196 RHTNCHOPHORA. [TropiphoTus. 



with greyish-coppery or dull golden scales ; very like the preceding in 

 general appearance, but easily distinguished by not having the interstices 

 costate, as well as by its lighter colour ; the elytra at the sides of base 

 plainly project beyond the basal- angles of the thorax, and their basal 

 external angles are prominent in front ; from these angles to the middle 

 the elytra are gradually and feebly widened ; the striae are somewhat 

 coarsely punctured, but are much hidden by the scales in fresh 

 specimens ; suture somewhat elevated behind femora black with 

 metallic hairs ; tibiae and tarsi ferruginous or pitchy. L. 6| mm. 



On Mercurialis perennis, especially in chalky districts ; local, but not uncommon 

 where it occurs ; Mickleham ; Hastings ; Devon ; Swansea ; Herefordshire ; Knowle ; 

 Bewdley ; Reptou and neighbourhood; Manchester district, genernl but not common ; 

 Liverpool district ; York ; Scarborough ; Teesdale ; Northumberland and Durham 

 district; Scotland, common in flood refuse, Solway, Forth, Tay, Dee, Moray and 

 probably other districts ; Ireland, near Dublin, frequent, near Belfast, &c. 



T. obtusus, Bonsd. Very like the preceding : in fact Thomson 

 (Skandinaviens Coleoptera vii. p. 145) has described it as the female 

 of that species ; it may, however, be known by having the basal external 

 angle of the elytra truncate and obtuse, and coinciding with the external 

 angle of the thorax, rather abruptly enlarged from that angle to the first 

 fifth of their length and thence very slightly deflexed ; the suture of 

 the elytra is less raised at apex and the central carina of the thorax is 

 not so strongly marked, and the interstices, moreover, of the elytra are 

 flatter. L. 6^ mm. 



Very rare ; taken by Dr. Sharp on the banks of the water of Cairn between 

 Irongray and Dimscore, Dumfriesshire. I have a specimen nmong some duplicates 

 given me by Dr. Sharp which must, I think, be referred to this species ; the central 

 line of the thorax, however, is strongly marked. 



PHYLLOBIINA. 



This tribe, as here constituted, contains the following British genera, 

 Pliyllobius, Polydrusus, LiojMceus and Barypeithes (the latter genus 

 only containing B. sulcifrons), and also Sci/throjms, Schon., PtocJius 

 Schon. and Argoptoclius Weise ; its members are distinguished by having 

 the tarsal claws connate, and also by the more or less elongated elytra, of 

 which the shoulders (except in Barypeithes) are well marked and promi- 

 nent, and the long or comparatively long metasternum ; many of the 

 species are covered with exceedingly brilliant golden green scales and 

 are very beautiful and conspicuous insects ; the introduction of the 

 genus Barypeithes by Bedel causes a certain amount of confusion, and it 

 is probable that it may have to be differently located; the arrangement 

 here adopted is of great advantage as bringing PkylloUus and Pulydrusiit 

 into close connection ; these two genera are extremely closely allied both 

 in general appearance and habit, but have usually been placed in 

 different tribes. 



