CRYPTOMOKPHA DESJAEDINSI. 275 



I have only examined a few specimens of each species in more 

 detail, but I believe that there are certain other distinctions discernible 

 under the microscope. For instance, it appears to me that the 

 metanotum of nnguicidaris is more heavily built than that of affinis, 

 and also that the five basal joints of the antenna of affinis, male or 

 female, measured together, are longer than the same number of joints 

 in an antenna of the same total length in ungnicidaris. These 

 differences, however, if truly specific, are fo small as to be of no value 

 for ordinary purposes. For purposes of identification, therefore, I 

 should consider the following characters : — 



1. Form more iDarallel, colour black ; metasternal wings less sharply pointed - 

 reflexed margin of elytra black, and apes more sharply pointed. In male, anterior 

 claw on anterior tarsi with a triangular tooth, apes of which is directed neither 

 forward nor backward ; stridulatory files shorter, with ridges very fine and close 

 together. Less reliable characters : Legs more infuscate ; antemise less infuscate ; 

 occipital spots more distinct. =affims, Payk. 



2. Form more oval ; colour of a slightly seneous cast ; metasternal wings more 

 sharply pointed ; reflexed margin of elytra obscure-red, and ajjex less sharply 

 pointed ; in male, anterior claws on anterior tarsi with a tooth, in which apex is 

 directed forward towards apes of claw ; stridulatory files longer, with ridge& 

 stronger and farther apart. Less reliable characters : Legs less infuscate ; antennae 

 more infuscate ; occipital spots less distinct. —imguicularis, Thorns. 



Description of Plate XII. 



Fig. 1. — Metasterna of Agahus afihiis, Payk., and A. ungmeularin, Tlioms. 

 (scale noted). 



Fig. 2.- -Underside of elytra of Agahnf^ affinis, Payk., and A. imguicularis- 

 Thoms. (scale noted). 



Description of Plate XIII. 



Fig. 1. — Anterior claw on anterior right tarsus of Agabus aifinis, Payk., <f , 

 and on anterior left of A. imguicularis, Thoms., cf ( x400 about). 



Fig. 2. — Stridulating file of male Agahus imguicularis, Thoms., and A. aijinis, 

 Payk. ^__^________ 



/ 



Cryptomorpha desjardinsi, Guer. — A probable Cosmopolitan beetle 



in Britain. 



By EICHAED S. BAGNALL, F.E.S. 



■ Last month (September 18th, 1906), whilst searching the cellar at 

 home, I found a beetle, easily recognised as something unusual, and 

 which Mr. Donisthorpe kindly identified as Cryptoviori^ha desjardinsi^ 

 Guer., an insect that has been taken in New Zealand, Mauritius, 

 Madeira, etc., and of which Mr. E. A. Waterhouse took a single 

 example, fifteen years ago, out of a bunch of bananas in London. 



C. desjardinsi is a striking insect, about 4mm. in length, linear, and, in 

 colour, reddish-testaceous ; autenna3 yellow, with joints 7-10 darker,, 

 the latter two (9-10) being almost black, whilst the apical joint is clear 

 yellow ; the head (with eyes) is slightly wider than thorax, the eyes 

 being large, black and prominent. Thorax with sides crenulate, longer 

 than broad, widest at apex, and from the middle gradually narrowed 

 to base, where it is much less wide than the base of the elytra. Elytra 

 with strongly punctured striae and wide interstices ; pubescence short 

 and strong, arranged in parallel row^s, longer and more confused at 

 sides; a dark patch around scutellum, and a dark inverted V-mark on. 

 apical third ; apex and middle of elytra testaceous, darkening to edges.. 

 Legs testaceous. It is most likely that this beetle falls into the same 

 category as certain cosmopolitan Citcnjidae, etc., and therefore may, irt 



