58 Dr. Sharp on the Rhynchopliorous 



Byctiscus. 



Byctiscus, Thomson, Sk. Col., vii., p. 29 ; Bedel, 

 Faune Col. Seine, vi., p. 24. 



This genus is valid, though the character on which 

 Thomson founded it is erroneous ; the hind coxse are 

 not smaller than they are in Rhynchites, and the mode of 

 articulation with the side piece of the metathorax is 

 similar in the two genera ; the first ventral plate is, 

 however, lobed so as to cover and conceal the outer part 

 of the coxae. The genus has, however, been correctly 

 defined by Bedel. 



The genus seems most numerous in species in the 

 Oriental regions ; until comparatively recently it would 

 have appeared to be more specially European: there 

 are, however, only two species in Europe, whereas I 

 now record five from Japan, and am acquainted with 

 others from China, the Indo-Chinese Peninsula, and 

 East India. 



Byctiscus is a most difficult genus as regards the 

 determination of its species. When I made my first 

 study of the Japan collection, I thought too many species 

 had been established in the genus ; but a second study, 

 after examination of what has been done by Faust, 

 Roelofs, and others, has led me to believe that it is more 

 probable that the species are rather numerous, but very 

 variable as regards the colour of the upper surface. I 

 am, however, far from entertaining any strong opinion 

 on the point, as the specimens at my disposal are not 

 sufficiently numerous ; and, moreover, observations in 

 the field are required. 



Byctiscus motschoulskyi. 



Rhynchites motschoulskyi, Lewis, Cat. Jap. Col., 



No. 1607 (not described). 

 ? R. betuleti, Motsch., Etudes Ent., ix., p. 21 (not 



described). 

 Byctiscus congener, Faust, Deutsche Ent. Z., xxvi., 



p. 290 (nee Jekel). 

 Var. ?, elytris purpureo-plagiatis. 

 Rhynchites j^rinceps, Solsky, Hor. Soc. Ross , viii., 



p. 284 (?). 

 R. regalis, Eoelofs, Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg , xvii., p. 142. 



