"ground beetles." 95 



The P. madidus is the largest, — this is from half an inch to two- 

 thirds in length, — of a shining black, with strong jaws, and no wings, a 

 very important point. This differs from the two other kinds in the 

 thorax (or body between the wings) being so much rounded behind as to 

 be a good deal narrower than the base of the wing-cases. 



Harpahis ruficornis is not so large as the above, but variable, the 

 length being from rather over one-third of an inch to rather under 

 two-thirds; colour pitchy black, and thorax as broad at the base as 

 the wing-cases. This kind is especially noticed by John Curtis as 

 provided with '^ ample icings."' 



Calathus cisteloides is decidedly smaller, being only from a third of 

 an inch to just over half an inch in length; colour dead black; thorax 

 broad behind, with acute angles ; wings none. 



The antennae and legs of the above-named Harpaliis and Calathus 

 are red, fuscous, or black ; of the Pterostichus the legs are black with 

 red thighs. 



I am not aware of there being any popular English name for either 

 of these three beetles beyond the general name of Ground Beetles ; 

 nor of their larvfe or grubs having been specially described ; but the 

 following remarks might probably help in recognizing them: — "A 

 Geodephagous larva is usually flat, elongate, parallel-sided, fleshy, 

 with the head and first segment hard ; . . . the legs are horny, 

 sis in number, and situated on the first three segments ; . . . there 

 are powerful sickle-shaped jaws, and the apex of the body has usually 

 two horny or fleshy appendages on its upper surface, the lower part 

 being lengthened into a membranous supplemental leg." * 



With regard to attack of Harpalus ruficornis on ripe Strawberries, a 

 parallel observation will be found recorded by Dr. Eitzema Bos as 

 occurring in the Netherlands in 1892. In his ' Short Notes' (referred 

 to below), he mentions that Harpahis ruficornis, F., was sent him '* iu 

 the summer of 1892 from the neighbourhood of Goes, in Zeeland, as 

 injurious to ripe Strawberries. It was found there in very great 

 numbers on the Strawberry-beds, and was very hurtful. See my 

 observations in ' Biologisches Centralblatt,' Bd. xiii., p. 255." — (J. 

 E. B.) 



In this, Dr. Eitzema Bos, — after some observations of the H. ruji- 

 cornis being, as well as the Ground Beetles in general, an insect-eating 

 kind, and some other remarks bearing on the subject, — notes somewhat 

 more at length that in the summer of the preceding year twenty-six 

 specimens of Ground Beetles were sent to him from Kapelle, near 

 Goes (in the Province of Zeeland in the Netherlands) ; they appeared 

 there iu a large kitchen-garden in exceedingly large numbers, and ate 



* ' British Beetles,' by E.G. Eye, p. 46, 



