126 [•'""*-. 



pallid in colour. The legs are paler, the hind femora being 3'ellow, Avith 

 a more or less extensive dark patch on the middle. 



The median lobe o£ the aedeagus has the apical third gradually 

 narrowed to the tip, so that this part of it is quite pointed and dagger- 

 like. The lateral lobes are slender, delicately and gradually narrowed 

 and pointed. 



The species also varies in size, and it appears to be on the average 

 rather smaller than S. scarahaeoides. The colour is also rather variable, 

 and occasionally the yellow of the sides of the thorax becomes so 

 much diminished as to suggest that a variety with concolorous black 

 thorax may exist. The red mark on the elytra is usually definite and 

 conspicuous. 



I think Dr. Joy is correct in referring Marsham's description of 

 Dermestes quadrimacidatiis to this species, but as there is a prior 

 4:-macnIafiis of Scriba, Marsham's name is not certainly established. 

 It occurs in both Scotland and England. 



3. S. hip2tsUdatnm Fab. 



This is correctly distinguished from the other two (confounded as 

 one) in literature ; it is, however, an extremely variable species in colour, 

 and less so in shape and sculpture. Many names have been proposed for 

 the variations, and are given by Ganglbauei- and Keitter. 



The aedeagus is quite characteristic : shorter than in the other 

 species, it is bluntly pointed, and the lateral lobes are clumsy, thick, and 

 quite blunt apically. The male front feet are much smaller than they 

 are in the other two forms. 



S. hijmstulatum is abundant in both England and Scotland, and 

 notwithstanding its great variation is easily recognised. All the nine 

 specimens found by me here on the 8th inst. are of one form. 



I may conclude by alluding to a point that has hitherto escaped 

 observation, viz. the very peculiar female genitalia. There is a compli- 

 cated, rather large structure at their termination, with which is connected 

 an elongate contorted gland. This suggests some spinning-apparatus, 

 and the tip of the female abdomen is sometimes sealed by an exudation. 



Nothing is known as to the life-history, beyond Schiodte's somewhat 

 meagre account of the larva. I expect it will prove to be interesting 

 when discovered. 



Brockenhurst. 



May Ibth, 1919. 



