Taclnj!^.'] ADEPIIAGA. 97 



surface of tlio globe, in the tropical as well as the temperate regions ; 

 they are amongst tlie smallest of the Carabiihe, and are found in moist 

 places on the banks of streams running in the sun on the mud, also at 

 roots of grass, or under stones and rubbish; the species that form 

 Schaum's second group of the genus, and which were placed in a 

 separate genus Tachyta by Kirby, are found under bark : we do not, 

 however, possess any species from this section : of our five Eritisli species 

 two (T. quadrisignatiis and T. ^ari.W2/.s') depend at present on single 

 specimens, and therefore require furtlier continuation ; and a tliird 

 {T. Focki) has only occurred in one locality, and lias not been taken for 

 many years. These small Carabida^ are likely to be imported witli ballast, . 

 which ships take in from localities where they might be expected to 

 occur, and then discharge in heaps in or near liarliours in placets where a 

 few insects, imported in all stages probably, might easily found a snudl 

 colony, No species of Tachys has been recorded as yet either from 

 Scotland or Ireland. 



Tlie larva of Tachys (Tachyta) nanus is descrihed and fifrnrcd by Ferris, Ann. Fr. 

 18()2, 175, Fig. 510-516. It is linear and elongate, and clothed above and below with 

 hairs of dillereut lengths, as is usually tliu case in the C'arabideous larvaj ; the head is 

 depressed, a little longer than broad, with two longitudinal furrows, testaceous with the 

 anterior border darker ; prothorax quadrate, reddish, meso- and nieta-thora.\ light, 

 abdominal segments whitish ; cerci rather stout, not jointed, about a third longer 

 than the anal appendage, which is rather loug comparatively ; claws equal. L. 4 mm. 

 Apparently nothing is known of the larva? of the ordinary species of Tacliys, and it 

 must be remembered, as saul above, tliat Tachyta nana has been considered a distinct 

 genus : all the larv.'E, however, of this group, as a rule, hear a strong family resem- 

 blance to one another. 



I. Upper side more or lees convex ; thorax with pos- 

 terior angles sharp ; auteunaj uot much longer thau 



head and thorax. 



i. Form very convex ; elytra short oval ; upper sur- 

 face entirely reddish testaceous T. FoCKl, Ifiim. 



ii. Form moderately convex ; elytra long oval. 



1. Flytra uuicolorous black or pitchy T. pauti'lus, D<'J. 



2. Elytra black with two well-detiued yellow spots 



on each T. quadeisig.natcs, Diifi. 



II. Upper side flat ; thorax with posterior angles blunt; 



aiitemuc as long as half the body. 

 i. Thorax dark ; elytra more or less testaceous . . . T. scutellaeih, Germ. 

 ii. Tiiorax and elytra uuicolorous dark pitch-brown, 



almost black T. bistriatps, Duft. 



T. Focki, Hum. (hisulcahn^, Nic, latipennis, Sturm). Upper sur- 

 face entirely reddish testaceous ; antenna; and legs lighter ; head with 

 two deep furrows on forehead, eyes black slightly ])rominent ; thorax 

 somewhat broader than long, sub((uadrate, very slightly contracted be- 

 hind, posterior angles sharp right angles, dorsal furrow abbreviated in front 

 and beliind, base much depressed with a rather deep fovea on each side 

 near angles ; elytra ovate, convex, dovible as broad as thorax, with four 

 punctured stria? next suture, the first and second of whii'h are strongly 

 marked, the third and fourth shorter and weaker; ihe following .stri;B 



11 



