COLEOPTERA. — CARABID.^. 79 



to M. Lacordaire, the species, which are numerous, are found upon 

 trees, preferring those leaves wliich have been rolled up by other insects, 

 upon which they sit, remaining immoveable, with the fore legs and 

 antennas stretched forwards. When approached, they escape quickly, 

 falling amongst the grass. Their long neck and head are said to hin- 

 der them from walking quickly, these parts being constantly brought 

 into contact with the leaves upon which they are in motion. Dr. 

 Klug has published a beautifully illustrated monograph upon this rare 

 genus in his Entomological Monograplis. 



The elegant exotic genus Casnonia Latr. (Ophionea King, or 

 rather, Colliuris De Geer, but not of Latr.) is distinguished by the 

 very long cylindrical neck-like thorax, wide head, prominent eyes, and 

 broad elytra. The species are of small size ; the type is the Attelabus 

 pensjdvanicus Linn. M. Lacordaire has observed that they reside 

 in marshy places, running very quickly on the margins of streams, 

 and taking flight readily, when they are easily mistaken for small Ci- 

 cindelae. 



The genus Mormolyce Hagenb. comprises the largest known Cara- 

 bideous insect, the form of which is quite flat, and so extraordinary 

 that it would scarcely be recognised as a Coleopterous insect. The 

 head is attenuated behind the eyes into a very long narrow neck ; 

 the thorax has the lateral margins strongly denticulated ; and the 

 elytra are dilated at the sides and extremity into a very broad leaf- 

 like appendage, giving the insect the aspect of a Mantis. The notched 

 tibite, and structure of the mouth and posterior trochanters appear to 

 give it the affinity with Sphodrus, as suggested by Latreille, of which 

 genus it is even regarded by M. Brulle merely as a subgenus. Its 

 situation has, however, greatly perplexed systematists. By Klug and 

 St. Fargeau {^Enc. Meth.) it is arranged with the Brachinides ; the for- 

 mer placing it betiveen Drypta and Agra, with which last it has some 

 general resemblance in form, with the exception of the dilatation of 

 the elytra ; whilst Mr. Curtis considers it natural to place it as the 

 head of the Coleoptera and Eumorphus at the end, thereby to com- 

 plete the Coleopterous circle. I would suggest that, as its general 

 appearance indicates a certain weakness of structure, very unlike that 

 of the Harpalides, and as, out of the many individuals which I have 

 examined, I have never been able to find an individual with dilated 

 anterior tarsi, it would be more natural to consider it as allied to the 



