386 CLAVicoRNiA. [Heterocerus. 



colour and by having the transverse yellowish waved band on the elytra 

 behind middle interrupted, its apical portion forming a rhombus-shaped 

 spot; the antennaj and legs are red-yellow; the elytra are unevenly 

 punctured as in H. arenarius ; as above remarked, the colour distinctions 

 in this genus appear to be of little value ; immature specimens of H. 

 femoraiis are brown, and have the legs entirely or almost entirely testa- 



ceous. L. 4 mm. -, , t,^ /^ ^ i • 



Kecorded by Haliday from Ireland, and introduced by Mr. Crotch m 

 his British catalogue ; the latter author, however, afterwards canie to 

 the conclusion that the Irish specimens did not differ substantially 

 from H. femoraiis ; Mr. W. G. Blatch records it from Weymouth, Chesil 

 Eeach, otherwise I should have omitted it.*) 



H. obsoletusv Curt. Eather broad and depressed, subovate, black, 

 clothed with upright, somewhat woolly, blackish-brown pubescence, 

 intermiufded with short greyish hairs which are thicker on the head 

 and sides of thorax ; antennse brown ; thorax as broad behind as elytra, 

 narrowed in front, thickly and finely punctured, with a reddish-brown 

 spot at anterior angles, posterior angles sharply margined ; elytra finely 

 but distinctly punctured, Avith irregular yellowish spots and patches ; 

 legs black (except in immature specimens), tarsi pitchy-red ; ridge on 

 firtt abdominal segment quite smooth in both sexes. L. 4-5 mm. 



Male with the head larger and the mandibles elongate. 



Banks of brackish ditches ; occasionally in tidal refuse and decaying sea-weed ; 

 local; London district, not uncommon, Gravesend, Sheerness, Chatham; Pegwell 

 Bay ;' Swansea ; Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire (Chappell). 



The broad oblong form and usually dark colour will separate this 

 from all our other species. 



K. marg-inatus, F. Oblong oval, someAvhat convex, black, clothed 

 with fine erect fuscous pubescence, intermingled with short greyish 

 hairs which are thicker at sides of thorax ; antennae brown with the 

 first loint yellow ; thorax someAvhat narroAver than elytra, contracted 

 in front, very finely punctured, distinctly margined at posterior angles, 

 with the side margins and anterior angles often, but not ahvays, 

 yelloAvish ; elytra finely punctured, rather more shining and less pubes- 

 cent than 'in H. Iceuigatus, Avith irregular yellowish bands and spots; 

 legs brown, femora before apex reddish, tarsi broAvn-red ; ridge on first 

 abdominal segment Avith a notch in front. L. 3|-4 mm. 



Sexual differences not apparent. 



Banks of ponds and ditches ; local, but not uncommon, especially near the coast, 

 in England and Wales ; Lee, Mickleham, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Maidstone, Hanwell, 



* Since I wrote the above, Mr. Blatch has informed me that after carefully re- 

 examinino- his specimens ho has come to the conclusion that they are probably a 

 variety oi H. femoraiis ; it appears, therefore, dou btful whether the species (if it be 

 a true species) is found in Britain. 



