22^ MANDIBULATA. — COLEOFTEJlA. 



ftear the suture, and smaller than the first : the under parts of the body are 

 obscure brown : the antenna and legs testaceous. 

 Var. iS. In this variety the elytra are somewhat more deeply striated, and 

 viewed under a lens, the strife are adorned with obsolete impressions : the 

 basal half of the elytra is nearly all pale, and the apical portion fuscous, 

 with a smaU paUid spot towards the tip near the suture : in other respects it 

 resembles the last, but the antennae and legs are more rufous. 



Rather an uncommon species, which I have occasionally taken 

 beneath the bark of oaks near Hertford : it also occurs in the fields 

 to the north of London : at Cobham and Coombe Wood, Surry, 

 and in Dorsetshire ; it appears to be less rare in Yorkshire, espe- 

 cially the typical variety, of which my friend, Mr. Cooper, has sup- 

 plied me with specimens captured by him near Langton Wold, 

 during the present spring. 



At the time I caused the drawing to be made from which the 

 accompanying figure was taken, I suspected that the insect was a 

 • distinct species ; but, upon a close examination of several specimens, 

 I am convinced that it is merely a variety, differing in being some- 

 what paler, and having the elytra more strongly striated, with 

 impressed dots, which are visible only in certain directions of light : 

 it agrees with var. /3. 



Sp. 5. melanocephalus. Plate I. f. 5. Brevis, paUidus capite nigro, 

 eh/tris hnmactilatis, ahdomine ferrug'meo. (Long. c. 1^ — If lin.) 

 Dr. melanocephalus. De Jean. — Steph. Catal. No. 16. 



An elegant httle species : head black : thorax rust-coloured-red, quadrate, with 

 a strongly impressed longitudinal Une : the elytra pale yellowish, very obso- 

 letely striated : the under parts dull ferruginous : the antennae and legs pale. 



Var. /3. Dr. venustulus. Steph. Catal. I. c. — A re-examination of some speci- 

 mens which I had received by the name of Lebia venustula, Spence's MSSl 

 has satisfied me that they are merely immature individuals of this species ; 

 the only differences I observe in them being that the head is pitchy-black, 

 and the elytra rather transparent. 



Var. 7. Dr. scuteUaris. Steph. Catal. I. c. — This variety differs in having a 



triangular dusky-black spot at the base of the wing-cases near the scuteUum, 



and in having the abdomen deep brown or dusky : it is somewhat larger than 



, the first, the colour is more clear and better defined, and the antennae are of 



a dusky hue towards the tip. 



Although not described in the Entomologia Britannica, this 

 species is not uncommon in the neighbourhood of London; and in 

 the gravel-pits at Coombe Wood, as well as beneath moss, at Hert- 

 ford and elsewhere, I have repeatedly taken it. It also occurs in 



