PREDACEOUS GROUND-BEETLES. 
49 
the females are scarcely distinguishable. The tooth of the meutum is 
usually pimple in Oodes and bifid in Amara , but even this character is 
not invariable. The remark made of Pterosticlius will apply to Platynus. 
Calathus is peculiar in this sub-family for its pectinated claws, and in 
accordance with this structure its species are often seen on the trunks 
of standing trees, or under the scales of bark, sometimes in company 
with Dromius and Lebia. G. gregarious, Say, is not uncommon. Geopi- 
nux incrassatus, Dejcan, has been found in loose soil several feet below 
the surface. Agonoderus pallipes, Fab., is one of our most common in- 
sects. It, is often attracted into houses by the lamps, in summer even- 
ings. The other species of this genus are rare. 
The following are the literal meanings of the foregoing generic terms : 
Anisodactylus — having dissimilar feet. 
Gynandropus — male and female feet , referring to the widening of the 
tarsi in both sexes. 
Harpalus — ravenous. 
Stetfolophus — having a narrow neck or thorax. 
BradycelVus — slow-footed. 
Pcecilus — changeable , alluding to their metallic colors, changing in dif- 
ferent lights. 
Calathus — a wicker basket, probably referring to their comb-toothed 
claws. 
Platynus — depressed. 
Trechus — a runner. 
The origin of the terms Amara and Patrobus , is not apparent. 
v Sub family BKMBIDIIDES. 
This sub-family is composed exclusively of very small species, varying 
from a twentieth to a little more than a quarter of an inch in length. 
Their distinctive character consists in the form of the palpi, the last 
joint being very small and acicular, the contrast being made the more 
striking by the preceding jointbeing unusually large and swollen. The 
species are numerous, upwards of oue hundred and forty North Ameri- 
can species having been described, arranged in many sections or sub- 
genera. They are almost all of a shining black color, but often exhibit 
beautiful brown or green reflections. They are extremely agile in their 
motions. A few of the smaller species are found under the bark of de- 
cayed trees, but the great majority inhabit wet places. Mr. Haliday, 
an accurate English entomologist, relates that some of the species which 
frequent the sea-shore permit themselves to be submerged by the waves. 
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