152 Mr. D. Sharp on 



specimens the sculpture of the gular area is more largely 

 developed, there being both more rugae and more punc- 

 tures, but the sculpture always retains the same character. 

 The setae between the facets of the eyes are so long that 

 they can be easily detected ; the third joint of the tarsus 

 is divided nearly to the base, and the lobes formed by the 

 division are large and symmetrical. The scutellum is 

 always a little impressed along the middle. The meta- 

 thoracic epimera are comparatively narrow. 



The species is very variable in size, foim and sculpture, 

 but after repeated examinations I fail to find any reliable 

 character to separate even the most extreme forms. The 

 length varies from 14-30 mm. and the width from 

 4-7| mm. The female is generally larger than the male 

 and is somewhat darker in colour, but is never quite black. 

 There are sometimes three depressions on the thorax, and 

 these in a few specimens are deep and well-marked. The 

 sculpture of the upper-surface also varies: it is sometimes 

 coarser and less dense, and the insect appears slightly 

 shining. The elytra usually have the tip-sutural angle 

 sharp, or rectangular, but this also is variable. The rugae 

 on the gular area vary a good deal, but the sculpture there 

 never has the character of definite depressed punctures, 

 and it bears only an irregular, somewhat scanty pubescence, 

 never the regular dense pilosity of the C. ferns group of 

 species. The setosity on the labrum also varies. 



I have examined the male organs in some of the most 

 remarkable of the varieties and find they agree. The two 

 closely appressed laminae that form the tip of the intromi- 

 nent organ are not of equal length, but the lower one is 

 the longer and is very sharp. In this respect C. rusticus 

 differs from C. ferns. 



I think it quite possible that careful study of a series of 

 good examples of both sexes may show that there is really 

 more than one species mixed under C. rusticus. I should 

 recommend a thorough scrutiny of the labrum as likely 

 to give good results, but this is unfortunately attended 

 with great practical difficulties. 



The species inhabits apparently all the temperate zone 

 of the Old World in the Northern hemisphere, wherever 

 there are suitable timbers ; what species of conifer it may 

 prefer I do not know ; but doubtless the Scotch fir (Pinus 

 sylvcstris) is one of them. I have specimens before me 

 from Norway (Champion) ; Hanover ; Vienna ; S. France ; 



