BEETLES. 169 



to H. pineti, which lives upon pines. In the light-grey clays, 

 here and there are seen shining black scales, which on close 

 examination prove to be the remains of the thorax and elytra of 

 small beetles. They belong, for the most part, to the Carabidse 

 or predaceous ground -beetles. One species (fig. 358) agrees 

 with a black beetle (Pterostichus nigrita, Fab., sp.) which is 

 abundant all over Switzerland up to the subalpine region ; while 

 two other species (Carabites diluvianus, Heer, fig. 357, and C. 

 cordicollis, Heer, fig. 359) cannot be referred to any living 

 forms *. These predaceous beetles probably dwelt upon the 

 banks of streams, and were drowned by the inundations which 

 carried down the clays upon the peat-bogs. 



A lignite formation like that of Utznach and Durnten occurs 

 at Chambery and Sonnaz, in Savoy. Upon a bed of fine sand 

 of unknown thickness lies a grey clay with a bed of lignite; 

 this is followed by a layer of rolled pebbles, 8 metres (or 8' 749 

 yards) thick, united in the upper part into a solid mass by a 

 calcareous cement. This is covered in its turn by a thickness 

 of 30 metres (or 32*809 yards) of unstratified but in part striated 

 pebbles (erratics). This deposit consequently presents nearly 

 the same conditions as those at Utznach and Diirnten. In the 

 lignite are found fir-cones and birch wood; in the clay, leaves of 

 willows (Salix cinerea, Linn., and S. repens, Linn.?), and the 



from H. pineti by its smaller size and by having its elytra snorter with the 

 same breadth, and somewhat different in configuration. In the first two striae 

 (ijear the suture) H. rugosus has only thirteen punctures, while H. pineti has 

 from seventeen to twenty-f6ur j the middle striae or rows have the same 

 number of punctures in both species. The interstices also are more coarsely 

 wrinkled. 



* Carabites diluvianus is distinguished by its broad short prothorax, with 

 acute posterior angles (fig. 357, 6). It has a smooth middle line, an impres- 

 sion on each side at the base, and a transverse row of punctures in front. 

 The striae of the elytra are punctured, and the interstices flat and smooth. 

 The species is of the size of Harpalus satyrus, Kn., and has the thorax of the 

 same form; but it is distinguished by the punctured striae. Prof. Heer found 

 several elytra, prothoraces, and a very well preserved head at Diirnten. It 

 appears to belong to the genus Harpalus. Carabites cordicollis has a smooth 

 cordate prothorax with its sides strongly incurved behind, a deep middle 

 line, and a deep impression on each side at the base. It probably belongs to 

 the genus Pterostichus (Argutor). 



