52 HETEROMERA. [Salpingut. 



referring to S. ra/s, nil the localities above given have been recorded as for 8. ater, 

 but I believe that they must be referred to thepresent species, if S, ceratus and S. ater 

 are really distinct. 



S. ater, Payk. As far as I can make out, this species can only be 

 said to differ from S. aeratus in its colour, which is deep shining black, 

 with the legs also black, the tarsi being more or less pitchy, and the 

 base of the antennae reddish ; it is said to differ in the impressions of the 

 thorax, and in the fact that the elytra sometimes have a fovea near base, 

 but these are quite unreliable characters ; the elytra also are said to 

 have the rows of punctures regular to base, but they are quite as regular 

 in some specimens of S. ceratus ; in fact the latter species differs con- 

 siderably in puncttlation, and in the case of two type German specimens 

 from Herr Reitter now before me, one has the thorax considerably more 

 strongly punctured than the other ; in a type specimen of S. ater sent 

 me by the same entolomogist the thorax appears to be a little more nar- 

 rowed behind and more even and regularly punctured than is the case 

 with the general run of S. aerafus, but in all points, including colour, 

 shape and punctuation, intermediate examples appear to occur, and I 

 feel strongly inclined to regard the species as synonymous, and merely 

 varieties of one species. L. 2|-3 mm. 



Of all the specimens I have seen one only appears to be related to the 

 type S. ater, and this was taken by Mr. Champion at Aviemore, Inver- 

 ness shire. 



S. mutilatus, Beck, (virescens, Muls., nee Lee. ; s.g. Colposix, 

 Muls.). In general appearance somewhat resembling at first sight a 

 specimen of Rldnosimus planirostris ; greenish-bronze, very shining, 

 with the mandibles long and exserted, the labrum and other mouth parts 

 reddish-testaceous, and the antennae fuscous with reddish-testaceous 

 base, gradually thickened towards apex ; eyes very prominent ; thorax 

 short, subcordiform, rather diffusely punctured ; elytra with shoulders 

 well marked, much broader at base than base of thorax, with sides 

 slightly dilated and rounded behind, and with rather regular rows of 

 moderately strong punctures, and an impression on each before base ; 

 legs testaceous. L. 2-2 min. 



In dead twigs, &c. ; rare ; it has only been taken at Caterham and at Gomshall 

 near Dorking by Mr. G-. C. Champion ; in the former place he took a few examples 

 by sweeping Mcrcurialis perennis under old beech troes in the autumn. 



This species is distinguished from the three preceding by the long 

 exserted mandibles, the broadly flattened and almost concave frontal 

 region of the head, the shorter thorax and more strongly impressed 

 elytra, the very shining upper surface, the greenish -bronze colour, the 

 reddish- testaceous labrum, &c. ; and from S. foveolatus, which it more 

 nearly resembles in the structure of the mandibles, by the shorter and 

 narrower rostrum, the differently coloured oral organs, the flattened 

 frontal region, the differently formed labrum, the smaller size, the more 



