26 HYDROPHILID^. 



A. ovata is the commonest in his experience of all the species: Cum- 

 berland (Day). 



LACCOBIUS, Erichson. 



A considerable amount of interest has been taken in this genus of 

 recent years by British Coleopterists, and the result has been the addi- 

 tion of three or four species to our lists, two at least of these being new 

 to science ; probably more will have to be added. Confusion has been 

 caused by the retention of Motschulsky's names : L. sinuatus, for 

 instance, must drop ; Motschulsky described this species from examples 

 from Carthagena, and the type is lost ; the insect standing under the 

 name in our collections is L. ohlongus, Gorham ; whether this is syno- 

 nymous with L. ohscuratus, Rey ., seems doubtful. L. regularis, Rey ., must 

 be substituted for L. scutellaris, Mots. ; it does not even answer to 

 Motschulsky's description and no type apparently is extant. 



A new character for the genus has been recently noticed by Dr. 

 Sharp, viz. the presence of oval, or almost circular lens-like spaces or 

 " goggles," on the front of the labrum ; in one or two cases they are very 

 useful in the determination of species ; they are not invariably present, 

 but sometimes, as in L. ytenensis, Sharp, are especially conspicuous. 



The following table will serve to distinguish our species as at present 

 determined ; for part of it I am indebted to Mr. Newbex^y (Ent. Mo. 

 Mag. xliv. (2 Ser. xix.) 1908, 30), and for part to Dr. Sharp. 



I. Thorax not alutaceous between the 

 larger punctures, 

 i. Under surface of the intermediate 

 femora in the male with a spot of 

 pubescence behind the apex of the 

 trochanters. 

 1. Size larger (3-4 mm.). 



A. Sides of thorax broadly tes- 

 taceous ; elytra without cop- 

 pery reflection . . . L. nigriceps, Thorns. 



B. Sides of thorax very narrowly 

 testaceous ; elytra with a strong 



coppery reflection . . . L. purpurascens, Xeivhery. 

 ii. Under surface of the intermediate 

 femora in the male without a spot 

 of pubescence^ 

 A. Form shorter, sub-orbicular, 

 or short oval. 

 a. Rows of punctures on elytra 

 not arranged in regular rows; 

 male with the " goggles " on 

 the front of the labrum large 

 and conspicuous and sepa- 



