374 INSECTA. 



POLISTICHUS, Bon. 



First joint of the antennae, as in the following subgenus, shorter 

 than the head; maxillary palpi of the ordinary length ; second, third 

 and fourth joints of the tarsi ; those of the two anterior legs particu- 

 larly, short and nearly orbicular; the ligula terminated superiorly by 

 a straight margin, its paraglossae salient, and resembling narrow, 

 arcuated and pointed auriculae *. 



HELLUO, Bon. 



This subgenus is only distinguished from Polistichus by the en- 

 tirely corneous ligula, which is rounded at the superior extremity, 

 and without any distinct paraglossse. The species are all foreign to 

 Europe f, 



The others, which with those that immediately follow, appear to 

 approximate to the Brachini J, have the penultimate joint of all the 

 tarsi strongly bilobate ; the mandibles and maxillae long, narrow, and 

 projecting; the body thick; the head in the form of a narrow and 

 elongated triangle ; the thorax almost cylindrical, and slightly nar- 

 rowed posteriorly. 



The first joint of the antennae is long and narrowed at base. The 

 mentum is nearly lunate, and is destitute of a tooth in the middle of 

 the emargination. The ligula is salient, narrow, almost linear, and 

 terminated by three stout spines ; it has two small paraglossse. The 

 under part of the tarsi is covered with down. Such are the charac- 

 ters of 



DRYPTA, Lat. Fab. 



All the species known belong to the eastern continent and to 

 New Holland. Two inhabit Europe, and are always found on 

 the ground. 



The most common is the Drypta emarginata, Fab. ; Clairv. 

 Entom. Helv. II, xvii; Hist. Nat. des Coleop. d'Eur., fasc, II, 

 x. 1. It is about four lines in length, and of a beautiful azure- 

 blue ; the antennae, mouth and legs, fulvous : extremity of the 

 first joint of the antennae and the middle of the third, blackish ; 

 elytra with punctate striae. More common in the south of 

 France than the north. M. Blondel .Tun., however was found 

 it in abundance in a locality near Versailles . 



* Galerita fasciolata, Fab. ; Clairv., Ib., B, b ; Hist. Nat. des Coleop. d'Eur. 

 Ib., 4; Polistichus discoideus, Ib. 5. See the Spec, des Coleop., Dej. I, p. 194. 



t Hclluo costatus, Hist. Nat. des Coleop. d'Eur., fascic. II, vi, 5; Galerita 

 hirta, Fab. See the Species Gener. Dej. I, p. 283. 



An undescribed species from Brazil appears to me to form a new subgenus by its 

 filiform palpi, of which the last joint is cylindrical. 



% The Dryptae are also allied to Cychrus, and seem to connect the Cicindelitse 

 with the Carabici Grandipalpi. Several sections of this family seem to connect 

 themselves with the Cicindelae like so many branches. Most of the other families 

 of Insects are similarly situated, or form ramified trunks in a word, continuous 

 series do not exist in nature. 



For the other species, see Hist. Nat. des Coleop. d'Eur., fascic. II, x, 2 ; and the 

 Species Gener. des Coleop. Dej. I, 182. 



