THE CANADIA.N ENTOMOLOGIST. '2Q1 



NOTES ON COLEOPTERA — No. XII. 



BY JOHN HAMILTON, M.D., ALLEGHENY, PA. 



Liparocephalus cordicoliis, Lee. — This species does not differ in any 

 way from Z. brevipennis, Msek., except in its pale colour, and the two 

 forms must be united, as intimated in a former paper (Can. Ent., XXIV., 

 158). Since the publication of that paper more than thirty examples of 

 brevipennis and several of cordicoliis have been examined and compared. 

 Apart from colour, not a single character of general applicability has 

 been observed by which to separate them into species. The synoptic 

 characters given by Capt. Casey (Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., VII., 354) are 

 without value otherwise than as descriptions of those of some individuals. 

 When a sufficient number of each form is present, all the elements, without 

 exception, tabulated by him to differentiate cordicoliis exist in examples of 

 brevipen?iis, and the reverse. 



L. brevipennis is very variable in most of its structural parts (length 

 of antennai, width of head, form of thorax, etc.), for which due allowance 

 must be made, or about four species created. 



It may be observed that Dr. Leconte described cordicoliis. He had 

 seen only one example from the sea coast of California, and one of 

 brevipennis from Unalaschka, both of which, from his remarks, were 

 evidently extremes, such as now exist. The pale colour of cordicoliis 

 may be from immaturity, just as in other dark Staphylinidce, or it may be 

 permanent, as occurs in variations of Cryptobititn bicolor, Belonnchus 

 formosus, etc. Rev. J. H. Keene, Massett, Queen Charlotte Islands, to 

 whom I am indebted for such ample material, writes that he takes both 

 forms together on the beach under rubbish in early spring, while later the 

 pale form is not so often seen. 



Tachinus Schwarizi, Horn, is by no means a common insect^ and is 

 mentioned here to record its occurrence in the mountainous parts of 

 Western Pennsylvania. I took several examples recently in Forest 

 County, in the pine region, from a decaying boletus growing on a pine 

 log. It may readily be known by its black colour, elytra longer than wide 

 and with distinct traces of sulci ; the last joint of the antennae, the four 

 basal, and the legs, rufous; the sixth ventral segment of the male is deeply 

 and widely emarginate, and in front of the emargination concave to the 

 base and finely punctate, but without granulations. It was described 

 from examples taken near Detroit, Michigan, and is known from Canada. 



