196 THE entomologist's KECOKD. 



SO far as my own material goes, is the early T. bistortata. That is 

 what oue would expect from two causes : — (1) The resemblance 

 between the northern Scotch and Scandinavian fauna, T. bistortaUi 

 beini^- not uncommon, I believe, in Scandinavia. (2) The acknowledged 

 similarity Ijetween the north-eastern fauna of Scotland and the south of 

 England, and thj difference between it and tliat of the area Ijouuded by 

 the Clyde and Forth on the north, and the Humljer and Mersey on 

 the soutli. I have some four or five rows of Scotch specimens, I believe, 

 and should doubt whether they are not the best series in existence 

 south of the Cheviots." In a letter dated September 21)th, 18!)(;, Mr. 

 Tutt says : " I am speaking from meniory, but I do not think I have 

 ever seen Scotch 2'. biimdiduria." — W. Hewett, York. 



drOLEOPTERA. 



Quedius kraatzii, Bris. (plancus, Er., teste Ganglebauer) : A 

 species new to Britain. 



By HORACE St. J. K. DONISTHOKPE, F.Z.S., F.E.S. 



The first five specimens of this interesting addition to our list were 

 taken by Professor T. H. Beare (who Avas staying here with me) and 

 myself, at Chiddingfold, on May 14th last, on the banks of a stream, by 

 " sluicing," and out of flood refuse. I was sure the insect was something 

 new, and being unable to identify it, having only English works down 

 here with me, I sent it to Mr. Newbery, who at once determined it as 

 Quedius kraatzii, Bris., a species new to Britain. 



This very distinct species belongs to the sub-genus Sauridins, and 

 with (J. scintillans, Gr., and (,>. hicidulns, Er., forms a small group 

 distinct from all the other (,hiedii, on account of having four punctures 

 between the eyes, two of which are juxta-ocular. M. Fauvel does not 

 take account of these latter, as they are possessed by all the other 

 members of the genus. He points out that Q. ri])arius and (,>. kraatzii 

 form a transitional group between rhitonthns and (Juedi/is, on accomit 

 of the shape of the head and neck, and separates these two species from 

 the rest of the genus as follows : — 



I. Tete clegagee du thorax ; une serie oblique cle 3 gros points entre les yeux 

 et la hiise—riiiarius, Kell. et krdatzii, Bris. 



II. Tete engagee dans le thorax, et sans serie post-oculaire de 8 gros points. (All 

 the rest of the species are placed in this second group.) 



He gives the habitat: "An bord des eaux courantes." Hautes 

 Pyrenees ; Bagiieres ; Collioure ; Algerie. Ganglebauer gives the 

 foUdwing localities for this insect : Departement Var ; Pyrenieu ; 

 Sardiuien ; Algier ; and adds "Sehr selten " (very rare). Erichson, 

 after renuirkiug that the habitat is in Sardinia, says that the male is 

 unknown, and "that the female has the anterior tarsi strongly dilated. 

 This is true, as far as the female is concerned. Having succeeded in 

 taking specimens of the male, I find they have the anterior tarsi still 

 more dilated, and ilie sixth ventral segment of the abdomen strongly 

 emarginate. 



Q. kraatzii may be known from all the British species, except Q. 

 scintillans, by the before-mentioned four punctures on the head. From 

 (^. scintillans it may be separated as follows : — 



