1906.] 201 



A. Penultimate joints of antennae hardly transverse ; last dorsal segment of 



abdomen entirely reddish-yellow Q.fulgldus, F. 



B. Penultimate joints of antennae strongly transverse; last dorsal segment of 



abdomen with never more than the apical margin yellowish. 



a. Hind body diffusely punctured ; elytra bright red ; logs black ; average 



size smaller Q puncticollis, Tli. 



b. Hind body closely punctured ; elytra dull red ; legs reddish ; average size 



larger. 



1. Head transverse, even in $ ; eyes larger ; shape fusiform ; average size 



larger Q- brevicornis, Th. 



2. Head, even in well developed c? c? , as long as broad ; eyes smaller ; 



shape more parallel-sided ; average size smaller... 



Q. vexans, Epp. 



The apical border of the last dorsal segments of the abdomen in 

 Q. vexans is often yellowish, and the hind body is slightly duller and 

 more closely punctured than in Q. brevicornis. The small size of the 

 eyes in the former species is of much importance, and indeed in this 

 respect it comes very close to Q. longicornis, a species which most 

 probably inhabits a similar situation. A difference in the habits of 

 Q. vexans and Q. brevicornis is of much interest. When an old birds' 

 nest is being examined for beetles, Q. brevicornis will lie quiet for a 

 very long time, and will not attempt to run until it knows it is dis- 

 covered ; Q. vexans runs off at a great pace at the first alarm. The 

 latter would profit nothing by lying still, the mole using its nose and 

 not its eyes for discovering its prey, whereas birds would see a moving 

 insect at once. Q puncticollis I believe has the habits of Q. brevi- 

 cornis, feigning death when discovered by a wasp in its nest. 



HoMALOTA PARADOXA, Eey.— Although this species has never 

 been recorded as British before, Mr. Champion has two somewhat 

 mutilated examples in his collection, captured by himself in the 

 London district many years ago, and identified by Mons. Fauvel at 

 the time. The insect has occurred on several occasions here, and 

 I have also found three specimens at Kingswear, S. Devon. There is 

 little doubt that it occurs all over the country. H. paradoxa is a 

 small, obscure species, with narrowed hind body, most closely related 

 to H. cribrata, Kr., but differs from all its allies in the thickness of 

 its antennae. Mons. Fauvel, who kindly identified my specimens for 

 me, tells me it has been taken in the runs of rodents in France, and 

 although I have not recognised the larvsp in the moles' nests, I have 

 taken examples only just emerged from the pupa. The following is 

 a short translation of Eey's original description :— 



