RETROSPECT OF A COLEOPTERIST FOR 1908. 27 



species on such grounds as this seems to reduce the whole question of 

 specific characters to mere trifling. 



Lita7(/us coloratKs, Rosen. — Taken by Mr. T. R. Hardy in Sherwood 

 Forest, in June, 1907, in fungus on a holly log {loc. cit., p. 104) ; it is 

 introduced by Messrs. Joy and Tomlin. 



Parnns [Drxjops) hiridiis, Er. — Mr. Edwards, who introduces this 

 species {loc. cit., p. 102), states that it can only be determined with 

 certainty when mixed with prolifericornis, F., by the male genitalia. 



Lomjitarsiis nifierrimus, Gyll. — This species is introduced also by 

 Messrs. Joy and Tomlin {loc. cit., p. 104) on the authority of specimens 

 taken by Dr. Wallace at Cleethorpes in September, 1907. 



Pliyllotreta diademata, Foudr. — Mr. Newbery {loc. cit. p. 148) 

 introduces this species, and says that Capt. Deville has confirmed his 

 identification ; the specimens were taken by Mr. de la Garde in South 

 Devon ; it is a close ally of atra, F., and pnnctnlata, Marsh., and belongs, 

 therefore, to a very difficult group of the genus. 



Ceiitltorhynchus moffantiacm, Schultze. — This is the insect mentioned 

 by Canon Fowler {Col. Brit., vol. v., p. 349) as viridipennis, Bris. ; Mr. 

 Champion in introducing it says {loc. cit. p. 2) that it may prove to be 

 only a form of C. timidus, Weise (= chalyhaeus, Brit. Cat.). 



Ceitthorht/nchus parvnlioi, Bris. — Taken by Mr. de la Garde by 

 sweeping Lepidiinii hetcrophylhnn, at Braunton, Devon, last June, and 

 introduced {loc. cit. p. 195) by Mr. Newbery ; the suture has a band of 

 closely packed white scales; it is like C. jioralis, Pk., but is easily 

 separated by the seven joints to the funiculus of the antennse. 



Araeocerus fasciculatns, de Geer. — This cosmopolitan insect is 

 recorded by Mr. F. H. Day {loc. cit. p. 265) as breeding in a biscuit 

 factory at Carlisle ; it is probable it will, like many similarly world- 

 wide species, spread throughout the country ; the insect introduced by 

 Mr. Newbery some years ago as Tropideres hilcois, Fahr., was in reality 

 the above insect ; the error was said to have arisen from comparing it 

 with " a bad type," whatever that may mean. 



The following varieties have also been added to our list : 



Notiophilus aquaticus var. strvjifrons, Baudi. {loc. cit., p. 271), taken 

 at Braemar, by Mr. Champion, who now appears to incline to the view 

 that it is a var. of pusillus, Wat., but Gangibauer treats it as a var. 

 of aquaticus ; it appears to be a mountain form. 



Carabus violaceus, L. — The British specimens of this species are 

 said to be a subspecies, which Hartert calls sollicitans (Champion, loc. 

 cit., p. 124). 



Sunius angustatus var. h/onessius. — Dr. Joy says {loc. cit., p. 177) that 

 the specimens he took in the Scilly Islands are a subspecies, but as, 

 apart from some difference in the punctuation of the elj^tra, the 

 difference from the type seems to be mainly colour differences, and as 

 Canon Fowler {Col. Brit., vol. ii., p. 321) says that the colour of 

 anyustatus and dirersus is very variable, I would be inclined to say it is 

 a mere variety, and I would deprecate even giving it a name, especially 

 the name suggested, in view of the fact that Mr. Donisthorpe says he 

 has found it in the Isle of Wight. 



Meliqethes viduatus, Stm. var. aestiwabilis, Reitt.- — Taken by Mr. 

 Day at Carlisle, and introduced by Mr. Newbery {loc. cit., p. 89). 



Bruchus rufimanus. Boh. var. relutinus, Muls. — Mr. Champion finds 

 (loc. cit., p. 1) that his exponents of affinis, Froh., are this variety. 



