COLEOPTEKA. 



W5 



Casnonia, Latr. (having the thorax Ion? and conical), Leptotrachdns, Latr., and Odacantka, Payk. (with the 

 thorax nearly cylindrical, the elytra truncate, and the tarsal joints entire), are distinguished by ha\ Lng the outer 

 maxillary palpi filiform, or scarcely thickened at the tip. Oil. melanura, Fabr., Clairville, is three lines long-, of a 

 bluish green colour, with the elytra, except at the tip, of a reddish yellow ; the tip of the elytra is bluish black. 

 This species frequents aquatic places, and is commonly found in the departments of the north of France, Germany, 

 and Sweden. [It is plentiful in similar situations in the fens of Lincolnshire, Whittlesea .Mere, &C, and is found 

 in quantities in the sedge boats which go to Cambridge.] 



Those which have the outer maxillary palpi terminated by an enlarged triangular or obconical joint, and which 

 have the body flattened and the tarsal joints entire, compose the three following subgenera, namely, SSupMum, 

 Latr., Polistichiu, Bonelli (consisting of a single British species, P. fasciolatut), and Helluo, Bon. [the last of 

 which consists of numerous exotic species, the type being H . costatzu of New South Wales]; whilst those which 

 differ from the last in having the penultimate joint of the tarsi deeply bilobed, the jaws long and porrected, and the 

 bodj thick, form the genus Drypta, Latr., Fabr., the type of which is the 1). tmarginata, Fabr., four line- long, of 

 a fine blue colour, with the mouth, antenna-, ami lege fulvous. It is more common on the south than the north 

 of France. SI. Blondel, however, found it abundantly near Versailles. [It is very rare in England, and has been 

 found on the southern coast.] 



Trichognatha, Latr., Gulerita, Fabr., and Cordistes, Latr., are exotic genera [chiefly American], differing from 

 the preceding in having the four basal joints of the anterior tarsi of the males greatly dilated, the fourth being 

 constantly bilobed in both sexes. 



The remaining Truncatipennes have the ungues of the tarsi finely toothed beneath, like a comb. 



Ctenodactyla, 1 )< ■ j . , and Agra, Fabr., have the head oval, and separated from the thorax by an abrupt neck; the 

 fourth tarsal joint is always bilobed. The latter genus has the body very long and narrow, with the thorax of an 

 elongated conical form, narrowed in front. The species are numerous, and inhabitants of South America. 



The four following subgenera have the head not separated from the thorax by a distinct narrow knot or rotule ; 

 the body is flattened and elongated, and the thorax is longer than broad, heart-shaped, posteriorly truncated. 



Cymindet, Latr. (Tarns, Clairv.), with the outer maxillary palpi filiform, the last joint cylindrical, but behur in 

 the labial palpi very large and hatchet-shaped, at least in the males, and all the joints of the tarsi are entire and 

 nearly cylindrical. [The type is the CarabiU humeralis, Fabr., a rare British insect ; there are also several other 

 British species.] 



CaUeida, Dej., having the fourth joint of the tarsi bifid. Peculiar to America. 



Demetrius, Hon. .Similar to the last in the tarsi, but with the palpi filiform, and the last joint nearly ovoid or 

 subi ylindrical. This and the following subgenera consist of very small species [many of which are British], and 

 which for the most part frequent aquatic, moist, or shady places, and are nearly all natives of Europe. 



Drumius, Bon. Generally apterous, with the tarsal joints entire, but in other respects agreeing with Dcmetrias. 



In the rest the thorax is broader than long, broadly truncate behind. 



Of these, Lebia, Latr. (and Lamprias, Bon.), have the middle of the posterior edge of the thorax prolonged into 

 a transverse lobe; the four basal joints of the tarsi are nearly triangular, and the fourth is more or less bifid or 

 bilobed. These insects are agreeably diversified in their colours, [being in fact some of the most elegant of the 

 whole family. The type of Lebia is the Carabus crux minor, Lin., of a fulvous colour, with a black head, and an 

 irregular-shaped black cross on the back of the elytra. It is very rare in England.] The type of Lamprias, tin' 

 Carabus cyanoeephahu, Lin., is about three lines long, of a shining blue or green colour above, with the basal joint 

 of the antennte, the thorax, and feet, reddish yellow, and the tips of the thighs black. It is a rather common 

 species throughout Europe. Others have the thorax terminated in a Straight line, without an advanced lobe, 

 namely, Plochionus, Dej., Orthogonius, Dej., and Coplotlcra, Dej., all consisting of exotic species ; near the last 

 of which ought probably to be arranged the subgenus llcxagonia, Kirby. 



["The subfamily Truncatipennes [or the Brachinida of af'Leay] a- at prevent constituted, is, per- 

 haps, the most incongruous of all the subfamilies of the Carabidse, the terra Truncatipennes, applied to 

 it by Latreille, by no means indicating a constant character, aa main <>( the species have the elytra 

 rounded at the tips. The tarsi are indeed generally alike in both Bexea, or, if dilated in the male-, 

 the dilatation i* of a different character from that of the other subfamilies. It may indeed be rather 

 regarded as a convenient receptacle for such groups as have not tin- bipartite ami palmated structure 

 of the Scaritides, the simple tibia: of the Carabides, the dilated male tarsi of the Harpalides ami its 

 subdivisions, or the minute conical terminal joint of the raaxillarj palpi of tin' Bembidiides." ( Tnirod. 

 lo Mm!. Class. <>f Ins.vts, vol. i. p. 75.) The family has been greatly studied, ami a \.ist number of 

 new specie* described, together with many new genera; but these have been established upon alight 

 structural characters, and as they are for the most pan exotic,] have not thought it advisabl 

 detail them.] 



•J. The second section, that of the Bipartiti, or the SoABTTIDlS, Dej., and which may from t: 



habits be also called Possorea ox Borrowers, is formed of Carabici with the elytra entire or slightly 

 sinuated al the posterior extremity, the antenna; often necklace-like and elbowed [at the extremity 



of the long basal joint], the bead broad, tin- thorai large, ordinarily in the shape of I cup, or nc.uly 



