1917.] 77 



view of the extraordinary iuconstancy of the Crypforephalus sculpture, 

 offer us no absolute security for determination, and it is therefore not 

 improbable that a fresh decision may be for unitinaj the two species, 

 or rather for considering it a form of bipunctatns." Or again, Fowler, 

 referring to fJiomsoni, a varietal form of hipnndatiis, writes (Col. Brit. 

 Isls., Vol. IV, p. 291): "and it still seems doubtful whether they 

 (that is examples of thmnsoni) should either all, or in part, be referred 

 to C. hifjvttatus or C. hvpnnrtatus if the two latter species be really 

 distinct ; this has been doubted by some authors who have united 

 them." Eye also has a note (Ent. Mo. Mag., Vol. II, p. 86) some- 

 thing to the same effect. 



Such doubts as these have probably been provoked by the wide 

 range of variability assumed by C. hipunctatus, of which C. biguttatus 

 might have been considered a possible form, in spite of its much 

 coarser elytral striatiou and deeper punctuation. The very plain dis- 

 similarity in the form of the aedeagus of the two beetles seems, how- 

 ever, to settle the question. From ^ specimens of both species, that 

 is normal higuttahis and " typical " hipunctatus, received from the 

 Continent, I have been able to dissect out the aedeagi which are repre- 

 c. biyuttahts. sented here in the accompanying sketches : a represent- 

 ing the organ of C. biguttatus, b that of bipunctatus. The 

 points of difference are obvious, and need not be dwelt 

 on in detail by me here ; but I may state that in ex- 

 tracting the similar organ from the most frequent 

 British variety of bipnnctatus, i.e.. sangninolentus Scop. 

 (^=Jineola F.), I find the form to be precisely similar to 

 that of the "typical" bijmnctatus as here shown.. 



As, however, it may be desii'able more particularly 

 to differentiate between the two insects, I venture to 

 a bipum-tattts. add as follows : — 



1. Entirely black, shining', with the apex of each elytron separately and 

 broadly yellow red ; piincttires of elytral striae deeper and coarser, 

 interstices siib-convex ; aedeag-us as in a . Length 5-6 mm. 



...biguttatus Scop. 



This seems to be a remarkably stable species, no varietal form 

 being mentioned in the European Catalogue of 1906. Very few ex- 

 amples are known as British, and the few captures that have been 

 made have all been swept from mossy or heathery localities. Chappell 

 of Manchester took the greatest number that have ever been taken at 

 once in this country, many years ago on Chat Moss* ; Dr. Power cap- 



* Through the courtesj' of .Mr. J. R. le B. Tomliu I have been able to examine .some of these 

 specimens of Chappell's now in his possession, and satisfy myself tliat tlicy are vnidoiibtcdly ex- 

 amples of C. hiyuttatus, and not of any form of C. bipunctatus. 



