244 [October, 1911. 



structure of the geiiitalia of the intiles as a diagnostic character in 

 Coleoptera, nor has this point been neglected by the older authors in 

 the case of Lonyitarsus. In Foudras' monograph descriptions of these 

 organs are given for most of his sjiecies. Their value, however, as 

 specific criteria does not appear very great or very conclusive, and 

 having examined the sedeagi in several closely allied forms, we should 

 not be prepared at present to place entire reliance on this character as 

 a factor in specific determination. 



The sexes in Longitarsus are not always easy of separation by 

 secondary characters, but as a rule the males may be known by their 

 longer antennae and narrower shape. In many species also the apices 

 of the posterior tibise of that sex are somewhat angularly dilated. The 

 difference in the size, and particularly the breadth of the anterior 

 tarsal joints, usually so distinct in many of the Coleoptera, varies 

 specifically in this group, and is often very slight and difficult of 

 appreciation, although it undoubtedly exists, and is in some species, 

 e.g., L. hiridus and L. suturellus, quite obvious. The presence or 

 absence of effective wings may be a sexual character,* but in the 

 present state of our knowledge we feel it to be quite unsafe to lay 

 down any rule on the subject either generally or as affecting any 

 particular species. 



To assist in the discrimination of the species of Longitarsus we 

 have thought it desirable to divide the genus into six sections, f oimded 

 on such salient and superficial characteristics as may be most readily 

 appreciated, but it is almost superfluous to add that such divisions 

 may be quite empirical, and need not necessarily imply any genetic 

 affinities, while owing to the inconstancy of those obvious features on 

 which any dichotomic table must be based, it is practically iinj)Ossible 

 to construct one which will cover all the extreme variation within the 

 species, comparative certainty in determination being only attainable 

 by experience of the group, and a large amount of material for 

 reference. 



These sections are as follows : — 

 I. Species uiiicolorous, black, or nearly black; punctuation distinct, variable 

 in strength. 

 II. Species black, with distinct testaceous or reddish markings. 



III. Species unicolorous, testaceous, brown, or pitchy to black (extreme form 



of L. luridus), with coarse confused punctuation. 



IV. Species testaceoiis, with sutural line black, broad and distinct, and elytral 



pvmctuation distinct, but not coarse, more or less dense and confused. 



* See note on L. agilis in this connection by G. C. Champion, Ent. Mo, Mag. xlvi, 261 (1910). 



