i 



Nebriincc] AUErilAGA. 11 



i. Miiiulibles dilated at the sides into u horizontal plate, 



niaxilhc at base furnislied with spine-bearing processes . Leistits, FroJd. 

 ii. Mandibles stout, not dilated at the sides, maxilla; merely 

 setose at base. 



1. Anterior tarsi of male feebly dilated "N EBRi A, Latr. 



2. Anterior tarsi of male broadly dilated Pelopuila, Dej. 



NOTZOPHZZiUS, Dumeril. 



The genus Noliophilus iiichules a number of small, briglit lironzc 

 insects, remarkable for their large eyes, sulcate heads, and the smooth space 

 near the suture of the elytra ; they run very swiftly. Two or three of 

 the species are among our commonest insects, and may be seen from 

 early spring to late autumn running on the roads or pathways in the 

 open country or in damp places in woods. M. Bedel (Faune des Colc- 

 opteres du bassin de la Seine, p. 18) raises this genus to the rank of a 

 trilje. 



The larva of Notiopldlus biguttafus is figured by Schiodte (iii. PI. xiii. 12). The head 

 is long and large and produced in front, with very long and powerful mandibles ; the 

 anterior part of the clypeus is produced into a bifurcate horn ; the prothorax is sub- 

 quadrate, somewhat narrower than the head; the rest of the segments are of about 

 equal breadth, becoming gradually narrower behind until the ninth, which is much 

 narrowed, and bears two long pilose cerci ; the upper surface is somewhat scabrose, and 

 the corneous portions are finely reticulate and furnished scantily with short setie. 

 These larvie are very active ; according to Schiodte the larva of N. higuttatus may ofteu 

 be seen running on the trunks of trees in the sunshine; that of 2s. aquaticus lives in 

 damp places near lakes and rivers, and in general appearance much resembles a small 

 FcBderus. 



I. Apex of elytra obscurely yellow. 



i. Sides of thorax sinuate towards base ; elytra with 

 one pore only on the middle third. 



1. Form broader ; punctuation stronger . . . . N. BIGUTTATUS, F. 



2. Form narrower ; punctuation weaker . . . . N. SUBSTElATtrs, Wat. 

 ii. Sides of thorax straight ; elytra with two pores on 



the middle third N. QTJADRIGUTTATUS, Dej. 



II. Apex of elytra without trace of yellow colour. 



i. Tibia; entirely dark bronze N. AQUATICUS, L. 



ii. Tibiiu testaceous. 



1. Apex of elytra shining ; femora entirely dark 



bronze N. palusteis. Duff. 



2. Apex of elytra dull ; femora broadly reddish . N. eufipks. Curt. 



N. big-uttatus, Fab, Shining bronze above, greenish black 

 beneath, rather more depressed and parallel than the other species, 

 except N. suhdriatus ; antennae with tirst four joints reddish ; thorax 

 short with the sides very slightly rounded immediately below the an- 

 terior angles, and then oblicpiely sloped towards the base, which is 

 broader than in the other species ; elytra broad, sides parallel, with stri;e 

 continued to apex, each with three impressions between the second and 

 third stritt>, one of Avhich is at the base, another at apex, and the third 

 near the middle ; legs bronze black, tibiae more or less testaceous. 

 L. 4o-5 mm. 



Abundant everywhere throughout the kingdom. 



