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Li URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
BIOLOGY

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http://www.archive.org/details/coleopteraofbrit02fowl

TH COMEOPERRA

OF

PEE BREN Si IS ilAN DS:

LONDON:
PRINTED BY GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, LIMITED,
ST. JOHN’S HOUSE, CLERKENWELL ROAD.

THE

COLEOPTERA

OF

fie BRITISH ISLANDS.

A DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF THE FAMILIES, GENERA, AND
SPECIES INDIGENOUS TO GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND,
WITH NOTES AS 70 LOCALITIES, HABITATS, ETC.

BY THE

REV. CANON FOWLER, M.A, F.L.S.

SEecRETaRY TO THE EytomoLoGicaL Society or Lonpon, ayp Eprror (ror CoLrorTrera) oF
tHE “ Entomoxoaist’s MontHry MaGazine.””

MOLI
STAPHYLINID A.

LONDON:
L. REEVE & CO., 5, HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN.
1838.

ERRATA.

p- 160, 1. 45, for ‘‘ Notomicrus”’ read ‘‘ Neptosternus.”’

yy p- 222.1. 36, for “ H. picicrus, Sharp” read ‘‘ H. picicrus, Thoms.”’
p. 221, 1. 39, and 227, 1. 11, for ‘‘antenna”’-read “ maxillary palpi.”

», p. 243, 1. 31, for ‘‘ Octhebius”’ read “ Ochthebius.”

Vol. II. p. 6, 1. 26, after ‘‘a* Posterior coxz conical ’’ insert ‘‘ PATDERIN 4.”

Hires Je

PLATE XXXVII.

Homeeusa acuminata, Maerh.

Aleochara ruficornis, Grav.

”

”

”

”

”

fuscipes, F.
tristis, Grav.
bipunctata, Ol.
brevipennis, Grav.
Januginosa, Grav.
meesta, Grav.
algarum, Fauv.
obsecurella, Grav.
spadicea, Er.
mycetophaga, Av.
brunneipennis, A’.

i

Fic.

PLATE XXXVIII.

Aleochara cuniculorum, A7,

5 nitida, Grav.
», Jabium.
nA s maxilla,
Fe morion, Grav.
Microglossa suturalis, Mann.
A nidicola, Fair.
a gentilis, Merk.

Oxypoda spectabilis, Waerk.
5, lividipennis, Mann.
Be 5 ventral plate of 7th segment
of hind body of male.
» opaca, Grav.
- » maxillary palpus.
» alternans, Grav.
» exoleta, Hr.
» lentula, £7.
» umbrata, Grav.

PLATE XXXIX.

Fic. 1 Oxypoda peetita, Sharp.

2: - longiuscula, E7.

3. 36 rupicola, Rye.

4, “ soror, Thoms.

5. 53 recondita, A7.

6. 6 formiceticola, Muerk.
if A hemorrhoa, Mann.
8. 3 annularis, Sahlb.

9. 56 brachyptera, Steph.
10. A misella, A.

11. Thiasophila angulata, Hr.
12. Ischnoglossa prolixa, Grav.
13. Ocyusa maura, Er.

ie

PLATE XL.

Ocyusa incrassata, kr.
» hiberniea, Rye.
Phicopora reptans, Grav.

Ocalea castanea, Ev.

» badia, Er.
Ilyobates nigricollis, Payk.

3 forticornis, Lac.
a glabriventris, Rye.
Calodera nigrita, Jann.

% riparia, £7.

3 umbrosa, 2.
Chilopora longitarsis, Zr.

es rubieunda, Er.

a
LON
VDON

13.

PLATE XLI.

Dinarda Maerkeli, Kes.
Atemeles emarginatus, Grav.
yy paradoxus, Grav.
Myrmedonia Haworthi, Steph.
i collaris, Payk.
humeralis, Grav.

p cognata, Maerk.

- funesta, Grav.

a limbata, Payk.

¥ » extremity of hind body of
male.

*, lugens, Grav.

5 laticollis, Maerk.
p plicata, Er.
Astilbus canaliculatus, F.

PLATE XLII.

Fig. 1. Thamiarea cinnamomea, Grav.

Ze 3 hospita, Maerk.
3. Notothecta flavipes, Grav.
4, 9 confusa, Maerk.
5. = anceps, Er.

6. Alianta incana, Hr.

te » plumbea, Wat.

8. Homalota languida, Hr.

9°} 4 pavens, Er.
10. a planifrons, Wat.
ne . vestita, Grav.
12. 3 nitidula, Ar.
13. * vicina, Steph.

‘in, ~
™,
— a rier
OP

a

Geel:

oo

ee

PLATE XUIII.

Homalota currax, A7r.

insecta, Thoms.
cambrica, Woll.
gregaria, Er.
eximia, Sharp.
longula, Heer.
littorea, Sharp.
luteipes, Er.
fallax, Kr.
luridipennis, Dann.
Gyllenhali, Zhons.
(londinensis, Sharp).
volans, Scriba.
tibialis, eer.

Fre: 1.

2

PLATE XLIV.

Homalota pagana, Er.

”

>

graminicola, Gy/ll.
halobrectha, Sharp.
princeps, Sharp.
occulta, £7.
nigella, Er.
monticola, Thoms.
equata, Hy.
angustula, Gy.
linearis, Grav.
debilis, Lr.
deformis, Ar.
eesula, Er.

*
a

Fic.

PLATE XLV.

Homalota cireellaris, Grav.

”

ty

”

”

”

a apical segments of hind body
in male.

elegantula, Bris.

splendens, Avrautz.

immersa, E77,

cuspidata, Er.

»» upper surface of portion of hind

body in male (after Mulsant).

cribriceps, Sharp.

eremita, Lye.

gemina, Hr.

analis, Grav.

» apical segments of hind body in

male.

soror, Araatz, apical segments of hind
body in male.

exilis, Er.

pallens, Redd.

palleola, Hr.

parallela, Danni.

ddid}

ies Jb

oe)

12.

INI Dah wt

PLATE XLVI.

Homalota depressa, Gyll.

”

”

aquatica, Thoms.
xanthoptera, Sieph.
trinotata, Kraatz.
boletobia, Thoms.
liturata, Steph.
gagatina, Baudi.
6 apical segments of hind body
in male (after Mulsant).
palustris, Aves.
corvina, Thoms.
atomaria, Araatz.
perexigua, Sharp.
scapularis, Sahl.

dilaticornis, Kraatz.

7
- cs “an
oY eS re 7 =>
, . - 7

Fig. 1.

14.

— oe
FSD aANAA wh

.

b

he
is)

iB},
13a.
13b.

PLATE XLVII.

”»

te)

”

Tlomalota autumnalis, #7,

3 apical segments of abdomen
in male (after Mulsant) .
sericea, Muls.
nigra, Kraatz.
canescens, Sharp.
eauta, Er.
levana, Auls. et Rey.
cinsnamoptera, Thoms.
atramentaria, Gy/ll.
marcida, Hr.
longicornis, Grav.
consanguinea, Hpp.
sordida, Marsh.
pygmea, Grav.
os first joints of posterior tarsus.

First joints of posterior tarsus in /7. aterrima,

Grav., &e.

O LOND

L REEVE &C

.
i
oO
a
= :
j
t >
. =.
. —
~ rai
°
‘
‘
— -
‘
”

PLATE XLVIII.

Fic. 1. Homalota laticollis, Steph.
2. op montivagans, Woll.
3. > fungi, Grav.
4, 3 eribrata, Araatz.
5. Gnypeta labilis, Hr.
6. 3 cerulea, Sahlb.
7. Tachyusa constricta, Er.
8. 3 flavitarsis, Sahlb.
3 5 umbratica, Hy.
10. o atra, Grav.
ake Pri concolor, Hr.
12. Myrmecopora uvida, Er.
13. Borboropora Kraatzi, Fuss.
13a. Pe 3 right mandible of male.

i it

lic.

6.

~]

PLATE XLIX.

Falagria thoracica, Curt.

o suleata, Payk.

Autalia impressa, Ol.

f eS labium.

3 puneticollis, Sharp.
Encephalus complicans, Westw.
Brachida notha, £7.
Gyrophena gentilis, Er.

3 affinis, Mannh.

aA lucidula, Er.

= strictula, Hr.
Agaricochara levipennis, kr.
Placusa infima, Er.

Epipeda plana, Gyll.

Vincent Brooks Day & Son Imp

R.Morgan, del, et hth

ondon

L Reeve & C21

™
—
‘
i
\
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.
2 A
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i)
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PLATE L.

Fic. 1. Silusa rubiginosa, Hr.

bo

Actocharis Readingii, Sharp.
3. Euryusa laticollis, Heer.

4, Leptusa analis, Gyll.

5. Sipalia ruficollis, Hr.

6. » testacea, Bris.

7. Bolitochara lucida, Grav.
5 bella, J/aerk.
9: 55 obliqua, Er.
10. Phytosus spinifer, Curt.
ale 5 baltieus, A”.
12. Diglossa mersa, Hal.

13. Hygronoma dimidiata, Grav.

PLATE 50

R.Morgan del, et Ith

e & C° London

L Reew

+

ss

by '

PLATE LI.

——

Fic. 1. Oligota inflata, IZannh.
4, » granaria, Lr.
3. » flavicornis, Lae.
» apicata, Lr.

5. Myllena intermedia, #7.

5a. i labium,

5b. ; 5) maxillary palpus.
6. 3 elongata, Matth.

7 rf brevicornis, Jatth.

8. 3 Masoni, Aatth.

9 5s Fowleri, Alatth.

10. Gymuusa brevicollis, Payh.
5 variegata, Kves.

12. Deinopsis erosa, Steph.

ATE &l.

Plu

Vincent Brooks Day & Son Imp

ant Morgan, del et hth

LReeve & C° London

F

PLATE LII.

Tachyporus obtusus, L.
5 formosus, J/atth.

ar hypnorunm, Bs

Conosoma pubescens, Grav.
es littoreum, L.

Tachyporus chrysomelinus, L.
% obtusus var. nitidicollis, Steph.
Fe transversalis, Grav.

Hy pocyptus longicornis, Payk.
FA seminulum, “7.

Conosoma bipunctatum, Grav.

Tachyporus pallidus, Sharp.

Conosoma lividum, Er.

Viucertt Brooks

R.Morgan del, et hth

London

0 T

Reeve & (

of

MN

a

PLATE, LUI.

Fic. 1, Lamprinus saginatus, Grav.
2. Cilea silphoides, Z.
3. Tachinus rufipennis, Gy/l.

4, : humeralis, Grav.

bs ae rufipes, L.

da, en >» apex of hind body of male.
5b. 55 » apex of hind body of female.
6. » seapularis, Steph.

7 subterraneus, LZ.

8. Fri collaris, Grav.

9: i elongatus, Gyll.
10. Megacronus inclinans, Grav.

10a. Pf 3 maxillary palpus.
NUE i analis, Payk.
Ie - cingulatus, Mannh.

13. Bryoporus ecastaneus, Hardy.
18a, 55 >» maxillary palpus.

PLATE 53.

Vancert Brooks Day & Son imp

R Morgan del et hth.

+

Reeve &C° Landan

iL

ts

Hires

SOMATA

Tals

©

PLATE! LIV.

Bolitobius lunulatus, Z.

‘3 trinotatus, Hr.
3 exoletus, Hv.
"3 pygmeus, Ff.
5 on maxillary palpus.
Mycetoporus lucidus, £7,
3 punctus, Gy/li.
3 longulus, Mannh.
5 iy maxillary palpus.
45 angularis, Rey.
a nanus, Lr.

clavicornis, Steph.
Habrocerus capillaricornis, Grav.

” ” antenna.
Mycetoporus splendidus, Grav.
Trichophya pilicornis, Gy/l.

»” » antenna.

Vincent Brooks Day & Son limp

R Morgan del et bth

L Reeve & C2 London

Fic.

Taare

0

10.
Mae
12.

13,

PLATE LV.

Heterothops binotata, Zr.

“A quadripunctula, Gy.
Acylophorus glabricollis, Boisd.
Euryporus picipes, Payk.
Velleius dilatatus, /”. (natural size).
Quedius longicornis, Av.

s» microps, Grav.

» ventralis, Ar.

> lateralis, Grav.

» mesomelinus, Marsh.
» puncticollis, Thoms.
» fulgidus, F.

» xanthopus, Lr,

od 0 i
Sf

uf

=
fates ‘

r——_

TT

\ibitias
Nee.

“incentt Brooks Day & San Imp

R Morgan del & 1th

L Reeve & C° Lendsn

* ts i

I

nas > 7 -—

Fig.

wo ho

ou

ID

he ke
FS © e

b

|
w NS

PLATE LVI.

Quedius seitus, Grav.

3?

cinctus, Payk.
brevis, Er.
fuliginosus, Grav.
molochinus, Grav.
picipes, Munnh.
nigriceps, Av.
fumatus, Steph.
suturalis, Aves,
auricomus, Aves.
semizneus, Step/r.
rufipes, Grav.
fulvicollis, Steph.

-——

Sonk

Vincent Brooks Day &

iF Morgan: del # bth

LReeve & C° London

0

ne

af + a

ane i ous .

SID HS

—
5 0

IL

PHATE GVIL-

Quedionuchus levigatus, Gy/l/.
Creophilus maxillosus, LZ.
Emus hirtus, Z.
Leistotrophus nebulosus, L’.

ES murinus, L,.
Staphylinus pubescens, De G.
3 fulvipes, Scop.
FA stercorarius, Ol.
55 latebricola, Grav.
” erythropterus, L.
5p cxesareus, Ceder.

Ocypus olens, Mill.
*) >, mandible.
Pr similis, /’,

ae
fe
le

Imp

Day & San

Hrooks

2

Vincent

Morgan del, et lith

R

L Raeve &

PLATE LVIII.

Fic. 1. Qeypus eyaneus, Payk.

2. , brunnipes, /.

3. , fuscatus, Grav.

4. 5 eupreus, Rosse,

5. 4, pedator, Grav.

6. 5 ater, Grav.

Ue 5 morio, Grav.

Ta. »» mandible.
8. » compressus, Marsh.
9. Philonthus splendens, /.
10. D laminatus, Creutz.
Ma 99 eneus, Loss?
12. yy decorus, Grav.

13. oF) politus, /.

8)

Vinicent Brooks, Day & San Iny

R Morgan delet. lith 1

RI

T

= *

Fic.

PLATE LIX.

Philonthus varius, var. bimaculatus, Grav.

”

”

”

”

”

”

”

”

”

”

”

marginatus, F.

lepidus, Grav.

albipes, Grav.

umbratilis, Grav.

fimetarius, Grav.

fuseus, Grav.

ebeninus, var. coruscus, Grav.
sanguinolentus, Grav,
cruentatus, G'mel.

vernalis, Grav.

discoideus, Grav.
quisquiliarius, var. dimidiatus, Grav.

R Morgan del et ith

PLATE LX.

Fic. Philonthus thermarum, 4 wbé.
Pe astutus, Er.

5 trossulus, Word.
5 fulvipes, J’.

punctus, Grav.

cicatricosus, Er.
5, fucicola, Curt.
xantholoma, Grav.

5, sericeus, Holme.

Actobius signaticornis, Rey.

~
CHOON Dak Ww
2
Se
th
=|
we

11. an prolixus, Er.
12. Xantholinus fulgidus, F.
13. ze glabratus, Grav.

13a. 0 elytra.

60

PLATE

hs
ye

Ci
Peyrrree <

rooks, Day & San Imp

B

Vincent

RMorgan,del et lith

L Reeve & C° Landon

a

mT

Fia.

PLATE LXI.

Xantholinus punctulatus, Payk.
glaber, Nord.

”
5 tricolor, F.
longiventris, Heer.

Nudobius lentus, #r.

Leptacinus parumpuncetatus, Gy/ll/.
batyehrus, Gy/l.
labium.

op
” ”
linearis, Grav.
- formicetorum, Maersk.

Baptolinus alternans, Grav.
Othius fulvipennis, F.
5» melanocephalus, Grav.

»> myrmecophilus, Aves.

PLATE 61

Vincent Brooks,Day & Son Imp

R Morgandelet lith.

