16 MANDIBULATA. — COLEOPTERA. 



Genus VI. — Dromius, BonellL 



Palpi with the terminal joints ovate-cylindric : labium slightly emarginate: 

 labial palpi with the two basal joints short;, the third elongate-clavate^ the fourth 

 ovate-clavate : mentum obsoletely toothed : labrum quacb-ate^, slightly emar- 

 ginate : mandibles dentated at the base : tarsi with cyhndric joints, the penul- 

 timate simple. Antennas with the basal joint longest, the rest nearly equal 

 in length, the second being somewhat shortest : head ovate, very shghtly pro- 

 duced posteriorly : thorax more or less cordiform, or heart-shaped, a little 

 wider than the head : body elongate, depressed. 



The species of this genus are more frequently observed beneath 

 the bark of trees than any others of the geodephaga, especially 

 during the winter months ; a situation wisely appointed for them by 

 their " Omniscient Creator," in order that they may keep within 

 due bounds the various kinds of subcutaneous larvee, which might 

 otherwise destructively accumulate, to the disturbance of the beau- 

 tiful and harmonious economy of nature. 



A, With wings. 



f Sp. 1. meridionalis. Ohlongus ; capite thoraceque ferrugineis ; 

 thorace subquadrato, angulis posticis rotundatis : elytris J\iscis., 

 striatis, lineaque e punctis parvis impressis, antennis pedibusque 

 pallidis. De Jean. — (Long. c. 3 lin.) 



Dr. meridionalis. De Jean. — Steph. Catal. No. 12. 



AUied to the following species, but readily distinguished from it by the pos- 

 terior angles of the thorax being rounded : in colour it is simUar : the head is 

 more rounded : the strise or the elytra are more obsolete, and a single series 

 alone of impressed dots exists between the sixth and seventh striae. 



Hitherto one specimen only of this species has occurred in Bri- 

 tain : it was captured near Southend, in the spring of the year 1820, 

 by my friend the Rev. F, W. Hope, who kindly permitted me to 

 examine it while in a recent state. It appears to be the Carabus 

 agilis of Panzer's Fauna, No. LXXV. f. 11.; but as some years 

 have elapsed since I made the comparison, and I have not been 

 able to obtain a specimen, the above description is abridged from 

 that of De Jean. 



Entomology illustrates the limited powers of human research to 

 an extent rarely surpassed by any other science, for notwithstanding 

 her numerous votaries she repeatedly exhibits to them merely a 

 single specimen of some of her choicest productions ; but, although 

 unique, I do not consider the present insect one of these, as I sus- 



