98 MANDIBULATA. — COLEOPTERA. 



the base: mentum with a bifid lobe in the centre of its notch. AntenncB 

 compressed : head nearly triangular : thorax trapeziform^ depressed : body 

 slightly convex : elytra elliptic^, entire; glossy in the males, somewhat dvill in 

 the females: wings two, or rudimentary : cZai^i serrated : anterior tarsi of the 

 males with three dilated joints. 



The genus Calathus presents a peculiar outline, from its sub- 

 triangular head, trapeziform thorax, and elliptic elytra, by which it 

 is readily known from the other Harpalidse ; exclusively of its den- 

 ticulated claws, combined with the bifid central lobe in the emargi- 

 nation of the mentum ; which last character obviously descriminates 

 it from the two preceding genera : the species usually reside among 

 short herbage in banks, and are very frequently observed upon 

 quick hedges. 



A. Without perfect wings, 



a. Thorax attenuated behind, with the posterior angles rounded. 



Sp. ]. piceus. Plate VI. f. 3. — Piceo-niger, thoracis marginibus antennis 



pedihuxque rufo-piceis. (Long. corp. 4 — 5 lin.) 

 Car. piceus. Marsham. — Cal. piceus. Steph. Catal. p. 20. No. 154. 



Slightly glossy, pitchy-black : head smooth, with an obsolete impression between 

 the eyes : mouth, palpi, and antennse pitchy-red : thorax slightly convex, 

 shining, with a strong dorsal channel, and a bent fovea between it and the 

 margin on each side near the basal angle, which latter is impunctatej the 

 margin is pitchy-red : elytra somewhat flat, not very deeply striated, the striae 

 impunctate, with three or four deep impressed dots between the second and 

 third from the suture, and an interrupted series on the margin : body beneath 

 impunctate, pitchy-black, with the margins of the abdomen and the breast 

 rufescent : the legs pitchy red, sometimes dusky. 



Very common in the hedges and low banks about Coombe-wood, 

 but rather scarce elsewhere : it was, however, found in great pro- 

 fusion near Castle-Howard, by Wm. Spence, Esq., the learned 

 coadjutor of the Rev. W. Kirby, in February 1810; it also occurs 

 in Devonshire and Norfolk, and in plenty at Bottisham. 



b. Thorax broader behind, posterior angles rather acute. 

 Sp. 2. melanocephalus. Niger nitidus, thorace pallide rufo, antennis pedibusque 



testaceis. (Long. corp. 3 — 4 lin.) 

 Car. melanocephalus. Linne. — Mart. C. pi. 37. /. 26. — Cal. melanocephalus. 



Steph. Catal. p. 20. No. 155. 



Head smooth, glossy black, with an obsolete impression on each side between 

 the eyes : mouth and palpi reddish : antennae entirely pale reddish : thorax 

 rather convex, the posterior angles acute, smooth, glossy pale red above and 

 beneath, with a slender dorsal channel, and an obsolete fovea at the base on 

 each side : scutellum pitchy : elytra rather convex, greenish-black, shining in 



