102 [May, 



amount. The number of rows of hairs on the interstices is not 

 a safe guide to specific determination. A single row on each inter- 

 stice is usually given as a character in which plaiitat'um differs from 

 graminis ; but I have a specimen of gvaminis, in excellent condition, 

 though smaller than usual, which has most distinctly but one row on 

 each interstice, while all my other examples have at least two ; and it 

 is not unnatural that a reduction in the size of the insect should pro- 

 duce a reduction in pubescence. M. Bedel has kindly confirmed the 

 identification of this specimen. The pubescence of micros, (^ , is 

 depressed as in campanulce, but longer and more abundant than in 

 that species. The British examples of micros (except WoUaston's) 

 seem to be rather larger than the continental ones. 



The following table of the British species may be found useful: — 



A. Posterior femora toothed. 



i. Form short and broad ; pubescence coarse and raised .. .fframini.s , Gyll. 

 ii. Form narrower and more elongate ; pubescence less coarse .. 



plantarum. Germ. 



B. Posterior femora not tootlied. 



i. Size larger ; pubescence very short ; last ventral segment of c? deeply 



excavate, and with a strong tooth on each side cainpaniilic, L. 



ii. Size smaller ; pubescence longer ; last ventral segment of (? simple... 



micros, Germ. 



J am publisliing these notes in the hope that they may elicit 

 further information on this difficult genus. 



56, Cecile Park, 



Crouch End, N. : 

 March 20th, 1909. 



HOMALIUM BREVICOLLE, Thoms., A NEW BRITISH BEETLE. 

 BY NOKMAN H. JOY, M.B.C.S., F.E.S. 



Some time ago Mr. Britten sent me a small Homalium for 

 identification, which he suggested might be new to Britain. As I 

 was unable to identify it myself, I sent it to Capt. Deville, who 

 returned it as undoubtedly Homalium hrevicolle, Thoms. {/braminosum, 

 Makl.), adding that he had compared it with a Norwegian specimen 

 of this s|)ecies in his collection. Mr. Britten captured his example 

 at Great Salkeld on April llth, 1908, in carrion " amongst a number 

 of species of HomaJota, but no other Homalium.'" It comes nearest 

 to H. exiguum, Gyll., in the British list, but is a very distinct little 

 insect. It is larger than H. exiguum, and has the thorax much more 



