the British Species of Heter-ocerus. 167 



them, from tlie same quarter, having been given me by Mr. Hope. 

 I have also received specimens from North Wales, collected by 

 Charles Darwin, Esq., and am indebted to Mr. Wollaston for 

 a specimen which is labelled as coming from " Ferriby." 



I may here remark, that there is a nearly allied species (//. his- 

 pidulus, Kiesenwetter), which, having a wide range on the Con- 

 tinent, is not unlikely to be found in England. It is a trifle larger 

 than //. sericans, and may be readily distinguished by the short 

 (almost scale-like), pale, glistening seta?, which, combined with a 

 fine pubescence, covered the upper surface of the body. 



Heterocerusflexuosus, Steph. Illustr. ii. 101, 2; Man. 80, 6.20, 



femoralis, Kiesenw. Germ. Zeitschr. iv. 206, 3, pi. 3, 



f. 4. 



, Erichs. Ins. Deutschl. iii. 544, 3. 



, Wollaston, in Zoologist, 1852, p. 3622? 



This species is usually rather larger than Iccvigatus ; rather 

 more elongate; has the thorax broader, more rounded at the sides, 

 and not margined at the posterior angles ; sometimes both the 

 anterior and posterior angles of the thorax have a rufo-testaceous 

 spot, but very frequently the spots are wanting. The elytra more 

 nearly resemble those of H. marginatus in their markings, inas- 

 much as the discoidal spots are not divided, and the fasciae are 

 frequently complete, the post-medial fascia joining the second dis- 

 coidal spot, and the sub-humeral band being (often) recurved and 

 enclosing an oblong dark area at the shoulder; the sub-apical spot 

 often sends down a small branch to join the pale colour which 

 margins the apex of the elytra; the side of the elytron is also pale, 

 but more or less interrupted. There is this important difference, 

 however, between the markings of the present species, and those 

 of H. marginatus, namely, the H. Jlexuosus has a basal spot ; and, 

 indeed, there is often a transverse band at the base. The ash- 

 coloured pubescence with which the insect is clothed is distinctly 

 longer than in other species here noticed. 



I have reason to believe this is a common insect on our coasts. 

 I have taken it at Felixstow in Suffolk, and at Southend. Mr. 

 Squire found it at Deal. A specimen in Mr. Stephens' Collection 

 (which is believed to come from Mr. Haliday) is labelled " //. 

 sabulosus, n. sp., Irish Channel sandy coasts." The H. Jlexuosus 

 seems to have been founded by Stephens upon a single specimen, 

 which presents a variation in the markings which is by no means 

 uncommon. The bands and spots on the elytra have run, or 



