1916] 129 



I have retained for this species the name under which it is usually 

 known (with a possible admixture of H. walheri) in our British collec- 

 tions. On the continent it has been proposed to replace the name by 

 that of H. viridicollis Stephens, but Stephens' description is not 

 characteristic of H. aeneipennis, and there are no specimens with green 

 thorax. Whether or not Thomson really had this species in view as 

 H. aeneipennis is somewhat doubtful. In the Opusc. Ent., iii, p. 327, 

 he gave an amended diagnosis of aeneipennis with a view of 

 distinguishing it from H. planicoUis, a supposed new species. I give 

 these two diagnoses below, as this work of Thomson's is but little 

 known. 



H. aeneipennis. " Niger, palpis articulo ultimo elongato pedibusque testaceis ; 

 frontis linea media antice dilata ; prothorace aeneo, transverso, angulis posticis 

 ohtusiusculis, disco longitudinaliter leniter, transversim fortius convexo, sulcis 

 intermediis angulatis, i7iterstitiis, saltim exterioriius suh-rugoso-punctatis, limbo 

 piceo-testaceo ; elytris obscure testaceis, interstitiis alternis vix elevatis, haud cari- 

 natis, et sutura virescenti-aeneis, crenato-striatis." 



II. planicollis. "Niger, palpis articulo ultimo pedibusque testaceis, femoribus 

 basi fuscis ; frontis linea media antice dilatata ; prothorace sulcis intermediis 

 leviter flexuosis, disco laevi, aeneo ; elytris fusco-aeneis, fortiter punctato-striatis." 



These diagnoses may apply to forms of H. aeneipennis, and it is 

 better to accept this view, though an examination of Thomson's types 

 is required to make it certain. Unfortunately I know nothing of the 

 Scandinavian forms of aeiieipennis. 



Kuwert's H. obscurus var. shetlandicus is, I think, probably 

 founded on dark H. aeneipennis. 



In Britain this is, as I have said, the most abundant species of 

 the genus, and is found in all sorts of waters. Several hundred 

 specimens are before me, and in about one hundred the aedeagus has 

 been examined. 



I have also seen examples from Grermany, Prance, the Pyrenees, 

 Spain, Algeria, Corsica, Savoy, and Lombardy. In Spain the species 

 is abundant, and examples from the Escorial show the same form of 

 aedeagus as our British specimens. 



29. — HelopJiorus phalletertis sp. n. 



Capite thoraceque nigro-sub-metallescentibus, sub-obsolete sculpturatis, elytris 

 fuscescentibus, sub-aeneo-micantibus, ante medium obsolete impressis, fortiter 

 punctato-striatis, pedibus validis, sordide testaceis. Long. 3i mm. 



Hah. : Anglia mer. 



