RHTNCHOPHORA. 433 



species, P. Lichtensfeinii and P. pubescens ; it is possible that those now 

 considered to belong to the former of these species may be proved even- 

 tually to be distinct, in which case they must stand under the name 

 P. Scoticus, Sharp in. lift. ; the genus is here taken as including only 

 the species of Pityoplithorus proper and not Tomicus chalcographus, 

 bulentatus and quadri>lens, which were associated with it by Ferrari, 

 but are now included under the new genus Pityogenes, Bedel ; the 

 following description and notes are chiefly taken from Mr. Blandford.'s 

 account of the genus in the Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, Vol. II. 

 (Second Series), p. 15 ; the genus, as defined by Eichhoff, presents the 

 following characters : antennae with a five-jointed funiculus and an 

 oval non-compressed club, which is constricted by transverse sutures 

 dividing it into four distinct joints ; thorax as long as or longer than 

 broad, bordered at base, and distinctly narrowed in front ; elytra cylin- 

 drical with simple rows of punctures, and with impunctate interstices ; 

 the apex is obliquely truncate, and presents a depression on either side 

 of the suture ; it is not armed with spines or teeth, but the raised sides 

 of the apical depression and the sutural margins sometimes possess a row 

 of small setigerous tubercles. 



All our specimens of so-called P. micrographus must really be referred 

 to P. ramulorum, Ferris, which latter insect is synonymous with 

 the Tomicus pubescens of Marsharn; the latter name must therefore 

 stand. 



The three species (including P. micrograph** for convenience sake, 

 oud also because it may be mixed with P. pubescens in our collections), 

 may be distinguished as follows: 



I. Apex of elytra bluntly rounded, not acuminate. 



i. Apical depressions of elytra wide and deep, their 



surface glabrous and shining ; size larger . . P. LlCHTEIfSTElXlI, Hat:. 

 ii. Apical depressions of elytra narrow and 



inconspicuous, their surface wrinkled ; size 



smaller P. PUBESCENS, Marsh. 



II. Elytra acuminate at apex (P. MICROGBAPHUS, Gyll.) 



P. Lichtensteinii, Eatz. (1 n. sp. Scoticus, Sharp in. hit.). Similar 

 in size and appearance to a small female of Tomicus bidentatus ; cylin- 

 drical, convex, shining, pitchy brown or black with disc of thorax and 

 elytra lighter, with very scanty fine pubescence on front and sides of thorax 

 md sides of elytra. Forehead with strong wrinkled punctures, in the male 

 vith a fringe of yellow hairs above the mouth, in the female with a dense 

 brush of yellow hair, forming a circular patch in the middle of the forehead. 

 Thorax convex, scarcely longer than broad, strongly narrowed in front, 

 sides straight to middle, thence sinuate to apex which is strongly 

 rounded, posterior angles distinct, but rounded, disc impressed on 

 either side behind middle, covered in front with strong transverse asper- 

 ations, the posterior half very shining, with somewhat diffuse punctures, 

 deep in male, finer in female, with a broad smooth central line ; scutel- 



fOL. V. F f 



