44 
THE ORDER OF CCI.EOPTERA. 
Sub family BRACH1MIDES. 
This sub-family corresponds to the section of Truncatipennes of La- 
treille. The elytra aro cut off at the extremity, either straight across, 
or obliquely, leaving the tip of the abdomen exposed. One of the most 
iFi g . n.j conspicuous general characters is the marked difference iu 
size, and often also in color, between the thorax and the ab- 
XfiCf domen, the thorax being usually scarcely wider than the 
head. The beautiful pectinate claws at the end of the tarsi, 
so common in this sub family, are not found outside of it in 
\ any of our Carabidae, except the genus Calathus, in the sub- 
lkuia GitAMiis, f aill i]y of Harpalides. Other characters have been given in 
Kii©y. the tabular view of sub-families. Most of the species are 
extremely active. Some are found under stones, but those with pecti- 
nate claws are often seen upon plants and flowers, this structure of their 
feet probably enabling them to adhere to the hairs or down, or other 
inequalities upon the surface of the foliage. 
The typical genus Bracliiuus (from the Greek Bpa-/<u, to resound,) is 
remarkable for the faculty which the species have of discharging from 
the anus a pungent, volatile vapor, accompanied by an audible report, 
whence they have been denominated bombardiers by the French. 
A. Antenna; filiform or setaceous. Abdomen more or less oval. Legs slender. 
B. Thorax more or less heart-shaped, as -wide as the head, and with a sharp lateral margin. 
C. Antennae setaceous, first joint as long as second and third united ; the second nearly as 
long as the third. Form oblong; size rather large; thorax reddish, and elytra bluo or 
black Galebita, 5 sp. 
C C. Antennas filiform, first joint moderate, second much shorter than the third. 
D. Tarsal claws simple. Abdominal segments seven or eight. Color reddish yellow, with 
blue elytra 1 Bbachirus, 38 
D B. Tarsal claws pectinate. Abdominal segments six. Colors various. 
E. Palpi slender. Thorax sub-orbicular or sub-quadrate. 
F. Thorax roundish, wider than long ; abdomen broad oval ; colors usually bright and 
variegated Lebi a, 32 
F F. Thorax squarish, longer than wide ; abdomen oblong-oval ; color blackish : 
DltOMlUS, 13 
E E. Labial palpi ending in a widened hatchet-shaped joint. Thorax heart-shaped ; abdo- 
men oblong-oval. 
G. Body glabrous. Colors brilliant Cau.eida, 11 
G G. Body more or less hairy. Colors obscure Cymindis, 23 
B B. Thorax elongate and slender, much narrower than the head, and without a lateral margin. 
Claws simple. 
II. Thorax spindle-shaped. Abdomen oval, convex, tarsi simple. Colors black 
and red Casnonia, 2 
H II. Thorax nearly parallel; abdomen oblong, parallel, and depressed ; penultimate 
joint of tarsi deeplj r bilobed. Elytra not truncated. Color brownish : 
LEriOTKACIlKLUS, 1 
A A. Antenna- robust, sub-moniliform, and somewhat widened and compressed towards the tip. 
Body elongated, parallel and depressed. Legs rather short and robust. Color brown : 
* JLi ICLI.UOMORPIIA, C 
Oalerita janus, Fab., is a flue and not uncommou species. The head 
is black; thorax and legs reddish-yellow, aud elytra indigo-blue. 
Brack inus fumans , Fab., nearly half au inch iu length, with indigo 
