554 . 
BRACHINUS SCLOPETA. 
The single-spotted Bombardier Beetle. 
Order Coleoptera. Fam. Carabidse. 
Type of the Genus, Carabus crepitans Linn. 
Brachinus Web., Fab., Lat., Dej., Curt. — Carabus Linn., Fab. 
Antennas inserted a little before the eyes, filiform, pubescent and 
11 -jointed, basal joint the stoutest, rather short and ovate, 2nd 
small obovate, 3rd long and clavate, 4th shorter than the fol- 
lowing which are elongated, the apical joint being as long as 
the 3rd and rounded at the apex (6) . 
Labrum transverse, the angles quite round and ciliated, the 
centre concave (1). 
Mandibles curved, one subtrigonate at the apex, tridentate at 
the centre of the internal margin, with the remainder ciliated 
to the base (2) . 
Maxilla forming a long internal lobe curved and acute at the 
apex, above which it is ciliated as well as on the inside. Palpi, 
internal elongated, biarticulate, basal joint rather long and 
slender, 2nd nearly as long, a little stouter and slightly clavate ; 
external long and 4-jointed, basal joint small, 2nd long stout and 
subclavate, 3rd and 4th shorter, the former clavate-truncate, 
the latter elongate -ovate (3). 
Mentum rather large, rhombiform, truncated at the base, the 
sides rounded, excised before, forming 2 obtuse lobes, the cen- 
tre a little convex. Lip oblong, the centre horny, anterior 
margin bisinuated and hairy. Palpi attached to 2 scapes, tri- 
articulate, basal joint small, 2nd and 3rd long of equal length, 
the former clavate and a little bristly inside, the latter fusiform- 
truncate (4). 
Head rather narrow and ovate : eyes small, but prominent and remote 
from the base. Thorax narrow, obcordate-truncate : scutellum small. 
Elytra twice as broad as the thorax, broadest behind, and not cover- 
ing the whole abdomen. Wings ample. Legs strong : thighs rather 
stout, especially in the male: tibiae, anterior deeply notched and 
spurred : tarsi very bristly beneath, anterior a little dilated in the 
male, the basal joint ovate, 3 following cordate, gradually decreasing 
in size , terminal one clavate : claws rather long, acute and simple (5). 
Sclopeta Fab. — Curt. Guide, Gen. 20. n. 4. 
In the Cabinets of the British Museum, Mr. Dale, SfC. 
Several of the Carabidse have the power of ejecting an acrid 
fluid or gas from the apex of their abdomens in order to de- 
fend themselves from the attacks of their enemies, but in the 
Brachini each discharge is attended with a report and smoke: 
two that I found in September crepitated faintly; and in 
subsequent experiments I observed the vapour. They may be 
