lit 20.} n 



one on each side ; these pieces are connected at their base by a transverse 

 bar, which is connected with them so that its points act as pivots ; in 

 front of this bar there is a strong vertical lamina. There are various 

 species of Talaurinus more or less similar to those of Propluilidura, 

 but I think the genus should not include any that do not exhibit the 

 characters mentioned above. The species ai'e extremely difficult to 

 define, and will, I believe, be found to be best distinguished by the slight 

 dift'erences that exist in the structures of the copulatory apparatus. I am 

 unable to determine any of the species, except P. riverinae, as known to 

 Ferguson. I think, therefore, that the three known to me may be con- 

 sidered by him as varieties of P. riverinae, which I think is not the case. 

 I will briefly define one of them. 



Prophcdidura truiicata, sp. n. 



Ki(/ra tomento sordido obscnrata ; prothorace pallido-trivittatn, fortiter 

 tuberciilato, elyt.ris ffrnnulis ^jar<;ts elevatis anterius obsoletis. Lotiy. 12, 

 lat. Q\ 111)11. 



Very closely allied to P. riverinae, but smaller and narrower ; the 

 tubercles of the thorax are large, but the granules on the elytra are 

 smaller and less distinct. The setosity of the upper surface is well 

 marked, pallid. There is no projection at the tip of the elytra, and in 

 the male there is the same truncate appearance as in riverinae. 



In the male the Stii ventral plate is formed much as in riverinae, 

 though the impressions are not quite so marked ; the processes of the 

 last ventral are smaller: the last dorsal is narrower and its folding-over 

 a little different at the line of doubling. 



The spiculum is smaller and the dilatation near its base is obsolete. 

 The median lobe is shorter and more bent, and a little more pointed. 



The pair of this species come from an old collection and are labelled 

 " P. truncata, Australia.'' I expect that when the sac is evej'ted it will 

 prove the form to be really distinct. 



Brockenhurst. 



Sejftember 18th, 1919. 



ABAX (PTEROSTICHUS) PABALLELUS Dufts., A BEETLE NEW TO 



BRITAIN. 

 BY K. a. BLAIE, B.SC, F.E.S. 



A single specimen of Ahax parallelus Dufts. was taken by my 

 brother, Wm. N. Blair, on the island of St. Maiy's, Scilly, in July 1913, 

 and given to me, but its identitv was not recognised until I came to 



