the Elateridje of Japan. 29 



riorly the canaliculation between the eyes, densely punctate 

 like the thorax, hitter arched at the sides, anterior edge behind 

 the neck a little raised, and immediately behind arc two 

 conical elevations, separated from each other by a median 

 channel, which reaches the base of the thorax ; midway be- 

 tween the conical elevations and the base are two more eleva- 

 tions with larger bases, but not so high ; the elytra are some- 

 what densely punctate and without striation, the sculpture 

 being, however, obscured by the density of the pilosity. 



I do not know any species resembling this. 



Hab. Oyayama. One example. 



Lacon brunneus, sp. u. 



lirunneus, nitidus, griseo-vestitus ; fronte punctata, in medio dis- 

 tinctc impressa ; thorace disco convexo ; elytris punctatis ; 

 antenuis pedibusque concoloribus. 



L. 5 mill. 



Brown, with greyish hairs ; the head coarsely and densely 

 punctate, with a median impression ; the thorax very convex 

 on the disk, at the sides punctate like the head, but less 

 closely in the middle, arched behind the anterior angles, sides 

 then parallel to the base, hind angles straight and not pro- 

 duced, at the base before the scutellum is a nodulous eleva- 

 tion ; the scutellum clearly punctured, semicircular behind ; 

 the elytra widen out over the posterior femoral groove, punc- 

 tate, punctures set in somewhat irregular rows, interstices 

 smooth, apices obtuse j the legs and antenna3 brown. 



This insect should be placed next to L. tumens, Cand., 

 which also has a conspicuous antescutellar elevation. 



Hab. Oyama. One example. 



[I took a species in Ceylon closely similar to the above, 

 but the anterior edge of the thorax is, amongst other minor 

 differences, oblique not arched.] 



Lacon dijicilis, sp. n. 

 Lacon trifasciatus, Cand. Mem. Liege, 1873, p. 1. 



This species is larger than L. trifasciatus^ Cand,, and it is 

 broader and more generally robust, darker in colour, infuscate 

 on the disks of the thorax and dorsum, and the elytral fasciae 

 are more diffused. In other respects Candeze's description as 

 above will serve. In L. trifasciatus, Cand., there is a fine 

 carina within the humeral angle, short but distinct ; this is 

 absent in L. difficilis. 



Hab. Nagasaki. Common on an evergreen oak. 



