1917.] 127 



Soc. Lond. 1857, p. G4), and by subsequent Britisli writers, who have, as 

 a rule, copied his description. 



Reitter (Fauna Germ, iii, 71), with whom Granglbauer, Kuhnt, 

 and other authors are practically in accord, gives the following characters 

 to distinguish versicolor from the other species in the «w«/?*s-group : — 



The fine side-uiargin of thorax visible, by direct view from above, 

 from middle to base. Thorax from base to apex moderately equally 

 contracted, almost couical, finely and remotely punctured, shining yellow- 

 red. Elytra at least equally strongly punctured, blackish, red-yellow at 

 shoulders ,and towards apex. First joint of antennae well longer than 

 broad. Elytra short, oval, broader than the thorax. Length l-4-l"5mm. 

 {A. ornaia Reitt.).* In wine cellars and wine casks, rare, versicolor Er. 



It may he noted that in the other Britisli species of the group — 

 onalis Er., apicalis Er., rujicornis Marsh., and gihhula Er. (liislopi 

 Woll.) — the side-margin is not visible from above. 



The principal points in WoUaston's description — reproduced by 

 Fowler — are in conflict with the above, thus he says : 



" In its distinctly punctured surface the A. versicolor approaches 

 the apicalis, ... it is also brighter and less pubescent, and its prothorax 

 is more rounded at the sides." He states that he " has met with it in 

 considerable abundance at Witliington, on the Cotswold Hills, Glos., 

 principally beneath the diy dung of sheep." This is a very likely 

 habitat for analis or ap>icalis, but by no means so for a cellar species. 



All the specimens that I have seen in British collections standing 

 as versicolor must be referred to one or other of the above-named two 

 species. It seems extremely probable that versicolor Er. has not yet 

 occurred here. 



l?>, Op].idaus IJoad, N.W. P,. 

 April 27//I, 1917. 



Pferostichus atigustatus Drifts, etc. in the WoMiig district. — Last June 

 Mr. Tomlin was kind enough to introduce me to the very restricted locality 

 for Pterostichus angustatus Dufts. at Crowthorne (Wellington College), Berk- 

 shire. This place, a patch of open burnt ground in pine woods, was so like 

 certain spots in the Woking district, that I felt sure the species must occur 

 there also, more especially as Anchomenus quadripimctatus Degeer, was known 

 to inhabit both the Surrey and the Berks localities. The last-named insect I 

 had not seen in my own district since 1002, but a few days ago it again put in 

 an appearance, and with it, sure enough, was the Pterostichus, both in numbers. 



* I have sinee, by the kindness of Mr. Champion, seen a Bpeoimen received from Reitter himself 

 and bearing hie label, " A. ornata Heer." This insect is quite distinct from rersicolor Er., the thorax 

 being broadest at basal third and froip thence narrowed to base. It agrees well with the description 

 of ^. ornata Heer {nee Reitter) = coiitaminata Er., in Reitter's work quoted above. 



