they will at once see it, and wonder how anything so obvious could have eluded them. genus of insects there is always a difficulty in

In any large upon the different species; and, even among the deciding moths, where size and colour are tolerably constant, mistakes are continually made. But, among Beetles, these impoitant

^pya marimis. 2. PhiloothuR bigiittatiis. 3. Notaphus [Bembidium] fmnigatus. 4. Bembidium quadrigutttttum. 6. Bembidium pallidipenue. a. iEpys, maxillary palpus. 6. iEpys, labial palpi. c. .ffipya, labrum. d. .aSpys, right mandible. e. .$pys, antenna.

elements of size and colour go for almost nothing, and whenever green and blue are in question, colour absolutely does go for nothing. Now, in the members of the genus Amara, blue and green are the leading hues; and five individuals, which undoubtedly belong to the same species, may be respectively bluish-green, greenish-blue, brassy, coppery, or even black. Then the head and thorax may be of one colour, and the elytra

of another ; so that no dependence can be placed upon so uncertain a characteristic.

The present species is a very common one. Its colour varies from green to black, glossed with brass. The elytra are striated, and the striae are bolder and deeper towards the apex than at the base. The head is nearly smooth, but has a few striae drawn across it in front.

We next come to the large family of the Harpalidae, of ! which we shall take one or two examples, illustrating the principal genera. The males of the Harpalidae have the four t basal joints of the front tarsi dilated, and sometimes the corresponding joints of the middle pair of legs. These dilated joints are covered with stiff bristles. The appearance of one of | these tarsi can be seen by referring to Woodcut No. IV. Fig. c, | which represents the under side of a male Harpalus’s leg. The | mentum is deeply notched, and has a small lobe in the centre. 1

UnHke the preceding family, which are for the most part i lovers of light and fond of darting about in the full radiance of i the sunbeams, the Harpalidae withdraw themselves from the i light, and hide themselves dmdng the daytime in any crevice that may present itself. Should, for example, the season be a dry one, the cracks in the earth are sure to be tenanted by Harpalidae ; and when the spade is employed, many of the j Beetles are turned up together with the soil in which they have sought a refuge, and sought it in vain.

On Woodcut No. IV. Fig. 4, is shown an example of the typical genus, Harpalus ceneus. In this genus three joints of the tarsi of both the front and middle pairs of legs are dilated in the males.

The pretty species which has been chosen as our example is polished on its upper surface like a mirror, the colour being exceedingly variable. Some specimens are brassy, others coppery, others green of various shades, and others again blue of various shades, deepening into violet so dark that it appears to be black. There are some faint striae on the elytra, and in the flat interstices between the striae are punctures, very few towards the suture, and plentiful towards the margin. Beneath it is pitchy-black. In this insect, as indeed in most of the members of this genus, the females are much duller than their

mates, this effect being produced by a very fine granulation of > the elytra. There are more than thirty known British species of this genus.

The mandible of a Harpalus, with its bold scoop towards the point, is shown at Fig. d of the same illustration, and the maxillary palpi at e. The species from which these specimens were taken is Ha')'palus ruficornis.

PnocBEDiNG with our list, we take an example of another genus, a Beetle having the somewhat strange title of Stenolophus Shrimshiranus. The principal mark to distinguish this genus from the preceding is that the notch of the mentum is without the lobe, which is to be seen in that of Harpalus. The species of this genus mostly inhabit wet and marshy places, i such as under stones on the banks of ponds, ditches, and I sluggish streams. The colour of this Beetle is dull reddish- ^ brown, darkening into blackish-brown towards the apex of the elytra, which are regularly striated. There is a slight groove along the centre of the pale brick-red thorax, which lias also a pit I on either side of the base. The head and the under surface i of the body are pitchy-black. This species is mostly found in Norfolkshire, and derives its specific name from the entomologist who sent a specimen of it to its describer, Mr. J. F. Stevens.

On Woodcut No. V. Fig. 1, is given a much enlarged figure of a very small Beetle called jEpys mannus, an insect which is on an average less than the twelfth of an inch in length. In this genus only the two basal joints of the front tarsi are dilated in ! the male insect, and they are rather triangular in shape. The I fourth joint of the same tarsus is armed with a strong spine. The parts of the mouth and head are very remarkable, and are ; therefore drawn in the same illustration. Fig. a represents the ( maxillary palpi, and h the labial palpi ; c is the labium, d the right mandible, showing its curious notches or e the antenna. dentations, and

This insect is the least of the Harpalidae, and, partly from its small dimensions, and partly from its habits, is not often seen except by those who intentionally look for it. It is one of the maritime Beetles, but carries its love for salt water farther than almost any other insect, inasmuch E as its favourite haunt is

under stones in the mouths of tidal rivers, absolutely beneath high-water mark. There are many insects which choose their residence just above the tide-mark, but that any should prefer to live below it, and be submerged by the salt water, is indeed singular. Salt marshes are also favourite resorts for this Beetle, which has been taken in various parts of England. There is only one other species of this curious genus.

