So 
PSYCHE 
[August 
At the time of my original investigation it was noted that in all species 
of the genus the males have one setigerous puncture each side and the females 
two :* but I do not recall having observed the dilation of the middle tarsi in 
the males of certain species to which Mr. Hayward alludes, and which was 
originally announced fiy C. G. Thomson, t This modification is at best very 
feeble, and in view of its gradational character, quite too slight to be used for 
specific separation. To illustrate : Hayward divides our species into two 
groujrs, the first containing sylvaticiis, aquaticHS, havdyi {—aquaticus) and 
niteiis, in all of which the basal joint of the middle tarsi is dilated ; the second 
containing acncus, sciuiopacus, scniisfriatus (—iioz'cinstriatus) and sibiricus 
{ scniistriatiis) t ha.ving this joint “simple as in the females.” This division 
is quite correct, and when we compare the opposite e.vtremes — sylvaticus and 
aciicus — the difterence is very obvious, but if we compare the adjacent ex- 
tremes of the two series — say nitens and uo-i'cmstriatus — the difference is 
so slight that a trifling individual variation might easily reverse their posi- 
tions. Wherever there is any dilation of the basal joint of the middle tarsus, 
there is a similar and lietter marked modification of the front tarsus ; in fact, 
with the possible exception of aciieus, where it is scarcely detectable, the males 
•if all species have the first three joints a little dilated or more triangular in 
form than in the female, the difference being relatively slight in the species of 
Hayward's second group. In all species of the genus, without exception, 
the first three joints of the front tarsi are more or less squamose beneath in 
the male, as is also the basal, and sometimes the second joint of the middle 
tarsi; the squaniules here being present in the apical half or less of the joints 
in those species with the first joint undilated. In the reference above (juoted, 
Thomson describes as new bigoninus, and states that it differs from the com- 
mon European species — aqiuiticus, pahistris and bignttatus — in its sim[)le 
non-spongiose middle tarsi of the male, and in the securiform last joint of the 
labial paljii, especially in the male. The entire correctness of Thomson’s 
statement may, I think, fairly be questioned, as I much doubt if there is any 
species of Notiophilus in wdiich the middle tarsi are normally aI)solutely 
*This character fails in rare instances. I have seen a male scinistridtus with two anal 
punctures, and a female of miuaticus with only one puncture each side. 
fBull. Ent. Soc. France, 1883, i>. CXII. 
J Obscurus Fall was omitted by Mr. Hayward, being nnknown to him; it is virtually the 
same as nitois in this respect. The parentheses are mine. 
