1908.] 31 



AA. — Thorns alutaceous. 



I. — Average size larger ; elytra with rows of punctures irregular and con- 

 fused L. alutaceus, Th. 



II. — Average size smaller ; elytra with rows of punctures more regular... 



L. minutus, L. 



Laccobius purpurascens has the thorax smooth between the punc- 

 tures, a character which will separate it from the greater number of the 

 European species. The spot of pubescence at the base of the inter- 

 mediate femora of the $ will serve to distinguish it from L. sinuatus, 

 Mots., L. Scutellaria, Mots., L. cupreus, Rey, L. gracilis, Mots., and 

 L. biguttatus, Gerh. (= bipunctatus, Bedel). Excluding four forms 

 of very restricted and even insular limitation,* of which I have no 

 description, but one European species remains, namely, L. nigriceps, 

 Th. L. purpurascens appears to be very closely allied to this last 

 mentioned species ; indeed, Captain Saint Claire Deville, to whom 

 I have submitted specimens, is of opinion that it is " a superb new 

 variety of L. nigriceps analogous to that of L. sinuatus {cupreus, 

 Key), which Eey has described from Corsica." It is quite possible 

 that Captain Deville may be right, nevertheless the insect has such 

 a different appearance from L. nigriceps that I prefer to briug it 

 forward as having specific value. The remarkable coppery-purple 

 reflection, which in its most pronounced form is somewhat suggestive 

 of that of a ripe plum, at once strikes the eye. The size is extremely 

 constant, being rather less than that of L. nigriceps, while the form of 

 the body is a trifle more elongate. The reddish colour of the head 

 and thorax seems to be invariable, and is well seen by artificial light, 

 no specimen that I have examined having the blackish head and the 

 spot on the thorax present in L. nigriceps. It is true that pale forms 

 of the latter insect sometimes occur, but in that case the form of the 

 thoracic spot will serve to identify the species. 



Laccobius purpurascens was discovered by Mr. Philip de la Garde 

 in May, 1906, crawling in swarms among the slimy ooze where water 

 had trickled down the red sandstone cliffs, on the south side of the 

 Kiver Teign, Shaldon, Devon. It has been subsequently taken by 

 Mr. G. C. Champion at the same place, and also by Mr. J. H. Keys 

 near Plymouth. 



12, Churchill Road, Dartmouth Park, N.W. : 

 January 2nd, 1908. 



* These species are: L. minimus, Kuw., Corfu ; cinereus, Mots., Caucasus; signatui, Kuw., 

 Spain ; and moraguesi, Regimb., Balearic Islands. 



