276 1NSECTA. 



Aptinus, Bon. Brachinus, Web. Fab. 



The last joint of the exterior palpi somewhat thicker, that of the 

 labials particularly; a tooth in the middle of the emargination of 

 the mentum. The ligula is similar to that of the Graphipteri, but 

 the lateral divisions form a small pointed projection. What parti- 

 cularly distinguishes this, as well as the following subgenus, is the 

 fact, that the oval and thick abdomen contains organs which secrete 

 a caustic liquor of a penetrating odour, that issues from the anus 

 with a crepitus and instantly evaporates. This fluid produces a 

 discoloration of the skin similar to that caused by nitric acid, and 

 if the species be large, a burn, accompanied with pain. M. Leon 

 Dufour has described the organs which secrete it(l). 



These Insects are frequently found in society, at least in the spring, 

 under stones. They employ the above mentioned mode of defence 

 to terrify their enemies, and can repeat the discharge a number of 

 times. The larger species inhabit tropical and other hot climates 

 to the limits of the temperate zone. 



Jipt. balista, Dej., Hist. Nat. des Coleop. d'Eur., II, viii, 1; 

 Brachinus displosor, Duft. From five to eight lines in length; 

 black, with a fulvous thorax and sulcated elytra. Navarre and 

 various parts of Spain and Portugal. 



Apt. pyrenaeus, Dej., Hist. Nat. des Coleop. d'Eur., II, viii, 

 3. From three to four lines in length; deep black; antennae and 

 palpi fulvous; feet of a russet yellow(2). The elytra are sul- 

 cated. It was discovered by Count Dejean in the department 

 of the Pyrennees-Orientales. 



Brachinus, Web. Fab. 



The Brachini only differ from the Aptini in being furnished with 

 wings, and in the circumstance of the emargination of their mentum 

 having no tooth. 



Some, generally the largest and mostly foreign to Europe, have 

 their elytra very sensibly sulcated or ribbed. Of this number is a 

 species common to the Antilles and Cayenne, the 



Brack, complanatus, Fab.; Carditis planus, Oliv. Ill, vi, 63. 

 From six to eight lines in length; russet yellow; the elytra 

 black, no humeral point, a sinuous band traversing their middle, 



Dej. The Jlnthia exclamatiunis, Fab., is a Graphipterus, figured Diet. d'Hist. 

 Nat. X, E, 2, 7, under the name of trilinee. 



(1) Mem. sur le Brachine tirailleur, Ann. du Mus. d'Hist. Nat. XVII, 70, 5, and 

 the Ann. des Sc. Nat. VI, p. 320. 



(2) See Hist. Nat. des Coleop. d'Eur., and the Species des Coleop., Dej., I. 



