i^ Mr. G. 11. Waterhouse on Coleopterous Insects 



Hydroporus before examined ; it however belongs to the Dytiscidce 

 as defined by Aube, and agrees with Erichson's genus Copelatus, 

 excepting that its posterior tarsi are not cihated. The hinder 

 tarsi are provided with a few spines only : the three basal joints 

 have each two large spines at the apex, and there are besides some 

 few very minute spines on other parts. I have seen several spe- 

 cies presenting this structure ; among others I may notice the 

 Colymbetes elegans of Babington, an insect which I have had sent 

 to me with the name Copelatus posticatus attached. Another 

 species was brought by Mr. Darwin from the Mauritius ; they all 

 possess the sharp distinct striae to the elytra which are mentioned 

 as characteristic of the genus Copelatus, and neither of the four 

 specimens here alluded to have the slightest trace of dilatation of 

 the anterior tarsi. 



The Galapagos species differs from the Colymbetes elegans of 

 Babington (which is found both in Rio de Janeiro and in Colom- 

 bia) in being smaller and proportionately rather narrower; in 

 having the legs of a paler hue (these being pitchy-black in C. ele- 

 gans and pale testaceous in C. galapagoensis)^ and the striae of the 

 elytra more perfect. In C. elegans the second stria from the suture 

 is obliterated on the hinder half of the elytron ; the fourth, sixth, 

 eighth and tenth are also obliterated, but continued for the most 

 part to the hinder third (or rather beyond that point) of the elytra. 

 In C. galapagoensis the same striae are abbreviated, but the second 

 and others mentioned, all terminate on the same line or nearly so, 

 that line being about the posterior fourth of the elytron. The tho- 

 rax presents extremely delicate punctures, and numerous minute 

 longitudinal scratches, requiring a tolerably powerful lens to per- 

 ceive them ; they are most distinct towards the sides and hinder 

 part of the thorax. Should this little section of water-beetles be 

 not already characterized, I think it deserves the rank of a sub- 

 genus, which might be called ChcetosphyruSy from xaiTrj, a bristle, 

 and a^vpa, the ankle ; the spines at the base of the foot being 

 much developed. I may further add, that all the species have 

 the anterior tibiae somewhat dilated at the apex, and obliquely 

 truncated on the outer side at the same part ; the truncated por- 

 tion is provided with three or four spines. 



Section BRACHELYTRA. 



Creophilus, nov. spec. ? — Three specimens found under a dead 

 bird in Chatham Island. These specimens approach very nearly 

 in size and form to the Cr. maxillosus of Europe, and the C. vil- 

 losus of North America. They have scarcely any hairs either on 

 the head, thorax or elytra, and are but sparingly clothed on the 

 meso- and metasternum ; the hairs on these last parts are how- 