L Reeve & C9 London

tnt =
'
te
i,
- ' : !
*
:
_—
;
i
‘i
3
—
—_
\
7 ;
.
i ¥
>
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2
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@
-¢ La

PLATE LXII.

Fic. 1. Lathrobium elongatum, Z.

la. ep 3 apical ventral segments of
hind body in male (after Mulsant).

De 5 fulvipenne, Grav.

BE - rufipenne, Gy/l.

4. angustatum, Lac.

‘Oe - brunnipes, 2.

6. 5 longulum, Grav.

iis mr quadratum, Pays.

8. a terminatum, Grav.

9. a pallidum, Nord.
10. "3 multipunetum, Grae.
lal 3 angusticolle, Lac.

12. Acheuium depressum, Grav.
13. 5 humile, Vie.

gp

"s,

(esi) mexes
o> rs i i iw

Vincent Brooks Day & Son, bmp

L.Reeve & C9 London

R Morgan, del.et ith

v= eB > rc
. ¥ 1
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7 vt * ~ 7
a : v
¥ 1 :
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P ‘ 7
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7 i aad a * 2:
: i . ni .
| ‘\ : a \ i
: t : i
F ‘
‘ Pi bs
Fl - 7

PLATE LXIII.

Cryptobium glaberrimum, Herbst.
Stilicus fragilis, Grav.

» Tufipes, Germ.

5 affinis, Er.
Scopeus Erichsoni, Aol.
Medon pocofer, Peyr.

» . brunneus, Zr.

» Obsoletus, Nord.

», melanocephalus, F.
Lithocharis ochracea, Grav.
Sunius intermedius, Hr.

5 diversus, Aube,
Pederus littoralis, Grav.

PLATE 63.

ote
L

oOo page

gs SOB

Vincent Brooks Day & Sonmp

R. Morgan del ethth

© London

G

Reeve &

=
av)

wi

ae

!

1

Ant
HN

PLATE LXIV.

Fic. 1. Paderus ealigatus, Fr.
2. Evesthetus leviusculus, Manmh.
3. Dianous cerulescens, Gy/l.

3a. 5) : labium.
4. Stenus guttula, Mull.
a. », bimaculatus, Gy/l.
6. Tee UNOS
ls » Guynemeri, Duv.
(2s 3 > maxilla.
7b. . PF mandible.
Te. cH ry ligula.
8. » lustrator, Hr.
8a. ” % ventral segments of hind body
in male.
oO! », Mmelanopus, Marsh.
10. » pusillus, Er.
ile » circularis, Grav.
12. » brunnipes, Steph.

13. 5, subeneus, Lr,

PLATE 64.

Que
CAs
CA

|

Wr ae i ih.

RMorgan,del et lith

Vincent Brooks Day & Son, Imp

~
°
:

2!

PLATE LXV.

Fic. 1. Stenus impressus, Germ.

2: s Erichsoni, Rye.

ay 5, flavipes, Steph. (filum, Ev.).
4, ». pubescens, Steph.

d, » nitidiuseulus, Steph.

6. ., picipennis, Lr.

lee » Kiesenwetteri, Rosi.

8. 5», similis, Herbst.

9. » cicindeloides, Grav.

10. aa tarsalis, L7ungh.

Hole 5, fornicatus, Steph.

12. Oxyporus rufus, ZL.

12a. 55 0 maxilla.

13. Bledius taurus, Germ.

13a. A (head of male viewed sideways).

PLATE G5

Vincent Erooks Day & Son, Trp

R Morgandel.evlich

L Reeve & C9 London

4

-

my

“
\i

PLATE LXVI.

Bledius spectabilis, Ar.

3 unicornis, Germ.

a arenarius, Payl:.

subterraneus, £7.

”

opacus, Block.

23

crassicollis, Lac.

dissimilis, 27.

9
Piatystethus arenarius, /ourc.
nodifrons, Sahib.

”
Oxytelus rugosus, Grav.
insecatus, Grav.

”

laqueatus, Marsh.

”

tetracarinatus, Block.

rH

= ies ae
at LOE iii .
z= SER TL °

}
Vv ie heaW eee T
Vincent Brooks Day& Son,lnp

ri A

re Fi idl delist’
: “Messkinpctendbed >

L Reeve & C° I.ondon

RB Morgan,del. et lith

Tia.

13.

PLATE LXVII.

Haploderus ecelatus, Grav.
Ancyrophorus aureus, Hawi.
Trogophleus arcuatus, Steph.
33 fuliginosus, Grav.
ri pusillus, Grav.
Thinobius longipennis, /Zeer.

Ae brevipennis, Aves.
Syntomium wneum, Mill.
Coprophilus striatulus, 7.
Acrognathus mandibularis, Gy//.

Compsochilus palpalis, £’r.

Deleaster dichrous, Grav.
Anthophagus testaceus, Grav.

vent Brooks Day & Son Imp

Vir

or gan, del. et ith

=
a

R

L. Reeve & C2 Londan

tere

PLATE LXVIII.

Fic. 1. Anthophagus alpinus, Pay. (male).
2. Geodromicus nigrita, JZull.
3. Lesteva longelytrata, Goeze.

4. » pubescens, Aanih.
da. ; - maxilla.
5. » sicula, Lr. (punctata, Brit. Cat.).

6. <Acidota erenata, /’.

The Dp cruentata, JZannh.

8. Olophrum piceum, (y//.

9, Lathrimeum atrocephalum, Gy//.
10. Deliphrum tectum, Payf.

ll. . crenatum, Grav.

12. Arpedium brachypterum, Grav.
13. Miecralymma brevipenne, Gy/l.

Vincent Brooks Day& Son, hr p

Morgan, del: et Lith

R

Reeve & C° Londen

np

]

‘ \
i i .
be .
rae ‘
‘
mC: ;
i
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. : / c
\ {
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1
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PLATE LXIX.

Fic. 1. Philorhinum sordidum, Steph.
Coryphium angusticolle, Steph.
3. Homaliam rivulare, Payh.

4. 3 rugulipenne, Lye.
5. © Allardi, Farm.
6. x nigriceps, Aves.
te x pusillum, Grav.
8. 5p monilicorne, Gy//.
9. ) rufipes, Foure.
10. 5 lopterum, Steph.
IDK

es planum, Payk.
12% ‘5 eoncinnum, Marsh.

13. FS striatum, Grav.

13

& Sonimp
& Sontmp

Brooks Day

Vincent I

2 Morgan del eth.

London

ate)

+
vd
oe
- z i
= .
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an. 7 = 5
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z <
3 .
Pa
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- . -
A
= . .

PLATE LXX.

Hapalarea pyginea, Gy/l.
Acrulia inflata, Gy.
EusphaJerum primule, Steph.
Anthobium minutum, fF.

5 torquatum, Marsh.

5 ophthalmicum, Pays.
Proteinus ovalis, Steph.
Megarthrus sinuatocollis, Lac.

0 hemipterus, J/J.
Phicobium clypeatum, Mill.
Phlecocharis subtilissima, Iannh.
Pseudopsis suleata, Vewm.
Prognatha quadricornis, Lac.

‘Morgan, del et lith Vincent Brooks Day & Son Imp

L Reeve & C° London

COLOR TRA.

STAPHYLINIDZ,

Tue family Staphylinide probably contains more species than any other
family of the Coleoptera; it is also one of the most natural and isolated
families, but, at the same time, it is one of the most difficult to work by
reason of the great affinity that exists between its members, which
renders it no easy matter to find good and striking characters for its sub-
division into tribes and genera.

The chief characters of the family are as follows :—

Elytra truncate, with a straight suture, never dehiscent, very much
abbreviated, so that the greater part of the abdomen or hind body is
exposed (except in certain Homaliina) ; wings, when present, completely
folded beneath the elytra; abdomen or hind body composed of seven
segments, all freely movable, and all entirely, or almost entirely,*
corneous, even when more or less hidden by the elytra.

The above characters are those which chiefly distinguish the family :
its members are often called Brachelytra, but, as other Coleoptera are
distinctly brachelytrous, the term is erroneous; the species, however,
belonging to other groups, which have the elytra abbreviated, are distin-
guished from the Staphylinide by differing from them in one or more of
the additional characters above mentioned ; the species of Meloé, for
instance, have the elytra dehiscent ; in Cercus and other Nitidulidee, and
also in the Histeride and Scaphidiide, and other more or less evidently
brachelytrous Coleoptera, the segments of the abdomen concealed beneath
the elytra are membranous and not corneous ; in Molorchus (which has
very short elytra, and the segments corneous) the wings are not folded
beneath the elytra; in Micropeplus, which is still retained by many
authors among the Staphylinide, the abdomen is not freely movable ;
and finally in the Pselaphidee, which in many points are the closest allies
of the Staphylinide, the abdomen is composed of five distinct seements
only.

The following additional characters may also be noticed :—

Form variable, but as a rule more or less elongate and linear, rarely
short and broad.

Head variable, inserted in the thorax, or exserted and constricted

* The first segment of the hind body in the Homalota, which is almost or quite
concealed by the elytra, appears to be sem!-membranous,
VOL, Il, B

2 STAPHYLINID®,

behind into a distinct and more or less narrow neck ; eyes very rarely
absent, as a rule not very conspicuous, but sometimes very large (as in
Stenus and Megalops); two frontal ocelli present in the Homaliina, and
one in Phlossbium, in all other genera wanting.

Antenne variable in form, sometimes slender, sometimes more or less
thickened towards apex, sometimes terminating in a distinct club; the
method of insertion also differs considerably, and affords, as will be seen,
very good characters for the subdivision of the family.

Mentum trapezoidal, anterior part separate ; ligula membranous, rarely
corneous ; labrum usually transverse, either entire or bilobed ; mandibles
corneous, more or less projecting, sometimes very powerful, sometimes
slender, but, as a rule, denticulate or serrate, and evidently intended for
a carnivorous diet ; maxille with two lobes, usually ciliate, maxillary
palpi 4-jointed, with the last joint often very small and subulate (in
Aleochara with a very minute accessory fifth joint) ; labial palpi usually
3-jointed, sometimes 2-jointed (as in Myllena, Diglossa, &ec.), or even
apparently inarticulate; as a rule they are of normal form, but in
Myllena and a few other genera they are more or less setiform; in
Aleochara there is an additional minute lobe which is usually regarded
as a fourth joint ; paraglosse, as a rule, distinct.

Thorax very variable in shape, strongly reflexed beneath the body, the
reflexed portion being often separated from the upper surface by a distinct
ridge: it is usually visible when the insect is viewed sideways, but is
sometimes strongly turned back beneath the body, so that the under
surface of the thorax appears to be more or less excavated.

Prosternum variable, coxal cavities usually open behind ; mesosternnm
short, episterna large, epimera distinct ; metasternum usually moderately
large, sometimes very short, episterna moderately large, epimera very

variable, sometimes very small, or even obsolete. Legs variable in
leneth and form ; coxe variable in Jength and relative position, and
affording by their differences valuable characters for subdivision ; tibie
simple or dilated, sometimes spinose or denticulate, occasionally excised
at apex; tarsi 5-, 4-, or 3-jointed, anterior pair often dilated especially
in male, penultimate jot sometimes strongly bilobed (as in many
species of Stenus, &c.); in many genera of the Aleocharine the front or
the front and middle tarsi are 4-jointed, and the hind tarsi 5-jointed ;
each tarsus terminates in an onychium bearing two equal or subequal
claws, which are usually simple, but occasionally are more or less
distinctly denticulate at base.

On each side of the body there are ten stigmata: the prothoracic
stigmata are sometimes visible and sometimes hidden by the sides of the
thorax.

The hind body or abdomen is sometimes parallel-sided, sometimes
strongly narrowed towards apex, and more or less conical ; it is usually
more or less setose, and very often bears at its apex two styliform pro-
cesses called the “ anal styles” (as in Tachinus, Tachyporus, Philonthus,

STAPHYLINID®, 3

&e.) ; in many genera the modifications of the terminal segments in the
different sexes are of great importance.

In the present work I have followed Dr. Sharp in exclusively speaking of
this latter part of the body as the “ hind body ” and not as the “ abdomen,”
and [ have also followed himas regards his reckoning of the number of
the segments; Erichson and Mulsant and Rey reckon from the first
apparent segment, whereas Kraatz, Thomson, and Sharp calculate from
the segment which is, as a rule, wholly or partially covered by the
elytra: the seventh segment, therefore, of these latter authors and of this
present work is the sixth segment as mentioned in the works of Erichson
and Mulsant and Rey ; the first segment, though usually hidden, is often
more or less visible, so that the authors who reckon it are really more
correct in so doing: the point, however, must be carefully noticed, or
else confusion is sure to arise; it will be found again alluded to under
the genus Homalota.

The larve of the Staphylinid, as a whole, are very closely related to
one another, and both in shape and habits much resemble the perfect
insect, being long and linear and very active, fierce, and voracious ; they
appear to bear a strong aftinity towards the larve of the Carabidee and
certain Dytiscide ; some however (such as Syntomium, &c.) are short
and broad and seem to have some analogy with the Silphide, while
others again are related to the Histeride and Nitidulidz : descriptions of
some of the more peculiar forms will be given under their separate genera,
but the majority are so much alike, that only a few need be noticed.

The pup do not call for any particular description ; they are partially
covered with membrane, but the parts of the perfect insect are very dis-
tinctly visible ; the form is more or less elongate and narrowed behind ;
the abdominal region is often strongly margined, and the “ styli motorii”
appear to be in many instances almost confined to the anterior margin of
the thorax, and sometimes to be almost or entirely wanting; the cerci
are very short, and often terminate in a short stiff seta.

The Staphylinide are for the most part carnivorous, although they are
in great measure necrophagous, and to a certain extent vegetable feeders ;
they devour all kinds of larve and other insects, and some of the larger
species are useful in destroying slugs, snails, and worms; one or two
species (as Velle/us dilatatus) are found in the nests of the hornet (Vespa
crabro), and probably prey upon the larvee; the greater number are found
in moss, dead leaves, hotbeds and dunghills, decaying vegetable refuse,
dead birds and animals, &e.; a large number, however, occur in fungi
or at sap (as the Boletobic, Gyrophaene, and many others); some are
found in flowers (e.g. certain species of Homalium, Kusphalerum, &c.) ;
many live under bark or in decaying wood, and are peculiarly fitted for
this habitat by their very depressed form ; others again occur solely on
the banks of ponds and rivers, and may be taken in numbers by dashing
water against the banks ; such are certain Steni and Bledui, the latter of
which often form burrows of very large extent, and may easily be detected

B 2

4 STAPHYLINID&,

by the casts of earth which they throw up ; some species are only found
on the coast close to or even considerably below high water-mark (as
Diglossa, Phytosus, Micralymma, &e.) ; it is probable, however, that all
these species are at least in part dependent for their subsistence on the
various insects, larvee, pupe, or ova which they find in the dung, dead
birds, fungi, flowers, &c., which they frequent, although no doubt they
obtain a portion of their sustenance from the substances in which they
take up their abode.

A considerable number of species are found in ants’ nests ; some of these
evidently exude a fluid like Claviger and the Aphides, which is devoured
by the ants; among these are Lomechusa and Atemeles ; it is possible,
too, that some of them may act as scavengers of the nests; it would
seem, however, that their presence is not always a benefit to their hosts ;
Myrmedonia collaris, at all events, has been observed to destroy ants: it
is, however, quite possible that they were either strangers or feeble and
sickly individuals, in which case the beetle would only be carrying out
its proper duties ; it may, too, be noticed in passing, that IZ collaris is
considered by some authorities to be a non-myrmecophilous beetle; if
such is the case its carnivorous propensities need no explanation, as its
presence among the ants it destroyed might have been merely the result
of accident.

As arule the colours of the Staphylinidz are sombre, but some species
are exceedingly handsome ; many have brilliant red elytra; others are of
a bright testaceous-red colour with black spots or abdominal rings,
while others again are cyaneous with or without orange spots on the
elytra: the pubescence as a rule is delicate, but occasionally (as in Emus
and Creophilus) it is very conspicuous.

