44 TUE ORDER OF COLEOPTERA. 



A 



Snb-family BRACHIlsIDES. 



This sub-family corresponds to the section of Trimcatipennes of La- 

 treille. The elytra are cut off at the extremity, either straight across, 

 or obliquely, leaving- the tip of the abdomen exposed. One of the most 

 [Fig. 11.1 ^ conspicuous general characters is the marked difierence in 

 size, and often also in color, between the thorax and the ab- 

 domen, the thorax being usually [scarcely wider than the 

 head. The beautiful pectinate claws at the end of the tarsi, 

 so common in this subfamily, are not found outside of it in 

 any of our Carabidie, except the genus CaJathns, in the sub- 

 LEiiiA GKANi.is, familv of Harpalides. Other characters have been given in 



Hcntz— alter j r „ , . 



iiii«y- the tabular view of sub-families. Most of the species are 



extremely active. Some are found under stones, but those with pecti- 

 nate claws are often seen upon plants and flowers, this structure of their 

 feet probably enabling them to adhere to the hairs or down, or other 

 inequalities upon the surface of the foliage. 



The typical genus Brachiuus (from the Greek Bpax<o, to resound^) is 

 remarkable for the faculty which the species have of discharging from 

 the anus a pungent, volatile vapor, accompanied by an audible report, 

 whence they have been denominated homhardiers by the French. , 



A. Aiiteuua' filiform or setacefais. Abdomen more or less oval. Legs slender. 



B. Thorax moio or less heart-shaped, as wide as the head, and with a sharp lateral margin. 

 C. Antenuai setaceou.s, tirst joint as long as second and third united ; the second nearly as 

 long as the third. Form oblong; size rather large; thorax reddLsh, and elytra blue or 



black G Ai.ERiTA, 5 sp. 



C C. Antenna; filiform, first joint moderate, second much shorter than the third. 

 D. Tar-sal claws simple. Abdominal segments seven or eight. Color reddish yellow, with 



blue elytra Buachlncs, 38 



D D. Tar.sal claws pectinate. Abdominal segments sis. Colors various. 

 E. Palpi slender. Thorax sviborbicuhir or suh-(iiiadrate. 



F. Thorax roundish, wider than long ; abdomen broad oval ; colors usually blight and 



variegated : Lehia, 32 



F F. Thorax squarish, longer than wide ; abdomen oblong-oval ; color blackish : 



DltOAlIU.S, 13 



£ E. Labial palpi ending in a widened hatchet-shaped joint. Thorax heart-shaped ; abdo- 

 men oblong-oval. 



G. Body glabrou.s. Colors brilliant Cali.eipa, 11 



G G. Body more or less hairy. Colors obscure Cymindis, 23 



B B. Thorax elongate and slender, much narrower than the head, and without a lateral margin. 

 Claws simple. 



H. Thorax spindle-shaped. Abdomen oval, convex, tarsi simple. Colors black 



and red Casxoma, 2 



H n. Thorax nearly parallel; abdomen oblong, parallel, and depressed ; peniiltiiiiate 

 joint of tarsi deeply bilobed. Elytra not truncated. Color browuLsh : 



LEI'TOTUACIIELUS, 1 



A A. Antonnie robust, sub-moniliform, and somewhat widened and compressed towards the tip. 

 Body elongated, parallel and depressed. Legs rather short and robust. Color brown : 



Uklluomouvha, 6 



GaJeriia janns, Fab., is a line and not uncommon species. The head 

 is black 5 thorax and legs reddish-yellow, and elytra indigo-blue. 

 Brachinus fumanSy Fab., nearly half an inch in length, with indigo 



