126 [June, 



25. — Helophoriis iUustris, sp. u. 

 H. dorsalis Muls. (nee Marsli.). 



Elongatus, suh-parallelus, antennis, palpis, pedihusque Jlavis, palpis articulo 

 ultimo elongate, gracile ; prothorace metallescente, laterihus prominulis, pallide 

 jlavis ; ehjtris variegatis, interstitio secundo saepius macula parva pallida. 

 Long. 3f-5 mm. 



Hah. : Eiiropa mer. 



This is a species easily recognised, notwithstanding considerable variation 

 in size, sculpture and, specially, coloiir. The elongate form and the strongly 

 outstanding pallid lateral margin of the thorax should be the first points 

 noticed, and then the rather long slender palpi, the last joint of the labial pair 

 being unusiially long and slender. The thorax is usually very brilliantly 

 coloured, and has the disc convex, and in front of this is distinctly depressed ; 

 it is a little larger than usual, and the sculpture varies a good deal. The elytra 

 are depressed in front of the middle, moderately strongly punctured, somewhat 

 sordidly yellow, with numerous darker markings, and usually with an elongate, 

 slender, oblong pallid mark on the second interstice (third if the sutural interval 

 be counted as one) jiist at the commencement of the apical declivity ; the flanks 

 are quite visible beneath. The colour of the under-surface varies much, and is 

 often in larger part red. The aedeagus (fig. 42) is pallid, and appears to be 

 about intermediate between that of walkeri and aeneipennis. 



H. iJIustris appears to be a Mediterranean species. A nice series 

 in the Champion collection, found by Commander Walker at Corfu, 

 illustrates the variation ; specimens from South France in the Laferte 

 collection were named dorsalis by Mulsant. Elmas, Sardinia (Grestro : 

 9.5.1873) ; Arabia, one female (Fry coll.). 



26. — Helopliorus corsicanvs Kuw. 

 AtracthelopJiorus puncticollis, Cat. Zaitzev. 



This species is a very distinct one, and easy of recognition. The head and 

 thorax are black, nearly or qviite devoid of metallic reflections ; the thorax is 

 finely and sparingly punctvired and remarkably smooth, there being obsolete 

 granulations on the very broad sub-external interval ; the grooves are very 

 narrow, the lateral margin very fine, and the external groove extremely indistinct 

 and only it is yellow. The elytra are pallid, but with nvunerous dark marks. 



Apparently peculiar to Corsica (Vizzavona, Champion) and rare there. I 

 have seen four female specimens and one male. 



H. corsicanus is very difi&cult to place. Zaitzev has it in Atract- 

 helophorus, probably in consequence of Key saying that it is allied to 

 glacialis. The palpi are not suitable for Atracthelophorus ; and though 

 the flanks of elytra are only slightly visible, I think the species is best 

 placed here for the present. There is but a veiy faint trace of any 



