172 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



xx. * Subgenus Merium. Kirb. 

 Thighs clubbed. 



This subgenus differs from the genuine CalUdia, in having all the thighs ineras- 

 sated at the apex. Ceramhyx variabilis Linn, may be considered as its type. 



(228) 4. Callidium (Merium) Proteus. Proteus C. Merium. 



C. M. (Proteus) nigrum, punctulatum, pilosum ; prothorace utrinque punctis covfluentibus scabro; ehjtris violascentibus lineis 



longitudinalibus callosis pallidis ; femoribus rvfis. 

 Proteus C. Merium, black, minutely punctured, hairy : protborax on each side rough with confluent punctures ; elytra 



tinted with violet, with longitudinal, callous, pale lines: thighs rufous. 



PLATE V, FIG. 5. 

 Length of the body 5 — 8i lines. 



Taken abundantly especially in Lat. 65°. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Body black, minutely punctured, hairy with longish hoary hairs, especially underneath. Nose 

 with a deeply ploughed transverse furrow ; front behind the antenna? violet, confluently punctured ; 

 palpi black, maxillary rather long, last joint an obtusangular triangle ; antennae longer than the pro- 

 thorax : sides of the prothorax very rough with deep confluent punctures : elytra wrinkled, violet, 

 with three longitudinal, subinterrupted, callous, pale lines, of which the intermediate one is the longest, 

 and the external one the shortest : legs piceous, with the incrassated part of the thighs testaceous. 



This species varies extremely both in size and colour. The following are the principal varieties. 



Variety B. Head and prothorax violet; elytra lurid with only two callous lines. Length 6^ 

 lines. 



C. Head, except at the base of the antennae, black ; sides of the prothorax violet, disk 



bronzed : elytra as in the last. Length 5 lines. 



D. Head and prothorax black : elytra lurid ; lines faintly marked. Length 5^ — 7 



lines. 



E. Head and prothorax bronzed : elytra lurid bronzed, with two distinct lines. Length 



6 — 7 lines. 



F. Head violet ; prothorax bronzed : elytra as in the last. Length 6 lines. 



G. Like the last, but the callous lines of the elytra are obsolete. Length b\ — 6i 



lines. 

 H. Head and prothorax black : elytra lurid with three lines. Length 7^ lines. 

 I. Head and prothorax black-bronzed : elytra bronzed-lurid with two lines. 



