384 



THAXTER. MONOGRAPH OF THE LABOULBENIACE/E. 



Molokai. No. 1239; M. alternans Sharp, Kaui, Nos. 1220 and 1243; Mecyclothorax pusillus Sharp, 

 Maui, No. 1263; M. ovipennis Sharp, Maui, No. 1266, and Molokai No. 1267; M. montivagus Blkm., 

 Maui, No. 1269; Mecyclothorax sp. ? Maui, No. 1270; on " Bembidium" Nos. 1275-1276, and 1280, 

 Kaui. On the following numbers in the Perkins Collection : Kaui, Nos. 124s, 121!), 1251, 1257; Maui, 

 Nos. 1214, 1220, 1264, 1271; Molokai, Nos. 1250, 1272, 1274; Hawaii, Nos. 1265, 1268. 



Reference has previously been made under the genus Laboulbenia and elsewhere to the group of 

 variable forms which occur on the carabid fauna of the Hawaiian Islands. Of these the one which conies 

 nearest to the ordinary " flagellata" type is the present species, which, although it is very closely allied 

 to L. Discnochi, appears to differ normally in the development of the distal portion of the receptacle 

 less than a third of which, or sometimes only the tip, is free. Its coloration is very variable; the distal 

 portions, including the perithecium, being most commonly very deeply suffused with contrasting rich 

 black-brown, as in figs. 1 and 2, while less frequently the receptacle and all but the tip of the perithecium 

 may be yellowish or reddish amber, with inconspicuous suffusions. The size is usually moderate, and 

 not subject to extreme variations depending on position of growth; but one form represented in Fig. 3, 

 which appears to belong here and occurs on Mecyclothorax jmsillus Sharp, has a short stout rotund habit 

 which is peculiar, the specimen figured measuring about 160 X 70 p.. Of the illustrations in the accom- 

 panying plate, fig. 1 is taken from material on Colpodiscus tantalus from Oahu; fig. 2 from Metro-menus 

 cm, the Type, in which an outer branchlet is broken off, and fig. 3 as above mentioned. 



Laboulbenia Disenochi Thaxter. Plate LVII, figs. 4 and 6-7. 

 Proc. Am. Acad. Arts and Sci., Vol. XXXVIII, p. 34. June, 1902. 



Perithecium three quarters or wholly free, transparent, yellowish, becoming more or less irregularly 

 and for the most part rather faintly suffused with blackish brown; the tip relatively large, black, more or 

 less well distinguished, the black suffusion not abruptly limited and extending some distance downward 

 externally; the lips outwardly oblique, hyaline about the pore. Receptacle rather short and stout, nor- 

 mal, pale yellowish, often becoming tinged with brown distally where it is rather faintly striate. Insertion- 

 cell well defined, slightly oblique. Outer appendage consisting of an erect series of usually four hyaline 

 cells, each of which bears externally (the upper terminally) a stiff simple branch of variable length, curved 

 outward and upward, deeply blackened externally, the notched often broadly hyaline upper (inner) 

 margin contrasting: the basal cell of the inner appendage bearing a branch on either side, mostly two- 

 to three-celled, and resembling the outer appendage, except for the presence of basal antheridial branchlets 

 on which the brown antheridia are borne terminally, usually in pairs. Spores 65 X 6 p.. Perithecia 

 150-165 X 58-62 /i, sometimes smaller. Receptacle 185-220 u. Total length 290-360 /«. 



On Disenoclius fractus Sharp, Kaui, No. 1222; D. acjonoides Sharp, Haleakala, Hawaii, No. 1229; 

 D. aterrimus Sharp, Kaui, No. 1218; D. sulcipennis Sharp, Kaui, No. 1219; Brosconcgneus optatus 

 Sharp, Oahu, No. 1215. 



This species, which is closely allied to L. Hawaiiensis, appears to differ normally in the character 

 of the receptacle, the distal portion of which is less well developed, more compact, and wholly, or for the 

 most part, free from the perithecium, fig. 4 representing the only exception seen in a large series. The 

 main axis of the outer appendage, and the primary branches of the inner, are better developed; some- 

 times consisting of five or six superposed hyaline cells from which the usually jet black, stiff, variously 

 elongated and curved simple branchlets arise externally. The Type on Disenochus sulcipennis is repre- 

 sented in fig. 7, and illustrates almost the extreme development of these branchlets, as well as the con- 

 dition in which the perithecium is wholly free from the receptacle. Fig. 6 represents a form on D. 

 agonoides the two figures illustrating almost the extremes of variation. It is a question, however, 

 whether this and the preceding were not better united under one protean species. 