In habits the members of the family are very active, and run and fly
with great swiftness, the wings being much more ample than might be
judged from the size of the elytra ; some few, however, are rather slow
in their movements, especially among the latter tribes, such as the Oxy-
telina, Proteinina, &e.; certain species have the power of exhaling a
strong and disagreeable odour, sometimes resembling the smell of rotten
apples, sometimes the smothering smell of a candle that has just been blown
out, while others exude from their mouth a slightly corrosive liquid; a
few species, like Ocypus olens, curl up their hind body and open their jaws,
and thus assume a terrifying attitude, like the genus Broscus among the
Carabidee, while a considerable number (such as Xantholinus, Gyro-
phcena, &e.) roll themselves up into the smallest compass possible, and
remain motionless until the danger has passed,

It has been stated above that in point of numbers the family Staphy-
linidee probably exceeds all other families of the Coleoptera. In the
‘Munich catalogue of Gemminger and Von Harold (vol. ii., 1868) over 4000
species are enumerated, and in the supplement issued by M. Duvivier
in 1883 between 2000 and 3000 more are added. Within the last
three or four years a great many new species have been described by Dr.

STAPHYLINID &. 5

Sharp and other writers on the family, and there still remain vast fields
yet unexplored in South America, Central Africa, &e., which are certain
to yield a very large number of species ; it is, therefore, impossible to
at all estimate the ‘number of species that will eventually be found to
belong to the family : the genus ranges over the whole of the world from
the Arctic to the Antarctic regions, and in all the intermediate coun-
tries ; some of the tropical species are very fine and brilliantly coloured,
but, as a rule, the hotter climates seem richer in the smaller forms than
in the larger: certain species have a very wide range; thus Quedd/ius
fulgidus occurs as far north as Discovery Bay (from which locality a single
specimen was brought by Captain Feilden, who accompanied the voyage
of the Alert and Discovery in 1875-6), and extends over Greenland
and the whole of North America and Europe, and as far south as the
Atlantie Islands.

Upwards of 800 species ‘of the family are found in Britain ; owing
to their great difficulty the Staphylinidee were much neglected by our
old collectors, and in fact in many of their collections they were scarcely
represented. Leach and Stephens first brought them into prominence,
but we are mainly indebted to the indefatigable labours of the late Dr.
Power, and to the work and writings of Dr. Sharp, for the comparatively
complete knowledge of the family as far as our fauna is concerned ;
stated above, it is a very difficult matter to find satisfactory characters
for the subdivision of the tribes and genera, and any tabular arrangement
must be more or less unsatisfactory ; the arrangement adopted below
will, however, be probably found of service if studied in conjunction
with the general descriptions.

For full particulars regarding the family the student is referred to
the many excellent foreign works that have been written upon it.
Among the chief of these the following may be mentioned :—‘‘ Genera
et Species Staphylinornm ” (Erichson), one of the most careful and useful
mcnographs of any family yet published ; ‘Histoire Naturelle des Coléop-
terés de France, Brévipennes” (Mulsant and Rey); “ Skandinaviens
Coleoptera, Brachelytra” (Thomson); ‘‘Naturgesichte der Insecten
Deutschlands, vol. ii., Staphylinide ” (Kraatz); and numerous monographs
on various groups and genera, such as Pandellé on the European Tachy-
porina (Annales de la Soc. Ent. Francaise, ix. 1869); Sharp on the
British Homalote (Trans, Ent. Soc. London, 1869); Matthews on the
genus Myllena (Cist. Ent. iii. page 33), and others.

The family, as far as our fauna is concerned, may be divided into the
following sixteen sub-families, which are fairly natural ones, but very
uneven in point of numbers, two or three of them containing only one
species in each :—

I. Antenne inserted upon the front near the inner margin of the
eyes.
. Posterior coxw large, contiguous; antenne not terminated
es agdistinchrclubis 3). 48. 2 2: 2 a a = « . ADLEOCHARINGE:

6 STAPHYLINID 2.

. Posterior cox small, widely separated ; antennz terminated

by adistinct club... 2
Hi. Antenne inserted on the anterior margin of the head.

. Antenne distant; prosternum not developed in front of

Ryerss coxe . . Oe CaO Ce Om kom ON cman poh ur o
. Antenne approximate ; prosternum developed in front of
tiantadiog coxe . . 5 eh aul eye

III. Antenne inserted under the sides of the front.
i, Prothoracic stigmata conspicuous on removing the front coxa.
1. Posterior cox transverse.
A. Antenne filiform, not verticillate . . . 2... .
B. Antenne capillary and verticillate . . . . . . .
2. Posterior coxe triangular, prominent ; antenna capillary
and verticillate . . . So sono '\e
. Prothoracie stigmata difficult to perceive on account of pro-
minence of sides of prothorax.
1. Anterior cox very small; antenns inserted inside the
base of the mandibles, terminated inaclub . . . . .
2. Anterior coxa prominent, conical,
A. Vertex without ocelli.

a. Last joint of labial palpi dilated, very large, erescent-
shaped ; last joint of maxillary palpi large, not much
shorter than penultimate . See

b. Last joint of labial palpi not “dilated ; ‘last joint of

maxillary palpi minute, often scarcely visible.
a*, Posterior coxe conical,
b*. Posterior cox transverse.
at. Posterior trochanters small, one-fifth the length
of femora ; head with distinct neck. .
b+}. Posterior trochanters large, one-third the length
of femora; head without distinct neck...
B. Vertex with two Ce] Lig ss ins oie can cn ee a
3. Anterior cox transverse, sublinear.
A. Vertex without ocelli; elytra covering the ore part

of hind body ... . 2

B. Vertex with one ocellus ; ely tra only slightly passing

Metastermumin hey ae lak ae Woy Vie Kode wmvitisr Nelo betas

4. “Anterior! coxseplobosegy eae yams fo) cits noel gaan

STENINE.

STAPHYLININE.

XANTHOLININE.

TACHYPORINE.
TRICHOPHYINA.

HABROCERINE.

Ev £sTHETIN«.

OXYPORINE.

OXYTELINE.

PHI G®OCHARINE.
HOMALIIN”.
PROTEININE.

PHL@OBIINA,
PIESTINA.

Of the above sub-families Dr. Sharp includes under the Oxyteline

Erichson’s Phleocharine, Proteininz, and Piestine, on

the ground that

it is impossible to separate them now that we are acquainted with a
greater number of forms: in all these groups there is a great variation in
the form of the anterior coxe and the pieces of the prothorax adjacent

to these, but the modifications are considered by Dr.

Sharp to be too

gradual to be used for classification, and he prefers as characters the
structure of the tarsi and of the front of the head; for convenience sake,
however, the sub-families have been retained in this work in their usual
positions, as the characters are correct as far as our genera and species
are concerned, and it would cause great confusion at present to alter the

classification.

Aleocharine. | STAPHYLINID 4. 7

ALEOCHARINZ.

With regard to this sub-family, Dr. Sharp (Biologia Centrali-
Americana, Staphylinide, p. 145) writes as follows :—-

“This sub-family is the most extensive and least studied of those
comprised in the family, and its treatment in a satisfactory manner is a
matter of extreme difficulty. Of the vast number of extra-European
forms that no doubt exist but little is yet known, even the North-
American forms having been hitherto neglected by Entomologists. If
we add to this the fact that the Aleocharine are all minute or quite
small insects of fragile and loosely articulated structure, with softer
chitinous envelope than is usual in the Coleoptera, it will readily be
comprehended that the classification of the components of the sub-family
has scarcely commenced: the large number of species and genera at
present registered in the sub-family (amounting probably to 2000 species
and considerably more than 100 genera) renders it, however, advisable
that some method shall be adopted in their arrangement, if only with
the object of facilitating reference and of saving time; and I shall
accordingly make use of that recently proposed by Mulsant and Rey for
the species of France in the ‘ Histoire Naturelle des Coldéoptéres de
France, Brévipennes, Aléochariens,’ introducing, however, sume moii-
fications in order to render it more simple. In this scheme the number
of joints of the tarsi is considered superior in importance to the condition
of the trophi, on which Erichson and Kraatz, the principal previous
writers on the family, chiefly based their genera and arrangement. It
would be out of place’ to discuss here the comparative claims of these
two methods to superiority, but it is clear that the advantages oflered by
the tarsal system, as regards facility of verification and simplicity of
definition, are very great, and give it asa provisional method preponderant
importance,”

In the present work I have followed Dr. Sharp in adopting the tarsal
system ; at the same time it must be acknowledged that the examination
of the nuinber of the tarsal joints is often attended with as much difficulty
and takes as much time as the examination of the trophi, which latter [
have dissected out in nearly all our genera of Staphylinidie: if the tarsi
of some species are at all gummed, it is almost impossible to determine
the number of their joints, and some require mounting in balsam to
ensure certainty as regards this point.

Dr. Sharp also makes considerable use of a character which has been
to a certain extent employed by Thomson, and in greater measure by
Rey : as this may be found of very great use by students, it is advisable
to quote Dr. Sharp’s words on ‘the subject, as he appears to be the first
who has used definite terms to express it; he says, “ On examining some
of the Staphylinide, such e.g. as a large Xantholinus, it will be observed
that the middle cox are alviest without true acetabula (or coxal cavities);
this part of the limb, in fact, merely reposes on the surface of the breast,

8 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Aleocharine.

which is more or less vaguely impressed for its accommodation. In
other forms, e.g. Aleochara, it will be found, on the contrary, that the
coxa is imbedded in an abruptly defined cavity surrounded entirely by
a well-marked raised margin. Between the extreme forms mentioned a
large number of intermediate stages exist, and in the Aleocharine offer
a satisfactory and readily-observed method of differentiating the genera.
When the two cavities exist entirely surrounded by a raised margin as
in Aleochara, I have used the expression ‘cavities complete:’ the com-
pletion is effected on the inner side by a prolongation of the mesosternum
between the coxee meeting a prolongation from the metasternum : these
prolongations may be called the mesosternal and metasternal processes,
and are each defined by a fine raised border. When these two borders
do not meet, I have designated the cavities as incomplete, and the space
intervening between their extremities I have called the ‘ intercoxal
isthmus :’ this intercoxal isthmus is of variable length and breadth, but
in calling it ‘long’ or ‘short,’ I have always used the words in reference
to its extension in the longitudinal axis of the body.”

According to the number of the tarsal joints, the Aleocharine may be
divided into five tribes as follows :—

I. All the tarsi 5-jointed . . . - . ALEOCHARINA.
IJ. Anterior tarsi 4-jointed, intermediate and posterior tarsi 5-

jointed . . « 5 ot us) < MyRMEDONIINA.
Iil. Anterior and intermediate tarsi 4-jointed, posterior tarsi 5.

jointed ,mec sie S 5 Meg Bu er allk eh Sue ise sie ee DODUTOGRARINAS

IV. All the tarsi 4-jointed . @, nes el ie, eo wh elem aye ODGOPINAS
V. All'the'tarsi 3-jointed| © 6 6 « » « « = © «= ww)» DEINOPSINAS

ALEOCHARINA.

This tribe contains thirteen British genera: one of these, Gymnusa,
agrees with the rest as regards the number of joints in the tarsi, but
differs widely from them in the form of the labial palpi, in which it
rather closely approaches Myllana; in other respects also it is allied to
this latter genus and to Deznopsis ; for the sake, therefore, of uniformity
these three genera have been described together at the end of the
Aleocharine: the members of the tribe Aleocharina have all the tarsi
5-jointed,

I. Labial palpi of the ordinary form.

i, Head not, or scarcely, contracted at base ; border of tho-
rax strongly retlexed, not, or scarcely, visible if viewed

from side,
1, Thorax very plainly broader than elytra with the
posterior angles strongly projecting , . Homausa, Kraatz.

2. Thorax not or scarcely broader than ely tra (except
in one or two instances in which the posterior angles
are not projecting).
A. Palpi with an extremely minute accessory joint ;
intermediate coxa with cavities entirely sur-
rounded by a raised margin. . . . . . « « ALEOCHARA, Grav.

Aleocharinu. | STAPHYLINIDE. 9

B. Palpi with the ordinary number of joints (maxil-
lary palpi 4-jointed, labial palpi 3-jointed) ;
intermediate cox with cavities not entirely
surrounded by a raised margin.
a. First joint of posterior tarsi about equal in
length to the last joint... - Microeuossa, Kraalz.
b. First joint of posterior tarsi much ‘longer than
the last joint.
a*. Hind body with the three first (apparent)
segments feebly impressed transversely at
base; hind body usually narrowed towards
apex .
at. Labial palpi with joints gradually narrower Oxypopa, Mannh.
bt. Labial palpi with the first two joints
thickened. . . THiasopnHita, Kraatz.
b*. Hind body with the ‘three first ‘segments
strongly impressed transversely at base, “fourth
feebly impressed ; hind body parallel-sided . Iscuno@tossa, Kraatz.
ii. Head slightly contracted at base; border of thorax
Sai” reflexed, plainly visible if viewed from
peice Ss ae Ocyusa, Kraatz.
- Head strongly contracted at ‘bs Ise, projecting laterally
beyond apex of the thorax.
A. First joint of posterior tarsi shorter than the two
following united, and than the last joint; antenna
short =. . os Oo Sc. oI - « . PxHtaopora, Er.
B. First joint of posterior tarsi more or less elong: ate, at
least equal to the two following united, and not
shorter than the last joint ; antenna long.
a. Last joint of maxillary palpi at least one-third as
long as the penultimate . . . OcaLEa, Er.
b. Last joint of maxillary palpi minute, plainly less
than one-third as long as the penultimate.
a*, Mesosternum eaeinate ss es v « € 6 IGYOBATES, Kraatz.
b*. Mesosternum not carinate.

at. Antenne with joints 2-3 equal. . . CuiLopora, Kraatz,
bf. Antennz with second joint pay longer
bhanbhird! ss «<< sto - « - . CALODERA, Mannh.

IL. Labial palpisetitorm < . . . 2 « » « « « «: + GYMNUSA, Hr.

HOMGUSA, Kraatz.

This genus comprises three species (from Europe, North America, and
Japan), which are distinguished by having a broad convex thorax, which
is plainly broader than the elytra, and by the hind body being strongly,
though gradually, narrowed from base to apex; two species occur in
Europe, of which one is found in Britain; it is usually taken in or near
decayed trees in company with Formica fuliginosa.

H. acuminata, Maerk. Pitchy-red with the head and central
portion of hind body more or less dark, and. the apex of hind body
rather broadly testaceous; head much narrower than thorax ; antenne
stout and rather short, thickened towards apex, more or less dusky, with
the basal and apical joints lighter, third joint shorter than second, 5-10

10 STAPHYLINID®. [Aleocharina-

strongly transverse ; thorax large, broad, and convex, with the posterior
angles projecting, finely punctured ; elytra short, about as long as thorax
and somewhat more distinctly punctured ; hind body strongly narrowed
from base to apex, with distinct raised margin, finely punctured; legs
testaceous red. L. 2-23 mm.

Very local, and usually tuken sparingly where it is found; Chatham; Tonbridge ;
Woburn, near Bedford; Tilgate Forest ; Upnor and Bromley, Surrey : Dr. Power has
taken a considerable number at the foot of a tree at Mickleham inruns of Formica

Suliginosa, by cutting up the turf for a breadth of three inches on each side of the
run and shaking it over paper ; it has also been found with Murmica fusca,

ALEOCHARA, Gravenhorst.

The genus Aleochara contains about 200 known species, which are
widely distributed over the greater part of the world; the chief dis-
tinguishing mark of the genus is the fact that the palpi are provided
with a minute accessory joint, or, as some authors prefer to call it, an
“articulated lobe,” so that the maxillary palpi are 5-jointed and the
labial palpi 4-jointed, a peculiarity that is not found in any other genera
of Coleoptera hitherto discovered.

