268 [December, 



more transverse, and this makes the apical joint appear slightly shorter in propor- 

 tion, their general aspect being fusiform rather than cylindrical. The abdomen is 

 much more sparsely punctured and hairy in the centre of the dorsal segments. 

 From Q. mesomelinus , Marsh., it is distinguished by the elytra being shorter in 

 proportion to the thorax, with the sutural furrow slightly shallower, and the punctu- 

 ration, though scarcely closer, is certainly deeper. The four thoracic punctures are 

 present on, the side of the disc. From Q.fulgidus,'E. {= 4!-punctatus,Thov[\s.), 

 which appears to have the elytra constantly red, it differs in possessing no long setse 

 on the lateral margin of the elytra near their anterior angle, and in having the 

 abdomen and scutellum entirely black with black pubescence. 



Prom the above characters it would appear to claim specific rank, 

 whicli it was accorded by Mulsant and E.ey in 1877, and by Acloque, 

 who is by no means too analytical, and prefers rather to unite than to 

 separate, in 1896. But v. Heyden, Eeitter and Weise, in both the 

 ] 883 and last edition of their Catalogue, consider it a variety of Q. 

 fulgidus, F. 



Both the British specimens have been found in Suffolk, but under 

 extremely different circumstances, and its habits have yet to be dis- 

 covered. Possibly the Kessingland example had wandered from a 

 neighbouring rabbit burrow in search of prey, and ensconced itself 

 beneath the board during daylight. There would be little difference 

 to a Quedius, probably, between a bees' nest and a rabbits' hole, both 

 are subterranean, and both are dark and cool. The larva and imago 

 are said to live in caves, for which the above are very fair substitutes. 

 Mr. E. A. Butler has kindly sent me the Tostock example to examine, 

 and it agrees in every particular with that described, excepting in 

 length, being not more than 9 mm. long. 



In the accompanying figures of the mandibles No. 1 represents 

 Q. mesomelinus,M.a,rs\i. ; No. 2, Q.fulgidus, P. (= 4d-punctatus, Thorns.) ; 

 and No. 3, Q. nigrocceruleus, Muls. and E-ey. 



Ipswich : Ootoher, 1898. 



[Amongst the Quedii sent me at various times from Tostock, Bury St. Edmunds, 

 by Mr. W. H. Tuck, from the nests of Bomhus and Vespa, I have found another speci- 

 men of Q. nigroccEruleus, passed over by me for Q. mesomelinus, it having only the 

 faintest tinge of blue on the elytra. This example certainly has the elytra more 

 closely punctured than any specimen of Q. mesomelinus in my possession. The larger 

 and squarer head mentioned by Mr. Morley is no doubt a mark of the male sex, and 

 probably the frontal excavation also, corresponding sexual differences being observa- 

 ble in the allied Q. ventralis, Ar. (= truncioola, Fairm.) ; the frontal excavation, 

 however, is deeper than in the male of Q. mesomelinus. Unfortunately, I have 

 omitted to label this third example of Q. nigrocceruleus with the data supplied by 

 Mr. Tuck at the time.— G-. C. C.]. 



