Next in order comes the family of the ChlseniidEe. In these Beetles the front tarsi of the males have either two or three joints much widened and squared, and very sponge-like below. On Woodcut III. Fig. 2, is given an example of this family, the insect being called Pogonus luridi'pennis. The members of this genus have the last joint of the palpi egg-shaped and rather elongated, with the tip blunt. The labial palpi are shown at Fig. c, and the maxillary palpi at Fig. d, the internal maxillary palpus being small and very slender.

They are all rather brilliant and shining Beetles, the surface of their bodies having a metallic polish. They are small and maritime in their habits, and may generally be found on the southern coasts of England, hiding under the heaps of sea-weed which are flung by the waves upon the shore.

The present species is about a quarter of an inch in length, or a little more, and is a pretty little Beetle. The head and thorax are_ shining green, with coppery reflections. The thorax has a longitudinal furrow along the centre, a triangular hollow in front, and a rather deep pit on the base at either side The elytra are pale ochreous-yellow, clouded with brown in the middle, a peculiarity which has earned for the insect the specific name of lund%jpennis, or ‘ pale-winged.’ They are covered with greenish stri®, and on the third stria are Ihree rather

deep impressions. The body is greenish below, changing to rust-red at the tip. This species was first found on the -icoasts of Norfolk. Three British species of Pogonus are known.

Anotheh Beetle belonging to this family is shown on Woodcut III. Fig. 3. Its name is Pnstonychus ten'icola. As may be seen by reference to the illustration, it is a very prettilyshaped insect, the curves of the outline harmonising in a way that would have delighted the soul of Hogarth, had he taken the trouble to look at Nature’s original of his celebrated ‘ line of beauty.’

Except in shape, it is not a very pleasing insect to the eye, the colour being black, with a violet gloss when examined in a proper light. The head is pitchy-black, and the thorax is sometimes of the same colour as the head, and sometimes blueblack, with a faint furrow in the centre, and a deep oblong pit on either side of the base. The elytra are of the same colour, and rather flattened, and covered with faint but regular striae, which are slightly punctured. Along the edges there is a series of roundish pits.

This Beetle is plentiful in most parts of England, and may be found in cupboards, cellars, dark outhouses, and similar localities. There is only one British species.

There is a Beetle, called Sphodrus leucopthcdmus, which is closely allied to the preceding insect, and, indeed, is included in the same genus by many systematic entomologists. The reader should try to catch one of these Beetles — no very difficult matter — and look at the very long third joint of the antennae, and the long and slender palpi. In the males, the trochanters of the hind pair of legs are developed into long spines. This Beetle is shown on Woodcut III. Fig. 4.

The colour of the insect is pitchy-black, with a slight polish. The head is smooth, oblong, and has an impression on either side. The elytra are flattish, and faintly streaked, the streaks resolving themselves under the lens into rows of small punctures. Like the preceding species, it is conunon in outhoiises, stables, and similar localities, and is said to feed upon the cockroaches and other noisome and dark-loving insects. So, though the Sphodrus be not a handsome Beetle, it is worth

protection, inasmuch as it is very far preferable to the cockroach. This is the only Britivh representative of the genus.

On Woodcut II. Fig. 5, is represented the Beetle called Calathus dsteloides. The members of this genus can be known by the triangular head, the peculiarly-shaped thorax, and the elliptical elytra. The mandibles are toothed at the base. Tlie colour of this insect is black, with a slight gloss in the male, and qiiite dull in the female. The triangular head has a pit on either side of the antennse, the thorax is wrinkled on the disc, and on either side of the base is a deep impression. The elytra are rather convex and covered with shallow striae, on which are faint punctures. The wings are undeveloped.

This is a very common Beetle, and is one of the wet-lovers, being generally found along the bottoms of damp hedges, under heaps of stones, and similar localities. Eight British species of Calathus are acknowledged by entomologists.

We now come to the pretty Httle Beetles that are ranked under the generic title of Anchomenus. All these insects have an elongated thorax, the head egg-shaped, and the antennae with the third joint twice as long as the second.

They are very active, and very brilliantly coloured, and, like most bright-coloured Beetles, love the sunshine, in which they dart about with exceeding rapidity. The popular name of Sun Beetle is given to these and other insects, in consequence of this peculiarity. They are sociable little creatm-es, and, when one is seen, others are tolerably sure to be close at hand! Some of them frequent wet and marshy places, and may generally be found at the roots of willows water-side. that are planted at the

One example of this interesting genus is Anchomenus dorsaUs, which is shown, rather magnified, on Woodcut IV Fig 1 The real length of the insect can be known by reference to the line that is drawn on its right side. In this species the head and thorax are dark-green, and the flattened elytra are pale rust-red, diversified with a large spot of blue-black towards the apex, but not quite reaching the tip. They are striated, and the interstices between the striae are flat and smooth, without any punctures. Beneath, it is shining black

This is a very common Beetle, and is rather interesting to entomologists, because, like the Brachinus, it has the power of defending itself by means of mimic artillery, and can produce a number of the explosions in succession. There are more than twenty British species of this genus.

