1898.] gg 



British records of B. lutosus are incorrect. The characters used by 

 Thomson and Bedel to distinguish these species are somewhat con- 

 tradictory ; Bedel, moreover, placing particular stress upon the coarser 

 sculpture of B. glahrirostris, a peculiarity not mentioned by Thomson. 

 Both authors, however, mention the beak-like posterior prolongation 

 of the elytra in B. lufosiis,sind by this chara,cter alone the two species 

 maybe readily distinguished : B . fflabrirosft-is having the elytva, abruptly 

 declivous and much more obtuse behind, their general shape thus 

 being more quadrate. Thomson separated from B. lufosus a smaller 

 form under the name B caudatus, Th., and from B. lutulentus a form 

 with black tarsi, B. nigritarsis, Th. ; but his species have not been 

 accepted by subsequent writers. He groups them by the following 

 characters : — 



Elytra with the interstices flat, equal, the suture elevated posteriorly ; the apex 

 acute, inflexed, and rostrate. Legs rufous lutosus, G-yll., caudatus, Th. 



Elytra with the alternate interstices raised, the suture not elevated posteriorly; the 

 apex inflexed and scarcely rostrate ; the 3rd interstice with a white spot a little 

 beyond the middle, the 5th callous posteriorly... 



lutulentus, Gryll., nigritarsis, Th. 



Bedel (Faune Col Bassin de la Seine, vi, p. 106) separates the 

 two species thus : — 



Hind body attenuated in a rather long beak. Sculpture finer ; granules of the 

 elytra more numerous, usually 4X4 upon the base of the Ist interstice; 

 3rd interstice not raised, with a yellowish badly-defined spot... 



lutosus, Gryll. 

 Hind body somewhat abruptly declivous behind. Sculpture coarser ; granules 

 of the elytra less numerous, usually 3X3 upon the base of the Ist inter- 

 stice ; 3rd interstice with a whitish, well-defined spot. Tarsi sometimes 

 black (var. nigritarsis, Th.), sometimes red... 



glabriostris, Herbst {lutulentus, G-yll.). 

 The large form of B. gl ahrirostris — of which I have seen about a 

 dozen examples, including one from Merton in the Power collection 

 (captured in July, 1864, with a number of the smaller form), several 

 in Mr. W. H. Bennett's collection, all from Pevensey or Rye, and one 

 captured by myself at Sandown, in June, 1888 — seems to be quite 

 constant, and to differ from typical specimens in the relatively longer 

 tarsi ; it has the tarsi constantly reddish. The specimen representing 

 B. lutosus in Mr. S. Stevens's collection is larger and more robust 

 than any of these ; but if the shape of the apex of the elytra is to be 

 relied upon as a specific character, the insect must be referred to B. 

 glahrirostris. 



The small form of B. glahrirostris is sometimes common where it 



