselaphus  dresdensis,  236. 

Heisii,  236. 

Pseudopsis  stdcatus,  90. 

Pseudotetramera,  174. 

Pseudotrimera,  226. 

Psylliodes,  223. 

Pteiiidium  apicale,  233. 

Ptei'ostichus  niger,  labium  of,  24. 

Pterosticlus  picimauus,  55. 

Pterygia,  175. 

Ptiliiius  pectinicornis,  147. 

Ptinidffi,  146. 

Pupa,  10. 

Pygidium,  27. 

Pyrochroa  coccinea,  165. 

Pyrochroada?,  164. 

Pytho  depressus,  165. 

Quediadse,  78. 
Quedius  aurieomus,  80. 

brevis,  80. 

eruentus,  80. 

dilatatus,  80. 

Isevigatus,  80. 

lateralis,  80. 

scitus,  80. 

truncicola,  80. 

Radiata,  6. 
Relaxing-jar,  34. 
Rhagium,  210. 
Rhagonycha,  142. 
Rhinocyllus,  188. 
Khinomacer  attelaboides,  180. 


INDEX. 


179 


EhinomaceridsB,  180. 
Eliinosimus  viridipennis,  173. 
Rhipipliorides,  167. 
Kliipipliorus  paradosng,  167. 
Khizopertlia  pusilla,  1 19. 
Ehizophagus,  98,  101. 
Ehizotrogus  solstitialis,  115. 
Ehopalodontus,  150. 
Eliyuchophora,  174. 
Ehytidosomns,  193. 
Eose-beetle,  114. 
Eostrum,  174. 
Eove-beetles,  68. 
Eutelidse,  114. 

Sagridse,  212, 
Salpingidse,  173. 
Saperda  carcharias,  208. 

popidnea,  209. 

— —  scalaris,  208. 
Saperdides,  208. 
Sarrotrium,  102. 
Scaphidema,  157. 
Scaphidiadae,  96. 
Scaphisoma,  96. 
Scaritides,  50. 
Scirtes  hemisphsericus,  137. 
Scolytidffi,  196. 
Scolytiis  destructor,  198. 
Scopseus,  83. 
Scraptia,  166. 
Scrobes,  175. 
Scutellum,  25. 
Scutum,  25. 
Scydmgenidce,  94. 
Scymnus,  229. 
Securipalpes,  227. 
Serica  brunnea,  116. 
Sericida;,  115. 
Sericosomus,  134. 
Serricornes,  126. 
Setting-boards,  etc.,  34. 

,  directions  for,  34,  72,  77. 

Sexton-beetles,  93. 
Shardborn-beetle,  117. 
Sibynes,  191. 
Silphidi-e,  93. 
Silusa,  74. 
Silvanus,  103. 
Sinodendron,  122,  135. 
Sitaris  muralis,  170. 


Sitones,  182. 

Sitopliilus  granarius,  195. 

oi'yzte,  195. 

Skip-jacks,  126. 
Soronia  grisea,  99. 

punctatissima,  99. 

Spanish-fly,  171. 
Species,  definition  of,  12. 
Spercbeus  emarginatus,  107. 
Sphajriadse,  232. 
Sphseridiadse,  109. 
Sphserites,  94. 
Sphserius  acaroides,  232. 
Sphseroderma,  221. 
Spliindus  dubius,  239. 
Sphodrus,  55. 
Spiracles,  28. 

,  in  larva,  10. 

Squeaker,  62. 
Stag-beetle,  122. 
Staphylini,  68. 
Staphylinida^,  80. 
Staphylinus  csesareus,  81. 

erythropterus,  81. 

Stenidaj,  85. 

Stenus  Gruyneineri,  86. 

Eogeri,  86. 

Stenioxi,  126. 
Sternum,  25. 
Stilicus  fragilis,  85. 
Strangalia  armata,  210. 
Strepsiptera,  7. 
Strophosomus,  182. 
Stylopidse,  7. 
Subtetramera,  174. 
SulcicoUes,  230. 
Sunshiners,  55. 
Symbiotes  latus,  231. 
Synaptus,  134. 
Syntomium,  88. 

Tachinus,  78. 
Tacbyerges,  191. 
Tachyporidse,  77. 
Tacbyporus,  78. 
Tachypus  flavipes,  59. 

pallipes,  59. 

Tachyusa,  74. 

constricta,  76. 

Tanysphyrus  lemna?,  183. 
Tarsus,  25. 


180 


INDEX. 


Teleplioridfe,  140. 
Telephorus  clypeatiis,  140. 
Telmatophilus,  143,  144. 
Tenebrio  molitor,  159. 
Teuebrionidae,  158. 
Tenebrio  obscurus,  159. 
Tetraraera,  41,  174. 
Tetratoma  anoora,  162. 

Desmarestii,  162. 

fungorum,  162. 

Tetratomidse,  162. 
Tetrops,  209. 
Tbiasopliila,  75. 
Thorax,  24. 

Throscus  derinestoides,  130. 
Tliyainis  dorsalis,  223. 
Thymalus  limbatus,  102. 
Thysanura,  5. 
Tibia,  25. 
Tiger-beetles,  46. 
TiQus  elongatiis,  145. 
Timarcha  Iserigata,  216. 
Timberman,  207. 
Tomicidse,  196. 
Tomicus,  199. 
Tortoise-beetles,  223. 
Trachodes,  192. 
Trachypliloeus,  186. 
Trachys,  129. 
Trachyscelidse,  155. 
Trecbides,  57. 

Tribolium  ferrugineum,  157. 
Tricliius  fasciatus,  113. 
Trichodes,  144. 
Trichonyx,  237. 
Trichophya,  78. 
Trichopterygidre,  232. 


Trichopteryx  atomaria,  233. 
TriphyUus,  104. 
Triplax  russieus,  227. 
Tritoma  bipustulata,  227. 
Trochanter,  25,  26,  27. 
Trogida?,  121. 
Trogophlceus,  86,  88. 
Trogosita  maui'itanica,  102. 
Trogositida!,  101. 
Tropideres,  179. 
Trox,  121. 
Turnip-flea,  222. 
Tychius,  191. 
Tychus,  237. 
Typha^a,  104. 
Typhasus  vulgaris,  118. 

Ulomidse,  157. 

Water-beetles,  60. 
Weevils,  174. 
Whirlwigs,  66. 
Wing,  26. 
Winglet,  26,  65. 
Wire-worm,  133. 

Xantholinidse,  82. 
Xantholinus  fulgidus,  83. 

tricolor,  83. 

Xylophaga,  196. 
Xylophilus,  166. 
Xyloterus  domesticus,  198. 

lineatus,  198. 

Xylotrogi,  145. 

Zabrus  gibbus,  46,  56. 
Zeugophora  subspinosa,  213. 


PLATE   I. 

1.  Cicindela  sylvatica. 

2.  Lebia  crux-minor. 

3.  Brachinus  crepitans. 

4.  Clivina  coUaris. 

5.  Carabus  nitens. 

(3.  Licinus  silphoides. 


PLATE   11. 

1 .  Callistus  lunatus. 

2.  Anchomenus  sexpunctatus. 

3.  Pterostichus  picimanus. 

4.  Amara  fulva. 

5.  Dicliirotrichus  obsoletiis. 

6.  Bembidiurn  pallidipenne. 


PkLe.ll, 


;.\V'Roli„-.soi..I)el':*Sif.lStU', 


PLATE   111. 

1.  Dytiscus  punctulatus  [male). 

2.  Agabus  maculatus. 

3.  Hydroporus  rivalis. 

4.  Haliplus  obliqims. 

5.  Pelobius  Herraanni. 

6.  Gyrinus  bicolor. 

6  a.  Head  of  ditto,  seen  hdercdhj. 
6  b.  Antenna  of  ditto. 
6  c.  Hind  leg  of  ditto. 


