184 CLAVICORXIA. [Triplax. 



to the Munich catalognc, contains about sixty spocios, which arc entirely 

 confined to North, Central, and South America, and adjacent islands ; 

 three species of Triplax occur in Britain, which may be distinguished as 

 follows : 

 I. Head and abdomen red. 



i. Elytra black ; size larger T. BTJ8SICA, L. 



ii. Elytra metallic, greenish-blue; size smaller . . T. JENEA, Schall. 

 II. Abdomen black ; head usually black T. LACOBDAIBEI, Crotch. 



T. russica, L. Oblong, very shining, head and thorax bright red, 

 elytra black ; head triangular, finely and diffusely punctured, eyes black ; 

 antennae black, rather long, with second joint plainly shorter than third, 

 last three joints forming a distinct club; thorax transverse, sub- 

 rectangular, gradually and slightly narrowed in front, with anterior angles 

 projecting, finely and not closely punctured ; elytra long, gradually con- 

 tracted towards apex, with a distinct callosity at shoulders, finely 

 punctured in rows, interstices feebly punctured ; breast usually black ; 

 legs red, robust, tibias dilated at apex, tarsi with first three joints plainly 

 dilated. L. 4|-7 mm. 



In fungoid growth on trees ; occasionally found under bark ; local ; London dis- 

 trict^rather scarce, Darenth, Mickleham, Coombe Wood, Headley Lane ; Eastry, Kent ; 

 Hirdbrook, Essex ; New Forest ; Devonshire ; Bristol ; Swansea ; Cannock Chase ; 

 Notts; Needwood; Repton ; Scotland, rare, in fungi, Taj and Moray districts. 



T. senca, Schall. Much smaller than the preceding ; head and 

 thorax red, antenna black ; elytra metallic, bluish-green ; scutellum 

 red ; thorax a little longer in proportion than in T. russica, and elytra 

 with the rows of punctures rather stronger ; under-side red ; legs red, 

 not so robust as in the preceding species. L. 2f-4| mm. 



In fungoid growth on holly and other trees; rare; Coombe Wood and 

 Meldon Park (Stephens); New Forest; Need wood; Scarborough; Northumberland 

 district. 



T. Xiacordairei* Crotch (ruficollis, Steph. ; nigriceps, Lac.). Very 

 closely resembling a minute example of T. russica : head as a rule black, 

 but sometimes only slightly dusky at sides ; antennaB blackish or pitchy, 

 with base sometimes lighter ; thorax bright red, with sides very slightly 

 rounded, transverse, very finely and not closely punctured ; elytra black, 

 with regular rows of fine punctures ; abdomen black (a character which 

 will at once distinguish the species); legs lighter or darker reddish- 

 testaceous. L. 2|-4| mm. 



In fungoid growth on ash and other trees ; very local and rare ; Windsor 

 (Stephens); Erith (Power); Darenth Wood (Champion); Dulwich, one example 

 (T. Wood). 



CYRTOTRIPLAX, Crotch (Tritoma, F.). 



This genus contains about twenty species which are widely distributed, 

 representatives occurring in North America,. Siberia, Japan, Borneo, West 