It is probably owing to the desire to class together all the species
exhibiting this character that has caused the genus ; Aleochara to be made
up of several apparently very different groups ; one of these, the sub-
genus Polystoma of Stephens, contaiing H. algarum, grisea, and
obse urella, Thomson separates entirely from Aleochara, and places it
between Platarwa (Homalota brunnea, &c.) and Halobrec tha (Homaluta
puncticeps and its allies); in many ways this appears a better position
for it, but the presence of the accessory joints of the palpi certainly
precludes it from being taken out of the neighbourhood of Aleochara.
The arrangement observed below is partly that of Mulsant and Rey, but
I have followed Heyden, Reitter, and Weise in combining A/eochara 1. sp.
and Baryodma: the character afforded by the reflexed margin of the
thorax is perhaps not a very evident one, but it is constant, and may be
distinguished even in. carded specimens if the insect be examined side-
ways from a little beneath.

I. Hind body with strong prominences in

male ; sides of thorax pana eee reflexed

beneith ~.. clad ek Peer - . Sub-Gen. Ceranora, Steph.
II. Hind body without prominences in male.

i, Sides of thorax very strongly reflexed

beneath, presenting a hollow surface
on the underside. . . . . . . . Sub-Gen. ALEOCAARA i. sp.
Sub-Gen. Baryopma, Thoms.
ii, Sides of thorax moderately or almost
horizontally reflexed beneath, present-
inga flat or almost flat surface on the
underside,
1. Antennas and legs elongate; upper
surface shining; facies of an Ocalea. Sub-Gen, Rugocnara, Muls. et Rey.
2. Antenne and legs short ; upper sur-
face dull, strongly pubescent . . . Sub-Gen, PoLtystoma, Steph.

Aleochara.} STAPITYLINIDE. 11

Of these sub-genera the second contains the bulk of our species; the
sub-genus Ceranota contains only one species, A. ruficornis, one of the
most distinct of the whole genus; the sub-genus Rheochara vomprises
two extremely rare insects, A. procera and spadicea, which hardly
resemble an Alcochara at all, and are scarcely ever likely to be met with
by a collector ; while the sub-genus Polystoma contains three dull-brown
species, which are confined to the sea coast and are found under sea-weed
and marine refuse; as a matter of fact, therefore, the table just given
will hardly need referring to by the student, and is adopted rather as
ensuring accuracy of classification, and as separating those species of the
genus that evidently ought not to be classed together.

The Aleochare are found in dung, hotbeds, and decaying vegetable
matter generally ; some of them are confined chiefly to dead animals or
birds, while a few are found in moss, and under reeds, &e., on the banks
of streams.

(Sub-Gen. Ceranota, Steph.)

A. ruficornis, Grav. Shining, dark-ferruginous, with the head
blackish or dark brown, and the elytra, margins of thorax, and apex of
intermediate segments of hind body reddish; head small, antenne rather
long, longer than head and thorax, with third joint plainly longer than
second, slightly thickened towards apex, but much more slender than in
the succeeding species, fuscous, with base and apical joints lighter;
thorax broader than long, about as broad as elytra, convex, distinctly
punctured; elytra rather longer than thorax, somewhat rugosely punc-
tured, and rather thickly pubescent; hind body only moderately con-
tracted to apex, very strongly margined, basal segments rather coarsely
and deeply punctured, apical segments Bhallowly and more obsoletely
punctured ; legs reddish testaceous, L. 5-72 3mm.

Male with a transverse raised plate on the second (apparent) segment
of hind body, a large blunt raised tooth-like prominence on the third
seginent, a small tubercle on fourth, and the sixth depressed in middle
and raised somewhat semicircularly at apex, and furnished with three
more or less obsolete small prominences near apical margin.

One of the finest of our indigenous Aleocharide ; rare, although somewhat widely
distributed ; in moss near nests of Formica rufa or fusca, by sweeping, running on
pathways, &e. Hampstead; Charlton, Surrey; Shipley, near Horsham; Repton ;
Langworth Wood, Lincoln ; Gumley, Market Harborough ; Scarborough; Llangollen ;
Studley, near Ripon; Liverpool; Devonshire ; Hartlepool ; Northuaberland district
(Gosforth, Ravensworth, and Lanercost). Scotland, local, weed, Forth, and Solway
districts.

This species varies very much in size ; I have a fine male taken near
Lincoln, nearly 8 mm. in length.

(Aleochara, i. sp. (Sub-Gen. Baryodma, Thoms. pars.).)

I. Mesosternum simple.

12 STAPHYLINIDE.

i, Antennae with fourth joint strongly transverse, joiuts

5-10 equal in breadth,

ptlytravreddishie) s) <. qeulle Ue) Monell eninci ce
aan Elytra black . =e ie

. Antenne with fourth joint hardly - transverse ; joints

5-10 gradually slightly broader; elytra unicolorous

black or pitchy.

1. Size larger (4-5 mo antenna more thickened
towards apex So: Wool dea ee oar o
2. Size smaller (3- 34 mm.) ; antennze less thickened
towards apex . . speastteaitet 18
Il. pueecearmam with a longitudinal carina.
. Length 34-5 mm.
Hi Thorax evenly punctured.

A. Elytra rounded at postero-external angles ; elytra
black with a more or less strongly marked red
oe at apex.

. Hind body parallel-sided until just before apex ;
thorax with strong lateral sete .

b. Hind body narrowed from base to apes ; thorax
without lateral sete

B. Elytra more or less sinuate at ‘apex near postero-
external angles.

a. Elytra black with a more or less strongly marked
red spot at apex.
a*, Antennz more slender; legs longer; hind
body more closely and evidently punctured .
b*. Antenne stouter; legs shorter; hind body
less closely punctured . sits
b. Elytra black (occasionally dark brown).
a*, Hind body strongly punctured, at least at base.
at. Antenne not strongly thickened, joints
6-10 only moderately transverse; apical
segments of hind body evidently less closely
punctured than basal segments . . .
b+. Antennz rather strongly thickened, joints
6-10 twice as broad as long ; hind body
evenly punctured .
L*. Hind body feebly punctured or almost smooth.
af. Antenne not strongly thickened, joints
6-10 only moderately transverse; hind
body visibly but diffusely punctured
b+. Antenna strongly thickened, joints 6— 10
twice as broad as long ; hind body almost
impunctate .
e. Elytra red or reddish " eastaneous, sometimes
darker towards sides and suture.
a*, Hind body pleny narrowed from base to
apex .
b*. Hind body “almost parallel- -sided until just
before apex.
af. Antenna thicker, strongly thickened to-
wards apex, joints 6-10 twice as broad
EW ho i o.oo bo OG ooo CO

[ Aleochara.

A. Fusciers, F,
A. LATA, Grav,

A. BREVIPENNIS, Grav.

A. FOMATA, Grav,

A, TRISTIS, Grav.

A. BlpuNoTaTa, Ol.

A. cUNICULORUM, Kr,

A. Macunata, Bris.

A, LANUGINOSA, Grav.

A, tyams, Kr.

A. vitLosa, Mann.

A. Ma@sTA, Grav.

A. MYCETOPHAGA, Kr.

A, M@RENS, Gy/l.
(lugubris, Aubé.
Sungivora, Sharp).

Aleochara. | STAPHYLINIDE. 13

bt. Antenne more slender, feebly thickened
towards apex, joints 6-10 not strongly
STANSVETSON Na as Genie del eo « i « « Av BRUNELPENNIS, Ky,
(sanguinea, L.?),
2. Thorax shining black, with two rows of punctures
on disc, and diffuse punctures at sides.
A. Each elytra with a red spot at ad . . . . A. NITIDA, Grav,
B. Elytra unicolorous black . . - . . . . FV. BILINEATA, Gyll.
i. Length not exceeding 2-3 nm.
As Form broad in middle, strongly narrowed to apex;
hind body thickly and evenly punctured. . . . A. MORION, Grav.
2. Form narrow more or less linear . . . . . . A. INCONSPICUA, Aubé.

A. fuscipes, F. Rather broad, and somewhat convex, shining
black, with the base of the antenne and the legs reddish or pitchy-red,
and the elytra red-brown with the sides darker; head rather small,
antenn short very strongly thickened from the fourth joint inclusive,
third joint plainly longer and thicker than second ; thorax transverse,
convex, narrowed in front, rather closely punctured ; elytra very trans-
verse, shorter than thorax, depressed, with posterior angles rounded, very
plainly and somewhat rugosely punctured ; hind body narrowed mode-
rately at apex, black with apical segments sometimes lighter, strongly and
diffusely punctured. L. 5-7 mm.

Male with the seventh segment of hind body slightly emarginate and
finely crenulate on its apical margin.

In carcasses, haystack refuse, vegetable detritus, &e. ; very common throughout the
kingdom.

A. lata, Grav. This species is often considered a mere colour variety
of the preceding, the elytra being black or very dark blackish brown ; it
is however rather broader, with the punctuation of the elytra slightly
stronger ; the chief difference however lies in the structure of the seventh
segment of the hind body of the male, which has the apex crenulated, as
in the preceding. species, but the erenulations are much finer and almost
twice as numerous as in A. fuscipes; the legs are pitchy. L. 5-6 mm.

Found under the same circumstances as the preceding, but not so common, and
confined to the southern districts of the Midlands; New Forest (common); Deal,
Sheerness, Chatham, Mickleham, Tonbridge; Hastings; Glanvilles Wotton; also
occurs near Bristol and in Bewdley Forest.

A. brevipennis, Grav. Entirely black, shining, finely and thickly
pubescent ; antenne rather long, black with base reddish, joints 2-3
elongate, third slightly longer than second, 4-10 gradually a little wider ;
thorax convex, broader than long, né mowed in front, thickly and finely
punctured ; elytra very short, hardly as long as thorax, strongly trans-
verse, dull black, very thickly pubescent, strongly and asperately punc-
tured ; hind body almost parallel-sided until a little before apex, strongly
but not closely punctured towards. base, less closely towards apex ; legs
pitchy, tarsi reddish. L. 4-5 mm.

14 STAPHYLINIDA. [A leochara.

Male with the hind margin of seventh segment of hind body very
slightly sinuate and obsoletely crenulated.

This species may easily be distinguished from A. fristis and bipunctata
by its very short unicolorous black elytra and the strong and diffuse
punctuation of the hind body: the antenne are entirely different from
those of A. lata, and it is a much narrower and duller insect than that
species.

In moss, at roots of grass in marshy places, occasionally in carrion, &e. ; not
common ; Wimbledon, Esher, Caterham, Mickleham, Shirley, Whitstable, Southend,
Cowley, Reigate, Chobham, Bearsted ; Hastings ; New Forest; Brighton ; Dawlish ;
Ilfracombe. Scotland, local, Forth, Tay, Solway, and Clyde districts. Ireland,
Galway (J. J. Walker).

A. fumata, Grav. Closely allied to the preceding, of which it is
usually considered only a variety : it differs in being smaller and rather
more shining, with the pubescence of the thorax and elytra shorter ; the
antenne are proportionally more elongate, and of a darker colour, more
slender towards the base and less thickened towards apex ; the elytra
are shorter, not so strongly, but a little less closely punctured ; the
punctuation, also, of the hind body is evidently less close, especially
towards apex. L. 33-4 mm.

In Dr. Sharp’s series some of the specimens have the elytra reddish
and the antennz and legs entirely ferruginous.

Rare; Soham, Cambridge (Champion); Scotland, Clyde and Solway districts
(Sharp).

A. tristis, Grav. (Baryodma (Polychara) tristis, Muls. et Rey).
Rather long, finely and somewhat thickly pubescent, the pubescence
being somewhat erect, shining black with a rather distinctly marked red
spot at the apex of each elytron ; head rather strongly, but not thickly,
punctured, antennze rather short and stout, pitchy, with the base lighter,
plainly thickened towards apex, third joint a little longer than second,
5-10 strongly transverse ; thorax broader than long, narrowed in front,
convex, rather strongly punctured, pubescent, with rather strong out-
standing sete; elytra strongly transverse, plainly shorter than thorax,
broadly rounded at the postero-external angles, thickly and rugosely
punctured ; hind body rather long, parallel-sided in front and narrowed
behind, closely and strongly punctured throughout; legs pitchy, tarsi
reddish, L. 5-6 mm.

Male with dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body slightly
emarginate, ventral plate produced and ciliate.

In dung; rather common in the London district, Birch Wood, Eltham, Rvigate,
Mickleham, Cowfold, Esher, Chatham, Whitstable; Deal: it has also occurred in

the New Forest, and has been doubtfully recorded from Devonshire, but appears to
be confined to the south and south-eastern parts of England.

A. bipunctata, Ol. (Baryodma bipunctata, Thoms.). Black,
shining, broad in front and strongly narrowed behind, with fine short

Aleochara | STAPHYLINID.E. 15

pubescence, with a broad ill-defined red marking at the apex of each
elytron; head rather plainly punctured, antenne slightly thickened
towards apex with the third joint equal to the second, black with base
lighter ; thorax broader than long, convex, narrowed in front, finely and
thickly punctured; elytra strongly transverse, plainly shorter than
thorax, very closely and rugosely punctured, rather dull ; hind body not
elongate, broad at base and plainly narrowed from base to apex, very
closely punctured towards base, less closely towards apex, with very
strong raised margins ; legs reddish, femora often darker. L. 4-5 mm.

Male with the seventh segment of hind body broadly sinuate and
obsoletely crenulate on apical margin.

This species may at once be distinguished from A, fristis, which it
somewhat resembles, by its much less parallel shape, the gradual narrow-
ing of the hind body from base to apex, the absence of outstanding sete
on the thorax, and the more obscure and ill-defined red markings on elytra.

In dung, moss, haystack refuse, &e.; very widely distributed from Manchester
downwards, but it can hardly be called common, except perhaps in the London dis-
trict : it appears to become rarer further north, and in Scotland is scarce, having
occurred only sparingly in the Forth and Solway districts. Ireland, Waterford
(Power), and Galway (J. J. Walker).

A. cuniculorum, Kraatz (lsignata, W. C., Baryodma (Polychara)
cuniculorum, Muls. et Rey). Elongate, rather narrow, finely and some-
what thickly pubescent, shining black, with a more or less plainly
marked red patch at the apex of each elytron ; head rather sparingly
punctured ; antenne feebly thickened towards apex, third joint hardly
longer than second, joints 6-10 moderately transverse about one anda
half times as broad as long; thorax about a third broader than long,
narrowed in front, convex, finely and rather thickly punctured; elytra
as long as thorax, transverse, thickly, and rather rugosely, punctured ;
hind body rather long gradually and not strongly narrowed to apex,
finely and thickly punctured in front, almost smooth behind ; legs red
or pitchy red. L. 33-4 mm.

Male with dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body slightly
sinuate and very finely ciliate, ventral plate prolonged and set with long
cilia.

Sandy places ; in dung, dead animals, &e.; also near the burrows of rabbits; rare;
Maidstone, Shirley near Croydon, Richmond Park, West Wickham, Birch Wood,
Darenth, Bearsted; Hayling Island; Guestling, near Hastings; Scotland, rare,
Forth district only.

This species appears to differ very little from A. bistgnata, Er., with
which it has been considered synonymous ; Mulsant and Rey separate
A. cuniculorum and A. bisignata, but unite A. cuniculorum and
A, maculata.

A. cuniculorum is very variable in size, especially in breadth, some
specimens being rather broad and some very slender.

A. maculata, Bris. Very like the preceding but broader, with

16 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Aleochara.

longer and stouter antenne, of which the last joint is very long; the
legs are shorter (the middle tarsi especially being shorter) and have the
femora darker ; the body is more sparingly clothed with golden pubes-
cence, and the hind body is less closely punctured: the species some-
what resembles A. nitida, but is at once distinguished from it by its
evenly punctured thorax. L. 33-4 mm.

A single specimen taken in shingle on the banks of the Lyn, North Devon, by the
Rev. H. S. Gorham.

A. lanuginosa, Gray. (Baryodma (Polychara) lanuginosa, Muls. et
Rey). Shining black, with moderate pubescence which is more or less
erect; head rather strongly and diffusely punctured, antenne not
strongly thickened towards apex, entirely black or with the first joint
pitchy, third joint a little longer than second, 5-10 not strongly trans-
verse ; thorax broader than long, slightly narrowed in front, rather
finely and thickly punctured ; elytra unicolorous black, transverse, about
as long as thorax, sinuate towards the postero-external angles, thickly
and rugosely punctured ; hind body parallel-sided towards base, narrowed
at apex, basal segments thickly punctured on their basal half only, apical
segments much more finely punctured ; legs reddish or pitchy. L. 3-6
mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body slightly
emarginate and distinctly denticulate on its apical margin (the denti-
culations numbering from twelve to sixteen), ventral plate prolonged and
furnished with long cilia,

In dung, haystack refuse, decaying sea-weed and vegetable refuse generally ; very

abundant ; the commonest species of the genus, but one that often proves deceptive
by reason of the great variation in the size of the specimens.

