2 Memoirs on the'Coleoptera 



In defining the genera of Platyninae, a great deal of consideration 

 must be given habital differences and peculiarities, as in the Ptero- 

 stichinae, for radical divergencies in the structure of special organs 

 and parts of the body are comparatively rare, while the habital 

 differences are so constant throughout large groups of species, as 

 to indicate beyond doubt that this is the natural method to pursue 

 in defining genera. The numerous species of Agonum, for instance, 

 hold together remarkably well in habitus and, as a whole, present a 

 very different appearance from Anchomenus, so that to unite the 

 two would be quite repellant from the standpoint of what is known 

 as the sense of proportion. So also the various species of Euro- 

 philus, which in this case are distinguished, besides habitus, by a 

 well marked special antennal structural character, form a very 

 consistent whole, differing greatly from Anchomenus and showing 

 that they form a truly valid genus. 



The Platyninae form an extensive and important element in the 

 Carabid fauna of the northern hemisphere, but are very much more 

 developed in North America than in Europe. The genus Platynus 

 Bon., itself, I hold to be exclusively European, our wingless species 

 constituting three or more allied genera, of which Rhadine Lee, 

 stands widely apart in general appearance from any other type of 

 the subfamily. 



The genus Anchus, of LeConte, is not considered in the present 

 revision, although in my own opinion it should constitute one of 

 the subgenera of Anchomenus, valid as a genus if the others are 

 also valid. LeConte placed Anchus near Atranus as an aberrant 

 type; in the latest European catalogue it is considered a subgenus 

 of Agonum in the broad sense there given the latter genus and the 

 type, pusillus Lee, is held to be a synonym of the European ohscurus 

 Hbst. ; but I am unable to confirm this reference.* 



* The following is a newly discovered species of Anchus: 



Anchus puncticeps n. sp. — A little larger and notably stouter than pusillus, piceous, 

 shining, the elytra piceous, broadly nubilously testaceous peripherally; under surface 

 piceo-rufous, the epipleura and legs flavate; head as in -pusillus but a little broader, 

 the surface with numerous rather strong punctures, almost wanting centrally; an- 

 tennae similar but a little longer; prothorax similar in general features but broader 

 and somewhat more pubescent, the parallel sides anteriorly rather more rectilinear; 

 elytra nearly similar and sparsely puberulent but broader, the striae deeply impressed 

 and smooth, the feebly convex intervals punctulate; tarsi very slender. Length ( 9 ) 

 6.2 mm.; width 2.22 mm. Canada (Ontario). Levette collection. 