Fkte  111 


E.V/.R>tms™,Dd':et,Scf.l365, 


/ 


PLATE   IV. 

J.  Atemcles  emargiuatus. 

2.  Bolitobius  atricapillus. 

3.  Quedius  cruentus. 

1.  Creophilus  maxillosiis. 

5.  Xantliolinus  fulgidus. 

G.  Pfederus  calisatus. 


,Pkt.e  IV 


,E,W,Robm5or,  M'-.'Sti'.f.mS. 


PLATE   V. 

1.  Diaiiiius  Cievulescens. 

2.  Oxyporus  rufus. 

3.  llouialiuni  planum. 

4.  Pliloeobium  clypeatiun. 
5  Proguatlia  qnadriconiis. 
6.  ]Micropcplus  margaritre. 


.PkteY. 


PLAl'E   VI. 

1.  Necro{)lioras  mortuoruin. 

2.  Eurincrns  tarsatiis. 

8.  Anisotoma  cinnamomea. 

4.  Hister  bimaculatiis. 

."):  Soroiiia  puiictatiscsiina. 

().  Cicones  varieffatns. 


Pkte.VI. 


\:/ 


I 


.EM'Roimsor.  Del':et3cP)864' 


PLATE   VII. 

1.  Cryptophagus  scanicus. 

2.  Mycetophaocus  multipunctatns. 

3.  Byrrhus  fasciatus. 

i.  Helophorus  rugosns. 

5.  Hydrobius  fuscipes. 

0.  Trleliius  fasciatus. 


Plate  Vil 


E  .VV;  Rotln-.o..,  Del',  et  Sc  P  IV.3. 


PLATE  Vlir. 

1.  Pliyllopertlui  horticola, 

2.  Typhseus  vulgaris. 

3.  Aphodius  iiiquinatus, 

4.  Dorcus  parallelopipedus^ 

5.  Agrilus  biguttatus. 

6.  Melasis  buprestoides. 


P  Lite . VII 1, 


E.W.Rokir.s,rv.Del':.tS.r,l>iW. 


PLATE   IX. 

1 .  Elater  saiiguinolentus. 

2.  Dictyopterus  Aurora. 

8.  Drilus  tlavescens  (male). 

4.  Telephorus  clypeatus. 

5.  Clerus  formicarius. 

0.  Hylecsetus  dermestoides  [male). 


.Plate  .IX, 


.E  W.Rc1ii-u<-A.Del',.,l3.>,lis5.J 


PLATE   X. 

1.  Iledobia  iraperialis. 

1  a.  Head  and  thorax  of  ditto, 
viewed  later cdly. 

2.  Crypticus  quisquilius. 
o.   Helops  p'lllidus. 

4.  Orchesia  uiululata. 

5.  Notoxus  mouoceros. 

5  a.  Head  and  thorax  of  ditto, 
viewed  laterally. 
G.   llliipipliorus  paradoxus  {male). 


.Pkte.X. 


.  E  .W.Roiimson ,  DeU  et.S,Ma65. 


PLATE  XI. 

1.  Sitai'is  niuralis. 

2.  ffideincra  coernlea  {male). 

3.  Rbinosiraus  viridipennis. 

4.  Brachytarsus  scabrosns. 

5.  llhynchites  fequatus. 

C).  Plivtonomus  trilitieatus. 


PldteXl, 


F  W  Ro!,inson.3)elSt.Scf.:»65. 


PLATE   XII. 

1 .  Otiorhynchus  picipes. 

2.  Balaninus  villosus. 

2  a.  Head  of  ditto,  vieived  later  a////. 
8.  Cryptorliynchus  lapatlii. 

4.  Cleomis  blattarise. 

5.  Cossoims  linearis. 

6.  Hvlesinus  vittatiis. 


:^^3.xiL 


PLATE   XIII. 

1 .  Xyloterus  lineatns. 

y.  Platypus  cylinflrus. 

8.  Callidium  alni. 

.4.  Acanthocinus  sedilis  [mule). 

ft.  Say^erda  scalaris. 

(J.  Molorclms  umbellataruni. 


.Plate  XIIl 


.  E  WRol.insor..DeL^elSt}:lS6Jr. 


PIATE   XIV. 

1.  Strangalia  armata  {var.). 

2.  llremonia  Curtisii. 

3.  Crioccris  asparagi. 

4.  Cryptocephalus  biliiieatus. 

5.  Chrysomela  distinguenda. 

6.  Calomicrus  circuinfusus. 


PkteXIV. 


.E.W,Kol>m"n.Det":etSr.tKci5. 


PLATE   XV. 

1.  Phyllotreta  ochripes. 

2.  Apteropeda  graminis. 

3.  Cassida  sanguiuoleuta. 

4.  Tritoma  bipustulata. 

5.  Coccinella  22-punctata. 

6.  Endomychus  cocciueus. 


PLATE  XVI. 

1.  Corvloplius  cassidoides. 

2.  Ptenidium  apicale. 
o.  Latliridius  lardarius. 

4.  Pselaphus  Ileisii. 

5.  EuplecLus  nanus. 
(5.  Claviger  fovcolatus. 


Pkte.XVI. 


,E,W.Rokms.,n.Da'.,t,Stf.l8&5-, 


L.  REEVE   &  CO.'S 

PUBLICATIONS   IN 

§0tmig,  C0nc|0l0gg,  ^nt0m0l0g!|, 

CHEMISTRY,  TRAVELS,  ANTIQUITIES, 

ETC. 


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And  none  can  know  Thy  works,  which  are  so  many 
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LONDON : 
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1869. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

NEW    SERIES    OP    NATURAL    HISTORY 

3 

BOTANY      ... 

5 

FERNS          ...             ...             

11 

MOSSES    AND    SKAWREDS 

12 

FUNGI          

13 

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14 

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ir, 

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...      18 

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ticulture. 


MONOGRAPH  OF  ODONTOGLOSSUM,  a  -Genus  of  the 

Vandeous  Section  of  Orchidaceous  Plants.  By  James  Bateman,  Esq., 
F.R.S.  Imperial  folio.  Parts  I.  to  IV.,  each  with  5  Coloured  Plates,  and 
occasional  Wood  Engravings,  21*. 

Designed  for  the  illustration,  on  an  unusually  magnificent  scale,  of  the  new 
and  beautiful  plants  of  this  favoured  genus  of  Orchidacea,  which  are  being  now 
imported  from  the  mountain-chains  of  Mexico,  Central  America,  New  Granada, 
and  Peru. 


SELECT  ORCHIDACEOUS  PLANTS.     By  Robert  War- 

NER,  F.R.H.S.      With  Notes  on  Culture  by  B.  S.  Williams.      In  Ten 
Parts,  folio,  each,  with  4  Coloured  Plates,  \1s.^d.\  or,  complete  in  one 
vol.,  cloth  gilt,  £6.  6*. 
Second  Series,  Parts  I.  to  IV.,  each,  with  3  Coloured  Plates,  10*.  6rf. 


PESCATOREA.  Figures  of  Orchidaceous  Plants,  chiefly 
from  the  Collection  of  M.  Pescatoke.  Edited  by  M.  Linden,  with  the 
assistance  of  MM.  G.  Luddeman,  J.  E.  Planchon,  and  M.  G.  Reichen- 
BACH.     Folio,  48  Coloured  Plates,  cloth,  with  morocco  back,  £5.  5*. 


THE   RHODODENDRONS   OF   SIKKIM-HIMALAYA ; 

being  an  Account,  Botanical  and  Geographical,  of  the  Rhododendrons  re- 
cently discovered  in  the  Mountains  of  Eastern  Himalaya  from  Drawings 
and  Descriptions  made  on  the  spot,  by  Dr.  J.  D.  Hooker,  F.R.S.     By  Sir 
yi.  J.  HooKEK,  F.R.S.     Folio,  30  Coloured  Plates,  £4.  14*.  M. 
Illustrations  on  a  superb  scale  of  the  new  Sikkim  Rhododendrons,  now  being 

cultivated  in  England,  accompanied  by  copious  observations  on  their  distribution 

and  habits. 


