the Elateridre of Japan. 33 



Similar to E. signatus, Gyll., but the tine punctuation of 

 the thorax and tlie absence ot' the black spots on the bases of 

 the wing-cases distinguish it at once. 



Hob. Chiuzenji, Miyanoshita, Kiga, and Ojayama. Six 

 examples only. 



Elater optabilis^ sp. n. 



Xigor, nitidus. longius fiilvo-pubescens ; thorace subtiliter punctu- 

 lato, couspicue azurco-micaute ; elytris rufis ; aoteauis iufuscatis, 

 articulo tertio quam secundus longiore ; pedibus iufuscatis, tarsis 

 obscure brunaeis. 



L. l-i-15 miU. 



Black, shining, with long tawny pubescence ; the head 

 evenly and rather densely, not coarsely punctured, frontal 

 carina semicircular; the tliorax narrowest anteriorly, gradually 

 widening to base, punctuation very tine and much less thickly 

 set than on the head, punctures laterally similar to disk, but 

 larger close to the anterior angle ; the scutellum obtusely 

 acuminate behind and sometimes feebly caviuate at the tip ; 

 the elytra punctate-striate, sutural stria most lightly impressed, 

 interstices l-o equal in breadth and Hatter than those outside 

 of them, all interstices finely punctulate, those near the 

 humeral angle slightly rugose ; the anteunse iufuscate, not 

 black, with the second and third joints piceous, third joint 

 one third as long again as the second ; the legs dusky, tarsi 

 brownish. 



This is the largest species of the genus known from Japan ; 

 in general facies it agrees with E. orientalis. 



Hub. Subashiri, in pines on the plain of Fujisan, Omine, 

 and Oyayama. 



Elater orientalis, sp. n. 



Niger, nitidus, griseo- vel fulvo-pubesceiis ; thorace subtiliter punc- 

 tulato ; elytris laefce brunaeis ; aateuuis iufuscatis (basi excepta) ; 

 pedibus infoscatis vel obscure brunneis. 



L. 10|-11 mill. 



Black, shining, with grey or fulvous pubescence j the head 

 evenly and rather densely punctured, carina semicircular ; the 

 thorax with fine and much less closely set punctures, not 

 opalescent, narrowest anteriorly, gradually widening to base ; 

 the scutellum obscurely punctured, obtusely acuminate 

 behind ; the elytra clear brown or reddish brown, sutural 

 stria fine and scarcely punctate, second more clearly, the rest 

 distinctly punctured, interstices feebly punctulate, second, 



Ann. i& Mag. ZV. Hist. Ser. 6. Vol. xiii. '6 



