﻿GEODEPHAGA. 57 



The Harpalides have usually the four basal joints of 

 the front and middle tarsi (but sometimes only those of 

 the front tarsi) dilated in the male, and densely spinose. 

 Their para2:loss8e are free at the apex, the first and 

 second joints of the antennse quite smooth, and the 

 mentum obsoletely toothed. Several of the species are 

 slightly pubescent ; and in the genera Diachromus, Di- 

 chirotrichus (Plate II, Fig. 5 ; D. obsoletus, a salt-marsh 

 insect) and Anisodactylus the widened joints are densely 

 hairy beneath, this hair being replaced in the others by 

 slightly elevated transverse ridges. 



Very few are likely to obtrude themselves upon the 

 notice of the casual observer, on account of their hiding 

 by day, and generally frequenting retired places, viz. 

 bottoms of cliffs, sand-pits, stones on moors and sea- 

 shores, etc. Harpalus ruficornis, the most abundant of 

 the tribe, is, however, found commonly in gardens^ and 

 may be seen when mould is dug up, etc. ; it is rather 

 more than half an inch long, robust, dull black, with 

 reddish legs and autenna3, and its wing-cases covered 

 with a very short greyish-yellow down. 



Visitors to Hastings should look about for the very 

 rare Diachromus germanus, which is occasionally found 

 running on paths in that part of the south coast. It is 

 not quite half au inch long, ovate, with very short downy 

 hairs; its head, legs, and antennpe are reddish-yellow, 

 thorax dark-blue or green, and elytra reddish-yellow, 

 with a large blue or green patch at the apex. 



The Tkechides are closely allied to some of the 

 smaller members of the preceding family, but have only 

 two of the basal joints of the front tarsi in the male 

 widened, and triangular in shape ; the ligula and para- 

 glossse are ciliated, the latter being much longer than 



