﻿GEODEPHAGA, 55 



The Feroniides have the elytra nearly always sinuate 

 at the apex ; the paraglossee almost always free ; and 

 the dilated basal joints of the front tarsi in the male 

 almost heart-shaped or elongate, and set beneath with 

 two rows of short bristles. 



This family comprises several species, the most often 

 seen (and the most puzzling to the young student) being 

 the " Sunshiners," which are members of the genera 

 Pterostichus (subgen. Pcecilus) and Amara (Plate II, 

 Fig. 4; A. fulva, found in sandy places). 



These insects may often be seen running rapidly over 

 hot paths in the early summer, and are frequently to be 

 met with on the wing, and even darting about the pave- 

 ment in London, on the first really warm spring day ; 

 ■when the sun's rays tempt them from their winter 

 quarters, and incite them to search for food and their 

 mates. The species of Amara (to kill one of which, ac- 

 cording to childish superstitions, is to call into operation 

 the drum and cone of the late Admiral Fitzroy) exude 

 a peculiar acrid fluid when handled ; a strong-smelling 

 habit, common (though in a less disagreeable degree) to 

 most of the Geodephaga, and intended doubtless to be a 

 weapon both of defence and offence : the secretion is 

 probably owing, also, to the constantly carnivorous pro- 

 pensities of the beetles in question. 



To the Feroniides belong the " Cellar- beetles," — not 

 the lazy, foul-smelling Blaps, which will be mentioned 

 in the section Heteromera, — active, black insects of the 

 genera Sphodrus and Pristonychus ; the former having 

 its hind trochanters prolonged in the male into a spike. 

 Pterosticlms . picimanus (Plate II, Fig. 3) is found in 

 cracks of tanks, and under stones, near water. 



The Pogoni, narrow, brassy species, delight in salt or 



