SCOTT—COLEOPTERA; HYDROPHILID®, HISTERIDAL 203 
Hetocuares, Mulsant. 
7. Helochares melanophthalmus, Mulsant. 
Helochares melanophthalmus Mulsant, Hist. nat. Col. France, Palpicornes, 1844, 
p. 1387; Alluaud, Liste Coléopt., p. 231; Régimbart, Ann. Soe. ent. France, Ixxu. 1903, 
p- 27; Kolbe, Abh. Senckenb. Ges., xxvi. 1902, p. 574; id. Mitt. Zool. Mus. Berlin, 
Wo UQWO, jos Zt. 
Helochares nigrifrons Régimbart, Bull. Soc. ent. France, 1900, p. 50. 
Régimbart first determined (1900, /.c.) specimens from Aldabra as H. mgrifrons 
Branesik, stating that he was inclined to consider it as simply a form of melanophthalmus : 
in his later paper (1903, J.c.) he still refers the Aldabra specimens to it, but treats it 
as var. ngrifrons of melanophthalmus ; Kolbe states (1902, l.c.) that mgrifrons Brancsik 
cannot be separated from melanophthalmus. But Zaitzev in his Catalogue (p. 381, 1908) 
treats the two as distinct species. I have been unable to investigate the matter and 
follow Régimbart and Kolbe in referring the form found in Aldabra to melanophthalmus. 
Loc. Aldabra: Takamaka, 1908, 12 specimens (Fryer): 1895 (Voeltzkow). 
Madagascar, Africa, 8. Kurope. 
Helochares melanophthalmus Mulsant var. sechellensis, Régimbart. 
Var. sechellensis Régimbart, Ann. Soc. ent. France, Ixxii. 1903, p. 27; Kolbe, Mitt. 
Zool. Mus. Berlin, v. 1910, p. 24. 
This form is clearly distinguished from that found in Aldabra by its finer and less 
dense punctuation, and consequently more shining appearance, and by its generally larger 
size. ‘The specimens before me agree well with Régimbart’s description. 
Loc. Seychelles. Félicité: from a pond in a plantation at Grande Anse, XII. 1908, 
7 specimens. Mahé: marshes on coastal plain at Anse Royale, I. 1909, 5 specimens; 1896 
(Brauer). La Digue: 1892 (Alluaud). 
PuityprRus, Solier. 
Subgenus Merayprus, Rey; Ganglbauer, Kif. Mitteleur., iv. 1, p. 243. 
8. Philydrus (Methydrus) parvulus, Reiche. 
Philydrus parvulus Reiche, Ann. Soc. ent. France, sér. 3, iv. 1856, p. 359; 
Régimbart, Bull. Soc. ent. France, 1900, p. 50; id., Ann. Soe. ent. France, Ixxu. 1903, 
p- 31; Alluaud, Liste Coléopt., p. 231; Kolbe, Abh. Senckenb. Ges., xxvi. 1902, p. 574; 
id., Mitt. Zool. Mus. Berlin, v. 1910, p. 24. 
Régimbart’s remarks (J.c.) about the extreme variability of this species in colour, size, 
&c., are amply borne out by the large series of over 140 specimens before me. Some 
specimens are small and very pale, others much larger and dark, and there are various 
intermediate gradations. This variation occurs, to a large extent at any rate, in- 
dependently of sex. The triangular yellow marks on the head in front of the eyes appear 
to be constant in both sexes. 
