(Page 467) 

 sickle-shaped, at middle of inner margin armed with a robust, occasion- 

 ally bicuspidate tooth. 



Pronotum is polished, with only isolated punctation, rather convex 

 and oval, the greatest breadth being before the middle, its sides some- 

 times finely marginated; elytra of rather even breadth; abdomen uniform- 

 ly broad and only tapering posteriorly, its first four free dorsal joints 

 depressed at base; legs long and slender; fourth tarsal joint bilobed; 

 fore-tarsi in both sexes somewhat dilated, and the fourth bicleft joint 

 of these, as well as of the other tarsi are on the ventral side provided 

 with a felt sole, which enables the animals to run up at an entirely per- 

 pendicular surface, even whenthisis smooth; first joint of hind tarsi 

 elongated, longer than the second, and longer than the claw-joint, 



(Page 468) 



In Middle Europe about a half score species are distributed. They 

 live in flocks at shores of inland lakes, ponds and running water, and as 

 a rule are remarkable by their conspicuous, vivid colors. Only 4 speci- 

 es are found in this country and the rest of the north. - The larva of 

 P. riparius is found at Furs/ and reared (Ditlevsen, 5. 8. 1895/. It 

 is thereby concluded (W. Schlick: Ent. L!edd. V, 124), that Thomson's 

 discription of the supposed larva of this species (Skand. Col. II, 195) 

 doubtless must refer to the larva of Othius fulvipennis F. The differ- 

 ence appears, inter alia, in that the larva of Paederus has 6 ocelli, and 

 long cerci, while that by Thomson described larva has 4 ocelli, and short 

 cerci, like the larva of Othius fulvipennis F. (reared by Rosenberg 22. 

 8. 95). 



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