1885.] 35 



punctuation close and fine; legs black, with tai'si somewhat lighter; antennae black, 

 with the second joint and sometimes the next one or two reddish ; anterior tibise 

 armed with a row of regular comblike teeth from a little below base to apex ; male 

 with the last abdominal segment furnished with a very small and narrow triangular 

 indentation. Length, | — 1^ lin. 



Common on the coast on Echiitm vulgar e. Dr. Capron tells me 

 that he has taken it on a small composite plant at Eastbourne ; it also 

 occurs inland at Caterham, Mickleham, &c. 



M. seniculus, Er., is a varietj^ of this species, according to Brisout ; 

 according to Eeitter it is the female. 



var. planiusculus, Er. — This variety of M. murinus, which is considered a sepa- 

 rate species by Erichson, is characterized by having the anterior tibiae more regularly 

 and less sharply toothed, and the entire base of the antennae red ; some of the teeth 

 in M. seniculus almost invariably point downwards towards apex, while in M. pla- 

 niusculus they stand out at right angles to the tibiae, and are smaller and blunter ; 

 the colour of the base of the antennae is not a very reliable character. 



There is a specimen in Dr. Power's collection taken at Birch 

 Wood in 1865, that agrees well with types of this species sent me by 

 Herr Eeitter. 



There can be no doubt that this species of Erichson' s must be 

 regarded as a variety of M. murinus ; in almost all points they are 

 exactly similar ; as regards the denticulation of the anterior tibi«, 

 individual specimens of 31. murinus differ very much, and, as in M. 

 serripes, &c., the teeth occasionally vary on the different tibiae of the 

 same specimens, being sometimes very strong on one side and almost 

 obsolete on the other ; the same peculiarity may be noticed in the 

 Saprini, and is probably often the result of accident, or wear and tear, 

 rather than a structural difference. 



' V. Anterior tibise very finely toothed, but with two or three distinct, though 



small, outstanding teeth, situated at some distance from one another, 

 and separated by two or more smaller teeth. 



A. Upper surface shining black, with slight traces of cross striation 

 between punctures; anterior tibiae with two outstanding 

 teeth ; legs black, anterior tibiae pitchy. 



M. luguhris, Sturm. — Oval, rather convex, deep shining black, closely and 

 finely punctured ; punctuation on elytra somewhat plainer ; pubescence scanty, 

 greyish; thorax about one-third broader than long, somewhat contracted in 

 front ; interstices with slight traces of cross striation, which are plainer on the 

 sides of the thorax ; anterior tibise with two short outstanding teeth, separated 

 by two or more small teeth ; forehead excised with a small sharp projection in the 

 centre of the emargination ; metasternum of male depressed behind with a strong 