ILLUSTRATIONS  OF  THE  GENUS  CAREX.   By 

Francis  Boott,  M.D.     Part  IV.     Folio,  180  Phites,  £10. 


8  L.  REEVE    AND    CO.  S    PUBLICATIONS. 

GENERA  PLANTARUM,  ad  Exemplaria  imprimis  in  Her- 

bariis  Kewensibus  servata  definita.  By  George  Hentiiaji,  F.R.S.,  Pre- 
sident of  the  Linnean  Society,  and  Dr.  J.  D.  Hookkr,  F.R.S.,  Director 
of  the  Koyal  Gardens,  Kew.  Vol.  I.  Part  I.  pp.  454.  lloyal  8vo,  21*. 
Part  II.,  14*. ;  Part  III.,  15s.  -,  or  Vol.  I.  complete,  50s. 

This  important  work  comprehends  an  entire  revision  and  reconstruction  of  the 
Genera  of  Plants.  Unlike  the  famous  Genera  Plantarum  of  Endlieher,  which  is 
now  out  of  print,  it  is  founded  on  a  personal  study  of  every  genus  by  one  or 
both  authors.    The  First  Vol.  contains  82  Natural  Orders  and  2544  Genera. 


FLORA    OF    THE    ANTARCTIC    ISLANDS.     By   Dr. 

J.  1).  Hooker,  F.R.S.  Royal  4to.  2  vols.,  574  pp.,  200  Plates,  £10.  15*. 
coloured.  Published  under  the  authority  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of 
the  Admiralty. 

The  '  Flora  Antarctica'  illustrates  the  Botany  of  the  southern  districts  of  South 
America  and  the  various  Antarctic  Islands,  as  the  Falklands,  Kerguelen's  Land, 
Lord  Auckland  and  Campbell's  Island,  and  1370  species  are  enumerated  and 
described.  The  plates,  which  are  executed  by  iVIr.  Fitch,  and  beautifully  coloured, 
illustrate  370  species,  including  a  vast  number  of  exquisite  forms  of  Mosses  and 
Seaweeds. 


FLORA   OF   TASMANIA.     By  Dr.  J.  D.  Hooker,  F.R.S. 

Koyal  4to,  2  vols.,  972  pp.,  200  Plates,  £17.  10*.,  coloured.     Published 
under  the  authority  of  the  Lords  C-omniissioners  of  the  Admiralty. 

The  'Flora  of  Tasmania'  describes  all  the  Plants,  flowering  and  flowerless,  of 
that  Island,  consisting  of  2203  Species,  collected  by  the  Author  and  others. 
The  Plates,  of  which  there  are  200,  illustrate  412  Species. 


ON    THE   FLORA    OF   AUSTRALIA,  its  Origin,  Affini- 

ties,  and  Distribution ;  being  an  Introductory  Essay  to  the  '  Flora  of  Tas- 
mania.'    By  Dr.  J.  D.  Hooker,  F.R.S.    128  pp.,  quarto,  10*. 


FLORA    UONGKONGENSIS;  a  Description  of  the  Flow- 

eriug  Plants  and  Ferns  of  the  Island  of  Hongkong.  By  George  Ben- 
THAM,  P.L.S.  W'ith  a  Map  of  the  Island.  Demy  8vo,  550  pp.,  16*. 
Published  under  the  authority  of  Her  Majesty's  Secretary  of  Slate  for  the 
Colonies. 

The  Island  of  Hongkong,  though  occupying  an  area  of  scarcely  thirty  square 
miles,  is  characterized  by  an  extraordinarily  varied  Flora,  partaking,  however,  of 
that  of  South  Continental  China,  of  which  comparatively  little  is  known.  The 
number  of  Species  enumerated  in  the  present  volume  is  1056,  derived  chiefly 
from  materials  wUeeted  by  Mr.  Hinds,  Col.  Champion,  Dr.  Haiice,  Dr.  Harlaud, 
,Mr.  Wright,  and  Mr.  Willord. 


L.  REEVE    AND    CO.  S    PUBLICATIONS.  9 

FLORA   OF  TROPICAL  AFRICA.     By  Daniel  Oliver, 

F.R.S.,  F.L.S.     Vol.  I.,  2Qs,     Published  under  the  authority  of  the  First 
Comiaissioner  of  Her  Majesty's  Works. 

This  iniportaut  and  much-needed  work  embodies  the  researches  of  a  long  list 
of  explorers,  the  results  of  whose  labours  have  been  accumulatina;  at  the  Royal 
Gardens,  Kew,  and  other  museums,  for  many  years  past.  The  present  volume 
contains  the  Orders  Uanuneulaceif  to  Connaracea. 


HANDBOOK    OF   THE   NEW    ZEALAND    FLORA;  a 

Systematic  Description  of  the  Native  Plants  of  New  Zealand,  and  the  Chat- 
ham, Kermadec's,  Lord  Auckland's,  Campbell's,  and  Macquarrie's  Islands. 
By  Dr.  J.  D.  Hooker,  F.R.S.  Demy  8vo.  Part  I.,  IGs. ;  Part  IL,  14s. ; 
or  complete  in  one  vol.,  30j.  Published  under  the  auspices  of  the  Govern- 
ment of  that  colony. 

A  compendious  account  of  the  plants  of  New  Zealand  and  outlying  islands, 
published  under  the  authority  of  the  Government  of  that  colony.  The  fii'st 
Part  contains  the  Flowering  Plants,  Ferns,  and  Iiycopods ;  the  Second  the  re- 
maining Orders  of  Cryptoyamia,  or  Flowerless  Plants,  with  Index  and  Cata- 
logues of  Native  Names  and  of  Naturalized  Plants. 


FLORA   AUSTRALIENSIS ;  a  Description  of  the  Plants  of 

the  Australian  Territory.  By  Geouge  Buntham,  F.R.S. ,  President  of  the 
Linneau  Society,  assisted  by  Ferdinand  Mueller,  F.R.S.,  Government 
Botanist,  Melbourne,  Victoria.  Demy  8vo.  Vols.  I.  to  IV.,  20*.  each.  Pub- 
lished under  the  auspices  of  the  several  Governments  of  Australia. 

Of  this  great  undertaking,  the  present  volumes,  of  nearly  two  thousand 
closely-printed  pages,  comprise  about  one-half.  The  materials  are  derived 
not  only  from  the  vast  collections  of  Australian  plants  brought  to  this  country 
by  various  botanical  travellers,  and  preserved  in  the  herbaria  of  Kew  and  of  the 
British  Museum,  including  those  hitherto  unpublished  of  Banks  and  Solandei', 
of  Captain  Cook's  first  Voyage,  and  of  Brown  in  Flinders',  but  from  the  very 
extensive  and  more  recently  collected  specimens  preserved  in  the  Government 
Herbarium  of  Melbourne,  under  the  superintendence  of  Dr.  Ferdinand  Mueller. 
The  descriptions  are  written  in  plain  English,  and  are  masterpieces  of  accuracy 
and  clearness. 


FLORA  OF  THE  BRITISH  WEST  INDIAN  ISLANDS. 

By  Dr.  Grisebach,  F.L.S.     Demy  8vo,  806  pp.,  37*.  6rf.     Published 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies. 

Containing  complete  systematic  descriptions  of  the  Flowering  Plants  and 
Ferns  of  the  British  West  Indian  Islands,  accompanied  by  an  elaborate  index  of 
reference,  and  a  list  of  Colonial  names. 


