1886.) 53 



CAPTUEE OF EUCNEMIS CAPUCINUS, AHRENS, A GENUS AND 

 SPECIES NEW TO THE BEITISH LIST. 



BT H. S. GORHAM, F.Z.S. 



On Wednesda}^, July 7th, at the meeting of the Eutoinological 

 Society, specimens of JEucnemis capucinus, a beetle new to the British 

 Fauna, of more than usual interest, were exhibited by me, and some 

 remarks upon the capture, and on the larva of the species were read 

 by Dr. Sharp. A short notice of this addition to our collections will 

 perhaps be interesting to your readers. The insect was discovered in 

 the wood of a partially decayed beech-tree near Brockenhurst, by Dr. 

 Sharp, Mr. G. C. Champion, and myself on the 12th of June, at which 

 time they were apparently freshly emerging from the pupa, some of 

 the beetles being found in the latter state with a very few larvae. 

 They had formed a colony which had endured for many years, the 

 dead remains of former generations being there. 



The family JEucnetnidce to which the genus belongs is a remarkable 

 one, of which Eucnemis is a typical member, Microrhngus and Me- 

 lasis, the other two genera comprised in our list, being aberrant. With 

 the general appearance of a small black Plater, Eucnemis capucinus, 

 Ahrens, combines several of the characters of the Throsc/dce. Among 

 the more remarkable of these may be noticed the broad serrate 

 antennae which are received into grooves on each side of the thorax ; 

 the very retractile structure of the legs, and especially of the hind 

 legs, the femora and tibiae of which in repose are quite concealed by 

 the coxae ; the silky smooth surface of the under-side of the body ; 

 and, above all, the depressed and reflexed front of the head, which is 

 carinate, and of which the epistome, or portion immediately above the 

 mouth, meets the anterior margin of the prosternum, completely 

 closing and covering the mouth and its organs. Dr. Sharp ascertained 

 that the insect possesses the power of springing, when turned on its 

 back, to a considerable degree ; one brought home alive, which he 

 showed me, thus sprung at least an inch high. 



Eucnemis capucinus is not uncommon on the continent of Euro})e, 

 and considering that we found it in some numbers, it seems only re- 

 markable that it had hitherto escaped the vigilant search of the 

 numerous Coleopterists who, since Stephens' days, have visited the 

 New Forest. We have secured enough specimens to supply most of 

 the collections with a representative. Is it too much to hope that 

 " requiescat in pace ^^ loay be allowed to be the epita])h over what 

 remain till the returning season has given time for a fresh brood to be 

 matured ? 



Shirley WaiTen, Southampton : 

 Jul//, 1886. 



