60 ABEPHAGA. [PJafj/'?eri/s. 



strong depression on each side at base ; elytra wider than thorax, flat, 

 finely striated, with three distinct pores on third interstice ; legs red. 

 L. 6-7 mm. 



Sandy and cbalky places, under stones, moss, dead leaves, &c.; local, but widely 

 distributed. Loudon district; Margate; Folkestone; Bournemouth; Brighton; 

 Burton, Reptou, Lichfield, Derby, Belper and other midland localities ; Tonbridge ; 

 Cheddar ; on the sea coast Northumberland, not rare. Not recorded, apparently, from 

 Scotland or Ireland. 



FTEROSTICKUS, Erichson. 



This genns, if we include all the sub-genera, is one of the largest, in 

 point of numbers, of the whole family of Carabidje ; the species are widely 

 distributed throughout the globe, but by far the greater majority belong 

 to the temperate and cold regions of the northern hemisphere. In its 

 Avidest sense it is synonymous with the genus Feronia, Latreille. 



The larva of Pterostichus nigrita is figured by >Schibdte (iii., PI. xix., Fig. 9). It 

 is narrow and linear, somewhat depressed ; the protborax is shining, very finely reticu- 

 late, rather broader than long, narrowed in front where it is about as broad as the head ; 

 the head and pronotum are dark ; the rest of the scuta are pale with a few darker 

 markings ; tlie abdominal segments become narrower behind, and the ninth is fui'nished 

 with two cerci of ordinary length ; the anal appendage is bifurcate at the tip ; tlie 

 setae of the whole body are rather long, slender, and erect; the legs are short and the 

 claws almost equal : the larva is found commonly in damp places under stones, &c. 

 The larva of Ft. melanarius very closely resembles the preceding, but of course is much 

 larger. 



The larva of Abax sfriola (figured by Schibdte, vi., PI. i.. Fig. 3) differs considerably 

 from these two : it is much stouter; the colour is entirely pale fuscous, with the 

 mandibles darker ; the cerci are nauch longer aud jointed, and the anal appendage is 

 not bifurcate; the mandibles are larger, stronger, and more curved, and the muscular 

 impressions on the scuta are well marked : the larva is found under dead leaves, in 

 moss, rotten stumps, &c. 



The genus contains such a large number of widely differing elements 

 that it is almost impossible to divide it satisfactorily ; there are within 

 it a considerable number of sub-genera, many of which have been already 

 considered quite distinct ; at the same time the whole question is by no 

 means settled, and a careful examination and revision of the whole of 

 the species is required before a final decision can be arrived at ; mean- 

 while, for convenience sake, it seems the best plan to adopt the genera 

 that have been founded as sub-genera, and to found the divisions of the 

 species upon them as follows : — 



I. Elytra with the third interstice furnished with one or 

 more pores; seventh interstice not raised. 

 i. Tarsi without fun-ow on their dorsal surface. 

 1. Elytra with scutellary stria. 



A. Antennas with basal joints compressed above ; 



colour bright metallic PcECILUS, Bon. 



B. Autenuiu with basal joints not compressed; colour 



black. 



a. Prosternal process not margined at base . . . PterostiCHTTS, Er. 



b. Prosternal process finely bordered between the 



anterior coxae Adelosia, Steph. 



