168 fJ^iy- 1916. 



difference in shape at the sides. The sculpture of the head is fine, that 

 of the thorax scanty and much obliterated, the grooves of the latter 

 but little sinuate. The elytra have a shining appearance, almost as if 

 waxed, the series of punctures are fine, the interstices broad and very 

 feebly convex, their pubescence excessively minute and reduced. The 

 tips of the maxillary palpi a little blackened. 



Hab.: Tunisia, Kairouan (Champion), one specimen, no doubt 

 female. 



38. — Helophorus diffinis sp. n. 



Sat latus, minus parallelus, haud convexus, cajnte ihoraccque laete axireo- 

 cupreis, hoc margine laterali et anteriore latins membranaceo, intervallis suh- 

 laevigatis, antennis, palpis pedibusque pallide fiavis, elytris pallidis vage nigro- 

 signatis, 2>unctis haud magnis, interstitiis fere planis. Long, 3^ mm. 



Hah. : Europa. 



HelojjJwrus dorsaUs Er. (wee Marsh.) Kaf. Mark Brand., p. 196 

 (in part). 



This species is apparently passed over at present as a variety of 

 affinis ; it is, however, perfectly distinct, and the mistake is probably 

 due to its rarity. The front angles of the thorax are broadly pallid 

 yellow, and this colour extends along the sides and front margin ; the 

 eyes are more convex than usual, and the margin of the ocular cavity 

 is correspondingly more elevated ; the sculpture of the thorax is re- 

 mai'kably fine, and the rather long, stout legs are very pallid, in life ^ 

 almost white ; the coxae, however, are black. It does not vary much, ' 

 except that the colour of the median and sub- median intervals is 

 sometimes bluish-green. 



The aedeagus (fig. 50) is remarkably distinct ; the basal piece is very 

 elongate, the lateral lobes broad and short ; the struts of the median 

 lobe are short, and the barrel is short, narrow and pointed. The 

 female genitalia have also distinctive characters. 



I have seen but few specimens except those found by myself at 

 Brockenhurst, but the species was sent to me from the Pyrenees by 

 M. Pandelle under the name of dorsalis Er. Erichson's description 

 probably included this species and H. affinis, so that the species no 

 doubt occvirs in Germany. At Brockenhurst there is a pond in which 

 I can generally obtain two or three examples in March, April, and 

 May ; it occurs in the midst of scores of specimens of eight or ten 

 commoner species, and may be picked out from them quite easily 

 when alive. Mr. Champion found an individual at Lee in Kent many 

 years ago, and it was accompanied by a mimetic variety of H. affinis. 



