74< MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



Mr. Kirby as well as Messrs. Laporte and Brulle have also adopted 

 the plan of subdividing the primary groups into numerous minor sub- 

 divisions named after the typical genus in each : thus by both the last 

 named authors, the Brachinidse are divided into six minor groups, not 

 however corresponding with each other, as the sixth subdivision 

 (Brachinites) of Laporte embraces Brulle's 1st, 5th, and 6th, sub- 

 divisions. 



In considering the different primary divisions of this very natural 

 family, as possessing a value inferior to that of distinct families, 

 and as constituting collectively one family of equal rank with the Ci- 

 cindelidae, I am but treading in the steps of Linnaeus, Latreille, Kirby, 

 and Leach, as well as in those, I cannot but think, of nature herself, 

 notwithstanding the numerical majority of the Cai-abideous over the 

 Cicindelideous insects. The following is a concise tabular sketch of 

 these different groups which 1 have considered as sub-families, termi- 

 nating them, for uniformity, in ides. 



A. External maxillary palpi terminated by a joint at least as large as the preced- 



mg (, fig. S. -2.). 



a. Anterior iih'ix having a deep notch on the inside, near the tips {fig. 3.1-2.). 

 * Elytra generally truncated behind (^$r. 3. 7.). Tarsi"! 1. Brachinides, 



of the (J seldom dilated at the base. J (Bombardiers.) 



** Elytra romided at the extremity ; abdoinen pcdun- ^ 2. Scaritkks. 



culated (^(7. 3. l-J.). j (Borrowers.) 



*** Elytra rounded behind ; abdomen not peduneidated "I 3. Harpalides. 



(fig- 4. 1.). J (Black clocks.) 



b. Anterior tibiaj not notched near the tip ( fia. 4. 12.) \ '^' '^';«'"«^«-'- 



' ^■'•' ^ \ ( Discliargers. ) 



B. Palpi terminated by a minute conical joint (fin. 4. 18.)- I'^" ^-^f"/'"^'"**'- 



* ■' J \JJ J ^ (bubaquatics.) 



The first sub-family Brachinides, in addition to the truncature of 

 the extremity of the elytra, are characterised by having the head and 

 thorax narrower than the abdomen (Jjg. 3. 7. Labia Crux minor, 

 8 ungues, 9 antennae). The labium is often oval or square, and 

 occasionally furnished with two small lateral linear lobes : in many of 

 the smaller species the penultimate joint of the tarsi is bilobed 

 (Jiff. 3. 10. anterior tarsus of Cordistes), and the anterior tarsi of the 

 males are very rarely dilated at the base; in some of the large exotic 

 genera, as well as in the true Brachini, the body is apterous, whilst 

 others are very narrow and subcylindric, and have been supposed to 

 be allied to the cylindric Cicindelidae. * Their colours are more 



* M. Bruile places his division Trigonodactyliens at the head of the Carabida?, 

 M. Audouin having observed that the maxilla! in the typical genus have the 

 terminal unguis articulated, as in the Cicindelidae. 



