NEW BRITISH SPECIES, ETC, IN 1869. 109 



163. Bagous inceratus (Frontisp., fig. 6), Gyll., Schon., 

 Syn. Ins., 76; E. C. Rye, 1. c., 5. 

 encaustusj Boh. 



A single specimen of this exotic-looking beetle (which 

 appears to be generally distributed in Europe) was found by 

 Mr. Douglas two or three years ago, when dragging for 

 Corixce in a brackish-water ditch near Gravesend; and, 

 since the publication of my notice of it in the present year, 

 an enormous number of examples have been taken by 

 Mr. G. C. Champion and Mr. J. G. Marsh (and subse- 

 quently by T)y. Power) in a brackish-water ditch in the 

 Isle of Sheppey, about two miles from Sheerness, where it 

 appeai-ed to be plentiful, but very local. Mr. Champion 

 has also recorded the capture of a single specimen at South- 

 end, in decaying sea-weed, on the shore. 



To this insect must be attributed, as its captor kindly in- 

 forms me, the Bagous referred to in Newman's " Entomo- 

 logist," No. 71, p. 356, by Mr. H. MoncreafF, of Southsea, 

 and, by an obvious printer's error, appearing as " euceratns, 

 n. 5." Mr. Moncreaff took it, in company with B. lutulosusy 

 in the island of Portsea, about two years ago, and (as ob- 

 served in his note above mentioned) had it since then lying 

 perdu in his collection, named " Phijtonomus rumicis" (!) 

 by some authority, until Mr. Crotch corrected the mistake. 



B. incer^atus appears to vary considerably in size, but is, 

 on the average, larger than any of our recorded Bagoi, ex- 

 cept binodulus ; but its dense clothinfj of scales, somewhat 

 greasy appearance, broad flattish build and comparatively 

 short leofs at once distino;uish it from its consreners. The 

 prevailing tone of colour appears to be olive-grey, with 

 more or less distinct pitchy markings on the elytra, of which 

 an irregular interrupted transverse band towards the disc is 

 the most conspicuous ; but it appears to be easily abraded, 

 and is then uniformly darker. When quite fresh, its thorax 