The colour of the Beetle is yellowish, darker above than below. The head has a curved impression on either side ; the thorax has a short fm-row on its centre, and a very shallow pit on either side near the basal angles. The elytra are very slightly punctated, and there are no wings.

We now come to the last family of the Geodephaga, namely, the Bembidiidae. In all these Beetles the palpi are formed differently from those of the preceding families. If the parts of the mouth be carefully observed, the last joint but one both of the maxillary and labial palpi will be seen to be very large, while the last joint is very short and very small, so small indeed that at first sight it looks more like a spm* than a separate joint. All these insects are lovers of salt and wet places, and are found on salt marshes near the mouths of tidal rivers, such, for example, as those which cover the district between Eochester and Sheerness, and upon the sea-shore itself.

Small as they mostly are, one species, Bembidium bistnatum, being the smallest of the British Geodephaga, they are exceedingly voracious, and can kill creatures much larger than themselves. There is, for example, Cillenium laterale, a little copper-coloured Beetle, which never exceeds one-sixth of an inch in length and is generally much less, which, in spite of its small size, feeds on the common sandhopper, seizing the active crustacean Tmder the body, and so destroying it. Like the ..^Epys, which has already been described, this insect passes much of its time submerged under salt water.

In reference to the water-loving habits of these Beetles, Mr. Westwood gives a very useful hint to entomologists who wish to procure these tiny creatures: — ‘ These insects are generally found upon the margins of streams, running about with great velocity, and burying themselves in crevices in the ground or under stones, &c. ; hence, at the time of high floods in winter.

floating refuse is crowded with them, at which time the the collector will not fail to obtain a rich harvest.’

Our first example of this interesting family of Beetles is taken from the typical genus, and is called Bemhidiu'n higuttatum. This Beetle is by some entomologists placed in the genus Philocthus ; but Mr. Waterhouse, whose system is followed in this work, has united several genera under the one head of Bembidium, in which he includes no less than forty-six species.

The insect is drawn on Woodcut No. V. Fig. 2. Its colour is brassy or bronze-green, and its surface is polished and shining. The head has a shallow impression on each side. The thorax has a slight furrow along the centre, and a depression near each basal angle. The elytra are striated and punctured nearly as far as the apex, and between the second and third striae there are two bold impressions, from which the insect derives its specific name of biguttatum, or ‘ two-channelled.’ There is a reddish-brown spot at the apex. The under surface of the body is black, glossed with brassy or bronze reflections.

On the same woodcut. Fig. 3, is a very pretty, though very tiny. Beetle called Bembidium {Nota'phus) fumigatum.

This little insect has the head of a deep green colour, the thorax being very black, with brassy reflections. It has a short central furrow, and a deep pit on either side near the basal angles. The colour of the elytra is exceedingly variable in different individuals. The ground here, however, is palebrown or smoke-coloured, from which circumstance the insect derives its name of fumigatum^ or ‘ smoky.’ Two irregular black bands cross the elytra, and some black spots are scattered about them. A bluish Hne runs along the suture, and the strise are brown.

Next comes an insect called Bembidium (Lopha) quadriguttatum, which is shown on Woodcut No. V. Fig. 4.

This very conspicuous little Beetle is tolerably common, and may be found in most damp places, whether the water be fresh or salt. The smooth head has a deep but short furrow on each side. The thorax is remarkably convex in front, and its colour is shining blue-green, or greenish-blue, as E 2 the case may be.

The elytra are rather convex, and their colour is something like that of the thorax, hut deepening into violet, which is sometimes so dark that it appears to be black. On the shoulder of each elytron is a patch of cream-white, and there is another near the middle, the insect deriving from these white marks the specific title of quadriguttatum, or ‘ four-spotted.’ The spot on the shoulder is usually rather triangular, and that on the middle of the elytron nearly round.

Our last example of the Greodephaga is the pretty little insect called ldQTnd)%dviL7Yh jpoXbidvjp&Ti/tiQy which is shown on Woodcut V. Fig. 5. The head and thorax of this species are shining metallic green. The elytra are pale yellow, or straw colour, giving to the insect its specific name of pallidipenne, or ‘ pale wing.’ Across the elytra runs a zigzagged dark band, varying much in different individuals both in depth of colour, in breadth, and in shape. This species occurs chiefly on the coasts of Lancashire, though it is found in other localities.

The reader will probably understand that when a name is inserted between brackets, it is one by which the insect is known in other systems.

CHAPTER IV.

E Ydra Depea Ga.

p We have now completed our notices of the Greodephaga, the 6 analogues of the land Carnivora among the higher animals, ? and we now come to the Htdradbphaga, or carnivorous Beetles 1 of the water — the whales, porpoises, and seals of the insect world.

Page 12 of 117