10  L.  REEVE    AND    CO.'s    PUBLICATIONS. 

FLOllA  VITIENSIS ;    a  Description  of  the  Plants  of  the 

Viti  or  Fiji  Islands,  with  an  Account  of  iheir  History,  Uses,  and  Pro- 
perties. By  Dr.  Bekthold  S£emann,  F.L.S.  Royal  4to,  Parts  I.  to  IX. 
each,  10  Coloured  Plates,  15*.     To  be  completed  in  10  Parts. 

This  work  owes  its  origin  to  the  Government  Mission  to  Viti,  to  which  the 
author  was  attached  as  naturalist.  lu  addition  to  the  specimens  collected,  the 
author  has  investigated  all  the  Polynesian  collections  of  Plants  brought  to  this 
country  by  various  botanical  explorers  since  the  voyage  of  Captain  Cook. 


CONTRIBUTIONS   TO  THE   FLORA  OF  MENTONE, 

AND  TO  A  WINTER  FLORA  OF  THE  RIVIERA,  INCLUDING 
THE  COAST  FROM  MARSEILLES  TO  GENOA.  By  J.  Trahekne 
MoGGiUDGE.  Royal  8vo.  Parts  I.,  II.,  and  III.,  each,  with  25  Coloured 
Plates,  lbs. 

In  this  work  a  fuU  page  is  devoted  to  the  illustration  of  each  Species,  the 
drawings  being  made  by  the  author  from  specimens  collected  by  him  on  the  spot, 
and  they  exhibit  iu  vivid  colours  the  beautiful  aspect  which  many  of  our  wild 
flowers  assume  south  of  the  Alps. 


ILLUSTRATIONS   OF    THE    NUEVA    QUINOLOGIA 

OF  PAVON,  with  Observations  ou  the  Bnrks  described.  By  J.  E.  Howard, 
F.L.S.  With  27  (Coloured  Plates  by  W.  Fitch.  Imperial  folio,  half- 
morocco,  gilt  edges,  £6.  6.5. 

A  superbly-coloured  volume,  illustrative  of  the  most  recent  researches  of  Pavon 
and  his  associates  among  the  Cinchona  Barks  of  Peru. 


REVISION  OF  THE  NATURAL  ORDER  HEDERA- 

CE.S1,  being  a  reprint,  with  numerous  additions  and  corrections,  of  a  series 
of  papers  published  in  the  'Journal  of  Botany,  British  and  Foreign.'  By 
Berthold  Seemann,  Ph.D.,  F.L.S.     8vo,  7  Plates.     10s.  M. 


THE    LONDON    JOURNAI.    OF    BOTANY.      Original 

Papers  by  eminent  Botanists,  Letters  from  Botanical  Travellers,  etc.     Vol. 
VII.,  completing  the  Series.     Demy  8vo,  23  Plates,  SOs. 


JOURNAL   OF   BOTANY  AND   KEW  MISCELLANY. 

Original  Papers  by  eminent  Botanists,  Letters  from  Botanical  Travellers, 
etc.  Edited  by  Sir  W.  J.  Hooker,  F.R.S.  Vols.  IV.  to  IX.,  Demy  bvo. 
12  Plates,  each  £1.  4*. 


ICONES   PLANTARUM.      Figures,  with  brief  Descriptive 

Characters  and  Remarks,  of  New  and  Rare  Plants,  selected  from  the 
Author'^s  Herbarium.  By  Sir  W.  J.  Hooker,  F.R.S.  New  Series,  Vol.  V. 
Royal  8vo,  100  jdnlcs,  31.?.  6d. 


L.  KEEVK    AND    CO.'s    PUBLICATIONS.  11 

FERNS. 

— ♦ — 

BRITISH  EERNS;    an   Introduction  to  the  study  of  the 

Ferns,  Lycopods,  aud  Equisf.ta  indigenous  to  the  British  Isles.     With 
Chapters  ou  the  Structure,  Propagation,  Cultivation,  Diseases,  Uses,  Pre- 
servation, and  Distribution  of  Ferns.     By  M.  Plues.     Crown  8vo,  55 
Wood-Engravings,  6*.;  with  16  Coloured  Plates  by  W.  Fitch,  10«.  6d. 
One  of  the  '  New  Series  of  Natural  History  for  Beginners,'  aceurately  de- 
scribing all  the  Ferns  and  their  allies  found  in  Britain,  with  a  Wood-Engraving 
of  each  Species,  and  Coloured  Figures  of  32  of  the  most  interesting,  including 
magnified  dissections  showing  the  Venation  and  Fructification. 


THE    BRITISH    FERNS;    or,  Coloured   figures  and  De- 

scriptions,  with  the  needful  Analyses  of  the  Fructification  and  Venation,  of 
the  Ferns  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  systematically  arranged.  By  Sir 
W.  J.  Hooker,  F.R.S.     Royal  8vo,  66  Plates,  £2.  2*. 

The  British  Ferns  and  their  allies  are  illustrated  in  this  work,  from  the 
pencil  of  Mr.  Fitch.  Each  Species  has  a  Plate  to  itself,  so  that  there  is  ample 
room  for  the  details,  on  a  magnified  scale,  of  Fructification  and  Venation.  The 
whole  are  delicately  coloured  by  hand.  In  the  letterpress  an  interesting  account 
is  given  with  each  species  of  its  geographical  distribution  in  other  countries. 


GARDEN    FERNS ;  or,  Coloured  Figures  and  Descriptions, 

with  the  needful  Analyses  of  the  Fructification  and  Venation,  of  a  Selection 
of  Exotic  Ferns,  adapted  for  Cultivation  in  the  Garden,  Hothouse,  and  Con- 
servatoiy.     By  Sir  W.  J.  Hooker,  F.R.S.     Royal  8vo,  64  Plates,  &2.  2s. 

A  companion  volume  to  the  preceding,  for  the  use  of  those  who  take  an  in- 
terest in  the  cultivation  of  some  of  the  more  beautiful  and  remarkable  varieties 
of  Exotic  Ferns.  Here  also  each  Species  has  a  Plate  to  itself,  and  the  details  of 
Fructification  and  Venation  are  given  on  a  magnified  scale,  the  Drawings  being 
from  the  pencil  of  Mr.  Fitch. 

FILICES   EXOTICA ;  or.  Coloured  Figures  and  Description 

of  Exotic  Ferns,  chiefly  of  such  as  are  cultivated  in  the  Royal  Gardens  of 
Kew.     By  Sir  W.  J.  Hooker,  F.R,S.     Royal  4to,  100  Plates,  £6.  11*. 

One  of  the  most  superbly  illustrated  books  of  Foreign  Ferns  that  has  been 
hitherto  produced.  The  Species  are  selected  both  on  account  of  their  beauty  of 
form,  singular  structure,  aud  their  suitableness  for  cultivation. 

FERNY  COMBES  J  a  Ramble  after  Ferns  in  the  Glens  and 

Valleys  of  Devonshire.  By  Charlottte  Chanter.  Third  Edition. 
Fcp.  Svo,  8  coloured  plates  by  Fitch,  and  a  Map  of  the  County,  5*. 

NATURE-PRINTED  FERNS,  prepared  according  to  a  new 

patented  process.  By  H.  C.  Baildon.  The  Descriptions  by  Thomas 
Moore,  F.L.S.     Folio,  4  Plates,  printed  in  colours.     10s.  M. 


12  L.  REEVE    AND    CO.'s    PUBLICATIONS. 

MOSSES. 


HANDBOOK  OY  BRITISH  MOSSES,  containing  all  that 

are  kuown  to  be  Natives  of  the  British  Isles.   By  the  Rev.  M.  J.  Berkeley, 
M.A.,  F.L.S.     Demy  8vo,  pp.  360,  24  Coloured  Plates,  21s. 

A  very  complete  Manual,  comprising;  characters  of  all  the  species,  with  the 
circumstances  of  habitation  of  each ;  with  special  chapters  on  developtueut  and 
structure,  propagation,  fructification,  geographical  distribution,  uses,  and  modes 
of  collecting  and  preserving,  followed  by  an  extensive  series  of  coloured  illustra- 
tions, in  which  the  essential  portions  of  the  plant  are  repeated,  in  every  case  on 
a  magnified  scale. 


