nities ; the long and remarkable external lobe of the maxillae 
somewhat resembles that of Gyrinus [pi. 79.), next to which 
Latreille arranged Spercheus in his Genera Crustaceorum ; 
but he has since made it follow Georissus, a genus nearly 
allied to Elmis, but having fewer joints in the antennae. The 
economy and habits of Spercheus are very similar to those of 
Helophorus, and it will probably be found to connect the 
Hydrophilidae with the Helophoridae. The remote labial 
palpi and the feet (all formed for walking, and the tibiae with- 
out spurs at the apex,) assimilate it with the latter group, and 
show that it is not so nearly related to Berosus as would be 
imagined at first sight. 
Dr. Horsfield brought from Java a small species described 
by Mr. W. S. MacLeay in his Annulosa Javanica , under the 
name of ‘ platycephalus\ the only one that has been discover- 
ed, excepting our European species. 
S. emarginatus, Fab . — Curt. Brit . Ent. pi. 394?. 
Dull piceous covered with coarse shallow punctures ; 
palpi ochraceous: base of antennae, margins of the 
clypeus and thorax, especially the sides of the latter, 
ferruginous : elytra lurid, with numerous longitudinal 
rows of punctures, sometimes leaving three or more 
slightly elevated lines towards the external margin ; on 
each side the suture is a piceous line with 3 or 4? irre- 
gular spots issuing from it of the same colour ; also 
fuscous marks on the disc. Legs brown and ochre ; 
tarsi somewhat ferruginous tipped with black. 
This insect delights in muddy ditches and stagnant waters, 
and is now very rare in England ; it must however have been 
taken formerly round the metropolis in some abundance, as 
specimens were preserved in most of the old London cabinets. 
The elytra have been found on the banks of the Serpentine 
river in Kensington Gardens ; it has also been taken near 
Windsor, I believe in March, and the end of July a few years 
since Messrs. Chant and Bentley captured several specimens 
at the roots of aquatic plants in ditches on Yaxley Fen in 
Huntingdonshire, since which time it has not been detected. 
The Plant is Ranunculus Lingua (Great Spearwort). 
