17 



following characters. It must be distinctly understood that because I have 

 endeavoured to find the simplest (though perhaps the most artificial) means 

 of separating genera and species, I have done so with the idea of assisting 

 beginners to name their specimens, and to create a taste for the study of the 

 order by smoothing over difficulties as far as possible, and not with the idea 

 of supplanting any reference to, or dissection of, the minute anatomy of the 

 insect, on which alone is based a true natural classification. 



Notiophilus. — This genus is distinguished from all the other British 

 Carabides by its small size (never measuring 5 inch) and by the head being 

 nearly as wide us the elytra. The species are of a shining bronze colour, 

 with prominent eyes, on the forehead between which is a series of longitud- 

 inal furrows. 



Elaphetjs. — The species of this genus are all a little over \ inch in length ; 

 bronze or bronze-green in colour ; the head narrower than the elytra ; the 

 latter without rows of punctures in strise, but with four rows of circular 

 depressions (eye spots or ocelli) ; the eyes are prominent the thorax as long 

 as broad. 



Blethisa. — Nearly half-an -inch in length ; colour bronze-black ; eyes not 

 very prominent ; the elytra punctate-striate, with two rows of depressions ; 

 the thorax broader than long. 



Pelophila. — Nearly half-an-inch in length ; colour bronze ; elytra very 

 finely punctate-striate, with one row of depressions ; thorax twice as broad as 

 long. 



Cychrus. — Length about § inch ; colour black ; head very long ; thorax 

 narrowed behind, much narrower than the elytra, which are ovate ; anterior 

 tarsi of males not dilated. 



Carabus. — Length from f to 1£ inches; colours various; thorax almost 

 square, sides nearly straight ; elytra oblong-ovate; males with anterior tarsi 

 dilated. 



Calosoma. — Length from | to 1 inch ; colours bronze or green ; thorax 

 much broader than than long, sides much rounded; elytra nearly square. 



Nebeia. — Either yellow with black markings [size £ inch), or black with 

 a yellow border, or black {size about \ inch) 



Leistus. — Either blue or blue-black, or yellow {size a little more than \ 

 inch) ; the palpi very long and slender. 



NOTIOPHILUS. 

 Legs and antennae entirely red - - K rufipes. 



If the legs are partly or wholly black, notice whether the rows of punctures 

 at the sides of the elytra — 



1. Disappear before they reach the apex - N. aquaticus and N.palustris. 



