166 [J^iy. 



The specimen is in the Champion collection and was found by 

 Commander Walkei* many years ago. It may prove an extreme form 

 of fulgidicolUs, but has a different facies. 



33. — Helopliorus paUidipennis Mulsant. 



Mulsant's description is of little value for identification : his 

 locality was Caramania and the length of the insect 4| mm. Kuwert 

 adopted the species but leaves it quite obscure. If we consider /«7gfi'di- 

 collis to be a vai'iable species, tben we may expect jmllidipennis will 

 prove to be a synonym or at most a variety. Both the authors state 

 the tip of the palpus is black, and this does not as^ree with fulgidicolUs, 

 but is a character of minor importance. The elytra are given as 

 unspotted by both authors, and Kuwert adds a variety, reitteri, 

 distinguished by possessing the dark mark usual in Helophorus on the 

 elytra ; this is a very variable character. Except for the colour of the 

 palpi, I should treat the specimens from Malta referred to under 

 fulgidicolUs, as probably similar to Mulsant's pallidipennis. 



34. — Helopliorus hiscrensis sp. n. 



Minus gracilis, sat convexus, capite cupreo-aurato sed haud fulgido, thorace 

 suh-metallico-nitente, obsolete sculpturato, elytris testaceis parum maculatis, regu- 

 lariter sat fortiter punctato-striatis, interstitiis leniter convexis ; corpore suhtiis 

 nigra, abdomine apicem versus rufescente ; antennis palpis pedibusque flavis. Long. 

 3i-3| mm. 



Hah. : Algeria, Biskra (Champion). 



This is a pecviliar and easily recognised species, though without any very 

 salient character ; one of its points is that the thorax, though rather concolorous, 

 is only feebly metallic. Head rather broad and short, coppery and rather dull, 

 sculpture rugose but obsolete, vertical impression broad. Palpi yellow, slender, 

 moderately long, terminal joint almost linear. Antennae entirely yellow. 

 Thorax broad and short, of a brownish-testaceous colour, with but obscure 

 metallic reflection, the lateral margin pale yellow, as is also the front margin 

 behind the eye ; the grooves well marked, the sculpture of the intervals obsolete, 

 the sub-median groove a good deal angulate in the middle. Elytra yellowish, 

 very little marked, with a shining, as if waxed, lustre ; series of punctvires fine, 

 interstices extremely broad in comparison with the punctures, even, but little 

 convex, punctures and pubescence on them excessively minute and difficult to 

 detect. Under-surface black, more or less red towards the end of the abdomen. 

 Epipleura rather small, pseudepipleuron scarcely visible. Legs moderately 

 slender, long, tarsal claws small. 



Mr. Champion found a long series of this insect, and it is not 

 very variable ; the maculation varies a little as in many other species, 



