1911.] ' 109 



Little notice has beeu taken of the breadth of the anterior tiljiae, 

 as it varies a good deal in individual specimens. However, such 

 species as L. triephei, L. ciliaris, and L. pattens have conspicuously 

 broader tibiae than L. ovalis and L. scita. 



The sinuation of the base of the thorax is test looked for by 

 examining the beetle with the light coming from the sides and shining 

 full on the basal border, so that the actual margin can be clearly seen. 

 If examined with the insect facing the light the Ijasal margin is not 

 defined, and sometimes the base of the elytra is indistinctly seen 

 through the base of the thorax, making the latter appear sinuate. 



By far the best method of judging of the shape of the thorax is 

 by examining it under a low power of the Zeiss " duplex " microscope. 

 If looked at with a small hand lens of short focal length directly from 

 above, the middle of the thorax being in the centre of the field of 

 vision, the rounding of the sides of the thorax, and the contraction 

 towards its base, are very imperfectly seen. Thus L. duhia v. subglo- 

 hosa appears to have the thorax broadest at the base, w^hereas the 

 " Zeiss " shows the greatest breadth to be just before the base. With 

 the hand lens the best results are obtained by examining one side- 

 margin of the thorax slightly from the side. 



As in my table of the British species of Colon, I have avoided 

 reference to male characters, and have given these in a separate key. 

 The only species I have not been able to examine myself is L. clavi- 

 cornis. Dr. Sharp tells me that the original and only British specimen 

 is no longer in his collection. 



TABLE OF THE BEITISH SPECIES OF LIODES. 



1. Club of antenna broad, last joint much narrower than penultimate... 2. 



— Club of antennae narrow and more elongate, last joint not or scarcely- 



narrower than penultimate (see also L. lunicollis) 14. 



2. Side margins of elytx-a with distinct outstanding hairs 24. 



— Side margins of elytra without distinct oiitstanding hairs 3. 



3. Interstices of elytra transversely striate L. rugosa, Steph. 



— Interstices of elytra not transversely striate 4. 



4. Thorax broadest at base, the base itself truncate 12. 



— Thorax broadest before base 5 



5. Base of thorax distinctly sinuate near posterior angles 6. 



— Base of thorax truncate, or extremely slightly sinuate before posterior 



angles g 



6. Head large ; thorax broadest near middle ; legs and antenna; shorter • 



striae of elytra finely punctured i. triepkei, Sclun, 



