f7 
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236 . 
NOTERUS SPARSUS. 
Order Coleoptera. Fam. Dyticidae Leach . Hydrocan- 
thari Lat. 
Type of the Genus Dytiscus crassicornis Fab • 
Noterus Clairv., Lat., Leach , Sam . — Dytiscus DeGeer, Fab., Oliv.> 
Marsh., Herb. 
Antennce inserted close to the anterior margin of the eyes, short, 
varying in form, 3 first joints small, 5th dilated in the males, the 
remainder more or less produced on the internal side, the ter- 
minal joint slender, elongate-ovate (6) : those of the female are 
less robust, and the 7th joint is the largest (6 a). 
Labrum transverse, the sides rounded, anterior margin straight 
and ciliated (1). 
Mandibles broad and truncated obliquely at the apex, the angles 
acute, ciliated internally (2, one being turned tashow the inside). 
Maxillce very slender, elongate-trigonate, apex slightly curved 
and acute, the internal edge notched below the apex and armed 
with a few rigid bristles. Palpi, internal slender biarticulate, 
terminal joint the longest: external 4-jointed robust, 1st joint 
small, 2nd and 3rd somewhat quadrate cup-shaped, 4th the 
longest, ovate-truncate (3). 
Mentum small transverse short emarginate, side lobes rounded, 
the centre slightly produced and notched. Labium short broad 
and emarginate. Palpi robust, arising from scapes, triarticulate, 
basal joint short, 2nd cup-shaped, 3rd hand-shaped, being ovate 
and producing a blunt tooth on the internal side, which gives it 
a furcate appearance. 
Head broad rounded. Eyes small remote. Thorax very broad and 
short, slightly narrowed anteriorly, the basal margin sinuated. Scu- 
tellum none. Elytra convex ovate. Wings ample. Legs , anterior 
very robust in the males. Tibiae trapezate, margined with a regular 
and, compact line of spines on the external margin, producing a long 
one near the apex. Tarsi 5 -jointed, the basal one very large sub - 
trapezate, 3 following short, decreasing in size, 5 th long subclavate. 
Claws long and slender (5, fore leg of male). Tibiae to posterior 
legs spurred. Tarsi attenuated, the hinder pair the longest and ter- 
minated by very minute Claws. 
Obs. The dissections were made from N. sparsus. 
Sparsus Marsh. Ent. Brit. 430. 49. 
Ferruginous-brown, smooth, shining. Antennae with the 5th 
joint the largest in the male, the 7th in the female. Thorax 
darkest in the disk, with an impressed line next the anterior and 
lateral margins. Elytra, each with 3 irregular rows of rather 
remote punctures, scattered and stronger towards the apex. 
Legs castaneous, anterior thighs and base of tibiae black in the 
male. Underside piceous, inclining to black in the male, to 
castaneous in the female. 
In the Author's and other Cabinets. 