SEAWEEDS. 


BRITISH  SEAWEEDS  ;  an  Introduction  to  the  Study  of 

the  Marine  A.LG.E  of  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  and  the  Channel  Islands.  By 
S.  0.  Gray.  Crown  Svo,  6s.;  with  16  Coloured  Plates,  drawn  expressly 
for  the  work  by  W.  Fitch,  10s.  &d. 

One  of  L.  Reeve  and  Co.'s  '  New  Series,'  briefly  but  accurately  describing, 
according  to  the  classification  of  the  best  and  most  recent  authorities,  all  the 
Algae  found  on  our  coasts. 


PHYCOLOGIA    BRITANNICA;    or,    History    of   British 

Seaweeds,  containing  Coloured  Figures,  Generic  and  Specific  Characters, 
Synonyms  and  Descriptions  of  all  the  Species  of  Algne  inhabiting  the 
Shores  of  the  British  Islands.  By  Dr.  W.  H.  Harvey,  F.R.S.  Royal 
Svo,  4  vols.,  765  pp.,  360  Coloured  Plates.       ^Neic  Edition  in  the  Press. 

This  work,  originally  published  in  1851,  is  still  the  standard  work  on  the 
subject  of  which  it  treats.  Each  Species,  excepting  the  minute  ones,  has  a 
Plate  to  itself,  with  magnified  portions  of  structure  and  fi-uctificatiou,  the  whole 
being  printed  in  their  natural  colours,  finished  by  hand. 


PHYCOLOGIA   AUSTRALICA;   a  History  of   Australian 

Seaweeds,  comprising  Coloured  Figures  and  Descriptions  of  the  more  cha- 
racteristic Marine  Algse  of  New  South  Wales,  Victoria,  Tasmania,  South 
Australia  and  Western  Australia,  and  a  Synopsis  of  all  known  Australian 
Algae.     By  Dr.  Harvey.  F.R.S.     Royal  Svo,  5  vols.,  300  Coloured  Plates, 
£7.  13*. 
This  beautiful  work,  the  result  of   an  arduous  personal  exploration   of   the 
shores  of  the  Australian  continent,  is  got  up   in  the  style  of  the  '  Pliycologia 
Britaunica'  by  the  same  author.     Each  Species  has  a  Plate  to  itself,  with  ample 
magnified  delineations  of  fructification  and  structure,  embodying  a  variety  of 
most  curious  and  remarkable  forms. 


L.  REEVE    AND    CO.'s    PUBLICATIONS.  13 

NEEEIS    AUSTKALIS;   or,  Algae  of  the  Southern  Ocean, 

being  Figures  and  Descriptions  of  Marine  Plants  collected  on  the  Shores 
of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  the  extratropical  Australian  Colonies,  Tas- 
mania, New  Zealand,  and  the  Antarctic  Regions.  By  Dr.  Harvey,  i'.K.S. 
Imperial  8vo,  50  Coloured  Plates,  £2.  2*. 

A  selection  of  Fifty  Species  of  remarkable  forms  of  Seaweed,  not  included  in 
the  '  Phycologia  Australica,'  collected  over  a  wider  area. 


FUNGI. 


OUTLINES    OE    BRITISH    EUNGOLOGY,   containing 

Characters  of  above  a  Thousand  Species  of  Fungi,  and  a  Complete  List  of 

all  that  have  been  described  as  Natives  of  the  British  Isles.     By  the  Rev. 

M.  J.  Berkeley,  M.A.,  F.L.S.     Demy  Svo,  484  pp.,  24  Coloured  Plates, 

30j. 
Although  entitled  simply  'Outlines,'  this  is  a  good-sized  volume,  of  nearly  500 
pages,  illustrated  with  more  than  200  Figures  of  British  Fungi,  all  carefully 
coloured  by  hand.     Of  above  a  thousand  Species  the  characters  are  given,  and 
a  complete  list  of  the  names  of  all  the  rest. 


THE   ESCULENT   EUNGUSES   OF   ENGLAND.     Con- 

taining  an  Account  of  their  Classical  History,  Uses,  Characters,  Develop- 
ment, Structure,  Nutritious  Properties,  Modes  of  Cooking  and  Preserving, 
etc.  Bv  C.  D.  Badham,  M.D.  Second  Edition.  Edited  by  F.  Currey, 
F.R.S.   Demy  Svo,  152  pp.,  12  Coloured  Plates,  12s. 

A  lively  classical  treatise,  written  with  considerable  epigrammatic  humour, 
with  the  view  of  showing  that  we  have  upwards  of  30  Species  of  Fungi  abounding 
in  our  woods  capable  of  affording  nutritious  and  savoury  food,  but  which,  from 
ignorance  or  prejudice,  are  left  to  perish  imgathered.  "  I  have  indeed  grieved," 
says  the  Author,  "  when  reflecting  on  the  straitened  condition  of  the  lower 
orders,  to  see  pounds  of  extempore  beefsteaks  growing  ou  our  oaks,  in  the  shape 
of  Fistulina  hepatica;  Puff-balls,  which  some  have  not  inaptly  compared  to 
sweetbread  ;  Hi/dna,  as  good  as  oysters  ;  and  Ayaricus  deliciosus,  reminding  us  of 
tender  lamb-kidney."  Superior  coloured  Figures  of  the  Species  are  giveu  from 
the  pencil  of  Mr.  Fitch. 


ILLUSTRATIONS    OF    BRITISH    MYCOLOGY,   com- 

prising  Kgures  and  Descriptions  of  the  Funguses  of  interest  and  novelty 
indigenous  to  Britain.     By  Mrs.  T.  J.  Hussey.     Royal  4to;  First  Series, 
90  Coloured  Plates,  £7.  12*.  6rf. ;    Second  Series,  50  Coloured  Plates, 
£4.  lOi. 
This  beautifully -illustrated  work  is  the  production  of  a  lady  who,  being  an 
accomplished  artist,  occupied  the  leisure  of  many  years  in  accumulating  a  port- 
folio of  exquisite  drawings  of  the  more  attractive  forms  and  varieties  of  British 
Fungi.     The  j)ublication  was  brought  to  an  end  with  the  140th  Plate  by  her 
sudden  decease.     The  Figures  are  mostly  of  the  natural  size,  carefully  coloured 
by  baud. 


14  L.  KEEVE    AND    CO.'s    PUBLICATIONS. 


SHELLS    AND    MOLLUSKS. 


ELEMENTS  OE  CONCHOLOGY;  an  Introduction  to  the 

Natural  History  of  Shells,  and  of  the  Animals  which  form  them.  By 
LovELL  Reeve,  F.L.S.  Royal  8vo,  2  vols.,  478  pp.,  62  Coloured  Plates, 
£2.  16j. 

Intended  as  a  guide  to  the  collector  of  shells  in  arranging  and  naming  his 
specimens,  while  at  the  same  time  inducing  hiui  to  study  them  with  reference 
to  their  once  living  existence,  geographical  distribution,  and  habits.  Forty - 
six  of  the  plates  are  devoted  to  the  illustration  of  the  genera  of  shells,  and 
sixteen  to  shells  with  the  living  animal,  all  beautifully  coloured  by  hand. 


THE   LAND   AND   FRESHWATER  MOLLUSKS  indi- 

genous  to,  or  naturalized  in,  the  British  Isles.     By  Lovell  Reeve,  F.L.S. 
Crown  8vo,  295  pp..  Map,  and  160  Wood-Engravings,  10,y.  ^d, 

A  complete  history  of  the  British  Land  and  Freshwater  Shells,  and  of  the 
Animals  which  form  them,  illustrated  by  Wood-Engravings  of  all  the  Species. 
Other  features  of  the  work  are  an  Analytical  Key,  showing  at  a  glance  the  na- 
tural groups  of  families  and  genera,  copious  Tables  and  a  Map  illustrative  of 
geographical  distribution  and  habits,  and  a  chapter  on  the  Distribution  and 
Origin  of  Species. 


