152 BERRICORNIA. [Malthode*. 



according to Kiesonwetter, with the angles produced into a lobe, which 

 is abruptly narrowed at apex and bent downwards, in a spiniform pro- 

 cess), last dorsal segment small, rounded at apex ; last ventral segment 

 forming a long and thin and slightly curved style, which is suddenly 

 dilated at apex and triangularly excised. 



Female with the head narrower and the temples swollen. 



By beating and swapping in and near woods in early summer ; local and usually 

 rare, but occasionally abundant where it occurs; Caterham, Micklebam (in which 

 place Mr. Champion once found it in profusion) ; Cambridge ; Bewdley Forest ; 

 Repton; Mat lock, Lovers' Walk ; Sherwood Forest ; Northumberland and Durham 

 district, very rare, "Hartford Bridge in May" (Bold); Scotland, rare, Forth 

 district. 



This species comes rather near the variety of M. mysticut with 

 immaculate elytra, but may be known by the colour of the thorax, 

 which is also less transverse ; from M. misellus it may be known by 

 the colour of the thorax and antennae, and the longer antennae of the 

 male. 



As the species of Malthodes and Malthinns open their wings almost 

 as soon as they touch the surface on to which they are beaten, the 

 species with the apex of the elytra immaculate are very easily passed 

 over by collectors as being Dipterous or Hymenopterous insects, among 

 the swarm of Diptera and small Hymenoptera that are always beaten off 

 shrubs in May and June. 



UK. misellus, Kies. Of a unicolorous fuscous-black or greyish- 

 black colour ; under-side more or less yellowish ; head finely punc- 

 tured ; antennae of male reaching apex of elytra, fuscous with the first 

 joint sometimes a little lighter, but not clear yellow as in the preceding 

 species; thorax subquadrate, anterior angles blunt, but slightly project- 

 ing, posterior angles rounded, unicolorous black with the very extreme 

 anterior and posterior margins sometimes obscurely lighter; elytra 

 broader than thorax, about two and a half times as long as together 

 broad, closely and rugosely punctured ; legs lighter or darker fuscous 

 brown, with the knees lighter. L. 3-3| mm. 



Male with the penultimate dorsal segment of abdomen elongate and 

 emarginato at apex, with the external angle produced on each side into 

 a short lobe, which is inflexed at apex; penultimate ventral segment 

 emarginate, last segment forming an elongate slightly curved style, 

 which is emarginate at apex. 



By toating and sweeping; rare; Malvern ; Repton; Glossop; Matlock ; Clifton, 

 near Manchester ; Scotland, rare, Solnay district. 



Iff. nig-ellus, Kies. (brevicollis, Thorns., nee Payk.). Black or 

 greyish-black, with the elytra unicolorous; head shining black, with the 

 eyes about as broad as thorax ; antennae rather short, not reaching the 

 apex of elytra, black or pitchy, with the first joint sometimes lighter; 



