164 MAND1BULATA. — COLEOPTERA. 



The British genera may be known by the following characters, 

 partly abridged from the delightful work above mentioned. 



fsubperfoliato, quadrilaminato : . . 187- Doecus. 



Antennarum 

 capitulo 



("4-laminato. {integrum: . 186. Platvcertjs. 



Labium < 



„ pectinato,<( (bifidum: . 188. Lucanus. 



[ 3-laminato : . . . 189. Sinodendron. 



Genus CLXXXVI. — Platycerus, Geoffrey. 



Antennas shorter than the thorax, the basal joint very long and subclavate; 

 second small ; the four following transverse, much shorter than the second ; 

 the remainder forming a laminated club, the first joint of which is small, 

 the two next of equal size, the terminal very large, subovate. Palpi short, 

 with the terminal joint subovate : mandibles short, lunate, shorter than the 

 head, obtusely dentate within : mentum semioval, transverse : labium 

 minute, entire : head subquadrate : thorax transverse, slightly margined : 

 body depressed : scutellum small, somewhat triangular : legs moderate : an- 

 terior tibiae irregularly serrated without, tridentate at the apex : tarsi with 

 the four basal joints short. 



The genus Platycerus may be known from Dorcus by the form 

 of the club of the antennae, and from Lucanus by the brevity of 

 the mandibles in both sexes, exclusively of its comparatively 

 minute size, dissimilarity in the palpi, tropin, &c. : — the only indi- 

 genous species lives at the roots of trees. 



Sp. 1. caraboides. Casruleus aut virescens, nitidus, subtus obscurior, elytris cre- 



berrime punctato-striatis. (Long. corp. 6 — 7 lin.) 

 Lu. caraboides. Linne.—Fl. caraboides. Steph. Catal. 103. No. 1085. — Curtis, 



vi. pi. 274. 



Blue or greenish, shining, smooth : head finely and thickly punctured, slightly 

 pubescent; thorax thickly punctured, especially on the sides, -which are 

 somewhat sinuated ; elytra punctate-striate, the interstices thickly punctured, 

 the punctures somewhat disposed in lines, and rather deep ; body dusky, dull, 

 pitchy-black beneath, pubescent ; legs piceous ; antennse black ; palpi cas- 

 taneous. 



Very rare in Britain : specimens have been taken by Mr. 

 Warms: of Bristol, and others in Scotland : it has also occurred 

 near Oxford, and in the west of England. 