A. lyge@a, Kr. (Baryodma (Polychara) lygea, Muls. et Rey). Very
like the preceding, with which it may very easily be confounded, but
distinguished by its generally smaller and narrower size, and less long
and erect pubescence ; the best character, however, lies in the punctua-
tion of the hind body, which is evenly punctured throughout, whereas
in A. lanuginosa the apical half of the front segments is smooth, and
the apical segments are very sparingly punctured ; the antenne also are
much more plainly thickened, and have the penultimate joints more
strongly transverse, and the male characters are different, the dorsal plate
of the seventh segment of hind body being simply subtruncate. L. 3-4mm,

In dung and decomposing vegetable matter, also in carrion ; rare, but very pro-
bably overlooked. Tonbridge, Eltham, Shirley; Scotland, very rare, Tay and
Solway districts.

A. villosa, Mann. (Baryodma (Polychara) villosa, Muls. et Rey).
This species also comes near A. lanuginosa, but is narrower and more
linear; the antenne are longer and thinner, and the thorax is pro-
portionally narrower, being slightly narrower than the elytra; the

Aleochara. | STAPHYLINIDE. stir

elytra are not so distinctly sinuate at the posterior angles; the hind
body is much more sparingly and feebly punctured than in either of
the two preceding species, with the exception of the apical segment,
which is thickly and plainly punctured; the slender antenne and
narrower thorax, as well as the duller appearance of the thorax and
elytra, will serve to separate it from A. lygwa and A. mesta, between
which two species it is intermediate as regards the punctuation of the
hind body. L. 33-4 mm.

Rare; in decaying vegetable refuse; first introduced by Mr. Bold (Ent. Mo. Mag.
vii. 275) onspecimens from Neweastle-on-Tyne ; Scarborough (pigeon-cotes, Lawson );

Leamington, Knowle near Birmingham, and Ragley Park (W. G. Blatch); Scotland,
Braemar (Sharp).

A. meesta, Grav. (Baryodma (Polychara) mesta, Grav.). This
species bears a somewhat close resemblance to A. lanuginosa and its
allies, but may at once be distinguished by its almost impunctate and
shining hind body, the apical segments of which are almost entirely
smooth; as a rule it has the legs and antennz more or less reddish, and
the elytra are sometimes dark reddish brown; the antennz are more
strongly thickened and have the penultimate joints more transverse than
in A. lanuginosa or A. villosa, and in this point it resembles A. lygea,
from which it may be easily separated by its sculpture; it is broader
and less linear than A. villosa, and has the elytra much more coarsely
punctured ; in some points it resembles ‘darker specimens of A. mcerens,
but has the antennz less thickened and the hind body less evidently
punctured. L. 3-4 mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body truncate
or almost truncate, and finely and obsoletely crenulate on apical border,
ventral plate prolonged and furnished with long cilia.

In moss, dung, haystack refuse, sea-weed, &e.; common and widely distributed

throughout England and the southern part of Scotland ; Ireland, Dublinand Waterford,
and probably widely distributed.

A. mycetophaga, Kr. (Baryodma (Polychara) mycetophaga, Muls.
et Rey). Rather elongate, broader in front, and much narrowed behind,
finely and rather thickly pubescent ; pitch-black, with the elytra, apex
of hind body, and often the apex of the several segments of the latter
reddish brown; head finely punctured, antenne pitchy with reddish
hase, rather strongly thickened from the fifth joint inclusive, joints
5-10 strongly transverse; thorax broader than long, narrowed in front,
with sides strongly rounded, finely and rather thickly punctured ; elytra
hardly as long as thorax, strongly transverse, very thickly and somewhat
rugosely punctured ; hind body gradually but distinctly narrowed from
base to apex, thickly punctured towards base, rather sparingly towards
apex ; legs red. L. 33-4 mm.

Male with the seventh segment of hind body slightly emarginate and
obsoletely crenulate on apical margin.

VoL, II. c

18 STAPHYLINIDE. [Aleochara.

In decaying fungi; rare; Coombe Wood, Surrey; Birch Wood; Tilgate Forest ;
Reigate ; Petworth; Hastings; New Forest; apparently confiued to the south and
south-east of England.

A.meerens, Gyll. (fungivora, Sharp, lugubris, Aubé, Baryodma
(Polychara) marens, Muls. et Rey). This species much resembles the
preceding in general appearance, but is easily distinguished by its more
shining upper surface, and especially by its more parallel form, the hind
body being almost parallel-sided for the greater part of its length, and
only narrowed at apex ; the pubescence is Jess close, and the antennz are
a little longer; the hind body also is less closely punctured ; there is
also a difference in the relative length of the joints of the tarsi; the
male characters are much as in the preceding species. L. 4 mm.

In carrion, haystack refuse, fungi, &c.; very rare; Sheerness and Birch Wood,
Kent; Winchester; Wicken Fen; Knowle, near Birmingham; Burton-on-Trent ;
Scotland, very rare, in decaying fungus, Solway, Tay, and Dee districts.

A. brunneipennis, Kr. (sanguinea, L.1, Baryodma (Polychara) san-
guinea, Muls. et Rey, marens, Thoms. nec Gyll., lugubris, Sharp’s Cat.).
This species is very like the preceding, but may be distinguished by its
longer and more slender antenne, of which the penultimate joints are
evidently less transverse, rather longer elytra, and the somewhat more
distinet punctuation of the apical segments of the hind body ; it is black,
shining, with the elytra reddish; head rather sparingly punctured ;
antenne only feebly thickened towards apex, rather long, pitchy with
the three first joints clear red, third joint a little longer than second,
fourth about as long as broad, joimts 5-10 slightly transverse ; thorax
broader than long, narrowed in front, about as broad at hase as base of
elytra, finely punctured ; elytra red with sides and suture narrowly
darker, rugosely punctured ; hind body subparallel, narrowed near apex,
finely punctured, more plainly towards base, less plainly towards apex ;
legs red. L.4 mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body truneate
and very obsoletely crenulate on apical border, dorsal plate produced and
furnished with long cilia.

Very rare ; in dead animals; nine specimens tz iuken by Dr, Sharp at St. Mary’s Cray,
Kent. I do not know of any ‘other specimens of the true 4. brunneipennis.

The synonymy of these two last species is very confusing, and I may
be wrong regarding 16 in one or two points; I have, however, worked
the species from the specimens in Dr. Sharp’s collection.

A. nitida, Grav. (Baryodma (Coprochara) nitida, Muls. et Rey).
An exceedingly variable species both as regards length and breadth ;
black, shining, with a sharply defined red spot at the apex of each elytron ;
pubescence rather long, but somewhat scanty; head sparingly punctured,
disc sometimes almost smooth, antenne short, thickened towards apex,
black with the base obscurely pitchy, joints 4-10 plainly transverse ;
thorax broader than long, narrowed in front, as broad at base as base of

Aleocliara. | STAPHYLINID®. 19

elytra, diffusely and distinetly punctured at sides, with a smooth longi-
tudinal space on centre of dise bounded by two somewhat irrecular but
plainly traceable rows of strong punctures (this character at once separates
the species from all others); elytra about as long as thorax strongly
and thickly punctured; hind body almost parallel-sided, thickly and evenly
punctured, sixth segment a little more sparingly than the others ; legs
pitehy black, knees and tarsi lighter. L. 3-5 mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body finely
crenulate on apical border, ventral plate distinctly prolonged and ciliate.

In dung, haystack refuse, &c.; generally distributed and common throughout
England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

V. bilineata, Gyll. This variety differs from the type form in
having no red spots at the apex of the elytra, which are unicolorous
shining black; some authors consider it a separate species, on the
ground that the size is a little larger, and the antenne less thickened,
with the fourth joint slightly longer; the punctuation also of the head
and thorax is said to be more diffuse; the structural differences, however,
do not seem to be sutticiently marked to allow of its being considered
a species, especially if we consider the extreme variability of A. nitida:
Mulsant and Rey (Brév. Aléochaires, 1874, p. 155) -describe three
named varieties which differ in the size and shape of thorax, coloration
of elytra, and punctuation of hind body, and these are connected by
many gradations.

Found in similar localities, and often in company with the type, but not nearly as
cominon, although widely distributed ; Scotland, Tweed, Forth, and Dee districts.

A. morion, Grav. (Laryodma morion, Muls. et Rey). This very
small species has somewhat the appearance at first sight of one of the
black Homalotee with hind body narrowed to apex (such as H. atervima) ;
it is dull black, finely pubescent, rather broad in front and stronely
narrowed behind ; head finely but distinctly punctured ; antenne black,
with base reddish, somewhat thickened towards apex, third joint a
little longer than second, 5-10 strongly transverse ; thorax almost twice
as broad as long, as broad at base as base of elytra, finely and closely
punctured ; elytra strongly transverse, a little longer than thorax, sinuate
near postero-external angles, thickly and rugosely punctured ; hind body
gradually narrowed from base to apex (as in A. bipunctata), thickly
punctured towards base, apical segments less punctured, and more
shining ; legs reddish or pitchy-red. L. 13-2} mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body slightly
emarginate and crenulate on its apical border (the crenulations num-
bering six or eight), ventral plate much prolonged.

In dung, &c.; common and widely distributed in England and Wales and the
southern part of Scotland, but very often overlooked; Ireland, near Waterford, wud
probably common.

c 2

20 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Aleochara.

(A. inconspieua, Aubé. Elongate, rather narrow, glossy black,
rather thickly clothed with very pale ash-coloured pubescence, especially
on the thorax and elytra; head rather finely and sparingly punctured,
antenne black with lighter base, rather slender and comparatively long,
third joint longer than second, joimts 5-10 slightly transverse ; last joint
long in the male (as long as the three preceding), less elongate in
female ; thorax less transverse than in A. morion, finely punctured ;
elytra strongly transverse, about as long as thorax, rather strongly and
thickly punctured, the punctuation being much stronger than that of
thorax ; hind body almost parallel-sided, with the front segments strongly
grooved transversely, the grooves being strongly and thickly punctured,
hinder segments finely punctured; legs pitchy, knees and tarsi red.
L. 23 mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body
truncate and obsoletely crenulate on its apical border, ventral plate
strongly prolonged and ciliate ; last joint of antenne as long as the three
preceding.

Very doubtful ; a single specimen was brought forward by Mr. Waterhouse from the
dispersed collection of Mr. Jeakes (probably captured by Mr. Squire), with no note of
its locality; it was, however, noted as British: under the circumstances it seems

better to regard it as merely left in the British list provisionally; the species is
moderately common in France, in moss in forests.)

(Sub-Gen. Rheochara, Er )

There is considerable difficulty concerning this sub-genus, which,
according to Mulsant and Rey, contains but one European species, A.
spadicea, the other apparently closely allied species, A. procera, being
referred, in accordance with the views of Evichson, to Ocalea, on the
eround that there is no visible supplementary joint to the palpi; the
absence of this would of course be conclusive, but, if such is really the
case, it scems strange that it has ever been classed under Aleochara,
except perhaps through its close resemblance to A. spadicea, which may
have caused a mistake. In the catalogue of Heyden, Reitter, and
Weise both species are placed under Aleochaa: the species are so ex-
tremely rare in Britain that it appears doubtful whether we possess them
both ; the slender legs and antenne and Ocalealike appearance will at
once separate them from all other species of Aleochara.

A. spadicea, Er. Elongate, finely pubescent, shining pitchy-black,
with the thorax and elytra chestnut brown or rufo-piceous, the latter
being lighter; head large, finely and sparingly punctured, anteune
rather long, slightly thickened towards apex, ferruginous with the first
joint lighter, joints 2-3 elongate of about equal length, 4-10 gradually
a little shorter and thicker, but the penultimate joints are only slightly
transverse, last as long as the two preceding, pear-shaped or oval ; thorax
transverse with sides rounded, as broad as elytra, distinctly punctured ;

Aleochara. | STAPHYLINID ®, 21

elytra transverse, about as long “as thorax, rather strongly and rugosely
punctured ; hind body somewhat parallel-sided until near apex, pitchy
black, with the intersections of segments more or less plainly, and the
apex, lighter, front segments transversely grooved at base, the grooves

being rather thickly punctured, apex of each segment and the whole of
the last segments more sparingly punctured or almost smooth; legs reddish
testaceous, posterior tarsi elongate. L. 45 mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body
simple or obsoletely denticulate, ventral plate strongly produced ; sixth
segment sinuate in middle of posterior border, and with a smooth space
in front of sinuation, which is wanting in the female,

Very rare; Cumberland (J. J. Brewer); sent by Mr. E, W. Janson to Dr. Kraatz,

and returned by him labelled, “Ab Aleocharn spadicea vix distincta.” There is a
specimen in Dr. Sharp's collection without name or locality,

A. procera, Er. In the description given of the insect on which
A. procera was introduced as a British species, Mr. Rye (Ent. Ann.
1865, p. 49), says, “It resembles A. spadicea, but is larger, with the
head more rounded, the thorax a little shorter, and impressed at the
base, with the anterior angles more rounded, and the segments of the
abdomen more thickly punctured at the base ; ” the characters, how-
ever, which appear to distinguish A. procera, viz. the more transverse
penultimate joints of the antennz and the almost smooth hind body (v.
Muls. et Rey, 1. c. p. 477), are not mentioned: as Mr, Rye’s description
will apply to a larger variety of A. spadicea, it seems very probable that
we do not possess A. procera at all, but, as I have not had the oppor-
tunity of examining the very few specimens taken, I must leave the
point unsettled.

Reigate (Linnell) ; Scalby Beck, Yorkshire (W. Hey); Scarborough (R. Lawson).

(Sub-Gen. Polystoma, Stephens.)

The species that form this sub-genus are distinguished by their
parallel form, less transverse thorax, ‘and duller appearance ; the thorax
and elytra are, as a rule, thickly clothed with whitish pubescence ; they
are found on the sea- -shore under decaying sea-weed and other refuse.

Hind body rather sparingly punctured ; size larger.
Elytra strongly pane upper surface of hind body
rather shining. . . A. GRISEA, Kr.
Elytra finely punctured ; 2 upper surface ‘of hind body dull. A. ALG@ARUM, Fuuv.
Hind body rather thickly punctured ; size smaller. . . . A. OBSCURELLA, Grav,

A. grisea, Kr. (nitidula, Thoms., obseurella, Thoms. nec Er.).
Elongate, rather depressed, clothed with fine and thick whitish-yelluw
pubescence, of asomewhat leaden black colour, with the front parts rather
dull, and the hind body shining; head Comey puuctured at sides,
antenne pitchy, with joints 2-3 equal in length, 5—10 gradually broader, i,
the latter being strongly transverse ; thorax not much broader than long,

22 STAPHYLINIDEZ. [ Aleocheara.

finely, but distinctly and not closely punctured, usually presenting the
appearance of a central longitudinal furrow, which is often due to the
arrangement of the thick pubescence ; elytra a little longer than thorax,
strongly punctured ; hind body rather long, with sides parallel until near
apex, sparingly punctured, especially behind; legs pitchy, knees and
tarsi lighter, posterior tarsi elongate. L. 3-4 mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body almost
tiuncate, ventral plate produced slightly in an obtuse angle.

Under decaying sea-weed, &e., on the sea-shore; widely distributed and not un-
common in many parts of England; Herne Bay, Scuthend, Whitstable, Broadstairs ;
Isle of Wight (Ryde, Ventnor, &e.); Harwich; Southsea; Falmouth ; Hartlepool ;
Isle of Man; Northumberland district, rare (Bold); Scotland, commun, Forth, Dee,

Solway, and Clyde districts.

