Mr. G. Lewis on new Japanese Histeride. 137 
and fourth stria at the base of each stria, there is a large 
cream-coloured blotch; this, with the prevailing red colour of 
the species, is a very remarkable feature for the family. 
It is not uncommon in all the islands, infesting fungi on 
trees, which it visits in the first stage of decomposition, ‘when 
there is an abundance of other insects, on the larve of some 
of which it doubtless feeds. 
Heterius gratus, n. sp. 
Subquadratus, rufo-brunneus, fulvo-hispidus; fronte lateribus 
striatis ; pronoto utrinque bisulcato; elytris striis 3 distinctis, 
3 brevi; pygidio parce punctato, tenuissime impresso.  L. 
13 mill. 
This species is very closely allied to H. ferrugineus ; it is 
darker in colour, half as large again, with legs relatively 
much longer and tibia much more dilated. The elytral 
strie are three in number, two complete, and the third only as 
long as two thirds of the elytra. 
I took this species with a fuscous-coloured ant, midway be- 
tween Shimonosuwa and the Wada-toge, August 1, 1881. 
Heteerius optatus, n. sp. 
Oblongo-ovatus, nigro-piceus, sparse fuscescenti-hirtus, punctulatus ; 
pronoto lateribus subrotundatis, margine latissimo, medio bi- 
striato; elytris striis 1-3 et suturali integris ; pedibus rufis, tibiis 
modice latioribus. L. 2 mill. 
I have only a single example of this curious Heterius, 
which differs in colour and outline from all the hitherto re- 
corded species. ‘The whole insect is piceous black, save the 
anterior angles of the thorax and the legs, which arered. The 
thorax has the lateral margin very wide, with two short fine 
striz in the centre; these lines are not, as may at first appear, 
the limit of the thoracic margin. The thorax, especially in 
the anterior portion, is much more coarsely punctured than 
the elytra. 
I received this species from the vicinity of the Ishikari 
river, in Yezo, and with it came specimens of a genus of 
Synteliidee (not yet enunciated) , which corresponds with Oylistix 
in the Histeridz, and it is probable that they all came from 
the same tree. I think, therefore, that H. optatus has been 
taken in association with an arboreal ant; and this idea seems 
confirmed by the colour of the species, which agrees somewhat 
with Dendrophilus punctatus or a dark-coloured Hretmotes. 
Triballus semen, n. sp. 
Ovalis, parum convexus, dense punctatus, nigro-piceus, parum 
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 5. Vol. xii. 10 
