1885.] 215 



for, if a species can be determined (as most can be) from the upper- 

 side without having recourse to the lower, it is much more convenient, 

 especially in the smaller genera where the insects have to be mounted 

 on card, and cannot well be pinned. The colour of the legs and the 

 basal joints of the antennsB are sometimes of use, but they must not 

 be depended upon alone, as they are very apt to be misleading, being 

 very different in even slightly immature specimens ; useful characters 

 are also to be found in the dilatation of the joints of the anterior 

 tarsi of the males of some species, and also in the shape of the middle 

 and posterior tibiae, and the arrangements of the bristles or hairs with 

 which they are clothed. 



A few words remain to be said with regard to the shape of the 

 anterior margin of the forehead, on which Eeitter, in his " Revision 

 der Europaischen Meligethes Arten " (a work indispensable to any 

 student of the genus), founds his principal divisions. This author 

 divides the genus into three sub-genera, as follows : Jileligetlies, con- 

 taining the bulk of the species, distinguished by having simple claws 

 not toothed at the base ; Odontogethes, which has the claws broader 

 and strongly toothed at the base, containing the single European 

 species O. liehes, Er. (Jf. olivaceus, Sturm) ; and AcanthogetJies, which 

 has the claws as in the preceding genus, but has the forehead deeply 

 excised in a semi-circle and the anterior tibiae strongly toothed, whereas 

 in O. hehes the anterior tibiae are very finely toothed, as in M. riifipes, 

 &c., and the anterior margin of the forehead is straight ; this sub- 

 genus contains our M. solidus, Kug., M. brevis, Sturm (pictus, Eye), 

 and three other species. 



The sub-genus Meligethes is divided by Eeitter into three divisions 

 according to the shape of the anterior margin of the forehead, which, 

 taking our species alone into consideration, are as follows : 



1st. — Eorehead with the anterior margin straight or nearly 

 straight. M. rufipes, Imnharis, fulvipes, coracinus, corvinus, ceneus, 

 viridescens, symphyti, suhrugosus, serripes, nanus {marruhii), ohscurus, 

 lidens, mnhrosus, incanus, ovatus, picipes,flavipes, memnonius, ochropus, 

 hrunnicornis. 



2nd. — Forehead with the anterior margin excised, with the angles 

 of the emargination round or obtuse. M. difficilis and var. Kunzei, 

 morosus, viduatus, pedicularius. 



3rd. — Eorehead with the anterior margin excised in a semi-circle, 

 or more or less deeply emarginate, with the angles of the emargina- 

 tion acute. M. rotundicollifi, murinus {seniculus $ ), lugubris and var. 

 gagatliinus, hidentatus, erythropus, exilis. 