CONCHOLOGIA  ICONICA ;  or,  Figures  and  Descriptions 

of  the  Shells  of  Mollusks,  with  remarks  on  their  AflBnities,  Synonymy,  and 
Geographical  Distribution.  By  Lovell  Reeve,  F.L.S.  Demy  4to,  pub- 
lished monthly  in  Parts,  8  Plates,  carefully  coloured  by  hand,  IOj. 

Of  this  work,  comprising  illustrations  of  Shells  of  the  natm-al  size,  nearly 
2000  Plates  are  published,  but  the  plan  of  publication  admits  of  the  collector 
purchasing  it  at  his  oj)tion  in  portions,  each  of  which  is  complete  in  itself.  Each 
genus,  as  the  work  progresses,  is  issued  separately,  with  Title  and  Index ;  and  an 
Alphabetical  List  of  the  published  genera,  with  the  prices  annexed,  may  be  pro- 
cured of  the  publishers  on  application.  The  system  of  nomenclature  adopted 
is  that  of  Lamarck,  modified  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  later  discoveries.  With  the 
name  of  each  species  is  given  a  summary  of  its  leading  specific  characters  in 
Latin  and  English ;  then  the  authority  for  the  name  is  quoted,  accompanied 
by  a  ref(!rence  to  its  original  description ;  aud  next  in  order  are  its  Synonyms. 
The  habitat  of  the  species  is  next  given,  accompanied,  where  possible,  by  par- 
ticulars of  soil,  depth,  or  vegetation.  Finally,  a  few  general  remarks  are  offered, 
calling  attention  to  the  most  obvious  distinguishing  peculiarities  of  the  species, 
with  criticisms,  where  necessary,  on  the  views  of  other  writers.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  the  genus  some  notice  is  taken  of  the  animal,  and  the  habitats 
of  the  species  are  worked  up  into  a  general  summary  of  the  geographical  distri- 
bution of  the  eenus. 


L.  REEVE    AND    CO.  S    PUBLICATIONS. 


15 


CONCHOLOGIA    ICONICA    IN    MONOGRAPHS. 


Genera.  Plates.  £.   a. 

achatina    23  1    9 

achatinella 6  0    8 

Adamsiella    2  0    3 

Amphidesma  7  0    9 

Amfullaria   28  1  15 

Anastoma 1  0    1 

Anatina  4  0    5 

Ancillahia 12  0  15 

Anculotus 6  0    8 

Anomia 8  0  10 

Abca 17  1    1 

Aegonauta 4  0    5 

Aetemis   10  0  13 

ASPERGILLrM 4   0      5 

AVICULA    18  1     3 

BucciNtiM    14  0  18 

BuLiMus  89  5  12 

BULLIA  4  0    5 

CALTPTKJ5A 8   0  10 

Cancellaeia 18  1    3 

Capsa    1  0    1 

Capsella 2  0    3 

Cakdita    9  0  11 

Cakdium 22  1    8 

Caeinaiiia   1  0    1 

Cassidaeia 1  0    1 

Cassis   12  0  15 

Ceeithisea    4  0    5 

Cebithium  20  1    5 

Chama  9  0  11 

Chamostbea  1  0    1 

Chiton 33  2    2 

Chitonellus 1  0    1 

Chondbofoma    11  0  14 

CiRCB    10  0  13 

COLUMBEILA    37  2    7 

CONCHOLEPAS 2   0      3 

CoNus  56  3  11 

COBBUI/A   5    0      6 

Cbania 1  0    1 

Ceassatella  3  0    4 

Cbenatula 2  0    3 

Cbepidula  5  0 

Cbucibulum   7  0 

Cyclophoeus 20  1    5 

Cyclostoma    23  1    9 

Ctclotus 9  0  11 

Cymbium 26  1  13 

Cypb^a 27  1  14 

Ctpeicabdia  2  0    3 

Ctthebea  10  0  13 

Delphinula   5  0    6 

DiONE  12  0  15 

DoLiuM 8  0  10 

DONAX  9  0  11 

Ebcbna    1  0    1 

Eeato  3  0    4 

EULIMA 6  0    8 

Fasciolabia  7  0    9 

FiCULA  1  0    1 

FlSSUEELLA       16    1      0 

Fusus    21  1  6 

Glaxiconome 1  0  1 

Halia   1  0  1 

Haliotis 17  1  1 

Haepa  4  0  6 

Helix    210  13  5 

Hbmipecten 1  0  1 

Hemisinijs  6  0  8 

HiNNITES     1    0      1 

filFPOPUS 1    0     1 


6 
0 

« 

6 
6 
0 
6 
0 
0 
0 
6 
6 
0 
6 
0 
6 
0 
6 
6 
6 
6 
6 
6 
6 
0 
6 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
6 
6 
0 
0 
6  6 
9  0 
6 
0 
6 
0 
6 
0 
0 


Genera.                  Plates.              £.   «.  d. 

Ianthina 5  0  6  6 

lo    3  0  4  0 

isocabdia 1  0  1  " 

Lampania    2  0  3  0 

Leiostbaca 3  0  4  0 

Lbptofoma 8  0  10  6 

LiNGULA    2  0  3  0 

LiTHODOMUS    5  0  6  6 

LiTTOBINA      18    13      0 

LCCINA 11  0  14    0 

lutbabia 5  0    6    6 

Mactba    :....  21  16    6 

Malleus 3  0    4    0 

Mangelia  8  0  10    6 

Mabginella  27  1  14    6 

Melania  59  3  14    6 

Melanopsis 3  0    4    0 

Melatoma   3  0    4    0 

Mebob 3  0    4    0 

Mesalia  &  Eglisia...    1  0    16 

Mesodesma 4  0    5    6 

Meta 1  0    1    6 

MiTBA    39  2    9    6 

Modiola  11  0  14    0 

MoNOCEBOs 4  0    5    6 

MuBEX 37  270 

Mtadoba 1  016 

Myochama  1  0    16 

Mttilus  11  0  14    0 

Nassa 29  1  17    0 

Natica 30  1  18    0 

Nautilus 6  0    8    0 

Navicella  &  Latia  ...    8  0  10    6 

Nebita 19  14    0 

Nebitina 37  270 

Niso  1  0    16 

Oliva    30  1  18    0 

Oniscia    1  0    16 

Obbicula 1  0    16 

OvuLUM  14 0  18    0 

Paludina 11  0  14    0 

Paludomus 3  0    4    0 

Paetula 4  0    5    6 

Patella 42  2  13    0 

Pecten 35  2    4    6 

Pectunculus 9  0  11    6 

Pedum 1  0    1    6 

Pebna  6  0    8    0 

Phasianblla 6  0    8    0 

Phobus 3  0    4    0 

Pinna   34  2    3    0 

PiBENA 2  0    3    0 

Placunamomia 3  0    4    0 

Pleubotoma 40  2  10    6 

potamides  1  0    16 

PSAMMOBIA  8    0  10      6 

psammotella 1  0    16 

Pteboceba  6  0    8    0 

Pteeocyclos 5  0    6    6 

PUEPUBA  13  0  16    6 

Pyeahidella 6  0    8    0 

Pyeazus  1  0    16 

Pyeula 9  0  11    6 

Ranella  8  0  10    6 

RiCINULA 6  0    8    0 

rostbllabia  3  0    4    6 

Sanguinolabia 1  0    1    6 

scababus 3  0    4    0 

SlOABETUS     5    0      6      6 

SiMPULOPSis    2  0    3    0 

SiPHONABIA 7   0     9      0 


16 


L.  REEVE    AND    CO.  S    PUBLICATIONS. 


Genera.                 PlntcK.  4i.    a.  d. 

