March, 1885.] , 217 



me unique, or almost uuique, specimens for examination ; I am also 

 much indebted to Mr. Grorham and Mr. Champion, both of whom in 

 former years have made a special study of the genus, for valuable 

 information as to localities, plants, habits, &c. ; and to Mr. Newbery, 

 Mr. Chappell, Dr. Capron, and other collectors, who have sent me 

 lists of localities, &c., for various species. I must also thank M. 

 Charles Brisout de Barneville and Herr Eeitter for kindly sending 

 me foreign types. 



I. Tarsal claws simple. 



i. Anterior tibiae very finely toothed, rather more distinctly towards apex. 

 1. Colour black, with at most very slight traces of metallic lustre. 

 A. Legs light. 



a. Species large, black, oval, or broad oblong ; punctuation and 

 cross striation of elytra forming wavy lines ; club of 

 antennae dark. 

 Of. Sides of thorax considerably contracted towards apex ; 

 thorax rery finely and indistinctly punctured. 



M. rujipes, G-yll. — The largest of our species ; easily distinguished from all the 

 others (except M. lumbaris) by its size, taken in conjunction with its red legs ; smaller 

 specimens closely resemble M. lumbaris (which is the var. b. of M. rujipes of G-yl- 

 lenhal, Ins. Suec, i, 235), but may be separated by the shape and the punctuation 

 of tlie thorax ; the first joint of the antennae in M. rujipes is light, in M. lumbaris 

 more or less dark, and in the former species the margins of the thorax are broader 

 and of a reddish colour, whereas, in the latter, they are narrower and darker; the 

 latter distinctions, however, although as a rule they hold good, are not always con- 

 stant, and are apt to be misleading. Length, I5 — If lin. 



Very common and generally distributed ; abundant in hawthorn 

 bloom in spring, and also found on Banunculacece, Bubi, Allium, &c. 

 There is a reddish variety of this species, which is not very common ; 

 Dr. Power has taken it in Hainault Forest, and Mr. Newbery at 

 Highgate ; in this variety the thorax, except the margins, is rather 

 darker than the elytra, but the whole insect is of a dull reddish tint. 

 One of Dr. Power's specimens has the thorax and one elytron of the 

 normal colour, with a slight greenish metallic tinge, and the other 

 elytron of the colour of the variety. 



)8. Sides of thorax only slightly contracted towards apex ; 

 punctuation of thorax fine but distinct. 

 M. lumbaris, Sturm. — Considerably smaller than the average specimens of the 

 preceding species, rather shorter, narrower, and more oblong, with thorax more dis- 

 tinctly punctured than elytra, first joint of antennae usually dark, and legs con- 

 siderably stronger and of a darker colour than in the preceding species. 



Length, li— 1^ lin. 



