Bagous. | RITYNCILOPHORA, 289 
(Brewer see Crotch); the larva has been found in France living gregariously on the 
Water Soldier (Stratiotes aloides). 
B. nodulosus, Gyll. (binodulus, Thoms. nee Gyll.). Very closely 
allied to the preceding, which it much resembles in general appearance, 
but, on an average, rather larger, and distinguished by having a not 
distinct warty prominence on the third interstice of the elytra behind 
middle and no small shining callosity at the base of the first interstice 
near scutellum ; the alternate interstices of the elytra are very slightly, 
and scarcely evidently, raised ; the warty prominence on the third 
interstice, appears, however, to be at all events indicated, and hence 
probably has arisen the confusion between the two species, L. 44-5 mm. 
In ditches, &c; very rare, but, apparently, less so than the preceding species; Peg- 
well Bay; Mr. S. Stevens says of the species, “‘formerly not uncommon in ditches 
near Arundel, but not taken for years; I used to call it binodulus, but am told it is 
now considered to be nodulosus ;” Mr. Rye, however (Ent. Monthly Mag. vi 257), 
says “one of my two exponents of B. dinodulus, given to me by the late Rev. H. 
Clark, who took it, I believe, near Arundel, is undoubtedly that species; the other, 
obtained by Brewer, is as undoubtedly nodulosws ;”? according to these opinions both 
species occur near Arundel, and it is possible that there is some mistake still to be 
cleared up; if the species did not approach very nearly to one another, they would 
not have been for so long kept united in our collections, 
B. argillaceus, Gyll. (inceratus, Brit. Cat.; encaustus, Boh.; halo- 
philus, Redt.). Smaller than either of the two preceding species, but 
larger than any of those that follow; oblong, black, somewhat smooth 
and shining, densely clothed with olive-grey scales, with more or less 
indistinct pitchy markings on the elytra, and with a more or less distinct 
whitish patch between middle and apex ; the surface is, however, easily 
abraded and then appears much darker than in fresh specimens; antenna 
reddish with club dark, inserted not far from apex of rostrum which is 
moderately long; thorax about as long as broad or subtransverse, con- 
stricted before apex, with the sides nearly straight, punctuation close and 
very fine ; central furrow obsolete ; elytra with rather strong, but indis- 
tinetly punctured, strie; legs comparatively short, more or less fer- 
ruginous; the somewhat greasy appearance, broad flattish build and com- 
paratively short legs, as well as its size, will easily distinguish the 
species from its allies ; when quite fresh, the thorax is grey with two 
large approximated ill-defined spots at base. L. 33-4 mm, 
Brackish ditches ; on aquatic plants; often in flood refuse, and (in hot sunny 
weather) by sweeping herbage on ditch banks ;.very local and usually rare ; Gravesend 
(Douglas) ; Southend; Sheerness, occasionally found in profusion (Champion, Power, 
Walker and others) ; Lumps Pond, Southsea (Moucreaff). 
B. limesus, Gyll. (subcarinatus, Sharp’s Cat.; petrosus, W. C.; 
laticollis, Gyll.). A short and broad species ; black, closely covered with 
grey scales, which are sometimes more or less abraded and leave spots or 
patches on thorax and elytra; on the latter there is sometimes a very in- 
distinct greyish patch behind middle; antenne ferruginous with club 
VOL. Vv. U 
