CARABIDAE. 5 



Metasternum pointed behind, usually meeting the second 

 ventral segment. 



Abdomen with the three anterior segments connate; 

 usually with six, rarely (Brachinini) with seven or eight 

 ventral segments; the first visible only at the sides. 



Legs slender, formed for running; anterior and middle 

 coxas globular, posterior dilated internally, not attaining the 

 margin of the abdomen (except in Trachypachini) ; tarsi 

 5-joiuted. 



One of the most numerous families of Coleoptera, and generally 

 predaceous in character, although some species of Amara, Zabrus, 

 and Harpalus also use vegetable food. The larva of Omophron 

 labiatum is also very destructive to young corn in our Southern 

 States. 



The characters above mentioned being almost the only ones 

 common to all the members of the family, it will be unnecessary 

 to enter into a detailed description of the different parts of the 

 body, as I have done in the preceding family. 



Numerous efforts have been made to indicate a rational dis- 

 tribution of the genera, and the attempts commenced by Latreille 

 and Bonelli, and successively improved by the suggestions of De- 

 jean, Erichson, Schiodte, Lacordaire, and myself, have finally, in 

 the expert hands of Schaum, assumed a form in which probably 

 permanent results have been attained. 



Following, then, the suggestions of these later authors, with 

 still further modifications, the whole family may be divided into 

 three series, which might be almost termed sub-families. 



Middle coxae distant ; 



Epimera of the mesothorax reaching the coxae. Carabid/e. 



Epimera of the mesothorax not reaching the coxa?. Harpalidje. 



Middle coxae contiguous. QzMmvM. 



Sub-Family I.— CARABIDAE (genuini). 



Epimera of the mesothorax extending to the coxeb; mesosternum 

 broadly separating the middle coxae. 



In this sub-family are contained nearly all the anomalous forms of 

 Carabidae. They consequently may be arranged in several tribes, 

 among which are to be found the osculating points with the pre- 

 ceding and following families, as well as the direct lines of affinity 

 to the second and third sub-families. No general characters ex- 

 cept the one above given will apply to all of them, but the special 



