Atlantic Coleoptera. 301 
regarding them as less dentate than those of the O. ater. 
So far as I can now detect, it would appear to recede 
from the latter in its elytra being a little more coarsely 
and remotely punctured, with the suture perceptibly less 
raised, and in its head being appreciably shorter (or 
more straightly and suddenly truncated behind the eyes 
—which are consequently nearer to the basal margin), 
with the large additional punctures on either side (pos- 
teriorly) shallower and less developed. Its prothorax 
also, if anything, is a trifle longer, just perceptibly 
narrower (or less downwardly-proauced) towards the 
anterior angles, and with the posterior ones perhaps less 
completely rounded-off; and Mr. Rye has remarked 
(Ent. Month. Mag. iv. 256) that the basal joint of its 
middle and posterior tarsi is appreciably thicker and less 
elongate. 
(Sp. 1350) Ocypus punctatissimus. 
As mentioned in the Appendix to my ‘ Coleoptera Hes- 
peridum,’ M. Fauvel (1 Abeille, vi. 151) affirms this 
Lanzarotan and Fuerteventuran Ocypus to be identical 
with the common Huropean QO. cupreus. As already 
stated in no less than three separate volumes, I am far 
from certain that it may not be in reality a geographical 
variety of that species; nevertheless its few distinctive 
features are so constant, and pronounced, that I cannot 
but regard M. Fauvel’s dictum as (to say the least) un- 
necessarily positive. Thus the Canarian specimens are 
not only a trifle narrower and darker (or less eeneous) 
than British ones now before me, but their head and pro- 
thorax are more closely and very much more finely punc- 
tured, —the former moreover being appreciably less 
developed, and the latter relatively narrower (or more 
laterally-compressed): the penultimate segment of their 
abdomen, also (at any rate in the male sex), is perhaps 
rather more sinuate along its upper hinder-edge. Kraatz, 
to whom I sent it for examination when compiling my 
Canarian Catalogue, returned it as ‘‘ Ocypus, cupreo 
affinis:” yet the Baron Harold, despite my repeated 
assertions, and accepting doubtless the dictum of Fauvel, 
identifies it (Cat. Col. 582; 1868) with the cupreus. 
- Since it appears, however, that an Ocypus (said to be 
conspecific with the OQ. ater, Grav.) was published under 
