ELAPHRID/K. ELAPHRUS. 33 



Sp. 2. biguttatus. Supra a?neus, nitidus,f route profundi* striata, thorace omninb 

 punctato, elytris profunda punctato-striatis, plagd longitudinali nitidissima ad 

 suturam, apiceflavescente, punctoque impresso. (Long. corp. 2 — 2£ lin.) 



El. biguttatus. Fabricius. — No. biguttatus. Steph. Catal. p. 41. JVo. 408. 



Closely allied to the last ; it is however of a smaller size, and the colour is more 

 brilliant and glossy : the thorax has the disc and margins punctate : the striae 

 on the elytra are more evident and deeply punctate, and prolonged towards 

 the apex ; the polished space on the disc is rather narrower, and more brilliant ; 

 the discoidal impression is deeper, and placed more posteriorly on the elytra, 

 and there is an obsolete one towards the apex, which latter is of a pale testa- 

 ceous, more or less distinct : the base of the antennas and the middle of the 

 tibiae are testaceous yellow or reddish. 



Var. /3. With the upper surface of a very brilliant violet-blue. 



There are several other variations of hue, but none very conspicuous. 



Far from uncommon throughout the metropolitan district, and I 

 believe frequently taken in other parts. Var. (3 was taken in Scot- 

 land by Mr. Dale, who supplied me with a specimen. 



Genus LXXV. — Elaphrus, Fabricius. 



Palpi, external maxillary , and labial elongate-ovate, truncate; the terminal joint 

 longer than the preceding : labrum transverse, short, straight anteriorly, co- 

 vering the mandibles at the base only ; the latter denticulated at the base : 

 mentum slightly emarginate anteriorly, with a bifid lobe in the centre of its 

 notch. Antenna? rather stout, slightly striated at the extremity : eyes very 

 large, and prominent ; thorax convex, dilated at the sides : elytra very convex, 

 mamillated, the sides rather dilated : legs moderate : anterior tarsi of the males 

 with four slightly dilated joints. 



Elaphrus is to be distinguished from Notiophilus by the brevity 

 of the labrum, which merely covers the base of the mandibles, by 

 the difference in the proportion of the palpi, the dilatation of the 

 sides of the elytra, and the mamillated impressions with which the 

 latter are adorned: the form of the thorax is also different, and the 

 eyes very large and prominent. The species usually frequent damp 

 places by the sides of ponds, rivers, &c. and are to be seen running 

 on the dry mud banks, hiding themselves in the fissures, beneath 

 stones, plants, &c. 



Sp. 1. uliginosus. Viridi-ameus, thorace capite latiore, elytris maculis rotundatis 

 violaceis quadruplici serie, tibiis nigris. (Long. corp. 4—4^ lin.) 



El. uliginosus. Fabricius. — Curtis, iv. pi. 179. — Steph. Catal. p. 41. No. 409. 



Brassy-green, bright green, or bronzed : head deeply punctate, with a slight 

 transverse impression between the eyes, and a deep longitudinal one on each 

 Mandibulata. Vol. II. 1st Aug. 1828. d 



