British Sj'eciis of llaliplu.^. 'J'J 



llirougli tlic kindness of several entomolofjists, Captain Saitite 

 Chiire Devilloof Paris, Dr. Inverts of 'a Ciravciiliaiie, and tlie 

 lato Ilcrr Gan<^lljauer of Vienna. Ilerr llt'itti-r of Paskau 

 jind Ilerr IScliuIz of Hamburg have also supplied inc with 

 Hj)ocinicn.s which have been useful. 



It is after workin<; through all this material that I have 

 conic to the eonelusion that the only entirely leiiablc character 

 for separating the seven species of tlio group is the form of 

 the aideagus, and that, allhougii the otiier ciiaracler.s referred 

 to arc useful in allocating an individual to a ))articuhir specie s, 

 they not infrequently contradict one another, so that in some 

 cases it is extremely diflicult to come to a decision at all in 

 the case of the females. 



Apparently these characters and others which I find even 

 less useful are not universally variable, as Koberts (r6), for 

 instance, who has written a long ])apcr on North Ameiican 

 Ilaliplids, says that " the structural characters most useful in 

 separating the species are the form and markings, such as 

 depressions, margins, &c., of the prosternal process, meta- 

 sternum antl coxal plates, as well as the shape and structin-e 

 of the parts of the upper surface of the body," and he further 

 lays stress upon the value of maculation, but this specially 

 ajiplios to the genus Feltodytes, as he mentions that in Ihdi- 

 jilus variation in colour-markings is not at all uncommon. 



I will now discuss the value of the chief characters whicb 

 have been used in separating the species. 



General Form. 



A character upon which Edwards lays some stress is the 

 general form of the insect, and this involves the shape of the 

 thorax and the outline of the elytra. Now there is no doubt 

 that the general form is decidedly useful as a guide in 

 separating the species, although the ditTerences are more 

 aj)parent than real, but it is usnally possible to allocate 

 individuals to one of two categories as laid down by that 

 author. 



//. riificol/is, hejjdeiii, and most nomax have the thorax 

 aj parently more tlian twice as broad as long and with the 

 sides strongly convergent in front and the elytra are usually 

 evidently widest before the middle. //. ajiicalis, flmnatHis, 

 nomc.v var. hroioneaurs^ ice/itickii, and wniiacu/ulus usually 

 have a thorax which aj)pcars longer in proportion to its width, 

 with the sides less strongly convergent in front, while the 

 el} tra are usually widest in the middle, except in the case 

 of var. hroxcueanns which is a member of the other group as 

 to this last character. 



7* 