SotABIUM S    0      4      0 

soletkllina 4  0    5    6 

Spondylus  18 1     3    0 

Steombus 19  14    0 

Struthiolaeia  I  0    16 

Tapes    13  0  16     6 

Telescopium 1  0    16 

Tkrkbba  27  1  14    6 

Tekkbellum  1  0    16 

Tf.eebratula  &  Ryn- 

chonella    11  0  14    0 

Thracia   3  0    4    0 

Tornatella    4  0    5     6 

Tridacna     8  0  10    6 

Tbigonia 1  0    1     6 


Genera.               Plates.                 f.  ».  d. 

Tbiton 20  1  5  6 

Tbochita 3  0  4  0 

Teochus  16  1  0  6 

TUGONIA    1    0      16 

Tubbinella    13  0  16  6 

Turbo   13  0  16  6 

Tubritella 11  0  14  0 

Ttmpanotonos 3  0    3  0 

Umbrella    1  0    16 

Venus  26  1  13  0 

Vkbtagbs    5  0    6  6 

Vitrina    10  0  13  0 

VOLTJTA 22  18  0 

Vulsella 2  0    3  0 

ZlZTPHlNOS 8  0  10  6 


CONCHOLOGIA  SYSTEMATICA ;  or,  Complete  System  of 

Conchology.     By  Lovell  Reeve,  F.L.S.     Deiny  4to,  2  vols.  pp.  537, 
300  Plates,  £10.  lOj.  ooloured. 

Of  this  work  only  a  few  copies  reraaiu.  It  is  a  useful  companion  to  the 
collector  of  shells,  on  account  of  the  very  large  number  of  specimens  tigurcd,  as 
many  as  six  plates  being  devoted  in  some  instances  to  the  illustration  of  a  single 
genus. 


THE  EDIBLE  MOLLUSKS  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN  AND 

IREL.VND,  with  the  modes  of  cooking  them.     By  M.  S.  Lovell.     Crown 
8vo,  5*.;  with  12  Coloured  Plates,  8*.  &d. 


INSECTS. 


CURTIS'S  BRITISH  ENTOMOLOGY.     Illustrations  urul 

Descriptions  of  the  Genera  of  Insects  found  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland, 
containing  Coloured  Figures,  from  nature,  of  the  most  rare  and  beautiful 
species,  and,  in  many  instances,  upon  the  plants  on  which  they  are  found. 
Royal  8vo,  8  vols.,  770  Plates,  coloured,  £21. 


Or  in  separate  Monographs. 


Orders. 

Plates. 
2 

£ 
0 
8 
0 
0 
3 
1 

». 
2 
0 
1 
1 
5 
1 

d. 

0 

Coleopteba 

256    .. 

1     .. 

0 
0 

1     .. 

0 

DlPTEBA 

Hemiptera   

103    .. 

32     .. 

0 
0 

HOMOPTBttA    21 


Orders.  Plates. 

Hymenopteba 125 

Lbpidopteba    193 

Neuboptbea 13 

Omaloptera 6 

Obthopteea 5 

Steepsipteba   3 

Tbichoptera    9 


t.   d. 
0    0 


6  0 

0  9 

0  4 

0  4 

0  2 


'  Curtis's  Entomology,'  which  Cuvier  pronounced  to  have  "  reached  the  ulti- 
matum of  perfection,"  is  still  the  standard  work  ou  the  Genera  of  British  In- 
sects. The  Figures  executed  by  the  author  himself,  with  wonderful  minuteness 
and  accuracy,  have  never  been  surpassed,  even  if  equalled.  The  price  at  which 
the  work  was  originally  published  was  £43.  IGs. 


L.  REEVE    AND    CO.'s    PUBLICATIONS.  17 

BRITISH    BEETLES ;  an  Introduction  to  the  Study  of  our 

Indigenous  Coleoptera.  By  E.  C.  Rye.  Crown  8vo,  16  Coloured 
Steel  Plates,  comprising  Figures  of  nearly  100  Species,  engraved  from 
Natural  Specimens,  expressly  for  the  work,  by  E.  W.  Robinson,  aud  11 
Wood-Engravings  of  Dissections  by  the  Author,  10*.  6d. 

This  little  work  forms  the  first  of  a  New  Series  designed  to  assist  youug  per- 
sons to  a  more  profitable,  and,  consequently,  more  pleasurable  observation  of 
Nature,  by  furnishing  them  in  a  familiar  manner  with  so  much  of  the  science  as 
they  may  acquire  without  encumbering  them  with  more  of  the  technicalities,  so 
confusing  and  repulsive  to  beginners,  than  are  necessary  for  their  purpose.  In 
the  words  of  the  Preface,  it  is  "  somewhat  on  the  scheme  of  a  Delectim ;  com- 
bining extracts  from  the  biographies  of  individual  objects  with  principles  of 
classification  and  hints  for  obtaining  further  knowledge." 


BRITISH  BEES ;  an  Introduction  to  the  Study  of  the  Na- 
tural History  and  Economy  of  the  Bees  indigenous  to  the  British  Isles. 
By  W.  E.  Shuckard.  Crown  8vo,  16  Coloured  Steel  Plates,  containing 
nearly  100  Figures,  engraved  from  Natural  Specimens,  expressly  for  the 
work,  by  E.  W.  Robinson,  and  Woodcuts  of  Dissections,  10*.  &d. 

A  companion  volume  to  that  on  British  Beetles,  treating  of  the  structure, 
geographical  distribution  and  classification  of  Bees  and  their  parasites,  with  lists 
of  the  species  touu  1  in  Britain,  and  an  account  of  their  habits  aud  economy. 


BRITISH  SPIDERS ;  an  Introduction  to  the  Study  of  the 

Araneid^e  found  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland.  By  E.  F.  Staveley. 
Crown  8vo,  16  Plates,  containing  Coloured  Figures  of  nearly  100  Species, 
and  40  Diagrams,  showing  the  number  and  position  of  the  eyes  in  various 
Genera,  drawn  expressly  for  the  work  by  Tuffen  West,  and  44  Wood- 
Engravings,  10*.  6(5?. 

One  of  the  '  New  Series  of  Natural  History  for  Beginners,'  and  companion 
volume  to  the  '  British  Beetles  '  and  '  British  Bees.'  It  treats  of  the  structure 
and  classification  of  Spiders,  and  describes  those  found  in  Britain,  with  notes  on 
their  habits  and  hints  for  collecting  and  preserving. 


BRITISH   BUTTERFLIES  AND   MOTHS;   an  Introduc- 

tion  to  the  Study  of  our  Native  Lepidoptera.  By  H.  T.  Stainton. 
Crown  8vo,  16  Coloured  Steel  Plates,  containing  Figures  of  100  Species, 
engraved  from  Natural  Specimens  expressly  for  the  work  by  E.  W.  Robin- 
son, and  Wood-Engraviugs,  10s.  6rf. 

Another  of  the  '  New  Series  of  Natursil  History  for  Beginners  and  Amateurs,' 
treating  of  the  structure  and  classification  of  the  Lepidoptera. 


INSECTA  BRITANNICA  ;  Vols.  II.  and  III.,  Diptera.    By 

Francis  Walker,  F.L.S.     8vo,  each,  with  10  plates,  25*. 


18  L.   IIEEVE    AND    CO.'s    PUBLICATIONS. 

ANTIQUARIAN. 


