the British Species of Heterocerus. 165 



Mucli larger than //. Icvrigatus (being usually '?| linos in length), 

 relatively broader, and more depressed ; the coloiiring (including 

 that of the legs and the pubescence) darker. The markings usually 

 are by no means distinct, and are broken up into small spots. The 

 basal spot on the elytra is generally wanting, and seldom distinct ; 

 the discoidal and sub-apical spots are divided ; the bands do not 

 exist as such, being only represented by spots on the sides of the 

 elytra, which have the margins dark. The thorax is scarcely as 

 broad as the elytra, contracted in front, has the posterior angles 

 rounded and margined, and is commonly concolorous, but some- 

 times has a small rufescent spot at the anterior angle. In the 

 male the thorax is as broad as the elytra, and but little contracted 

 in front ; the jaws are rather more prominent, and they have the 

 outer margin recurved and produced anteriorily into a triangular 

 tooth-like process : the clypeus is simple. 



Common on the borders of the ditches of salt or brackish water, 

 at Sheppy. 



Heterocerus margmatus, Fab. Ent. Syst. i. 262. 



J Panzer, Faun. Germ, xxiii. 12. 



^ Steph, Illustr. ii. 100, 1 ; Man. 80, 619. 



■ , Kiesenw. Germ. Zeitschr. iv. 208, 5, 



pi. 3, fig. 5. 

 , ^ Erichs, Ins. Deutschl. iii. 54-6, 5. 



The size and proportions of this species is much like H. Icevi- 

 gatus, but the posterior angles of the thorax are less obtuse, and, 

 indeed, are very nearly right angles, and they are more distinctly 

 margined. The markings on the elytra also furnish distinctions: 

 the basal spot is wanting ; the humeral band does not run so far 

 back before it is recurved, and the ascending inner branch is not 

 disunited. The post-median band runs upwards internally to unite 

 with the second discoidal spot ; the discoidal spots are simple ; 

 the margin of the elytra is narrowly edged with testaceous, but 

 interrupted between the pale bands. 



Found on the margins of ponds and ditches in the neighbour- 

 hood of London. My specimens are chiefly from Richmond Park. 



Eight, out of ten specimens which stand under the name //. 

 marginatus in Stephens' Collection, belong to the present species; 

 one of the other specimens is H. Jlexuosus, and the other is H. 

 Icevisalus. 



