August, 1887.) . /j9 



ON CERTAIN SPECIES OF COLEOPTERA NEW TO BRITAIN, OR 



REINSTATED. 



BY THE REV. W. W. FOWLER, M.A., F.L.8., &c. 



HoMALOTA coxsAXOuiNEA, Eppelsheim. 



Tliis species appears to form a connecting link between the //. lovglcornis and 

 II. sordida groups ; in the European catalogue of Hoyden, Reittcr, and Weise it is 

 placed in tlic sub-genus Coproihassa, which contains besides H. sordida and II. 

 melanaria ;. it differs, however, from these latter species in the shape of the thorax, 

 whicli is much less narrowed in front, and in the sculpture of the hind-body, which 

 moreover is less narrowed behind ; the following is a detailed description : — Pitchy- 

 black or brownish, with the tliorax slightly lighter, the elytra reddish or reddish- 

 brown, and the apex of hind-body broadly testaceous ; head rather large, finely but 

 not very closely punctured ; antennae long and stout, pitchy-black, with base gome- 

 times ferruginous ; joints 2 — 3 of about equal length, much longer than 4th, 5 — 10 

 not differing much in length, the penultimate being about as long as broad, last 

 joint long, pointed, at least as long as the two preceding together ; thorax transverse, 

 with sides rather evenly and not strongly rounded, and not strongly narrowed in 

 front, the apex being nearly as broad as the base, punctuation fine ; elytra about as 

 long as thorax, finely sculptured ; hind-body not strongly narrowed behind, very 

 finely punctured, less evidently at apex than at base ; legs clear testaceous-yellow. 



Length, 2^ — 3 mm. 

 Three specimens of this rare coutinental species were taken by 

 Mr. E. Saunders, at liollington, near Hastings, in 1871. M. Fauve], 

 "who kindly determined the species for me, expressed his surprise at 

 its occurrence in Britain, as it has hitherto been confined to Eastern 

 Germany and Austria. 



ScopiEus coGNATUs, Muls. ct Roy. 



This species very much resembles S. piisHlus, but may be known by the slightly 

 longer elytra, and by having the intermediate tibisD somewhat dilated, and also by 

 the characters of the 7th segment of the hind-body in the male ; in -S. pusillus this 

 is I'ather deeply and angularly, but simply, emarginate ; in S. cognatns the emar- 

 gination is rounded at apex, and is bounded by two strong arched impi-essions, 

 converging in front, which make the edges of the emargination appear raised. 



Length, 2| mm. 



One specimen taken by Mr. E. Saunders, at Ventuor, Isle of 

 Wight, and another kindly sent to me b}' M. Eauvel, who, I believe, 

 obtained it from M. Javet's collection ; it is labelled " Wingham," 

 whicli is a village near Sandwich. 



Bledius bissiaiilis, Er. 



This distinct species of Bledius belongs to the section in wliicli the thorax has 

 no central impressed channel, but in its stead a smooth central line, which some- 

 times appears slightly raised ; hitherto we have only possessed as British two species 



