GEODEPHAGA. 
67 
inch iu length • broad, flat, deep dull-black in hue, and 
distinctly wrinkled, punctured and striated. The two 
basal joints of the front tarsi in the male are very 
strongly and widely dilated. 
The Panagcei have red elytra, marked with a large 
black cross ; and the species of Badister, found usually 
in the cracks of wet mud or clay banks, are recogniz- 
able by the rounded front of their heads. 
In the Quadripalmati the males have usually the 
first four joints (occasionally joints 2-4) of the an- 
terior and middle tarsi (but sometimes only those of 
the front tarsi) dilated in the male, and densely spinose. 
Their paraglossse are free at the apex, the first and 
second joints of the antenna) quite smooth, and the 
mentutn obsoletely toothed. Several of the species are 
slightly pubescent; and in the genera Diachromus, 
Dichirotrichus (Plate II., Fig. 5 ; D. obsoletus, a salt- 
marsh insect) and Anisodactylus the widened joints are 
densely hairy beneath, this hair being replaced in the 
others by slightly elevated transverse ridges, or 
squamae as they are called by most authors. 
Very few are likely to obtrude themselves upon the 
notice of the casual observer, on account of their 
hiding by day, and generally frequenting retired 
places, viz. bottoms of cliffs, sand-pits, stones on moors 
and sea-shores, &c. Harpalus rujicornis, the most 
abundant of the tribe, is, however, found commonly in 
gardens, and may be seen when mould is dug up, &c. ; 
it is rather more than half an inch long, robust, dull 
black, with reddish legs and antennae, and its wing- 
cases covered with a very short greyish-yellow down. 
Visitors to Hastings should look about for the very 
rare Diachromus geruianus, which is occasionally found 
running on paths in that part of the south coast. It is 
F 2 
