26 



antennse and legs are reddish, the anterior tibiae, as described above, being 

 furnished with strong spines. Its length is slightly under J inch. This 

 species, which Mr. Dawson, in his " Geodephaga Britannica," classes along 

 with Harpalus, is local, Mr. Dawson's localities being the Chesil bank, near 

 "Weymouth ; the Deal sandhills ; and near Sheerness. 



FBRONIB2E. 



The sub- division of the Harpalides to which the name Feroniclae is applied 

 includes by far the greater number of the British species of Geodephaga. 

 While many of them are very distinct and easy of recognition, there are 

 others, chiefly members of the large genera Anehomenus, Pterostichus and 

 Amara, which are much more difficult to determine ; in many cases they re- 

 quire to be carefully compared with closely allied species before the name of 

 the specimen under consideration can be determined with certainty. 



They are mostly insects of dark colours, prowling about by night in search 

 of their food, but some theie are among the Anchomeni, the Plerostichi, 

 Amarce, fee. which possess such brilliant green or coppery surfaces that they 

 obtain, for these are usually diurnal in their habits, the name of " sun- 

 shiners " or " sparklers." 



The Eeronim are easily divisible into two groups, characterised fe as 

 follows : — 



A. — Anterior tarsi of male with three joints dilated. 



B. — Anterior tarsi of male with two joints dilated. 



Group A* 



Antennae with the first six joints furnished with long bristles - Loricera 



Antennnae without long bristles. 



Thorax joined to elytra by a distinct neck : 



Length § inch - - Broscus. 



Length \ inch - - Miscodera. 

 Thorax not joined to elytra by a distinct neck. 



a, — Colour of elytra red or yellow with black markings, or black with a yellow 



margin. 



Elytra pale yellow with black markings - - Callistus. 

 Elytra reddish yellow with black markings, or dark with reddish spots 

 or margin - - Badister. 



b. — Colour of elytra not as <z. 



I. — Thorax as wide behind as the base of the elytra : 

 Length over \ inch. 



Dull black and very convex - - Zabms. 

 Shining black and flattened - - Pterostichus striola, 

 Lengh under J inch - Oodes, Calathus (part), and Amara (part.) 



