50 ORDER I'OI.EOPTERA. 



C a r a b i d e s 



Constitute the fourth sub-family of the Carabidj:. Thej are distinguished from the other 

 subfamilies by the absence of the notch, which, in the allied species, is situated near the 

 extremity of the anterior tibiae : the only approach made to it, is by the presence of a 



e in the place of (he notch at the extremit] of the tibia. The elytra are entire, 

 and cover the extremity of the abdomen : antenna? setaceous; labrum may lie simple, 

 bilobate or nil. bate ; mandibles simple or merely one-toothed, rarely tridentate ; maxillae 

 filiated internally, and furnished with a claw at the tip ; labial palpi four-jointed ; men- 

 turn large, broad, and generally produced in the centre ; anterior tarsi greatly dilated in 

 the males. 



This subfamily contains many large showy insects : they are mostly apterous, and their 

 elytra are often elegantly marked with metallic spots, or set off with splendid metallic- 

 hues. 



The earabides run fast, and are very carnivorous in their habits : hence they should be 

 preserved, as they are friendly to the farmer. Some of them discharge a powerful odor 

 when taken, which is exhaled from a fluid ejected from the abdomen, and remains a long 

 time. 



The Genus Carabvs, the typical one of the family, contains, according to Mr. West- 

 wood, notwithstanding the restrictions to which it has been subjected, nearly 200 species. 

 By far the greater number of these species are confined to northern climes. 



Genus CYCIIRUS (Fab.). Texebrio (Lin.). 

 Head long and narrow ; palpi with the last joint large and spoonshaped ; labrum strongly 

 bilobate ; mandibles bidentate at the tip ; antennae setaceous ; mentum quadrate, 

 toothless ; thorax truncate ; wings none. 



Cvchrus viduvs (Dj.). (Plate xxi, fig. 14.) 



Insect large, dilated behind and narrowed before : head and thorax bluish purple, sculp- 

 tured on the borders. Elytra purple, marked by about fifteen strong dotted lines each, 

 which are somewhat interrupted behind and partially broken, giving them an ap- 

 proach to a zigzag form ; beneath, purplish, inclining to brown or cupreous. Length 

 from one to one and a quarter inches. 

 This insect may be known by its remarkable elongation of the head and thorax, and its 



dilated elytra and abdomen, the former of which are reflected over the latter. 



