:iilllili-::'V. ^. .-6^ .^€^^ <^>P .v^ .::«., ^^. -<^ ,...o, ^A ,E .W RoVii.son.Del'ret.StT.lgeS ^1^, &'?■/ 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^