December, 1884.] 145 



S. punctatissima, 111. — Usually much larger than the following species, but 



occasionally specimens are found that are not larger than a moderate sized S.grisea. 



In Dr. Power's collection there are several of these small specimens taken by him 



among a large number of the type form. As a rule, the species may be separated 



by size, but apart from this, -S". punctatissima is a broader and more convex insect 



with closer punctuation, and with the sides of the thorax more parallel ; the margins 



of the thorax and elytra are also somewhat broader and more distinct. 



Length, If— 2i lin. 



Usualiy found in or near burrows of Cossus ligniperda : Shirley 



and Esher, in birch, Dr. Power ; Dunham Park, Manchester, in oaks 



and alders, Mr. Chappell ; Shiere, under stones and by sweeping, Dr. 



Capron ; Isle of "Wight, Darenth, Chatham, Addington, &c. 



S. grisea, Linn. — Narrower in proportion and less convex than the preceding; 



also rather less closely punctured ; it is also usually of a lighter colour. 



Length, 1^ — 2^ lin. 



A widely distributed and rather common species; not so often 

 associated with Cossus as the preceding : Netting Hill, in willows not 

 infested by Cossus, Dr. Power ; Stretford, Manchester, under bark of 

 old apple trees, Mr. Keston ; Prestwich, under bark of alders near 

 Cossus burrows, Mr. Chappell ; at sap of Cossus -miected trees, com- 

 mon, Mr. Champion ; I have beaten it from hawthorn blossoms near 

 the banks of the Trent at E-epton, and in Bretby Wood near the same 

 place, and have also taken it in flood refuse. 



The larva of this insect is figured in the first volume of the Trans- 

 actions of the Linnean Society by Mr. William Curtis, and again in 

 SVestwood's Classification of Insects, vol. i, p. 142 ; it inhabits willow 

 trees and feeds on frass ; the pupae, according to Westwood, are found 

 it the foot of the trees, beneath the surface, amongst the moist earth 

 ind dehrift there collected. 



'•f 



Amphotis, Erichson. 

 This genus may be at once distinguished, apart from differences 



n the mouth-organs, by the very broad and smooth margins of the 

 ase jhorax and elytra, and the very greatly enlarged first joint of the 



mtennse, which, when viewed from above, gives the forehead the 

 ti ippearance of being strongly lobed ; the second joint is inserted 

 inf ')eneath the lobe formed by the first, which slightly overlaps it, and 

 la not at the end of the first joint, as is the case with Omosita and other 

 tin ijenera, which have the first joint thickened. 

 t!l8 



A. marginata, Er. — Thorax and head ferruginous : elytra dark, with some lighter 

 aarkings, and with five distinct raised longitudinal lines on each ; margins of thorax 

 liai^nd elytra very broad and smooth, of a uniform red colour j punctuation of thorax 

 ine and close, of elytra stronger and more diffuse. Length, 2 — 2\ lin. 



N 



4 



lailj 



