MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 177 



notched or trilobate ; labium exserted ; labial 

 palpi 4-jointed, basal joint fixed ; antennae 

 filiform; elytra truncate behind, shorter than 

 abdomen ; legs moderate ; fore-tibiae with a 

 notch on inner side near the tip ; anterior 

 tarsi rarely dilated in the males ; head and 

 thorax narrower than abdomen. Emit a 

 pungent vapour, accompanied by an explo- 

 sion. 



3. Family. — Burrowing Ground-Beetles (Scaritidae). 



Maxillae with a fixed claw at tip ; labrum 

 short, sometimes trilobate ; labium short ; 

 labial palpi 4-jointed, basal joint fixed; elytra 

 entire behind ; abdomen pedunculated ; fore- 

 legs expanded and palmate externally ; an- 

 terior tarsi simple in both sexes ; antennae 

 moniliform ; nocturnal, living in holes near 

 the sea shore. 



4. Family. — True Ground-Beetles (Carabidae). Max- 



illae with a fixed claw at tip ; labrum lobate ; 

 labium usually toothed ; labial palpi 4-jointed, 

 basal joint fixed ; mentum large, produced in 

 the centre ; elytra entire, not truncate ; fore- 

 tibiae slender, not notched within ; fore-tarsi 

 greatly dilated in the males. Run fast; when 

 irritated eject an acrid fluid from abdomen. 



5. Family. — False Ground - Beetles (Harpalidae). 



Maxillae with a fixed claw at tip ; labrum 

 usually quadrate; labium not toothed, fur- 

 nished with a process on each side ; labial 

 palpi 4-jointed, basal joint fixed ; mandibles 



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