ADEPHAGA. 



to that of Manticora. Intervening forms may hereafter be found, which may 

 connect it with that genus, which itself, in some respects, has the aspect of one of 

 the Bipartite, or Scaritidce Mac Leay. 



From the above statement I trust it will appear evident that almost all the dif- 

 ferent tribes of Geadephaga immediately connect with the Typical Group, or 

 branch from it, and that it is impossible to describe them in the order in which 

 they are arranged by nature, and that, therefore, the different authors who have 

 written upon them are all correct in their views, though they have taken different 

 routes in departing from the central station. Thus Latreille, De Jean, and Ste- 

 phens, are right when they assume the Truneipennia as an evident affinity ; and 

 Mr. Mac Leay also in going off by Elaphrus and Carabus and returning by the 

 Brachinidce and Anthia. 



Under the present head I may further observe with regard to the sculpture of 

 the elytra of the present sub-section, that, with the exception of Manticora and 

 Omophron, at least as far as an extensive examination enables me to decide, 

 they all, if viewed under a very powerful magnifier, appear to consist of a most 

 minutely and beautifully reticulated substance, chagrined, as it were, with innu- 

 merable granules. In some, as Harpalus carbonarius, the Bembidiadans, &c. this 

 circumstance is more conspicuous than in others, and it gives these animals a silky 

 appearance; though most visible in the elytra, it may commonly be discovered in 

 the head and prothorax. In the Hydradephaga it is most visible in the Gyrini- 

 dans. It is not however confined to the Predaceous Beetles, since it may be 

 discovered in the Buprestidans and many other Coleopterous insects. 



I shall here also observe once for all, that in all the Eutrecha, or Ground Beetles, 

 that have a notch in their Cubit, with the exception of those whose elytra are 

 distinguished by elevated ridges, as Anthia, Brachinus, and some others, near the 

 margin of the elytra, where they are striated or furrowed, on the eighth furrow 

 from the suture, or in the interval between it and the ninth, is usually a series of 

 from twelve to thirty or more ocellated impressions, or impressions with an 

 elevation in their centre, placed at various intervals, and sometimes only at the 

 base and apex of the elytrum ; those that have no notch in the cubit have usually 

 no appearance of this kind, but in Cicindela these impressions, but without the 

 central elevation, may be traced. The typical number of furrows, in the Ground 

 Beetles is nine, but in Omophron, Calosoma Sycophanta and some others there are 

 fifteen. 



