THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



No. 13.] Mx\KCH, MDCCCLXV. [Peice 6d. 



Revision of the Genus Telephorus, as far as regards the 

 British Species. By G. R. Crotch, Esq., M.A. 



Considerable attention has of late been paid to the 

 European Telephoridae, the species of Germany, France and 

 Sweden having been carefully worked out by MM. Kiesen- 

 wetter, Mulsant and Thorason ; and finally, M. de Marseul 

 has produced a general revision of all the European species. 

 It is to these works that the reader is referred for more de- 

 tailed descriptions, synonymy, &c., the aim having been, in 

 the present paper, to give characters as concisely as possible, 

 which should yet be sufficient to separate our indigenous 

 species. Indications of those most likely to occur have been 

 added. Our fauna will bear comparison with other countries, 

 for we have now (two additions being made here — T. assi- 

 milis, Pk., and T. limbatus, Th.) twenty-four species. In 

 Sweden, M. Thomson has enumerated twenty-six ; of these 

 four only do not occur in England ; but on the other hand 

 two of our species (T, translucidiis, Ki-yri., and T. abdomi- 

 nalis, F.) are confined to Central Europe. It is to the Alps 

 and Pyrenees that we must go for this genus ; but there is 

 little probability that more of these species will be found 

 here, though we have indeed a singular number of Pyrenean 

 forms, as Stenus Guynemeri, S. Kiesenwetteri (since found 

 at Paris), &c. Some diversity of opinion exists as to the 

 genera admitted in this family : the distinctions which are 

 founded on the tarsal claws appear to me merely of sectional 

 importance. Telephorus may then be thus divided : — 



Thorax emarginate at the base. Head constricted to form a neck. 



Podabrus, Fisch. 

 Tarsal claws dentate at the base. Elytra blue. . Ancistronycha, Mark. 

 External claws dentate in male. 



Thorax quadrate or slightly transverse. . . Telephorus, Auct. 



Thorax elonf^ate, sides straight Absidia, Muls. 



Tarsal claws bifid at the apex Rhagonycha, Esch. 



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