SACRED  ARCIIiE0L(3GY  ;  a  Popular  Dictionary  of  Eccle- 

siastical  Art  and  Institutions,  from  Primitive  to  ISIodern  Times.     Compris- 
ing Architecture,  Music,  Vestments,  Furniture  Arrangement,  Offices,  Cus- 
toms, Ritual  Symbolism,  Ceremonial  Traditions,  Religious  Orders,  etc.,  of 
the  Chm-ch   Catholic    in   all  Ages.      By  ]Mackenzie  E.   C.  Walcott, 
B.D.  Oxon.,  F.S.A.,  Precentor   and   Prebendary  of  Chichester  Cathedj-al. 
Demy  8vo,  18*. 
Mr.  Walcott's  '  Dictionary  of  Sacred  Archaeology'  is  designed  to  satisfy  a  great 
and  growing  want  in  the  literature  of  the  day.     The  increased  interest  taken  by 
large  classes  of  the  community  in  the  Kcelesiastical  History,  the  Archa;ology,  tlie 
Ritual,  Artistic,  and  Conventual  Usages  of  the  early  and  middle  ages  of  Christen- 
dom has  not  been  met  by  tlie  publication  of  manuals  at  all  fitted  by  their  com- 
prehensiveness, their  accuracy,   and  the   convenience  of  their  arrangement  to 
sujiply  this  highly  important  demand.    To  combine  in  one  the  varied  and  general 
information  required  by  the  cultivated  reader  at  large  with  the  higher  and  more 
special  sources  of  knowledge  of  which  the  student  of  ecclesiastical  lore  has  need, 
is  the  object  which  has  been  kept  iu  view  in  the  compilation  now  offered  to  the 
public.    In  no  work  of  the  kind  has  the  English  public,  it  is  confidently  believed, 
liad  presented  to  it  so  large  and  varied  a  mass  of  matter  in  a  form  so  conveniently 
arranged  for  reference.     One  valuable  feature  to  which  attention  may  be  invited 
is  the  co])ious  list  of  authorities  prefixed  to   Mr.  Walcott's  Dictionary.     The 
student  will  here  find  himself  put  readily  upon  the  track  for  following  up  any 
particular  line  of  inquiry,  of  which  the  Dictionary  has  given  him  the  first  outlines. 


MAN'S    AGE    IN    THE    WORLD    ACCORDING    TO 

HOLY  SCRIPTURE  AND  SCIENCE.     By  an  Essex  Rectok.     Demy 

8vo,  264  pp.,  8s.  Qd. 
The  Author,  recognizing  the  established  facts  and  inevitable  deductions  of 
Science,  and  believing  all  attempts  to  reconcile  them  with  the  commonly  re- 
ceived, but  erroneous,  literal  interpretation  of  Scripture,  not  only  futile,  but  detri- 
mental to  the  cause  of  Truth,  seeks  an  interpretation  of  the  Sacred  Writings  on 
genenil  principles,  consistent  alike  with  their  authenticity,  when  rightly  under- 
stood, and  with  the  exigencies  of  Science.  He  treats  in  successive  Chapters  of 
The  Flint  Weapons  of  the  Drift,— The  Creation,— The  Paradisiacal  State,— The 
Genealogies, — The  Deluge, — Babel  and  the  Dispersion  ;  and  adds  an  Appendix 
of  valuable  information  from  various  souxces. 


A     MANUAL     OF     BRITISH     ARCHvEOLOGY.      By 

Chaui.ks  Boutell,   M.A.     Royal   16mo,  398  pp.,  20  Coloured  Plates, 

10*.  (u/. 
A  treatise  on  general  subjects  of  antiquity,  written  especially  for  the  student 
of  archajology,  as  a  preparation  for  more  elaborate  works.  Architecture,  Se- 
pulchral Monuments,  Heraldry,  Seals,  Coins,  Illuminated  Manuscripts  and  In- 
scriptions, Arms  and  Armour,  Costume  and  Personal  Ornaments,  Pottery,  Por- 
celain and  Glass,  Clocks,  Locks,  Carvings,  Mosaics,  Embroidery,  etc.,  are  treated 
of  in  succession,  the  w  hole  being  illustrated  by  20  attractive  Plates  of  Coloured 
Figures  of  the  various  objects. 


L.  REEVE    AND    CO.'s    PUBLICATIONS.  19 

THE  BEWICK  COLLECTOR  AND  SUPPLEMENT.    A 

Descriptive  Catalogue  of  the  Works  of  Thomas  and  John  Bewick,  inclu- 
ding Cuts,  iu  various  states,  for  Books  and  Pamplilets,  Pi'ivate  Gentlemen, 
Public  Companies,  Exhibitions,  Kaces,  Newspapers,  Shop  Cards,  Invoice 
Heads,  Bar  Bills,  Coal  Certificates,  Broadsides,  and  other  miscellaneous 
purposes,  and  Wood  Blocks.  With  an  Appendix  of  Portraits,  Autographs, 
Works  of  Pupils,  etc.  The  whole  described  from  the  Originals  contained  in 
the  Largest  and  most  Perfect  Collection  ever  formed,  and  illustrated  with 
292  Cuts  from  Bewick's  own  Blocks.  By  the  Rev.  Thomas  Hugo,  M.A., 
F.S.A.,  the  Possessor  of  the  Collection.  2  vols,  demy  8vo,  price  42*. ; 
imperial  8vo  (limited  to  100  copies),  vvith  a  line  Steel  Engraving  of  Thomas 
Bewick,  £4.  4*.  The  Supplement,  with  180  Cuts,  may  be  had  separately ; 
price,  small  paper,  21«. ;  large  paper,  42*.;  also,  the  Portrait  on  imperial 
folio,  price  Is.  6d. 


WHITNEY'S  "CHOICE  OE  EMBLEMES/' a  Facsimile 

Reprint  by  Photo-lithography.  With  an  Introductory  Dissertation,  Essays 
Literary  and  Bibliographical,  and  Explanatory  Notes.  By  Henry  Gueen, 
M.A.     Post  4to,  pp.  Ixxxviii.,  468.     72  Facsimile  Plates,  42s. 

A  beautiful  and  interesting  reproduction  by  Photo-lithography  of  one  of  the 
best  specimens  of  this  curious  class  of  literature  of  the  sixteenth  century.  An 
Introductory  Dissertation  of  eighty-eight  pages  traces  the  history  of  Emblematic 
Literature  from  the  earliest  times,  and  gives  an  Account  of  the  Life  and  Writings 
of  Geoiii-ey  Whitney,  followed  by  an  Index  to  the  Mottoes,  with  Translations 
and  some  Proverbial  Expi'cssions.  The  facsimile  reproduction  of  the  'Emblems,' 
with  their  quaint  pictorial  Illustrations,  occupies  230  pages.  Then  follow 
Essays  on  the  Subjects  and  Sources  of  the  Mottoes  and  Devices,  on  Obsolete 
Words  in  Whitney,  with  parallels,  chiefly  from  Chaucer,  Spenser,  and  Shake- 
speare ;  Biographical  Notices  of  some  other  emblem-writers  to  whom  Whitney 
was  indebted ;  Shakespeare's  references  to  emblem-books,  and  to  Whitney's  em- 
blems iu  particular ;  Literary  and  Biographical  Notes  explanatory  of  some  of 
Whitney's  emblems,  and  of  the  persons  to  whom  they  are  dedicated.  Seventy- 
two  exceedingly  curious  plates,  reproduced  in  facsimile,  illustrate  this  portion  of 
the  work,  and  a  copious  General  Index  concludes  the  volmne. 


SHAKESPEARE'S  SONNETS,  Facsimile,  by  Photo-Zinco- 

graphy,  of  the  First  Printed  edition  of  1009.  From  the  Copy  in  the 
Library  of  Bridgewater  House,  by  permission  of  the  Right  Hon.  the  Earl 
ofEUesmere.     lOs.  &d. 


THE  ANTIQUITY  OF  MAN;     An   Examination  of  Sir 

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8vo,  la. 


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THE  ZOOLOGY  OF  THE  VOYAGE  OF  H.M.S.  SA- 

MARANG,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Sir  Edward  Belcher,  C.B.,  during 
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TltAVELS    ON    THE    AMAZON    AND    KIO  NEGRO; 

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