A. algarum, [auv. (grisea, Thoms. nec Kr., fuliginosa, Rey). Re-
sembles the preceding, but may easily be distinguished from it by its very
much finer and closer punctuation, the more plainly marked posterior
angles of the thorax, and the much duller general appearance ; it is also,
as a rule, rather larger and broader, but in "this point it is very variable.
L. 33-43 mm.

Found under the same circumstances as the preceding, but is much commoner in
the south than in the north of England; Isle of Aus ight and South Coast, abundant ;

Sheerness, Whitstable, Chatham ; Scarborough ; New Brighton, Liverpool; Isle of
Man ; Northumberland district ; Ireland, near Dublin ; 5 not recorded from Scotland.

A. obscurella, Er. Much smaller on the average than either of the
two preceding, with which it has many points in common ; it may also
he distinguished from them by its coarser and thicker pubescence, and
the closer punctuation of the hind body ; the antenne also are shorter ;
it is much duller and has the thorax and elytra much more closely pune-
tured than A. grisea; in the latter points it resembles A. algarum, but
the short and usually lighter-coloured antenne and the sculpture of the
hind body, as well as the small size, will serve to separate it; the male
has the ventral plate and seventh segment of hind body produced in a
much more distinct angle than in 4. a/garum. L. 3-3} mm.

In decaying sea-weed, &e., often found in company with the other two species ;
not uncommon and widely distributed; Sheerness, Hastings, Southsea, Margate,
Southampton, Weymouth, Isle of Wight, &e.; Devonshire; Muablethorpe, Lin-
colushire; Lancashire; Hartlepool; Northumberland district; Scotland, local,
Tweed and Forth districts; Ireland, Portmarnock and Malahide near Dublin, and
co. Down.

MICRCGLOSSSA, Kuaatz. (Haploglossa, Kraatz, pars.)

This genus at present consists of about a dozen European, one Japanese,
and two Chilian species, and one from Central America; the species are
small and, as a rule, are found either associated with ants, or in the nests
of birds or small quadrupeds, such as mice, squirrels, &e. ; five species

Microglossa.} STAPHYLINID.E. 23

are reputed as British, but Jf. marginalis appears at present to be rather
doubtful.

I. Sixth segment of hind body about as long as the pre-
ceding ; punctuation of thorax indistinct... . M.surTurAuis, Mann.
IL. Sixth gua of hind body evidently longer than ‘the
preceding ; punctuation of thorax distinct, more or less
course.
_ Sides of thorax red. cine - 2 6 « « « . M. MARGINALIS, Gyll.
. Thorax unicolorous bk ack or pitehy.
a Third joint of antenne slightly shorter than second ;
size smaller aud narrower ; upper surface duller.
A. Punctuation of thorax and elytra distinctly
coarser; hind body less closely punctured towards

foe G 2080 6 . M. puta, Gyll.
B. Punctuation a shore aX an elytra distinetly alsaie ;
hind body uniformly punctured . 2. M. nrprcora, Mair.

2. Second and third joints of antenna of equal length ; 5
size larger and broader ; upper surface more shining. M. Gentixis, Maerk.

MM. suturalis, Mann. (prwtecta, Er.. Cratarea suturalis, Thoms.).
Elongate, rather parallel, with rather long and not very thick pubescence ;
head and thorax pitch-black, elytra pitchy with the suture and some-
times apex more or less broadly reddish, hind body with apex and inter-
sections of segments reddish-testaceous ; head rather large, obsoletely
punctured, antenne entirely red, rather long, slightly thickened from the
fourth joint to apex, third joint plainly shorter than second, 5-10
strongly transverse; thorax rather strongly transverse, only slightly

narrowed in front, very finely punctured ; elytra plainly longer than
thorax and less closely punctured ; hind body almost as broad at base
as base of elytra, finely and not closely punctured; legs testaceous.
L. 23-22 mm.

Male with ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body prolonged
into an angle in the middle of its apical border.

In haystack refuse, &e.; common and widely distributed in the Midlands and the
south of England; rarer further north; recorded by Mr, Bold as very rare in the
Northumberland district; it has not hitherto occurred in Scotland ; it appears to be
rather rare in France.

BM. marginalis, Gyll. (Haploglossa rufipennis, Kr.*). This species
is distinguished from the three succeeding by the red colour of the
sides. of the thorax and of the apex of the secments of the hind body ; it
is more finely and closely punctured than either JZ. pulla or M. gentilis,
amd has the antennie rather less thickened than the latter species; the
elytra are bright red, except at the scutellum, and near the posterior
angles; the antennz are brownish with the base and apical joints reddish
testaceous, and the legs are entirely red. L. 3 mm.

Taken by Mr. Crotch, I believe, near Cambridge; according to Kraatz it is
associated in France with Formica eunicularia,

* There are one or two records of the occurrence of H, rufipennis in Britain; the
insect, however, ust be referred to M. pulla.

24 STAPHYLINIDE. [Microglossa.

WM. pulla, Gyll. (Haploglossa pulla, Ky.). Broader than M. sutu-
ralis, thickly and finely pubescent, dull black, with the elytra pitchy or
reddish with the suture sometimes lighter, and the apex of the ventral
segments reddish ; head thickly and strongly punctured, antenne shorter
than head and thorax, rather strongly thickened from the fourth joint,
brownish red, with the apical joint and base testaceous, fourth joint
almost as broad as the following, 5-10 very strongly transverse ; thorax
broader than long, narrowed in front, about as broad at base as elytra,
rather strongly punctured ; elytra longer than thorax, strongly punctured,
the punctuation resembling that of thorax; hind body about as broad
at base as base of elytra, rather finely and thickly punctured towards
base, less closely towards apex ; legs reddish testaceous, L. 2{-3 mm.

Male with ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body produced in
an angle in middle of apical border.

In holes of the sand-martin, &c.; occasionally by sweeping; also in carrion; as a
rule scarce, but it is not uncommon in the London district ; Sevenoaks, Esher, Wey-
bridge, Forest Hill, Coombe Wood, Chingford, Darenth, Tonbridge, Tilgate Forest ;
The Holt, Farnham, from a fern-stack ; Mickleham, in company with Formica fuli-
ginosa (Power); Glanvilles Wotton; New Forest; Isle of Wight; Devonshire ;
Sherwood Forest; Studley, near Ripon ; Scarborough ; Northumberland district, rare
Long Benton, and in Gibside Woods on flowers of heath; Scotland, very rare, Moray
and Solway districts; according to Mulsant and Rey it is found in old trees with
ants, and also in the nests of finches and quails, and with hedgehogs.

IM. nidicola, Fairm. (sub-gen. Haploglossa, Kr.). This species
comes very near to the preceding, but is abundantly distinct from it ; the
punctuation of the thorax, elytra, and hind body is plainly finer and
closer, that of the latter being uniform or nearly so ; the fourth joint of the
antennie is narrower ; the colour is slightly duller and the pubescence rather
finer and shorter; the elytra are almost always reddish, whereas in
M, pulla they are usually pitchy or brownish ; the antenne, moreover, are
slightly longer and less thickened, and have the penultimate joints less
strongly transverse; these latter characters, however, are not very
apparent : the sexual characters are the same. L. 23-3 mm.

In holes of the sand-martin, and occasionally in flowers ; not uncommon in the
London district and the Midlands; St. Leonards; Manchester; Northumberland
district, very rare, banks of the Irthing; Scotland rare, Tweed and Solway districts ;
Ireland, Killiney near Dublin.

M. gentilis, Maerk. (Haploglossa gentilis, Kyaatz). The largest of
our species; finely and moderately thickly pubescent, shining black,
with the elytra more or less red and the ventral segments of hind body
reddish at apex ; head large, strongly and diffusely punctured ; antenne
a little shorter than head and thorax together, brownish with the last
and two or three basal joints testaceous, thickened from the apex of the
third joint, joints 4-10 strongly transverse ; thorax broader than long as
broad at base as elytra, very shining, punctuation distinct and not very
close ;_ elytra longer than thorax, moderately punctured, sometimes

Microglossa. ] STAPHYLINIDE. 25

pitchy with apex reddish, sometimes entirely reddish with seutellum
and sides darker ; hind body finely and thickly punctured, a little more
diffusely behind ; legs ferruginous or reddish testaceous. L. 33 mm.

Male with fhe ventral pl ite of seventh segment of hind body sinuate
at the sides and produced in an angle in middle of its apical border.

In the runs of Formica fuliginosa; rare, but probably often overlooked, as it
doubles itself up and will lie for a quarter of an hour witlout suisse Micklebam ;
Birdbrook, Essex ; Reigate (sandpits) ; Weston-super-Mare (Crotch): Dr. Power has
taken it in considerable numbers by carefully blowing away the sand, ae watching
the ant-runs ; the species is rather Widely distributed in France.

OXYPODA, Mannerheim.

The species belonging to this genus are chiefly characterized by the
very long first joint of the posterior tarsi; they are often narrowed both
in front and behind, presenting a fusiform. or, as it has sometimes been
ealled, a “ pisciform” or fish-like appearance ; the thorax is always broa
at the base; the hind body is almost always strongly narrowed behind,
and has the three first segments usually more or less plainly longi-
tudinally impressed at base ; about one hundred and sixty species have
been described ; these are chiefly found in the European and adjacent
regions ; one or two, however, have been described from North America,
eight from Central America, one from Brazil, and several from Chili.

The genus is one of the most difficult of all the genera of Coleoptera,
and the species as a whole are much harder to distinguish than those
belonging to the genus Homalota. Thomson and Mulsant and Rey
divide the genus up into six or seven sub-genera, but for actual working
these appear to be very confusing: the differences between some of the
species are so very slight and so entirely comparative that it is almost
impossible to tabulate them satisfactorily ; the comparative thickening of
the antenne, the relative length of thorax and elytra, and the attenuated
or subparallel hind body, the characters on which the chief divisions and
sub-genera are founded, are in some cases exceedingly unsatisfactory, and
can only be really employed with certainty in the case of live or very
well set specimens ; the sections, therefore, that are adopted below must
be regarded as provisional, and the different species must be worked
from the detailed descriptions, which have been made to a certain extent
comparative.

J. Hind body gradually and usually strongly narrowed behind; body fusiform, nar-
rowed in front and behind; third joint of antenne a little longer than, or about as
long as, second ; elytra longer than thorax ; size larger (83-53 mm.).

Section I. (Sub-Gen. Oxypoda, i. sp.)

Il. Hind body more or less plainly narrowed to apex ; body more or less distinctly

fusiform; third joint of antenne shorter than second ; ; elytra not shorter than

thorax; size smaller.
1. Elytra 1} times as long as thorax; length 3} mm.

Section II. (Sub-Gen. Mycetodrepa, Thoms.)-

26 STAPHYLINIDE, [ Oxypoda.

2. Elytra equal to or only slightly longer than thorax ; length 2-3 mm.
Section ILI. (Sub-Gen. Beeogiena, Thoms., and Podoxya,
Muls. et Rey.)
I1I. Hind body more or less distinctly parallel-sided, body not fusiform ; elytra not

shorter than thorax ; leugth 2-3 mm.
1. Antenne very long, re: ching apex of elytra, gradually and plainly thickened.

Section IV. (Sub-Gen, Bisochara, Thoms.)

2. Antenne rather long, longer than head and thorax, rather uniformly thickened
from third joint, which is cousiderably widened at apex,

Section V. (Sub-Gen. Disochara, pars. 1)

3. Antenne as a rule rather short and plainly thickened towards apex ; elytra equal
to or a very little longer than thorax.

Section VI. (Sub-Gen. Bemssoma, Thoms.)
V. Elytra distinetly shorter than thorax ; length 13-24 mm.

Section VII. (Sub-Gen. Bessepora, Thoms.)

Section I. (Oxypoda, i. sp.)

This section contains five species (O. spectabilis, lividipennis, vittata,
longipes, and opaca), which may easily be distinguished from all the
others belonging to the genus by their larger size; two of these species

appear to be usually found in company with Formica fuliginosa : of

these O. vittata is rather common, whereas O. longipes is represented as
British by a single specimen ; its habitat however, on the Continent, is
in ants’ nests, and it may, and probably will, be found again in Britain ;
the other species occur in fungi, under dead leaves, in haystack
refuse, &e.

©. spectabilis, Macrk. Moderately shining, finely and thickly
pubescent, pitchy black with the elytra and the apical margin of the
segments of the hind body above and below of a dull reddish or testaceous
colour; head finely and thickly punctured, antenne rather long,
testaceous, sometimes a little fuscous towards apex, third joint hardly
longer than second, 4-10 longer than broad, gradually a little shorter
and thicker, eleventh as long as the two preceding ; thorax broader than
long with sides rounded and narrowed in front, as broad at base as base
of elytra, rather finely and thickly punctured ; elytra plainly longer than
thorax, strongly sinuate at apex near postero-external angles, very aie
thickly, and somewhat rugosely punctured, sometimes entirely of ¢
yeddish colour, sometimes darker round scutellum and near eaten:
angles (this var. appears to be the real O. spectabilis of Maerkel) ; hind
body narrowed and strongly setose behind, very finely and thickly
punctured or shagreened ; legs slender, testaceous, posterior tarsi elongate,
as long as the tibie, with the first joint however shorter than the three
succeeding together. L. 5-55} mm.

Oxypoda. | STAPHYLINIDA 27

Male with the ventral plate of seventh abdominal segment produced in
the middle in a blunt and wide angle.

In dead haves, fungi, carrion, &e.; occasionally by sweeping; New Brompton
(Surrey), Highgate, Mickleham; North Devon, Barnstaple; Sherwood Forest ;
Studley Royal, Ripon ; Hartlepool; Scalby (Yorkshire); Northumberland district,
very rare, in fungi, Gosforth Woods and Wooler, October; Scotland rare, Forth,
Clyde, and Solway “districts (Cheviot Hills, Eecles, Balmuto, &c_).

This species is larger than any of the other British members of the
genus, and is different in colour: from all the others except O. lungipes it
differs in having the posterior tarsi more elongate with the first joint
shorter than the three following united : from O. longzpes its much larger
and broader size and longer penultimate joints of the antenne will serve
to separate it.

O. longipes, Muls. et Rey, Smaller and narrower than the preced-
ing, pitehy black, with the elytra reddish brown (the region round
scutellum and the postero-external angles being usually darker) ; antennae
moderate with the second and third joints about equal, 4-6 gradually
a little less longer than broad, 7-10 about as long as broad, eleventh
very long; thorax much as in the preceding species ; elytra longer than
thorax, strongly sinuate near postero-external angles, finely, thickly, and
rugosely punctured ; hind body strongly narrowed and setose behind,
very finely shagreened ; legs testaceous, posterior tarsi elongate with
first joint shorter than the three following united. L. 33-3} mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body produced
in rather a strong angle inthe middle of posterior margin.

Scotland, Forth district ; a single specimen taken at Aberlady : the species is rare
in France near Lyons and Beaujolais in trunks of old trees in company with Formica

fuliginosa.

O. lividipennis, Mann. (lute/pennis, Er.) Of a dull pitchy black or
brownish colour, very finely and thickly pubescent, with the thorax
sometimes lighter than head, and the elytra except the region around
scutellum and the postero-external angles testaceous; the apex of the
segments of the hind body is also lighter; autennz rather long, fuscous
with basal joint testaceous, and one or two following reddish brown, with
joints 4-10 gradually a little thicker and shorter but none of them
transverse, the last joint long sharply narrowed at apex; thorax
transverse, narrowed in front ; sides sometimes lighter than disc ; elytra
plainly longer than thorax, with base strongly sinuate near posterior
angles, very closely and finely and rugosely punctured; hind body
ple uinly and gradually narrowed to apex, very finely shagreened ; legs
rather long, testaceous, posterior tarsi with the first joint elongate, equi al
to the three following united: the colour is somewhat variable, and
several species were founded by Stephens on its differences. L. 4 mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body produced
in middle of apical margin,

28 STAPHYLINID&. [Oxypo la.

In haystack refuse, carrion, &e., and often by sweeping; generally distributed and
common as far north as the Forth district of Scotland.

O. vittata, Maerk. This species is very closely related to the
preceding, of which it may perhaps be a race that has been somewhat
modified by habitat ; it is a little smaller and narrower ; the colour of the
elytra is variable, but as a rule the dark colour is more prevalent than
in the preceding species; the intermediate and penultimate joints of
the antenne are shorter, and the posterior tarsi are slightly longer.
L. 33 mm.

