14 



COLEOPTERA. 



4. Haliplus varius, Nicolai, Col. agr. Hal., 34 ; Schaum, 

 1. c, 14; T. J. Bold, Ent. M. Mag., vol. iv, p. 

 284. 



Mr. Bold records the capture, in ponds near Newcastle- 

 on-Tyne, of a Haliplus which he refers to the varius of 

 Nicolai and Schaum. He has kindly (as usual) allowed me 

 to examine his insects ; but I must admit my inability to 

 consider them anything but conJiniSf var. (lineatus, Aube). 



Erichson and Aube both considered Nicolai's species as a 

 var. of obliquus, with the vertex and anterior margin of the 

 thorax black : but Schaum identifies Erichson's var. of 

 obliquus and Aube's var. of his lineatus, which is less and 

 paler than the type, and with the thorax narrowly marked 

 with black along the anterior and posterior margins, as the 

 true varius. The specimens of Aube's var. are recorded by 

 him as taken by M. Reiche in brackish water near Ostend, 

 and are apparently the types of Fairmaire's marifimus. 



From Schaum's description, the true varius is very like 

 obliquus, but always smaller, broader at the shoulders and 

 more rotundate, with the black lines on the elytra running 

 here and there together into spots, the four inner lines being 

 less interrupted than in obliquus. The thoracic basal strigae 

 are much finer than in confinisj and sometimes are scarcely 

 perceptible. 



5. Hydaticus transversalis, Auct. 



Mr. Crotch, 1. c, notes the division by Thomson of the 

 insect hitherto known to us by this name into two species, 

 only one of which Mr. Crotch can find in his collection. 



These species are as follows : — 



H. punctipennis, Thoms., Skand. Col., ix, p. 87, in 

 which the inner posterior claw is not half the length of the 



