43 



B, Elytra ovate, with the sides more or less rounded. 



a. Posterior angles of the thorax more or less distinct, even if obtuse. 



Length over 2 lines. 



4. Thorax yellowish ; elytra flat - lapidosus. 



5. Thorax brown ; elytra convex - rubens. 



Length not over 2 lines. 



6. Elytra with the four striae nearest the suture equally distinct ; pos- 

 terior angles of the thorax fairly distinct, and the sides not much 

 rounded; length \\ lines - - minutus. 



7. Elytra with only the two strife next the suture at all distinct ; pos- 

 terior angles of the thorax not so distinct, sides of thorax more 

 rounded, and the elytra shorter; length 1^ lines' - - obtusus. 



8. Elytra with three deep furrows on each side of the suture ; posterior 

 angles of the thorax right angles ; length 2 lines - - rivularis. 



b. Posterior angles of the thorax completely rounded - - secalis. 

 Of the above species, only one [minutus] is at all abundant, and this 



occurs everywhere under stones, at tree roots, &c. Discus, rubens, obtusus, 

 and secalis, are fairly common, principally haunting the banks of streams, 

 running off and hiding themselves with surprising agility when disturbed. 

 The remainder of the species are more or less rare. 



^IPUS. 



The two species of this genus have the curious habit of living under stones 

 on the sea-shore at, or even (it is said) below low-water mark, where they 

 are only uncovered during spring tides. They are both very minute, and the 

 principal point of difference seems to be that M. marinus has the posterior 

 angles of the thorax right angles, whilst M. Robinii has these angles slightly 

 obtuse. Both species measure about one line in length, and are of a yellow- 

 ish colour and very flat. 



PERILEPTUS. 



The single species of this genus, P. areolatus, is about one line in length ; 

 the head and thorax are pitchy black, and the elytra are reddish yellow with 

 a darker side margin. Of its habits I know nothing. The species is given 

 in Cox's Handbook as " not common." 



HARPALIVM. 



We have now to consider the characters of those genera the species of 

 which have four joints of the male anterior tarsi (and generally also of the 

 intermediate tarsi) dilated. The genera, though only six in number, are by 

 no means easily tabulated ; indeed, for the beginner, the only tabulation 



