264 
COLEOPTERA. 
species is in India known to be destructive, and but very few are possible 
pests elsewhere, the carnivorous habits of the family apparently giving 
place to herbivorous habits in a very few species. The family can be 
classed among the great number of miscellaneous predators which check 
the general increase of other insects. They are protected by their fero¬ 
cious habits, their hardness and by a volatile and offensive fluid 
(Pheropsophus ). Their habitat includes every part of the earth’s 
surface, and they are among the most universal of insects. Many thrive 
in the plains, some in the hills. Cultivated areas harbour many, as 
do the wastelands and jungles. 
The number of species in India is a large one, and the family is one 
of the most rich in species. A list of the catalogued species of the region 
may be found in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Vol. 
LIX (1890), Appendix C. By no means all the species are described 
and there are large numbers to be added to this list. A total of fifty 
has been described since Atkinson’s catalogue, showing how little atten¬ 
tion has been paid to the group during the last two decades. The 
student may consult Bates’ paper on the Ceylon species, collected in 
five months by Lewis, to realise the magnitude of the group (Ann. 
Nat. Hist., VI, Vol. 16, pp. 68, 43, 199). It is a noteworthy fact that 
this family are far more abundant in tropical than in sub-tropical or 
temperate India, and their place in the plains is to some extent taken 
in the hills by spiders so far as their predaceous function is concerned. 
Over 600 Indian species are enumerated by Atkinson. The groups 
are divided as follows :— 
Carabine. 
Harpalin.® I. 
' Omophronini 4. 
Carabini 14. 
< Nebriini 3. 
Enceladini 1. 
[Scaritini 76. 
Panagceini 16. 
Siagonini 13. 
Ozcenini 2. 
Nomiini 2. 
< Bembidiini 19. 
Pogonini 2. 
Pterostichini 65. 
Licinini 6. 
Platynini 45. 
Harpalin® I. 
Harpalin® ] I. 
Pseudomorphin®. 
'Anchonoderini 2, 
Ctenodactylini 5. 
Odacanthini 11. 
Dryptini 27. 
' Lebiini 87. 
Helluonini 12. 
Anthiini 4. 
Ceratocerini 15. 
Brachynini 41. 
Apotomini 2. 
Broscini 4. 
Chlcenini 90. 
Harpalini 38. 
9. 
