iq4, [September, 



In Britain A. brevijm^ns occurs from tlie North of Scotland to 

 the extreme sovith of the Isle of Wiglit. It appears at Brockenhurst 

 somewhat later in the year than other species, but becomes very 

 abundant in the early summer, and may sometimes be found freely in 

 the rain-pools on the black peat. 



It is abundant, I believ-^e, throughout Eiirope ; in the Mediter- 

 ranean (Sicily, Crete, Salonica) ; Syria (Millingen) ; Lake Baikal, 

 from several sources. 



Kuwert recognises three forms of the species, calling them grisens, 

 hulbipalpis and brevipaljns ; and he says that in the North the palpi 

 are swollen, but become thinner in the South. His three forms are, 

 however, of the most indefinite character, and there is Inxt little 

 foundation for his statement about the palpi, which vary much in 

 their tliickness in the North and in the South. The specimen I have 

 seen from Syria, and one of those from Salonica (coll. Champion) are, 

 it is true, extreme forms of the species, and the Syrian example has 

 very slender palpi, but other examples from Salonica are ordinary. 

 In fact all we can say at present is that there is generally great 

 variation, and that is carried to the extreme in certain localities. 



2. — AtractheJopkorus arveriiictis Muls. ' 



Convex, coarsely sculptured, terminal joint of palpus very thick. One of 

 the most easily recoo'nised of the species. Differs from brevipalpis by the above 

 points, and by its longer thorax more narrowed behind. The aedeagus (fig. 64) 

 is longer, narrower and more parallel than that of brevipalpis, and the struts 

 are vei'y slender. 



This is more rave than most of the species ; it occurs in muddy 

 places on the banks of rapid rivers, both in Scotland and the South of 

 England ; Devon, and Christchurch, Hants. 



On the Continent the sj)ecies appears to be scarce. I have seen it 

 from Grermany, and the Castlenau collection included specimens from 

 Switzerland labelled " H. jnimilio." 



3. — Atractlielophorus glacialis Heer. 



This has very much the facies of Helophorus aeneipennis, but of course can 

 be at once distinguished by the dilated and symmetric last joint of the maxillary 

 palpus. One of its chief characters is the unusually large development of the 

 black pigmentation of the surface, so tliat in some cases oven the legs and palpi 

 are black. This character varies a good deal, and in the paler specimens the 

 legs are brown, and have a very faint metallic shimmer. 



