NEW BRITISH SPECIES, ETC., IX 1871. 73 



66. Geotrupes (Sternotrupes, Jekel) pyren^us, Char- 

 pentier, Horae EntomologicaB;208; D. Sharp, Ent. 

 Mo. Mag., viii, 10. 



vernaliSf Stepb., nee Linn. 



politus, Muls. 



var. corrui<canSy Chevr, 



? var. sijlendens, Zieg. 

 Dr. Sharp has pointed out the identity of the Stephensian 

 vernalisj of which the thorax is only visibly punctured at 

 the sides, v\itb Charpentier's species above named; giving 

 also the above synonymy. He also gives the following 

 additional characters for G. pijrenccus, as compared with 

 vernalis, Linn.: it is much more brilliant, smooth and 

 shining; it is narrower in proportion to its length; its abdo- 

 men is impunctate and shining in the middle beneath; the 

 hinder angles of its thorax are less obtuse and rounded; and 

 in the $ the teeth on the under side of the anterior tibiae are 

 5, or perhaps 6, instead of at least 8. 



Dr. Sharp also (/. c, 9) gives copious synonymy for 

 G. vernalis, Linn., of which, however, the already known 

 synonym of IcBvis, Steph., is the only one affecting British 

 coleopterists. 



G. pyrenccus seems less widely distributed and more local 

 than vernalis. It occurs in England but not in Scotland; 

 whereas vernalis is found in both countries, G. pyrenceus is 

 abundant on Wimbledon Common in autumn and spring; 

 and I have also found vernalis in that locality. 



For general observations on these insects, cf. Ent. Mo. 

 Mag., iii, 215. Stephens appears to have been the first in 

 this country to recognize the two as species; but, even if he 

 had not attributed the wrong one to vernalis, Linn., Char- 

 pentier's species vrould have had priority by about five years. 



