( 145 ) VII. The genus Otocephalus. By D. Sharp, M.A., F.R.&. With Notes on the habits of Asemum striatum and Otocephalus ferus. By F. Gilblkt Smith.* Plate IX. In the Munich Catalogue of Cjleoptera (vol. ix, 1872, p. 2789) CHocephalus is allotted ten species. Another species has since been added by Herr Edinond Reitter, G. syriacus, Wien. Eut. Zeit., 1895, p. 86. G. coriaceus, Motsch., must be rejected as the description is totally worthless (cf. p. 158), and no type is known. G niexi-canus, Thorns., is treated as a synonym of G. ohsoletus. Great confusion has always existed as to the species, and there are numerous errors in the Munich Catalogue. A revision of the genus will therefore be useful as a step towards the attainment of further knowledge. I owe my thanks to Mr. Gahan for assisting me in the examination of the specimens in the British Museum, and to M. Rene Oberthlir, Herr Edmond Reitter, M. Louis Bedel, Mr. G. C. Champion, and Mr. George Lewis for the communication of specimens. Distribution. The genus Criocefhalus is distributed over the Northern hemisphere, occurring in about equal numbers in the Old and New Worlds; it does not pass the equator, and scarcely touches the tropics, except in the highlands of their northern parts. This distribution is probably chiefly determined by the distribution of coniferous trees, to which it is believed the species of Griocepl talus are confined, their food being found in the wood of these trees. G. rusticus has a natural distribution probably as wide as that of any other Coleopterous insect, it is found from Norway to * Although Mr. Smith has not had any part in actually drawing up the systematic part of this paper, I have received very important assistance from him in this matter. He first noticed the peculiarity of the deficient spur in the group. The notes on the larvaj have been made by us conjointly. I, of course, have hail no part in Mr, Smith's account of his observations in the field. — D. S. TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1905. — PART I. (MAY) 10
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