96 ADEPHAGA. [Bipalmati. 



merely superficial), and also, considering its close affinities -with Bem- 

 hidium, it takes with it all the Bembidiina as well, and gives another 

 striking proof, if any were needed, of the utter impossibility of making 

 anything like a linear classification of the Carabidse. 

 The division may be subdivided as follows : — 



I. Palpi with a very short and slender terminal joint Bembidiina. 



II. Palpi with a more or less long and tapering terminal joint . . . Teeciiina. 



BEMBIDIINA. 



The members of this tribe may be at once distinguished from all the 

 other Carabidse by tlie very short, and slender terminal joint of the palpi : 

 this peculiarity of the palpi is also found in the Halipli, and it is for this 

 reason, as well as for their semi-aquatic habitat, that the Bembidia have 

 been placed at the end of the Carabidse as a connecting link between the 

 Geodephaga and the Hydradephaga. If, however, we allow questions of 

 habitat to be taken into consideration, we might with quite as much, if 

 not greater reason, place Omophron at the end of the Carabidse : some 

 authors would be inclined to include the Halipli with the Carabidae, in 

 which case they might be placed near Bemhidmm, but there is no need, 

 according to our present arrangement, to force this latter genus from a 

 more natural position, in order to bring it into juxta-position Avith the 

 Haliplidse, so long as these are reckoned among the true Hydradephaga, 

 of which they are best considered a separate family distinct from the 

 Dytiscidse. The aberrant North American genus Ampliizoa would seem to 

 form the best transition between the Carabidaj and Dytiscidse, but of 

 this we shall have to speak when we come to consider the latter family. 



The genera may be thus divided : — 



I. Anterior tibia obliquely truncate externally at apex ; sutural 



stria recurved at apex Tachts, Schaum. 



II. Anterior tibise not obliquely truncate externally at apex j 



sutural stria not recurved at apex. 

 i. Penultimate joint of anterior tarsi armed with a curved 



spine beneath LtmNjEUM, Steph. 



ii. Penultimate joint of anterior tarsi simple. 



1. Elytra not pubescent ; stria; distinct ; dilated joints of 



anterior male tarsi furnished with squamre beneath. 



A. Antennas short, with joints 4r-10 moniliform ; sides of 



elytra parallel Cillenus, Sam. 



B. Antenna; long, with joints more or less elongate ; sides 



of elytra more or less rounded Bembidium, Latr. 



2. Elytra pubescent ; stria; indistinct ; dilated joints of 



anterior male tarsi pubescent beneath ; eyes very large . Tachtpus, Lac. 



TACKVS, Schaum. 



This genus has been united by several authors with Bembidium, but 

 was separated off by Schaum through the sculpture of the elytra and the 

 oljliquely truncate anterior tibise ; it contains between a hundred and a 

 luuidred and fifty species which are widely distributed over the whole 



