1885.] 107 



SYNOPSIS OF THE BRITISH SPECIES OF ORTHOPERUS. 



BY EEY. A. MATTUEWS, M.A. 



I have lately examined witli much care the species of the genus 

 Orthopej'us, and have been greatly assisted in my work by M, de 

 Marseul and Herr E/oitter, who have very kindly furnished me with 

 types of all the European species. The following paper contains the 

 result of my investigations so far as the British species are concerned, 

 and I hope that the characters I have given will prove sufficient to 

 enable others to determine for themselves whatever species they may 



Orthoperus is a well-defined and easily recognised genus, distin- 

 guished from other CorylophidcB by its partly exserted head, long 

 incurved anterior tibiae, and nine-jointed geniculate antennas, of which 

 the fifth joint is generally much larger than the sixth, and, by its 

 J comparative size, often proves a valuable specific character. 



The names of the species hitherto found in this kingdom, as far 

 ! at least as I have had the means of discovering, are the following, viz. : — 



Orthoperus KluM, Wank. 

 hrunnipes, Gyll. 

 corticalis, E-edt. 

 punctatulus, sp. n. 

 atomus, G-yll. 

 mundus, sp. n. 

 coriaceus, E-ey. 

 atomarius, Heer. 



In the above list I have used the names "atomus, G-yll.," and 

 " atomarius, Heer," in preference to " picatus, Marsh.," and "pimctim, 

 Marsh." Although those species are designated by the latter appella- 

 tions in continental collections, yet the descriptions given by Mr. 

 Marsham are so exceedingly vague and indeterminate, that it would 

 be confusing to alter our present nomenclature without actual com- 

 parison with the Kirbyan types. 



Oethopeeus Kluki, Wank. 

 The species which stands in our lists under the name of hrunnipes is known on 

 the continent as KluM. Of both these species types have been kindly sent by M. 

 de Marseul and Herr Reitter ; and I find that the hrunnipes of their collections is 

 rather smaller, and much more oval than our species, which agrees in every respect 

 with O. Kluki. The sculpture also is very different. The description given by 



