MicrocaraJ] SERRICORNIA, 121 



V. Bohemanni, Maunh. This variety, which by Thomson and 

 other authors is considered a separate species, differs from the type 

 form in being smaller and rather more shining, and in having the disc 

 of the thorax more or less broadly nigro-fuscous ; the lateral margins of 

 the thorax are also more elevated. L. 3| mm. 



Much less common than the type ; it boa occurred near Birmingham and Dumfries, 

 and in other localities. 



CYPHON, Paykull. 



This genus contains about fifty or sixty species of small and insignifi- 

 cant insects, which in many instances closely resemble each other and 

 are difficult to determine ; from the allied genera Helodes and Microcara 

 they may be known by their shorter antennae and generally smaller size ; 

 twenty-five species inhabit Europe, of which six occur in Britain ; of the 

 remainder a considerable proportion have been found in North America ; 

 several have been described from Chili, and representatives have been 

 recorded from Senegal, Ceylon, Cuba, Patagonia, and Tasmania, so that 

 the genus is evidently a widely distributed and extensive one; the 

 species, however, are so exceedingly fragile and perishable that it is very 

 hard to preserve them in anything like good condition, and they are 

 therefore much neglected by collectors. 



I. Elytra with thiee feeble raised longitudinal lines on 



each, 

 i. Elytra more closely and finely punctured ; upper 



surface less shining C. COAHCTATUS, Paylc. 



ii. Elytra less closely and more strongly punctured ; 



upper surface more shining C. NITIDULCS, Thorns. 



II. Elytra without raised- Hues, 

 i. Average length 2-2J mm. 



1. Punctuation fine and comparatively close . . C. VABIABILIS, TTiunb. 



2. Punctuation course and not close C. PUNCTIPENNIS, Sharp. 



ii. Average length 1 J-l mm. 



1. Fourth joint of antennae one and a half times 

 as long as third ; elytra without distinct dark 



markings C. PALLID OLDS, Boh. 



2. Fourth joint of antennas twice as long as third ; 

 elytra with suture, sides, and base more or less 



dark C. PADI, /. . 



C. coarctatuB, Payk. ( ? fuscicornis, Thorns.; griseiis, Gyll. ; 

 palustris, Thorns.). Oval, moderately convex, but depressed on disc, 

 clothed with rather long greyish pubescence, of a lighter or darker 

 reddish-brown colour, which is variable ; head rather large, eyes promi- 

 nent, black ; antennae yellowish, fuscous towards apex ; thorax very 

 short, narrower than elytra, posterior angles almost right angle?, base 

 sinuate; scutellum large, punctured ; elytra thickly and distinctly 

 punctured, with throe raised lines on each, shoulders strongly marked ; 

 legs testaceous. L. 2-2 mm. 



