ORDER COLEOPTERA. 183 



minent, and the labial palpi have but three free articulations. 

 In the cicindelae, the radical articulation is disengaged, and 

 it is on that account that the palpi have four articulations ; 

 but here it is entirely adherent, and forms only a support 

 which we do not take into account. Many of them are de- 

 prived of wings, and have elytra only. They often shed a 

 foetid odour, and shoot from the anus an acrid and caustic 

 fluid. GeofFroy presumes that the ancients designated them 

 under the name of Buprestis, insects which they regarded as a 

 very dangerous poison, particularly for oxen. 



Carabi conceal themselves in the earth, under stones, the 

 bark of trees, and are for the most part very agile.' Their 

 larvae have similar habits. This tribe is very numerous^ 

 and the study of it extremely difficult. 



We shall form a first general division, with those whose 

 extreme palpi are not terminated like an awl ; their 

 last articulation is not united with the preceding to form 

 a body, either oval and very much pointed at the end, or 

 convex, with a narrow and acicular point at the end. 



These carabi may be subdivided into those of which the 

 two anterior legs have, at the internal side, a strong emargi- 

 nation, separating the two spines, which are usually placed 

 one near the other, at the extremity' of this side ; and into 

 those in which the legs have no emargination, or present 

 only an oblique linear canal, not advancing on the internal 

 side of these limbs. 



We shall divide this subdivision into several sections. 



First, the Tuuncatipennes, thus named in consequence 

 of their elytra being almost always truncated at their pos- 

 terior extremity. The head and corslet are more narrow than 

 the abdomen. The ligula is most frequently oval or squatted, 

 and rarely accompanied on the sides with projecting divi- 

 sions. 



