INTRODUCTION cxliii 



decayed stems, and amongst decaying leaves upon the ground. Quite a few of the 

 species occur beneath rocks or stones, chief amongst which is the extremely abundant 

 Mecyclotho7'ax montivagiis of Maui, replaced on Hawaii by M. pele, of which some 

 specimens seem intermediate in appearance. The Pterostichine beetles are almost 

 ubiquitous throughout the forests of the islands, excepting where these are invaded by 

 the introduced ant Pheidole niegacephala, and those of Kauai, where not a single species 

 has been discovered. On Oahu they are much more poorly represented than on the 

 other islands with equal forest area. On the highest mountains a number of species are 

 found in the open country above the forest-belt, but not one (nor any other endemic 

 Carabid) is known below the forest, since every moderately damp situation is there 

 occupied by the foreign ants. Probably all the species are nocturnal in their activities, 

 since only on the rarest occasions has an individual been seen walking in the open 

 or on the leaves of trees in the daytime. Apart from the question of the thoracic 

 setae, some of the species are notably variable and varietal differences are sometimes 

 considerable between individuals actually taken in company. A few species are remark- 

 able for the peculiarities of their sculpture, as also are a good many of the Anchomenine 

 series. Occasionally, as with the latter group, remains of Pterostichines have been 

 observed in the native Drepanid birds. 



The Bembidiini differ considerably from the other two groups of endemic Carabidae 

 in the fact that no arboreal forms are known, though individuals have been met with on 

 rare occasions in decayed parts of fern stems, and further, many of the species, that 

 inhabit moderately damp situations, are found roaming about in full daylight. 

 Occasionally we have noticed specimens feeding on minute larvae of other insects and 

 once a number of individuals together were observed feeding on a dead hive-bee. The 

 flightless GjiatholyDinaeiim was found in or beneath large stems of tree-ferns and is only 

 known from Kauai, where the Bembidiine fauna is most richly developed. Nesolyumaeum, 

 also containing only one species, has, I believe, similar habits, but is fully winged. It is 

 widely distributed occurring from Oahu to Maui, though rare. Bembidium teres is 

 already known on all the islands from Kauai to Maui and is sometimes numerous 

 amongst the small stones or shingle on the edge of mountain streams. B. pacificiun is 

 more often found amongst dead leaves and is fairly common locally on Oahu and 

 occurs on Kauai. B. molokaiense another winged species is found from Kauai to Maui. 

 Nesocidmm as a genus is only distinguished from some of the species of Bembidium 

 [B. molokaiense) b)- its vestigial wings. N. laeticuluvi is found from Kauai to Maui or 

 with the same range as B. molokaiense, suggesting the idea that it is a dimorphic form 

 of this, as does its structure. The other species of Nesocidium are at present known 

 each from only one island, but they have mostly been so rarely collected, that not very 

 much weight can be attached to this. The genera Atelidium, Metrocidium, Nesomicrops 

 and jMacranillus, each monotypic and endemic, are only known from Kauai. Their 

 habits are the same as those of Nesocidium. 



