COLEOPTERA. CARABIDy"E. 89 



Brachinides. The species are of brilliant colours, and are inhabitants 

 of the tropics. 



The fourth subfamily Carabides (Grandipalpi or Abdominales 

 Latr., Simplicipedes Dej,, Carabidee MacLeay, Stephens) comprises the 

 typical Carabideous insects (^fig. 4. ll. Carabus nitens), being for the 

 most part of a large size, and distinguished from all the other sub- 

 families by having the anterior tibia? destitute of the strong notch 

 near the extremity (^y. 4. 12. Carabus), although, in some of the 

 terminal genera, an approach is made to the emarginate structure of 

 the Harpalides by a slight oblique canal occupying the tip only of the 

 tibia. "J'he jaws are strong, with but very ^qw teeth on the inner 

 edge ; the antennae are long and setaceous, the second joint being the 

 shortest ; the terminal joint of the palpi is often very large and securi- 

 form (^Jig' 4-. 14. maxilla of Cychrus) ; the eyes are large and promi- 

 nent ; the abdomen and elytra often comparatively very large, the 

 latter being rounded at the tips, and in the typical genera soldered 

 together, the wings in such cases being obsolete ; the anterior tarsi 

 are greatly dilated in the males. 



The larger insects of this family, Carabidea Westw. (Carabidae 

 Steph.), are generally adorned with metallic and brilliant colours ; they 

 run fast, are very carnivorous in their habits, and when irritated eject 

 an exceedingly acrid and volatile fluid from the abdomen. The genera 

 Elaphrus {fig. 4. 15. Elaphrus uliginosus), Pelophila, Blethisa, and 

 Notiophilus, are formed by Mr. Stephens into a distinct family, named 

 Elaphridae (Elaphridea Westw.) ; whilst the same genera, together 

 with Nebria, Leistus {fig. 4. 16. maxilla of Leistus showing its curious 

 spines), and others, are separated by Messrs. Audouin and Brulle 

 under the name of Elaphrides. 



Amongst the British insects belonging to this subfamily several 

 species of the genus CSijchrus appear to have been incorrectly re- 

 corded as British. The only indigenous species, C. rostratus, as I 

 am informed by Mr. Plimpton, makes a very loud noise when cap- 

 tured by the iViction of the tip of the abdomen against the elytra, 

 a peculiarity not observed in any of the other species of the family. 

 Its upper lip is represented at fig. 4. 13., and one of its maxilUe 

 exhibiting the curious internal palpi at fig- 4. 14. 



The genus Carahns, notwitiistanding its modern restrictions, com- 

 prises nearly two hundred species, varying considerably in form. 



