116 [March, 



only now say that I consider it to be — though the seat of numerous 

 modifications — among the most important of the systematic characters 

 of the Helophorini. There are eleven striae — or at least series of 

 punctures — on each elytron, and ten interstices, the first interstice 

 being that between the first and second striae, the space between 

 suture and first stria l)eing the sutural interval. In many forms there 

 are some additional punctures described by me previously as placed 

 between series 1 and the suture. I find some difiiculty in understanding 

 these intercalated punctures. In many cases they look as if the sutural 

 series (as traced from the apex forwards) was, when near the front, 

 pushed towards the outside, and then prolonged to the base by means 

 of additional punctures added close to the suture. This would make 

 us treat the additional punctui'es as being inserted between the suture 

 and the first series, as I have expressed it in the table of genera on 

 page 4. In other cases the sutural series appears to be quite continuous 

 from the apex to the base, and if this represents the true state of the 

 matter the intercalated punctures are those between the first and second 

 series. It should be noted that these punctures vary in number in the 

 same species, and an aberration has been recorded in which they are 

 present on one elytron and not on the other. My own opinion tends 

 to the conclusion that these variable punctures are really those of the 

 first series pushed out of place by punctures placed near the suture ; 

 and that they tend to disappear, while the sutural series is now com- 

 pleted by what are really intercalated punctures. The point cannot be 

 decided, and the feature of interest really is the variability displayed 

 by the punctures that are irregularly placed. The question is best 

 exemplified by the species of Meghelophorus. The additional puuctui-es 

 appear to have a real importance, owing to their constant presence in 

 a large number of allied forms and yet, though apparently important, 

 they are very variable ; this appears to be a difiiculty : supposing that 

 we adopt the view contrary to the one I favour. 



In speaking of the labial palpi I described the existence of 

 numerous fine hairs on them. Hairs that are apparently similar occur 

 on other parts of the body and limbs. But befoi'e speaking of them 

 I must emphasise the fact that in studying Helophorini it is necessary 

 to have well cleaned specimens. These insects secrete on the surface 

 of the body a peculiar exudation which dries, and obscures the smaller 

 points of structure even in cases where the specimen has the superficial 

 appearance of being quite clean ; while in other cases it retains foreign 

 bodies, so that the specimen is covered with a sort of incrustation, a 



