I894-] 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



and Folkestone by Mr. Newbery. Mr. G. C. Champion (" Kent and 

 Surrey Coleoptera ") : " Chalky places, under stones, at roots of grass, 

 &c. ; not uncommon ; Dover, Folkestone, Canterbury (Kent) ; Boxhill, 

 Gomshall, Caterham, Sanderstead (Surrey)." Not represented in 

 Ireland (Rev. W. F. Johnson). 



Badister, Clairv. — From Greek Ba^or^, a runner ; doubtless in 

 allusion to the activity of the genus. Of the four species regarded as 

 British, only B. bipustulatus can be called common. Two species have 

 the thorax red, viz. unipustulatus and bipustulatus. The other two have 

 the thorax entirely black or with a yellow margin. 



B. unipustulatus, Bon. — Distinguished from bipustulatus in having the 

 mesothoracic episterna red instead of black ; also slightly larger in size. 

 Recorded from Oxford by Mr Shipp. The only other reliable record I 

 have is by Mr. Champion (" Kent and Surrey Coleoptera ") : " Marshy 

 places, at roots of grass, &c. ; uncommon ; Lewisham (Kent) ; Merton, 

 Walton-on-Thames, Putney, Battersea, Egham (Surrey)." 



B. bipustulatus, F. — Generally considered a rather smaller species 

 than unipustulatus, but the thorax is larger, and very slightly narrowed 

 behind. The beetle can be taken in damp and marshy places, in flood 

 refuse, and behind willow bark, and is fairly common in most parts of 

 the British Isles. Recorded by all correspondents. The Rev. W. F. 

 Johnson reports it as occurring " from Antrim to Cork, and from Down 

 to Galway." 



B. sodalis, Duft. — In this species both thorax and elytra have 

 yellowish margins. The insect is not common. Dr. Capron has taken 

 it under stones at Sheire, near Guildford ; it is also recorded by Mr. C. 

 W. Dale, from Granvilles Wootton. The late Mr. R. Gillo took single 

 specimens under stones about Bath and at Burnham. Mr. Champion 

 (" Kent and Surrey Coleoptera") : " In chalky districts, under moss and 

 dead leaves ; occurs also in marshy places ; not uncommon ; Darenth 

 Wood, Kent ; Mickleham, Egham, Redhill, Walton, Reigate, Sander- 

 stead, Battersea (Surrey)." Ireland: Recorded by Halliday from near 

 Belfast (Rev. W. F. Johnson). 



B. peltatus, Panz. — The difference between this species and sodalis 

 appears to be so slight that I can scarcely find a reliable character. 

 The margins of both thorax and elytra at the extreme edge are some- 

 times brownish or yellowish, otherwise the black thorax might be a 

 sufficient distinction. The legs are dusky testaceous, whereas in sodalis 

 they are pale yellow, and the insect is generally broader. Mr. Champion 

 records it as rare at Hythe (Kent). The Rev. H. J. Gore captured it 

 at Ruspar. 



Broscus, Panzer. — Greek fipwa-KM, devour. The Rev. W. F.Johnson, 

 who has kindly supplied me with notes on this derivation, says " Broscus 

 appears to be a corruption of the Latin brochus, meaning projecting, and 



