On Aquatic Carnivorous Coleoptera or DytiscidcB. 499 



675. Agabus lugens, Lee, M.C. — Ovalis, latiusculus, niger, supra subaenescens, 

 omnium densissime reticulatus, subnitidus, aateunis palpis pedibusque piceis, elytris 

 versus latera gutta elongata, subdistincta, testacea ; prothoraoe brevi basi elytrorum 

 latitudine, lateribus obliquis, angulis posterioribus fere rectis. Long. 9i, lat. 5i m.m. 



In the male the front and middle tarsi have the three basal joints distinctly 

 thickened and furnished beneath with glandular hairs ; the claws are simple. The 

 species is very closely allied to Agabus perplexus, but the reticulation of the elytra 

 is so dense and indistinct that, even towards the apex, distinct meshes can scarcely 

 be perceived. 



North America, (California, Vancouver's Island). 729. 



676. Dytiscus biguttatus, 01., Agahus hignttatus, M.C. — Oblongo-ovalis, niger, 

 nitidus, antennis rufis, apice summo soepius nigro, palpis piceo-rufis ; elytris guttis 

 duabus testaceis ; prothorace basi curvato, lateribus plus miuusve curvatis et 

 antrorsum angustatis, margine lateral! baud crasso ; elytris ad basin et ad suturam 

 vel omnino Isevigatis, vel omnium subtilissime reticulatis, versus apicem subtiliter 

 vel vix conspicue rugulosis et paulo conspicuius reticulatis. Long. 9, lat, 45 m.m. 



In the male the three basal joints of the front and middle tarsi are distinctly 

 incrassate and furnished beneath with glandular hairs, and the anterior claw of 

 the front foot has a tooth or lobe in the middle beneath. There is a sexual difference 

 in sculpture the female being a little less shining, and less indistinctly reticulate 

 than the male. 



This is a very widely distributed and one of the most variable species, and the 

 variations seem to be, to a greater or less extent, geographical. The elytra, in the 

 South-east of Europe and Asia Minor, are frequently more or less red. The largest, 

 broadest and most smooth individuals occur in Southern Europe. The variety from 

 the Canary Islands (A. consanguineus, Woll.) has the reticulation of the upper 

 surface more distinct, and the antennae immaculate at the apex, the legs and palpi 

 of rather more dilute colour. The species in Scotland makes a nearer approach in 

 form and sculpture to Dytiscus guttatus (No. 670) than it does elsewhere, and this 

 form is approximated by mountain specimens even from the South of Europe. 

 The tooth on the front claw of the male varies much, being^sometimes quite slender, 

 and in other cases a broad lobe. 



Central and Soutliern Europe, North Africa, Western and Central Asia. (Scotland, England ; Belgium, 

 Alsatia, France, Spain, Sierra Nevada 7,000 feet ; Italy, Sicily, Greece ; Canary Islands ; Algeria, 

 Egypt, Nubia, Siaai ; Hedjaz ; Trebizond ; TurkLstiu, Dras, Kargil and Leh, F. Stoliczka, September 

 9th, 1873). 731. 



677. Agabus heydeni, Wehncke, Berl. Enb. Zeit. XVI, p. 134. — Ovalis, politus, 

 nitidus, niger, antennis palpisque rufis, pedibus piceo-rufis : elytris pone medium 



TRANS. ROy. DUU. SOC, N.S., VOL. II. 3 T 



