120 MANDIBULATA. — COLEOPTERA. 



Essex, Norfolk, Yorkshire, and Northumberland, and near Edin- 

 burgh ; though it occasionally frequents the shores of the Thames 

 near Battersea and Plaistow Marshes, and has orice been taken in 

 a damp situation in moss at Highgate-wopd. " Found plentifully 

 under stones, on the banks of the river near Battersea, in June, 1827, 

 near dead- animals ; but not one specimen beneath the latter" — Mr. 

 Inffpen — who justly remarks, that they probably lurk there for the 

 purpose of preying upon the smaller Staphylinidse, &c., attracted 

 by the carcasses. 



t Sp. 2. alpinus. Alatus, castaneus, capite thoracegue castaneo-nigris, thorace 



transversa. (Long. corp. 4g lin.) 

 Pa. alpinus. Curtis, iv.pl. 192. — Steph. Catal. p. 25. No. 202. 



" Smoothj shining, castaneous : head and thorax black, with a chesnut tinge, the 

 latter with the anterior margin punctured; a channel down the middle, 

 deepest at the base, and a large, deep, punctured fovea on each side at the 

 base, extending to the posterior angles: elytra with nine rather faint and 

 imperfectly punctured strise on each, the sutural one abbreviated ; between 

 the third and fourth are three equidistant impressed dots : female longer, 

 paler : wings ample." 



This species has only been found in Scotland, and I believe but 

 sparingly: it is the Ha. septentrionalis of Schoiiher, MSS., a name 

 that might advantageously be substituted for alpinus, as there are 

 already many Harpalideous insects bearing the latter specific name. 



Genus XLIX. — Pterostichus, Bonelli. 



Palpi somewhat resembling those of Omaseus; external maxillary with the 

 basal joint short, curved, the second stout, the third and fourth of nearly 

 equal length, the latter elongate-ovate, truncate : labial rather stout, the basal 

 joint robust, the second short, the third rather shorter than the terminal, 

 which is shghtly attenuated towards the apex, and truncate : labrum qua- 

 drate, slightly emarginate : mandibles crenated at the base, obsoletely striated 

 above: mentum deeply emarginate, the emargination with a bifid lobe. An- 

 tennis compressed, with the second and fourth joints shortest, the terminal 

 rather acute: head oblong-ovate: thorax subcordate, truncate: body much 

 depressed: wings two, or none : anterior tarsi oiihe males with three dUated 

 joints. 



The depressed body of the Pterostichi distinguishes them from 

 the preceding genera ; from Platysma they are known by the com- 

 parative stoutness of the palpi, and from Abax by the subcordate 

 thorax. Most of the species, in common A\'ith many other Harpa- 

 lidae, have two deep sulciform impressions on the forehead. 



