THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 183 



M. peliucidus, Kiesw. — Not unlike M. marginatus, but 

 smaller. Antennae with the base dark ; anterior tibite pale. 

 The male characters resemble those of M, marginatus. I 

 have two or three females probably referable to this species, 

 and have recently seen a male from Dr. Power which 1 think 

 belongs to it; but without a good series of examples, so that 

 the abdomen may be removed from one and examined care- 

 fully, it is very difficult to decide on some of these species. 



5. M. minimus, L., Thoms. Sanguinolentus, Fall., Ksiv. — 

 The commonest of the group, and readily known by its nearly 

 immaculate red thorax. The male characters here are hardly 

 noticeable. 



6. M. dispar. Germ. — The largest Malthodes, well distin- 

 guished by its legs and base of the antennas being pale. The 

 elytra are brilliantly yellow at the tips. The male characters 

 here attaiu their maximum of development in our species. 

 Not rare at Cambridge. 



7. M.Jlavoguttatus, Ksw., Wat. Catal. — This species I 

 have not seen as British : from the description it should be 

 placed here, but is smaller than M. dispar, and has the base 

 of the antennae dark. In sexual characters it resembles 

 M. dispar. 



If this short sketch of the external characters leads any 

 one to attempt determining the indigenous species of Mal- 

 thodes, I shall be most happy to help them in any way, and 

 feel convinced that they only require a careful study while 

 alive, or rather recently killed, to greatly augment tlie num- 

 ber of our known species. Specimens taken in copula should 

 be carefully preserved, as the determination of females pre- 

 sents considerable difficulties. In setting, care should be 

 taken not to gum down the protruding wings over the abdo- 

 men ; if this be avoided they may be pretty easily named. 

 The unicolorous species are very probably confounded, in 

 collections, with Malthinus frontalis : that species has, how- 

 ever, longer elytra, paler legs, and a very different thorax. 



G. R. Crotch. 



University Library, Cambridge. 