Auchomemis dorsalis. 2. Pterostichus madidns. 3. Amara obsoleta. 4. Harjialns reneus. 5. Stenolophus Skrimshiranus. a. Pterostichus, right mandible. 6, Pterostichus, maxillary palpus. c. Harpalus, uuder side of leg. d, Harpalus, right mandible, e. Harpalus, maxillary palpus.

The family of the Feroniidae, which comes next in order, comprises a number of Beetles, none of which are remarkable for beauty, though there are several whose habits are very curious and interesting. They may be kno^vn by the sinuated, or wavy, form of the elytra at the apex, and by the basal joints of the front tarsi of the males. Tliese joints are not squared, like tliose of the Chlaeniidse, but are somewhat heart-shaped, and furnished with two rows of bristles beneath.

Our first example of this family is the Beetle which is known I to entomologists by the name of Pterostichus mad/idus, a i figure of which is given on Woodcut No. IV. Fig. 2. The strong I and peculiarly-formed mandible of this genus is shown at Fig. a, and its maxillary palpus at Fig. b. The colour of the insect is 1 shining black, with a slight brassy gloss. The smooth head has two impressions in front ; the thorax is convex and narrow behind, with a bold central furrow and a deep wrinkled pit at each angle. A lens is required to make out these details. The elytra are covered with regular striae, a circumstance which has gained for these insects the generic title of Pterostichus, or ‘streaked- wing.’ There are a few small punctures on each elytron, and a row of bold punctures runs along each margin. The wings are not developed.

This is a very common insect, and can be taken in any number, as it runs boldly about. Anglers often use it successfully as bait. Although devoid of wings, it is very quick on its legs, darting about with such velocity that the generic name of Steropus, or ‘ lightning,’ was once applied to it and another allied Beetle.

Twenty-two British species of this genus are now acknowledged, but in it are merged several genera of the older ' entomologists.

We now come to one of the largest and most interesting insect of this family, though assuredly it is not a beautiful one. This is Broscus cephulotes, a Beetle which is shown on Plate I, Fig. 4. , This insect has been called the giant of its family, a name ! which It well deserves, as it rivals the Carabi themselves in \ size, sometimes reaching nearly an inch in length. Being a predacious Beetle, it is gifted with veiy powerful jaws, which are attached to a head of more than ordinary size. The I specific name cephalotes signifies large-headed, and is appropriately given to this Beetle. The generic name Broscus I signifies a devourer, and is equally appropriate, f This insect can at once be known by the very large head and the shape of the thorax, which is much narrowed towards Its base. A deep furrow runs along its centre, and its base has a eep pit on either side. The elytra are rounded at the

shoulder, and striated ; some small punctures being scantily visible on the striae. The colour of the insect is black.

In this Beetle we see one of the fiercest and most voracious of the whole insect race. It lives on the sea-shore, generally hiding itself beneath decaying sea-weed or stones, and making burrows under such points of vantage. From this burrow it issues in search of prey, and successfully pursues all kinds of insects, its own kind included. So voracious is it, and so many insects does it kill, that if it reside for a day or two in one J burrow, it can be detected by the rejected elytra, limbs, and other parts of insects which it has caught and eaten. It is the i only British example of its genus.

The large genus Amara now comes before us, and out of the twenty-four species which are included in it I have selected Amara ohsoleta as our example. This insect is drawn on Woodcut IV. Fig. 3. All the insects belonging to this genus are small, and most of them are brightly coloured. They all take rank as Sun Beetles or Sun Shiners ; and, fortunately for them, j there is a wide-spread superstition that it is unlucky to kill a ! Sun Beetle, and that its death \vill cause terrible storms.

The members of this genus are rather wide in proportion to their length, and have the thorax wide behind, as wide, in fact, ! as the elytra. They have large wings, which they can use with great effect ; and the males have three dilated joints on the front tarsi. These Beetles are very plentiful, and may be seen either flying through the air on their ample wings, rimning ' about in the full blaze of the sunshine, or temporarily hiding under sticks and stones. ;

Although it is no very difficult matter to know an Amara when it is seen, I must warn the reader that to distinguish the different species is a task which requires the minutest attention to the smallest details, and had better be deferred until the eye 1 has been trained to seize at once on those small but important 1 characteristics, which at once strike the eye of a practised entomologist, and invariably elude the scrutiny of a novice. The eye can only see that which it has the power of seeing ; and it is worthy of remark that twenty or thirty young observers will miss exactly the most important detail in an insect structure , until it is pointed out by an experienced entomologist, when

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