FAMILY CARABIDjE. 39 



I. Anterior tibia witched on the inside. 



1. Brachinjdes : Bombardiers. Elytra truncated behind. Tarsi of the males seldom dilated at 



the base. 



2. Scaritides : Borrowers. Elytra rounded at the extremity. Abdomen pedunculated. 



3. Harpalides : Blackrlocks. Elytra rounded behind. Abdomen sessile. 



II. Anterior tibia without a notch near the tip. 



4. Carabides : Dischargers. 



5. Bembioiides : Subaquatics. This sub-family is distinguished from the four preceding by its 



palpi being terminated by a minute conical joint, while the same organ in the former is 

 terminated by a joint equally large with the others. 



The habits of these sub-families differ from each other in many respects. The most 

 important fact, however, which should be stated respecting the numerous species belonging 

 to this family, is that they are friendly to the farmer. Many of them live upon refuse mat- 

 ter : some devour those insects that are injurious to the farmer : hence they should not 

 be destroyed ; and not only so, but it seems even possible to employ some species of them 

 for the very purpose of extirpating injurious insects. To exhibit the mode in which this 

 may be accomplished, I copy the following communication from Prof. Haldeman, which 

 he had translated from the fifth volume of the Revue Zoologique. The facts and remarks 

 are quite important, and should be generally known, and therefore no apology is required 

 for introducing them in this place. 



' " There is," says M. Boisgiraud, " a numerous family, composed of carnivorous species, 

 most of them robust and very voracious, which may be multiplied with impunity, and 

 without fear, in our gardens. They do not, indeed, feed upon plants, which they are called 

 to protect : on the contrary, they and their larva? make great havoc of the herbivorous 

 insects, and at the same time of the limaces and helices," or land-snails, with and without 

 shells; which, in Europe, are destructive to vegetation, but cannot be considered in the 

 light of noxious animals in America. Nevertheless we are occasionally put in possession of 

 the means to destroy them, taken from English horticultural works ; just as we are told 

 how to protect ourselves from insects which are not found upon our side of the Atlantic. 

 This is principally owing to the fact that the same vulgar name is applied to distinct objects 

 in Europe and America. 



' The insects alluded to are the carabidse. " Well, who would believe it," continues the 

 author, < : the greater part of the cultivators crush these powerful auxiliaries with a kind 

 of avidity ; whilst the butterfly, which is to give birth to numerous caterpillars, which 

 afterwards devour their plants, is the object of their admiration, and frequently even of 

 their protection. A multitude of noxious insects, after having for several years committed 

 ravages upon our property, disappeared suddenly, without our being made acquainted with 



