THE GEODEPHAGA. 



species of the genus Cicindela, wliicli are more limited 

 in their distribiition_, we have in Britain an immense 

 number of other predaceous Beetles^ the scene of 

 whose exploits is on the ground. Of these a great 

 number agree with the beautiful insect above de- 

 scribed in so many important characters that they are 

 considered to form a single great group_, the tribe of 

 the Geodephaga"^j or Ground predaceous Beetles. 

 In all these insects the outer lobe of the maxillse (the 

 outer portion of the third horny piece) forms a slender 

 jointed organ, resembling a short palpus of two joints_, 

 which intervenes between the true maxillary palpus 

 and the biting part of the maxilla_, — hence they have 

 been described as possessing six palpi. The maxillse 

 themselves terminate in a sharp hooked point, which 

 in some cases (as in the Cicindelce) is moveably arti- 

 culated to the body of the organ. The legs are con- 

 structed solely for running upon solid surfaces, and 

 the tarsi are all composed of five joints. 



Unlike the Cicindelce, which, as we have seen, 

 delight in the brightest sunshine, the majority of 

 these insects are nocturnal in their habits, and keep 

 themselves concealed during the day under stones and 

 clods of earth, in the clefts of banks, or beneath the 

 fallen leaves of trees in woods, where they require to be 

 diligently sought by the entomologist. At nightfall 

 they come forth in search of their prey, which they 

 pursue for the most part on foot, as they appear to have 

 much less power of wing than the Tiger Beetles. 



There are, however, many exceptions to the gene- 

 rally nocturnal habits of the insects of this group, — 

 a great number of the smaller, brilliantly metallic 

 species are almost as active as the Cichidela under 

 * Gr. ge, the earth, adephagos, ravenous. 



