1891.] 291 



The characters drawn from the cedearjns, of which I have availed myself in this 

 paper, are only those which are well-defined, and readily appreciable ; for, after 

 some experience of the matter, I think that many of the minute differences employed 

 by Weise in his table of characters drawn from the adeagux are rather those of the 

 individual than of the complex. So far as our British species are concerned, if one 

 had a number of the cedeagi under review, it would be easy to pick out those of 11. 

 pusilla, oleracea, and coryli ; but with regard to the others, they arc all apiculate, 

 and have the lateral tracts of the under-side flattened and longitudinally excavate 

 in the apical third, so that, in spite of certain minor differences of degree, they can- 

 not be separated with any approach to certainty. 



In the males the basal joint of the front and intermediate tarsi is widened, 

 particularly the former ; the last ventral segment is flattened in the middle, and 

 narrowly reflexed at the apex, and its hind margin is feebly concave, with a large 

 transversely oblong projection in the middle. 



The following is a tabular expression of the characters which I 

 have found most useful for the separation of our species : — 



1 (6) Elytra distinctly widened behind, or parallel-sided. 



2 (5) Elytra attaining their greatest width about the apical third. 



3 (4) ^deagus apiculate, the lateral tracts of the under-side flattened, but not 



longitudinally excavated in the apical third. Species bright metallic-green, 



living on hazel 1. coryli, All. 



ampelophaga, Brit. Coll. 



4 (3) Mdeagus apiculate, the lateral tracts of the under-side flattened, and longi- 



tudinally excavated in the apical third. Species living on herbs in marshy 

 places ; colour violet-blue, or dark blue, more rarely blue-green or green... 



2. LYTHEi, Aube. 



conaobrina, Brit. Coll. 



tamaricis, Fowler, nee Sehr. 



5 (2) Elytra parallel-sided for the greater part of their length. Colour blue- 



green, green, dull coppery or fusco-ecneous. ^deagus apiculate, tlie lateral 

 tracts flattened, and longitudinally excavated in the apical third. Species 



living on heaths 3. eeiceti, All. 



longicollis, Brit. Coll. ((?). 



6 (1) Body oblong-ovate, attaining its greatest width at or near the middle. 



7 (8) Species dark blue, elytra strongly punctured. ..4. paltistris, Weise. 



helianthemi, Brit. Coll. 



8 (7) Species dark greenish-blue, dark green, or nearly black, punctuation of elytra 



finer and less evident. 



9 (10) Mdeagu-s apiculate, the lateral tracts abruptly narrowed in their apical third, 



where the central channel widens out into a spoon-shaped depression. 

 Average size smaller. Elytra proportionately shorter and wider... 



5. PUSILLA, Dufts. 



montana, Brit. Coll. 

 10 (9) .'Edeagus rounded at apex, its under surface with three longitudinal channels, 

 lateral tracts subterete for three-fourths of their length, the apical fourth 

 forming a thin curved ridge. Average size larger. Elytra proportionately 



longer and narrower 6. oleracea, Lin. 



pusilla, Brit. Coll. 