In nests of Formica fuliginosa; common in the London district ; not uncommon
also in the south of England and the Midlands, but rarer further north ; Scotland,
very rare, Dee and Solway districts. ‘T'o this record Dr, Sharp (“Scottish Naturalist,”
ii. 12, p. 189) appends the following note: © This species is not uncommon as a guest
of F. fuliginosa, a species which I believe does not oceur in Scotland. I have taken
vittata at Thornhill and Braemar, and certainly not with the ant in question.”

O. opaca, Grav. This species is very much like the two preceding,
but may, as a rule, be easily distinguished by the darkerand more uniform
colour of the elytra, which are also evidently shorter and more transverse ;
the general form is shorter and more convex, and the pubescence is darker
and rather closer; the first joint of the posterior tarsi is distinctly longer
than the three following together, whereas in the two preceding species
it is at most only equal to them ; the male has the ventral plate of the
seventh segment of hind body prolonged in a less evident angle.
L. 34-32 mm.

In haystack refuse and under vegetable detritus generally ; also in moss, old faggots
fungi, &e. ; common and widely distributed throughout the kingdom.

Section II. (Sub-Gen. Mycetodrepa, Thoms.)

This section contains one species which is very common in decaying
fungi, especially in autumn; it is easily distinguished by its colour (in
which it resembles one or two species of Bolitochara, with which it is
sometimes found in company), and by having the elytra half as long
again as thorax.

O. alternans, Grav. Elongate, finely and thickly pubescent, and
very finely punctured, with the head and a broad band before apex of
hind body dark brown or black; the elytra also have the scutellary
region and the postero-external angles darkened ; antenne rather strongly
thickened, fuscous, with base lighter, third joint a little shorter than
second, 6-10 strongly transverse ; thorax broader than long, with base
slightly narrower than base of elytra; elytra much longer than thorax ;
hind body narrowed behind, finely shagreened ; legs testaceous, posterior
tarsi elongate, with the first joint about equal to the three following
united. L. 3-35 mm.

Male with ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body prolonged into
a distinct angle.

Comuion and generally distributed,

Oxypoda. | STAPHYLINIDE. 29

Section III. (Sub-Gen. Beoglena, Thoms., and Podoxya,
Muls. et Rey.)

This section, as here constituted, contains nine species, O. exoleta,
verecunda, edinensis, lentula, umbrata, pectita, nigrina, exiqgua, and
riparia; they are all small species, and, with one or two exceptions, are
very hard to distinguish from one another; one or two of them are so
extremely closely related that by some authors they are not considered
distinct ; generally speaking they are distinguished from the succeeding
sections ‘by having the hind body more or Jess narrowed to apex, but it
must be admitted that in dry specimens this is a character that is often
a misleading one, and one that must be used with great caution : Mulsant
and Rey separate off the species belonging to their sub-genus Podoxya on
the ground that they have the antennz less thickened towards apex than
those belonging to Beoglena (exoleta and its allies), and that the
penultimate joint of the maxillary palpi is less elongate: with regard to
the former character, although it is plain in some species, yet others
appear to be intermediate, and although O. exoleta is remarkable for
the length of the penultimate joint of the maxillary palpi, yet there are
species closely related to it in which it is not remarkable: it is evidently
impossible to tabulate the species satisfactorily, and in fact several of
them require careful comparison with authentic types before they can
possibly be named with any authority ; any student, however, who desires
tables is referred to Muls. et Rey, Brévipennes, Al., 1874, pp. 284
(Beoglena) and 298 (Podoxya).

O. exoleta, Er. (Oxypoda (Beoglena) exoleta, Muls. et Rey, sub-
flava, Heer., riparia, Thoms ). Of a rather dull testaceous colour, with
he head and a broad band before apex of hind body dark brown or
blackish, very finely and thickly pubescent; antenne rather short
' moderately thickened towards apex, ferruginous with base lighter, third
joint shorter than second, 6-10 plainly transverse; maxillary palpi
with penultimate joint elongate ; thorax broader than long, not strongly
narrowed in front, posterior angles obtuse but not rounded, thickly and
finely punctured ; elytra a little longer than thorax, testaceous with the
scutellary region more or less infuscate, finely, thickly, and rugosely
punctured ; hind body long, strongly setose at apex, finely shagreened,
sixth segment much longer than the preceding; legs light testaceous,
posterior tarsi with the first joint equal to the three following united,
L. 22 mm.
Male with ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body rounded, and
not produced in an angle.
Sandpits, &e.; occasionally underneath rejectamenta on and near the coast; rare ;
Shirley, Surrey ; Gravesend; Sheerness ; Chobham ; Tonbridge ; Weymouth ; Shale
heath, near Birmingham, under bones; South Shields; Sc otland, very rare, Forth

district. According to Mulsant and Rey this species occurs under bark, among old
fageots, and under dead leaves in spring and autumn in various parts of Frauce.
ss , 5

30 : STAPHYLINID ©. [ Oxypoda.

O. verecunda, Sharp. This species is exceedingly closely allied to
the preceding, but appears to be a little shorter and broader in pro-
portion, and to be distinguished by not having the penultimate joint of
the maxillary palpi elongate ; the antenne area little more thickened
towards apex, and the elytra are very slightly shorter in proportion to
the thorax; the hind body is a little less narrowed towards apex.
L. 23 mm.

Very rare ; London district, Bishops Wood; Whittlesea Mere, Scotland very rare,
Dee district.

I feel somewhat doubtful as to the differences between this species and
O. exoleta, and am rather inclined to believe that they are identical.

@. edinensis, Sharp. Of a darker colour than the two preceding,
but in many points closely connected with them ; head pitchy, or pitchy
black, more than half as broad as the elytra, closely and finely but
distinctly punctured, rather shining; palpi yellowish ; antenne pitchy,
sometimes a little lighter at base, only slightly thickened towards apex,
third joint slightly shorter than second, fourth a little smaller than fifth,
6-10 slightly transverse, eleventh scarcely so long as the two preceding
together ; thorax reddish brown, as broad as, or almost broader than, elytra,
rounded at the sides, one-half broader than long, finely and closely
punctured, but rather shining ; elytra brownish or reddish brown, rather
shining, closely and finely punctured ; hind body pitchy black with apex
lighter, not strongly narrowed towards apex, very finely punctured, more
shining than in some of the allied species ; legs light testaceous. L. 22. mm.

Scotland rare, Lowlands, Highlands, and alpine; Forth and Dee districts (Kdin-
burgh, Aviemore, &c.).

This species is about the size of O. lentula, but is more shining, and
lighter in colour, with shorter elytra, and narrower head.

CG. lentula (Oxypoda (Podoxrya) lentula, Mauls. et Rey). Dull
black with the elytra brownish, with very fine and thick pubescence and
punctuation; head broad, antenne about as long as head and thorax
together, gradually and slightly thickened, entirely pitchy or pitchy red,
third joint a little shorter than second, 5-10 slightly transverse, eleventh
elongate compressed in middle and appearing two-jointed ; thorax
broader than long, almost broader than elytra, with an obsolete
central furrow; elytra a little longer than thorax, varying from dull
black brown-to red:lish brown, very finely, thickly, and somewhat rugosely
punctured ; hind body narrowed and strongly setose behind, very finely
shagreened ; legs pitchy testaceous, posterior tarsi with the first joint
about as long as the three following together. LL. 23 mm.

Marshy places, in flood refuse, moss, &e.; locally abundant ; Forest Hill, Notting
Hill, Shooter’s Hill, Lee, Tonbridge, Wimbledon, Eltham, Darenth ; Northumberland
and Durham district ; Scotland, local, Lowlands, in marshes, Dee, Solway, and Clyde
districts; it has probably been overlooked in the Midland and other districts: in
facies it resembles a small Homalota.

Oxy poda. STAPHYLINIDE. 31
YT °

O. umbrata, Grav., Gyll., Thoms. (Orypoda (Podorya) umbrata,
Muls. et Rey, cuniculina, Er. pars.). Rather strongly fusiform, very
finely and thickly pubescent, of a dull pitchy black colour, with the
elytra, apex of hind body, and the hind margin of its segments more or
less plainly reddish brown ; head finely but distinetly punctured, antennie
pitchy with first joint sometimes lighter, third joint a little shorter
than second, 6-10 strongly transverse, eleventh broad, longer than the
two preceding, and constricted so that it appears almost two-jointed ;
thorax broader than long as broad as elytra, more finely punctured than
head ; elytra plainly longer than thorax, strongly sinuate near postcro-
external angles, with fine somewhat rugose punctuation, which is a little
closer, but not stronger than that of thorax ; hind body rather strongly
narrowed and setose towards apex, very finely shagreened ; legs testaceous,
posterior tarsi elongate, with first joint rather longer than the three
following together. L.3 mm.

In haystack refuse, dead leaves, old faggots, &e.; generally distributed and
common,

This species much resembles O. opaca, but is distinguished by its
smaller size, and shorter antennz, of which the third joint is plainly
shorter than the second. O. wmbrata, Er., is a different species = O. hu-
midula, Kraatz.

O. pectita, Sharp. (cuniculina, Er. pars.). This species is closely
allied to the preceding, but is distinctly narrower and more parallel, with
the thorax especially narrower and always having a more or less distinet
longitudinal channel ; the hind body is not somuch pointed at apex, and
the thorax and elytra are not so finely punctured ; the antennz also are
plainly longer, with the penultimate joints less transverse ; owing to the
narrower form the elytra appear somewhat longer in proportion to the
thorax. L. 3 mm.

Haystack refuse, &¢e.; not common, but probably overlooked ; Eltham, Shirley,
Forest Hill, Tonbridge, Hammersmith ; Abbey Wood ; Littlehampton ; Cambridge,
Scotland, rare, Lowlands, Forth and Solway districts.

QO. nigriza, Wat. (sericea, Heer. teste Fauvel, migrescens, Muls.
et Rey). Considerably smaller than O. wmbrata, which it resembles in
form, and usually of an entirely dull black colour ; the elytra, however, are
sometimes obscurely brownish; the antennze and posterior tarsi are
shorter than in either of the two preceding species ; it bears a superficial
resemblance to O. lentula, but may at once be distinguished by its longer
elytra (which are plamly longer than thorax) and shorter and more
distinctly thickened antenne: Mulsant and Rey refer it to their
O. nigrescens, but as they say that this species comes nearest to
O. hemorrhoa, it would appear that they can hardly be right in so doing.
LL. 24 mm.

In moss, at roots of grass in marshy places, &e., occasionally in sandpits and lot-

32 ©TAPHYLINIDE, [ Orypoda.

beds; local but apparently not uncommon ; London district, very generally dis-
tributed; Tonbridge; The Holt, Farnham; Needwood Forest; Knowle, near
Birmingham; Lincoln ; Liverpool; Manchester ; Scotland, local, Solway, Forth, Tay,
and Dee districts.

O. exigua, Er. (Oxypoda (Podoxya) exiqua, Muls. et Rey). <A
small and obscure species, black, rather shining, with the elytra and
apex of hind body brownish; head rather large, finely but distinctly
punctured ; antennz yellowish, or brownish with the first joint at least
testaceous, third joint a little shorter than second, 6—10 transverse,
eleventh rather broad, as long as the two preceding together, acuminate at
apex ; thorax broader than long, as broad behind as elytra, finely and
thiekly punctured ; elytra slightly longer than thorax, plainly transverse,
rather distinctly and somewhat rugosely punctured ; hind body plainly
narrowed and setose towards apex, thickly and plainly punctured
towards base, sparingly punctured and smooth and shining behind ; legs
testaceous, femora more or less pitchy, posterior tarsi with the first
joint equi al to the two following together, L. 13 mm.

Male with ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body a little
prolonged and obtusely angled in middle of “apical margin.

The transverse elytra, small size, and the sculpture ‘of the hind body
will at once separate this species from all the preceding.

In sandpits, &e., in moss and under vegetable refuse ; rare; Shirley; Wimbledon;
Deal. Scotland, Tay district, Bannoch.

OQ. mutata, Sharp (7/paria, Fairm. nec Thoms., rugulosa, Kr. 4,
Oxypoda (Podoxya) riparia, Muls. et Rey). Thisis one of the most
distinct of all our species, and may be easily known by its very strong
punctuation (almost ‘engine-turned,” as Mr. Rye calls it, Ent. Ann.
1872, p. 52), and the small more or less distinct projection on the basal
margin of thorax; the colour is ferruginous with the head and inter-
mediate segments of hind body darker; the antenne are distinctly
thickened, testaceous, darker towards apex, or obscurely ferruginous with
base lighter, third joint plainly shorter than second, 6-10 strongly
transverse ; the elytra are a little longer than the thorax, and are more
strongly and rugosely sculptured ; the hind body is distinctly and almost
uniformly punctured ; the punctuation however of the apical segment is
slightly finer; legs testaceous, posterior tarsi with the first joint equal to
the two following together. L. 2-2} mm.

Sandpits and banks of streams, under dead leaves, &c. ; early summer; very rare,
Shirley near Croydon; Coombe Wood; Colney Hatch.

The species is somewhat of the form of O. exolcta, but differs in its
smaller size, coarser punctuation, and somewhat differently shaped
antenne ; In the single specimen I have seen the hind body is almost
parallel-sided, but in fresh specimens it is said to be plainly narrowed
behind.

Oxypoda. | STAPHYLINIDE. 33

Section IV. (Sub-Gen. Disochara, Thoms.)

This section contains one species, the very distinet O. Jongzuscula, Er.,
which may at once be separated by its very long antenne, which reach
the apex of the eiytra, and are strongly thickened towards their extremity:
it occurs in marshy places, at roots of grass, &c., and is often abundant
in flood refuse.

O. longiuscula, Er. (elongata, Aubé, procerula, Mann.). Rather
narrow, very finely and thickly pubescent, dull black or pitchy brown ;
head distinctly punctured, antenne long, entirely Reetdinode or pitchy
with base lighter, second and third joints nearly equal, 4— 10 eradually
thicker, Foal eral er than fifth, tenth rather longer than ninth ; none
of the joints, however, are really transverse ; thorax broader than long as
broad behind as elytra, very finely punctured; elytra almost square,
longer than thorax, finely, thickly, and somewhat rugosely punctured ;
hind body long, with sides parallel or slightly rounded to fifth segment,
and thence gradually and slightly narrowed towards apex, with the three
first segments strongly and evenly impressed at base, very finely
puncttred and pubescent ; legs testaceous, posterior tarsi nearly as long
as the tibiz with the first joint very long, plainly longer than the three
following together; the colour is somewhat variable, the thorax and
elytra being often of areddish brown colour. L. 3-3} mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body produced
into an obtuse angle in middle of apical margin, and with the last joint of
the antenne distinctly longer than the two preceding: in the female the
last joint is plainly shorter than the two preceding.

Common and generally distributed in England, and probably in Ireland. Scotland,

common, Lowlands, in swamps, Tweed, Forth, and Solway districts; in France it
appears to be somewhat rare, and to prefer northern and mountainous regions.

Section V. (Sub-Gen, Disochara, pars. ? )

This section contains one species, O. rupicola, Rye, which is considered
in the cataloene Heyden-Reitter- Weise as synonymous with O. tirolensis,
Gredl., and is classed with longiuscula, Ev., lugubris, Kraatz, and other
species, under the sub-genus Disochara, Thoms.: Mulsant and Rey
consider O. lugulris, which evidently bears a close relation to O. rupicola,
as belonging to their sub-genus Podoxya, but as intermediate between
Section I. (as above given) and the other sections ; as, however, from the
descriptions it appears evident that O. lwgubris with its parallel form
cannot properly belong to Podoxrya as strictly defined, I have preferred
to place O. rupicola in a section by itself ; it might perhaps be classed
with O. longiuscula, but its antenne are much shorter, and have the
third joint shorter in proportion to the second joint.

