ENTOMOLOGICAL CABINET. 



HELOPHORUS FENNICUS. 



Dusky ferruginous ■ head with the forehead ob- 

 soletely impressed : thorax broad, rather convex, 

 broadest anteriorly, the lateral margins sinuated, the 

 disk rugose, punctated with five sulci, the central 

 one straight, the rest more or less fiexuous : elytra 

 somewhat convex, griseus, punctate-striated, the 

 alternate interstices elevated and smooth ; a little be- 

 yond the middle are some oblong elevated dusky or 

 black spots on the carinse ; and near the scutellum 

 is an abbreviated punctate stiola : body beneath 

 pitchy-brown ; the abdomen pale ferruginous ; legs, 

 palpi and antennae pale testaceous ; the tip of the 

 latter rather obscure. 



Length 2| lines. 



Inhabits ponds during the spring months. 



The insects of this genus are amongst the first 

 Coleoptera that offer themselves to the collector. 

 Many of the species are common and may be found 

 walking on the grass under water, in cart ruts and 

 the shallowest pools ; they appear rather to walk or 

 paddle through the water, for their action is not 

 swimming as in the Hydrophili and Dytkidce ; in fact, 

 they are incapable of giving that stroke by the hinder 

 feet so well displayed by the regular diving and swim- 

 ming insects. The species are not numerous, but 

 many of the allied genera are beautifully sculptured 

 16-2 



