1870. ] 1538 
Observations on Homalium brevicorne, Er., and H. gracilicorne, Fairm.—Among 
some Coleoptera recently sent to me for examination by my friend Mr. T. J. Bold, I 
find some examples of an insect (taken recently by Mr. J. Hardy, at Wooler, in fungus 
on alders) which I am convinced is the Homaliwm brevicorne of Erichson,—alréady 
included in our lists, though doubt has been thrown by M, Fauvel as to its being 
truly British. When fully mature, as are Mr. Bold’s specimens (sub-cortical species 
are well known to remain frequently for an unusually long time of a pallid colour), 
it resembles H. monilicorne, with which alone Erichson compares it, his trivial name 
for the species being thus intelligible; but it is considerably smaller, with more 
strongly and closely punctured thorax and elytra (the former of which is less 
transverse), and more transverse joints to the apical half of the antennz, and 
without the two deep foveze at the base of the head. It is more closely allied to 
the recently added H. gracilicorne, Fairm., but is larger, especially broader, darker, 
with the usual dorsal thoracic fovez (or, rather, a shallow central depression to- 
wards the base, having a slight medial elevation), the thorax less rounded at the 
sides and more contracted behind, the apical! joints of the antennz more transverse, 
and the punctuation of the elytra closer, being almost rugulose in places. 
To H. brevicorne must, in my opinion, also be referred two specimens of an 
insect mentioned in my record of H. gracilicorne, (Ent. Ann., p. 88) as taken by 
Dr. Power, at Balmuto, in Fifeshire, and which, compared with Mr. Bold’s speci- 
mens, are slightly immature ; these, kindly given to me by Dr. Power himself, were 
named gracilicorne for me by M. Fauvel, evidently in error, as the close punctuation 
of their elytra, and their possession of evident thoracic depressions, remove them 
from that species. My London-district specimen, referred to in the same place, 
which has also been corroborated by M. Brisout, the original detector of Fairmaire’s 
species, is unquestionably true gracilicurne, and is the only British example that I 
have seen. It is rather larger than H. vile, much lighter in color, with stronger 
and not so close punctuation on the thorax, the sides of which are more rounded 
and which has no dorsal depressions, and with the punctuation of the elytra coarser 
and not so close,—not forming occasional strie. 
Kraatz (Ins. Deutschl., ii, 993, note) rightly considers H. brevicorne as more 
nearly allied to H. vile than to monilicorne, and to be separable from vile by its 
strong punctuation (also by its larger size, more robust and broader build, more 
shining thorax and stouter antennz, and by the punctuation of its elytra being 
more confused, and not forming occasional striz); nevertheless, the superficial 
resemblance between large and fully mature specimens of it and H. monilicorne 
is considerable. 
Mr. Matthews, as mentioned in Ent. Ann., 1870, demurs to M. Fauvel’s opinion 
that his brevicorne is vile, var., as he has never hitherto parted with the possession 
of it, and M. Fauvel can, therefore, have had no means of forming a correct 
opinion.—Ip. 
Note on Trogophleus foveolatus, Sahlb.—Among some Coleopterous enigmas 
propounded to me by the indefatigable Dr. Power, I find three examples of this 
species, which, with the exception of the pair in Mr. G. R. Waterhouse’s collection, 
are all that have hitherto come under my observation as British, out of the large 
number of Brachelytra from all parts of the country that have from time to time 
been sent to me for examination. 
