AMPHIZOIDJE. 



59 



just before the Haliplidje, because the mesosternum is covered 

 by the prosternum as in the last named family. The habitat of 

 Omophron, moreover, is subaquatic, as the species live on the edge 

 of water, usually hidden in the sand. Lameere's arguments 

 (I. c. p. 376) seem plausible, but have not hitherto met with ac- 

 ceptance. The genus Cyclosomus, of which three species occur in 

 India, is very like Omophron in facies, but has no affinity with it. 

 Of the other genera, Scarites possesses a considerable number of 

 species, while Omphra and O.vj/lobus appear to be confined to India 

 and Ceylon. Many other points might be mentioned, but they 

 must be left to the specialist who may be able to take up the volume 

 on the Indian CARAUiDiE. 



[Family 3. AMPHIZOID^.*] 



Antenna 1 inserted just in front of eyes, short, eleven-jointed, with- 

 out pubescence: pronotum short and much narrower than elytra, 

 wliich are ample and ovate ; outer lobe of maxilla not jointed ; leys 

 not formed for swimming ; anterior coaxe globular ; metasternu.m luith 

 a very short ante-coccal piece, the suture indistinct ; metasiernal 

 episterna and mesosterncd epimera both reaching the middle coocal 

 cavity (as in part of the Dytiscidse and the Carabid genus Mormo- 

 lyce); venation of wings somewhat irregular but plainly adephagid ; 

 areola oblonga distinct. 



This family consists of one genus containing three species rather 

 resembling Heteromera in appearance, two of which live in the 

 west of North America and one in Tibet. 



They do not swim, but live in very cold, rapid streams, and cling 

 to stones and timber like Macronychus and Elmis. Owing to the 

 fact that the metasternal episterna and mesosternal epimera both 

 reach the middle coxal cavity, Dr. Sharp at first classed the genus 

 with the Dytiscidje, in his series Dytisci complicati ; but in his 

 more recent work he regards the family as separate and places it 

 between the Carabid m and PELOBiiDiE, which is, almost certainly, 

 its proper place, as Amphizoa is much more of a Carabid than a 

 Dytiscid : it is exceedingly interesting as a transitional genus. 

 Sharp (Cambridge Natural History, vi, p. 207) figures the larva of 

 A. lecontei; it resembles the larva of Carabus, but is broader, and 

 at first sight bears a superficial resemblance to that of Spercheus ; 

 there is no anal tube and the cerci are short and pointed. The 

 larva also is transitional, for, as Dr. Sharp points out, it is Carabid 

 as regards the mouth, but Dytiscid of a primitive type, as regards 

 the abdomen and stigmata. 



* The names of the families which are not yet known to occur within our 

 limits are placed in square brackets. 



