THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 4:5 



mandibles and covering the mouth, the Lalrum; a little behind this, at the 

 sides just forward of the eyes, are inserted the antenna'. The head fits into 

 the thorax, which extends to the elytra, or wing covers, which are sometimes 

 entire (Cyckrus v/duus) sometimes the true wings beneath are entirely wanting 

 (Pterostt'chus permundus). The small triangular piece at the centre and base 

 of the thorax and elytra is the scutet, the characteis of which are not used ir> 

 the classification of this family. The sexual characteristics are of particular 

 importance, and may usually be known by the greater dilatation of the anterior 

 tarsi of the male. In many genera it is absolutely necessary to have the % to 

 be positive; an instance in point is recorded, Proa Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., page 

 382, Dec, 1868 (3). By reference to Le Conte's Classification you will find 

 the family Carabidse divided into sub-families, the last of which, Harpatidce, 

 the only one we shall now consider, contains the greater number of the species 

 of Carabidfe. This subfamily is divided into tribes, these again into groups, 

 two only of which, Eurytricld and Harpali, containing most of the common 

 summer beetles, will be now considered. In these forms we have the following 

 plan of arrangement: — Ligvla, free at the apex, Paraijlossee distinct, Elytra 

 rounded and sinuate at the tip, anteiior and middle tarsi of the % u.suaily 

 broadly dilated, — Harpalini, tribe. 



Anterior and middle tarsi of the % usually broadly dilated and covered 

 beneath with a dense brush of hairs, — Eurytrichi. Group. Anterior and 

 middle tarsi of the % usually strongly dilated, and covered beneath with 

 two rows (one on each side) of bristles, — Harpali. Group. As I presupposed 

 in the beginning that you were somewhat acquainted with the different forms 

 of the Genera, you will not confound these with Ptercsthhus, which has in 

 the % only three joints of the anterior tarsi dilated, or with Cldctnivs, which 

 bas bright metallic, species, usually pubescent, or with Oudes, which very 

 much resembles Ilarpalus in form, but differs by having the eighth and 

 ninth ely tral striae confluent and the ocellate punctures very near the margin ; 

 this genus is scarce, and not e^ily distinguished from a number of others, 

 except by those who have had much experience. We will now take into 

 consideration part of the genera embraced in these Groups, remembering, 

 that where they run into one another you will often be puzzled, and must 

 refer to the classification, where the whole subject is carefully elaborated. 

 The Group Ilurpali contains a numbi r of genera, one of which Gynandropus, 

 with but a single species common at the north, is .25 long, quite slender, 

 shining black, thorax much narrower than the elytra, rounded before and 

 behind, and decidedly convex ; it resembles boih Pterostichus and Steno- 

 lophus, but differs from all other species by the characters of the Group, and 

 by ha\ing three rows of punctures on each elytron on the second, fifth and 



