COLEOPTERA. — CARABIDiE. 63 



in the evening, although it certainly bespeaks a predacious dispo- 

 sition, does not disprove their herbivorous habits during the day. I 

 have also occasionally observed several of the metallic-coloured species 

 of Harpali, Amarae, &c., amongst the upper branches of umbelliferous 

 and other plants during the autumnal months, where it is not im- 

 probable that they ascended for the purpose of feeding upon the ripe 

 seed. M. Zimmermann, in a valuable memoir upon the genus Amara 

 has published an account of their habits, from which it appears that 

 vegetable substances form their chief support ; they feed upon the 

 pith and stems of gramincae, succulent roots, and likewise upon the 

 larvffi of other insects which they can master; they eat much, as may 

 be seen from the swelling of the abdomen. Hence, as Messrs. Au- 

 douin and Brulle (v. p. 29.) observe, this genus, together with the Zabri, 

 compose a group of herbivorous species amongst the carnivorous 

 family to which they belong. Signer Passerini has also published a 

 Memoir upon the ravages occasioned to young wheat by the larvie of 

 Zabrus gibbus and Calathus latus. 



Some of the Harpalides, as we are informed by the Rev. Mr. Bird, 

 not only fly by night, but are attracted to the light of a lamp, some- 

 times in great numbers. (^Entomol. Magaz. ii. 41.) Mr. G. R. Water- 

 house has also informed me that a specimen of Harpalus ruficornis 

 flew into his chamber in which a light was placed, a short time 

 previous to a storm ; hence it is evident, not only that these insects 

 seek their prey by night, but that their flight is high, and that they are 

 subject to the same influence arising from lights as moths. Mr. Curtis 

 has also recorded a similar circumstance respecting Harpalus griseus. 

 The flight of the former insect, shortly previous to a storm, is also 

 curious, as it is well known that many insects are peculiarly liable to 

 be affected by sudden atmospherical changes. 



Some of the species, especially the larger Carabides, exhale a fetid 

 odour, discharging at the same time from the abdomen to a con- 

 siderable distance a caustic and acrid fluid, whence some of them, as 

 the Carabus auratus, already mentioned, have obtained the name of 

 " Vinaigriers" in France; indeed, as in the instance recorded by 

 De Geer, in which some of this fluid was discharged into the eyes of 

 his friends, it is capable of producing very violent pain for several 

 moments.* It is owing to the rapid volatilisation of this liquid, that 

 the genus Brachinus makes the explosions subsequently described. 



* See Dufour, Recherch. Aiiatom., p. 204. 



