62 INSECTS ABROAD. 



half of the thigh, which is black or greeu on its junction with the 

 tibia. The long antennoe are variously coloured in four tolerably- 

 equal parts. The basal quarter is reddish dun, something like 

 the hue of the body, only lighter. Then comes a black portion, 

 then one pure white, and the last quarter is black. 



The whole of the body is covered with bristles, which, though 

 in themselves small, are quite large wdien compared with the 

 size of the body. From this peculiarity the specific name of 

 setosus, or " bristly," has been given to the insect. The generic 

 name, PselapTianax, has been given to the Beetle by way of a 

 joke, on account of its very minute dimensions. It is composed 

 of two words, the former of which signifies " feeling" or "groping 

 by touch," and refers to the great development of the antennae 

 or feelers, which are as long as the head, thorax, and abdomen 

 together. The second word signifies " a king," and has been 

 given to the insect ironically, just as the name of "General" or 

 "Admiral" is given to a very small dwarf, and the sohriquet 

 of " Baby" is often applied to a man of gigantic stature. 



As to the rest of the group, there is little of interest. They 

 are mostly like our own species, so familiar to those who wander 

 by the sea-shore or river brink and try to use their eyes. It is, 

 however, wortliy of notice, that not only do the Berabidiides 

 approach the Water Beetles in their habits, but in portions of 

 their forms. The reader will remember that the minute terminal 

 joint of the palpi was mentioned as one of the distinguishing 

 characteristics of this group. Now, there is a genus of the 

 Water Beetles, called Haliplus — i.e. "a seaman" — which has the 

 same joint of the same organ formed almost exactly like that of 

 the Bembidiides. 



This necessarily brief history of the Carabidce requires a few 

 remarks by way of summary. 



In the first place, the word Carabus is apparently quite as 

 inappropriate as is that of Ciciiidela. Originally it signified a 

 "crab," which word indeed is nothing but a modified and con- 

 tracted form of the Greek Karalos. So is the German Krchs, 

 and so is the Latin Scarahcvus. It was also employed to desig- 

 nate the cuttle-fish, on account of its mode Oi" crawding, the name 

 being composed of two Greek words signifying "to walk on the 

 head." By Aristotle it is applied to an insect which is evidently 



