1823.] Doctrmeof Affinity/ and Analogy » 419 



rax, the striae of the disk of its elytra less impressed with puncta 

 than those of the hmb, as Hkewise its frontal furrows, give it no 

 inconsiderable appearance of affinity to it. But a closer inspec- 

 tion proves that this is merely an appearance, and that in fact it 

 belongs to a different tribe connected with the Harpalidce, 

 Notiophilus and its genuine affinities are distinguished by a par- 

 ticular character indicating some difference in their mode of 

 taking or retaining their prey. The great majority of the Carahi 

 of Linne are remarkable for a notch on the inner side of their 

 anterior tibias, armed at its upper angle by a spur, which appears 

 to be of use to them for the above purpose. In the HarpalidcB 

 and many others this notch is nearly in the middle of the tibia ; 

 but in JNotiophilus and its affinities its situation is close to its 

 apex. CatascopuSy with respect to this part, falls into the former 

 tribe. Again, in Notiophilus the labium consists only of a single 

 lobe, or at least the lateral ones are much shorter than the 

 central ; but in the HarpalidcK they are as long or longer.^ In 

 Cata.scopus also they are very conspicuous, being twice the 

 length of the central lobe. In Elaphrus, Notiophilus yBlethisiis, 

 &c. the fore-breast (antepectus), or the part immediately under 

 the thorax, is more or less covered with impressed puncta. In 

 the Harpalidcc and Catascopus it is quite free from them. In the 

 former tribe likewise the legs, especially the thighs, are slenderer 

 and less robust than in the latter. The head moreover in these 

 is narrower behind, so as to form a distinct neck ; whereas in 

 those, if any thing, it is widest behind, and the neck is formed 

 by the convexity of that part, and not by any constriction of it. 

 From all these circumstances, I think, it is sufficiently evident, 

 that the relation of Catascopus to the HarpalidcB is that o^ affinity, 

 while that which it bears to the Elaphridcc, insects which at first 

 sight it most resembles, is merely that of analogy. But there is 

 still another tribe of which it exhibits many characters, I mean 

 those which constitute M. Laireille's first section of his Carabici, 

 which have the head and thorax much narrower than the abdo- 

 men, and truncated or very obtuse elytra; for instance, Anthia, 

 Brachinus, Lebia, &.c. ; and with these at one time 1 felt inclined 

 to arrange the genus I am considering ; but the different cha- 

 racters of the Labium convinced me that it ought rather to go 

 with the Harpalid^. Should any master in Entomology here- 

 after undertake a new arrangement of Carabus L., he may per- 

 haps bring the Harpalidce and the above section nearer to each 

 other ; and in this case Catascopus would very well connect the 

 two tribes. The exact place of the genus I have not been able 

 satisfactorily to ascertain. Of all the known genera of the Har- 

 patida: it seems to approach nearest to Pterostichus Bon., or 

 Sphodrus Clairv., principally on account of the shape of the 

 thorax ; but there must be several intermediate links between 

 them. 



* Clairville, Ent. Helvet. ii. t. x, xi, xii, &c. c. 



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