1875.] 2(37 



KlIYPAROClIROMUS CHIRAORA, Filb. 



Var. 11. nifji'icornis. 



Under this name I wisli to record a foi'm, of wliicli I have two 

 cxamplcH, which differs from the typical li. chiragm chiefly by the an- 

 tennae beinfif wholly black. This peculiarity has ncA^er been recorded, 

 so far as I am aware, and the capture of more examples, or the re- 

 examination of those in collections, may possibly result in establishing 

 this form as a species. 



Peeiteechus >'rBiLrs. 

 Lyrjodns nuhihis, Fall., Hem. Suec.,51s 10 (1829); Thoms., Opusc. Ent., 



ii, 193,30 (1S70). 

 Pucliymerus nulilus, Flor, Ehyn. Liv., i, 216, 9 (18G0) ?. 



Differs from P. puncticeps (infra) in being distinctly broader 

 througbout and (in my example) of a lighter colour. The head is less 

 perceptibly punctured ; the eyes are less prominent ; the antennce are 

 thinner and slightly shorter ; the p)i'onotiwi is, proportionally broader 

 in front, rather shorter, the sides straighter, and the posterior light 

 coloured portion of the disc more distinctly defined ; tbe mevihrane of 

 the elytra paler. 



I have a single example, taken many years ago and of which the 

 locality is not noted, which is very like, but differs as above stated from, 

 P. nubilus, Fieb. ; this I have recently sent to Dr. J. Sahlberg and M. 

 . Lethierry, and they both agree with me that it is Lygceus mihihis, 

 Thoms., nee Fieb. It certainly agrees better than Fieber's species with 

 L. nubilus, Fall., and as Thomson has been the first to separate the 

 two it may be best to believe that he is right in his definition of 

 Fallen's species. 



M. Lethierry says that this species is common in the spring, under 

 moss, at Lille. It is probably to be found in our southern counties, or 

 has probably already been mistaken for the following. 



Pekitrecuus puncticeps. 

 Lygceus puncticeps, Thoms., Opusc. Ent., ii, 193, 31 (1S70). 

 lieosus nnhilus, F. Sahib., Geoc. Fenn., 05, 29 (1818); Pcrifrcrlius 



nulilus, Fieb., Eur. Hem., 184, 2 (ISOl), D. and S., Brit. IIem.,i, 



189,2 (1SG5); wee Fall. 

 PeritrecJius pu7icticeps, Leth., Cat., 16 (1871). 



Ilcrr Thomson distinguishes this species from the foregoing, thus : 

 "Very like P. nubilus in colour and size, but the antennce are rather 

 " stouter, the eyes more exserted, the thorax rather longer, and ihn front 

 "sparingly but more strongly punctured." 



The puncturing of the head is very noticeable. 



This is the common British species. 

 Lee, S.E.-: March, 1875. 