©. rupicola, Rye. Of the form of O. longiuscula, Er., but much
VOL. I. D

34 STAPHYLINID&. { Oxypoda.

smaller, with considerably shorter antenne ; of a deep sooty black colour,
with the elytra sometimes obscurely lighter and the apex of hind body
more or less plainly testaceous ; pubescence and punctuation close and
fine; head moderately large; antenne pitchy, rather uniformly
thickened, third joint plainly shorter than second, 4—7 moderately, 8-10
more plainly transverse, the joints being shorter and less conical than in
O. longiuscula, eleventh joint about as long as the two preceding,
constricted and so appearing almost two-jointed ; thorax about as broad
as elytra, not much broader than long; elytra somewhat variable in
length, but always longer than thorax, sometimes very plainly so; hind
body narrowed a little before apex, with the front segments distinctly
depressed at base; legs pitchy testaceous, posterior tarsi with the first
joint about equal to or almost longer than the three succeeding together.
L. 23-22 mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body prolonged
obtusely.

This species is allied to O. Jentula, but is of a rather deeper black colour,
with longer antenn, of which the joints are not quite so transverse ; the
thorax and elytra are longer, and the posterior tarsi longer and thinner,

Rare ; in moss and under stones on mountains and high hills; Snowdon; Cheviots ;
Scotland, Tay, Dee, and Clyde districts; Ireland, co. Down, summit of Slieve

Donard: Mr, Rye first found the species under stones on the top of Grayvel,
Rannoch,

Section VI. (Sub-Gen. Demosoma, Thoms.)

There are five species belonging to this section, O. formiceticola,
recondita, hemorrhoa, amanda, and nigrofusca ; they are distinguished by
their almost parallel-sided hind body, which is not so strongly setose at
apex, and by their less fusiform shape; the elytra are equal to or
scarcely longer than thorax: the species are, with the exception perhaps
of O. hemorrhoa, more broadly and stoutly built than those in the third
section, and are usually more brightly coloured ; one or two of them
inhabit the nests of Formica rufa : the others oceur in various situations.

©. formiceticola, Maerk. Tlongate, rather broad and _parallel-
sided, very finely and thickly pubescent, of a lighter or darker pitchy
brown or pitchy red colour with the head and base of central segments
of hind body darker; head rather shining, antenne hardly as long as
head and thorax together, gradually and plainly thickened, entirely
testaceous, or sometimes a little darker towards apex, third joint a little
shorter than second, 4-10 gradually a little broader, 6-10 strongly
transverse ; thorax strongly transverse, narrowed in front, as broad at
base as elytra, finely and thickly punctured, with more or less obscure
central furrow ; elytra transverse, equal in length to the thorax at the
sides, but apparently shorter in the centre, thickly and somewhat
rugosely punctured ; hind body with the apex of the front segments

Oxypoda. | STAPHYLINID. 35

and the whole or nearly the whole of the last two testaceous, very finely
punctured, the punctuation being a little less close on the apical seg-
ments ; legs clear reddish testaceous, posterior tarsi with the first joint
equal to the three following together. L. 22-3 mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body
rounded.

In nests of Formica rufa; somewhat local, but not uncommon; London district,
generally distributed; Hastings; Tamworth; Bewdley Forest; Buddon Wood,
Leicestershire ; Scarborough ; Scotland, local, Tay, Dee, and Moray districts.

O. recondita, Kx. (/ucens, W. C.). Rather broad, shining, thickly
punctured and pubescent, of a bright testaceous or reddish brown
colour with the head and central portion of hind body darker ; antenna
entirely testaceous, rather stout, third joint plainly shorter than second,
5-10 gradually broader, the latter strongly transverse, eleventh broad but
rather short ; thorax broader than long, as broad as elytra, rather convex,
without any central impression or basal furrow ; elytra about as long as
thorax, finely, but plainly and somewhat rugosely, punctured ; hind
body parallel-sided, with the apical segments somewhat less closely
punctured than the basal segments ; legs testaceous. L. 3 mm.

In nests of Formica rufa, and, I believe, in other habitats; apparently very rare;
Highgate; Ashtead; Loughton (Essex); Buddon Wood, Leicestershire; Scotland,
Clyde district (Paisley).

This species somewhat resembles O. exolefa in general appearance,
but differs in its broader and more parallel form ; from O. pallidula and
soror it may be separated by its larger size and longer elytra: it differs
from OQ. formiceticola in being of a much brighter testaceous colour, in
having no trace of central furrow on thorax, and in the less closely
punctured apex of hind body.

O. hemorrhoa, Mann. (promiscua, Er., myrmecophila, Maerk.).
Narrower in proportion than the other species of the group, finely and
thickly punctured and pubescent, rather shining, pitch-black with the
apex of hind body testaceous and the elytra sometimes obscurely
brownish ; antenne reddish with base lighter, short and rather stout,
third joint shorter than second, 5-10 strongly transverse, eleventh short,
evidently not as long as the two preceding ; thorax transverse, about as
broad at base as elytra; elytra scarcely longer than thorax, finely,
thickly. and somewhat rugosely punctured ; hind body parallel-sided, or
with sides slightly rounded, very finely punctured, the punctuation being
sometimes a little less dense towards apex; legs testaceous or reddish
testaceous, posterior tarsi with the first Joint as long as the three follow-
ing united. L. 2-2} mm.

Male with ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body rounded.

In moss, haystack refuse, &c. ; also found frequently in nests of Formica rufa ;
generally distributed and common in the south, and the London, Fen, and Midland

D2

36 STAPHYLINIDA. [Oxypoda.

districts, but apparently rarer further north ; not recorded from the Northumberland
district ; Scotland, local, Forth, Tay, and Moray districts.

This species is easily distinguished by its parallel form, shining appear-
ance, and short, yellowish antenne ; it somewhat resembles Homalota
analis in shape, but besides other things, the form of the head will at
once separate it.

“0. amena, Fairm. (jlavicornis, Kr.). This species closely resembles
the preceding, but it is as a rulea little less black and shining, and rather
broader ; the antenne are slightly shorter and of a lighter colour; the
elytra are a little longer and rather more finely punctured ; the hind
body is not quite so parallel-sided, and is more uniformly punctured ;
the pubescence is finer and closer ; the elytra are said to be always
reddish or castaneous, but in many of the Scotch examples they are
quite dark. L. 2} mm.

Apparently very rare, but most probably overlooked, as it is extremely hard to dis-
tinguish it from O. hemorrhoa, except by very close comparison; Eltham, Kent.
Scotland, rare, Forth district (Braid Hills, &.).

A. Waterhousei, Rye (2grofusca, Wat. nec Steph.). This species
appears to be generally considered by continental authorities to be
synonymous with the preceding ; it is, however, distinctly smaller, and
much duller, and differs in the sculpture of the elytra, which is as fine
or almost finer than in O. amena, but is slightly more distinet ; the
elytra also are more strongly sinuate near the postero-external angles ;
the only specimens I have seen are of an entirely dull reddish brown
colour, with the head and a greater or less part of the central portion of
hind body darker : the species appears to be more distinct than several
of those which are generally received, but the differences are hard to
express in words, L. vix 2 mm.

Under large stones, lying among tidal refuse; also in haystack refuse, &e. ;

Sheerness (J. J. Walker); Hampstead (Waterhouse); Sydenham (Gorham); West
Ham.

Section VII. (Sub-Gen. Bessopora, Thoms.)

This section contains five species, O. soror, pallidula, brachyptera,
turda, and misella ; they are well marked by having the elytra plainly
shorter than the thorax ; the hind body is subparallel ; the antenne
are short with the exception of those of O. soror, which species, except
as regards the length of the elytra, bears a stronger relation to one or
two of the other sections : this latter species and O. pallidula are of a
lighter or darker testaceous colour ; the other three species are more or
less pitchy or dark ferruginous.

O. soror, Thoms. (flava, Kr. ?). Entirely testaceous with the hind
body darker before apex, finely punctured, and pubescent ; head and
antenne testaceous, the former with the eyes alone black, antennz rather
long, thickened towards apex, third joint plainly shorter than second,

Oxrypoda.] STAPHYLINIDA, 37

5-10 transverse, of about equal thickness, cleventh rather long, ovate, but
acuminate at apex ; thorax as broad as elytra, not much narrowed in
front, rather convex ; elytra plainly shorter than thorax, very trans-
verse ; hind body long, very finely and closely punctured, with the fifth
segment fuscous ; legs pale testaceous. L. 24 mm.

Very rare ; Dean Forest (W. G. Blatch); Scotland, Tay district, Rannoch, under
stones summit of Grayvel (Rye and Morris Young). Mr. Rye remarks that it is very
pale when alive.

The short elytra will distinguish this insect from all our other testa-
ceous species except O. pallidula, from which it may be easily separated
by its much longer antenne.

©. annularis, Sahlb. (cingulafa, Mann., helvola, Thoms. et Er.,
rufula, Heer., v. pallidula, Sahlb.). Rather narrow and linear, very
finely and thickly punctured and pubescent, of a dull testaceous or
reddish testaceous colour with the fitth segment of hind body more or
less darkened ; anterne short, plainly thickened, third joint distinctly
shorter than second, 6-10 very strongly transverse ; thorax nearly as
long as broad not much narrowed in front, almost broader at base
than base of elytra ; elytra very transverse, distinctly shorter than thorax,
as_ finely punctured as thorax ; hind body long, parallel-sided until near
apex, very finely and uniformly punctured ; legs testaceous. L. 2 mm.

Sexual characters indistinct.

In moss, dead leaves, &c.; occasionally in sandpits; rather local, but not un-
common; Shirley, Coblam Park, Hampstead, Highgate, Bishops W 00d, Esher; in
Cossus-infected trees near Addington, Croydon; Tonbridge; Nettlecomb, Somerset ;
Buddon Wood, Leicestershire ; Tamworth ; Scarborough ; Northam berate district :
Scotland, local, Lowlands and Highlands, Solway, Forth, ‘Tay, and Dee districts.

The var. pallidula is of a lighter colour and ‘almost entirely testa-
ceous ” according to Mulsant and Rey : according, however, to Sahlberg,
his pallidula resembles annularis Mm colour, but differs in its shorter and
broader thorax.

OQ. brachyptera, Steph. nec Kraatz (ferruginea, Ev., forticornis,
Fairm. (verisim.)) ; re-described by Sharp, Ent. Soc. Trans. 187 Ue joy dole
Rather narrow, and parallel, but with the extremity of hind body dis-
tinctly narrowed ; antenne and legs yellowish ; head, thorax, and

elytra of an obscure reddish colour ; hind body reddish at base and
apex, black in the middle ; head rather broad, antenne a little thickened
towards apex, third joint much shorter than second, third triangular,
narrowed at base, fourth slightly transverse, 5-10 strongly transverse,
eleventh long and stout, quite as long as the two preceding together ;
- thorax much broader than long, not much rounded at sides, but a little
rounded and narrowed in front, thickly and finely punctured ; elytra
shorter and almost narrower than thorax, finely punctured, but rather
more coarsely than thorax ; hind body densely and finely punctured,
sete at extremity small and “indistinct ; ; pubescence of thorax and elytra
short and fine, of hind body less fine. L. 2 mm.

38 STAPHYLINID®. | Oxypoda.

In sandpits, &e.; not uncommon; Shirley, Wimbledon, Dulwich, Esher, Mickle-
ham, Woking, Southend; Brighton; St. Leonards ; Isle of Portland ; Knowle, near
Birmingham; less common further north; Northumberland district rather rare,
Tynemouth, on the Irthing, &c. ; Scotland, rare, Solway district only.

QO. tarda, Sharp. This species is very closely allied to the preceding,
but is rather larger and darker coloured ; the antennee are proportionately
a little shorter; the elytra are slightly longer, and the base of the hind
body is not paler than the middle ; in all other respects it is similar to,
and hardly appears to be more than a variety of, O. brachyptera.
L. 27 mm.

Rare ; salt marshes near Dumfries, Scotland.

©. misella, Kr. A small and rather broad species, of a darker
colour than either of the two preceding, thorax, elytra, and base and
apex of hind body very dark reddish brown, head and rest of hind body
black or almost black; head large, nearly as broad as thorax, antenne
very short, fuscous (except in somewhat immature specimens) with base
lighter, third joint shorter than second, 6-10 strongly transverse ; elytra
shorter and almost narrower than thorax ; hind body parallel-sided until
near apex, with very fine punctuation which is slightly less dense on the
apical segments ; legs clear testaceous. L. 15 mm.

In sandpits, &e.; rare; Shirley, Wickham, Wimbledon.

In the shortness of its antenne this species resembles O. annularis,
but it cannot be confounded with that species by reason of its smaller
size and much darker colour ; from O. brachyptera it is distinguished by
its shorter antenne and elytra, and less distinct punctuation, as well as
by its smaller size.

THIASOPHILA, Kraatz.

This genus contains about five or six species which are found in
Europe, and one from Japan ; they occur in company with ants: our two
species have a somewhat wide distribution on the Continent; they are
rather short broad insects of a dull reddish-pitchy colour, and have the
front parts very closely and rugosely punctured.

Thorax at base not broader than elytra; antenne moderately

thickened . . . oe he hslUw, 6 RL ANGUATA, eS
Thorax at base browden tiem ‘elytra; ventenie strongly
thickened . 5. 1. 8 a 8 ee ws cw es Uw LR ENQUIDING Meerics

T. angulata, Er. Rather broad, dull reddish-brown. with the head,
and hind body before apex, darker, apex itself reddish testaceous ;
antenne dark ferruginous with base and apical joint lighter, third joint
longer than second, 5-10 plainly transverse ; thorax “almost twice as
broad as long with a more or less distinct impression before scutellum,
thickly and somewhat rugosely punctured ; elytra transverse, about as
long as thorax, and a little more closely punctured ; hind body gradually

Thiasophita. | STAPHYLINIDE. 39

narrowed from apex of third segment, more closely punctured in front,
more sparingly behind ; legs reddish testaceous. L. 2 mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body slightly
sinuate, ventral plate produced in a broad angle.

In nests of Formica rufa. Rather common in the London and Midland and South-
Eistern districts; also occurs near Scarborough and York; I cannot, however, find

any record from the north of England, but the species probably oecurs, as in Scotland
it is found locally in the Tay, Dee, and Moray districts.

T. inquilina, Maerk. (diversa, Rey, Euryusa Kirbii, Janson).
Allied to the preceding, but easily distinguislied by its smaller size,
shorter and thicker antenn, of which the third joint is not longer than
the second, and especially by the shape of the thorax, which is plainly
broader at base than the base of the elytra; the punctuation of the front
parts of the body is somewhat closer, and the elytra are often a little
more brightly coloured: in the male the dorsal plate of seventh segment
of hind body is truncate, and the ventral is prolonged and almost rounded.
L. 22mm.

Rare; in nests of Formica fuliginosa; first taken by Mr. F. Squire in 1857 in the
London district, and found subsequently by Dr. Power and others; Mickleham,

Charlton, Darenth, Maidstone, Abbey Wood (Kent), Tilgate Forest, Burnham
Beeches; Guestling, near Hastings.

ISCHNOGLOSSA, Kraatz.

This genus contains a few species concerning two or three of which
some confusion has arisen: at present there are three species in the
British catalogues, but the Z prolixa of our lists appears to be at most a
variety of I. prolixa, Grav., = /. rufopicea, Ky., and with regard to our
third species, 7. corticina, Er. (which Thomson places in a separate sub-
genus Dexiogya), Mulsant and Rey remark, “ We will not insist on this
well-known species, and will limit ourselves to saying that it is only
distinguished from the preceding (I. rufopicea and semirufa) by its less
shining colour and smaller size, by having the thorax more visibly sinuate
near the posterior angles, and by the absence of erect hairs on the sides ;”
the last of these characters appears to be by no means a certain one, as
erect hairs are visible on the sides of the thorax in both species ; in other
points, however, they appear to be sufficiently distinct: they are found
under bark of various trees both standing and fallen,

Form larger and broader ; sculpture of thorax
and elytra rather coarser. . . - . I. prortxa, Grav. (rufopicea, Kr.).

Form smaller and narrower; sculpture of
thorax and elytra finer . . . . =. . ~ I. corriciNa, Er,

I. prolixa, Gray. (corticalis, Steph., rufopicea, Kr., proliva, Kr.,
Stichoglossa prolixa, Muls. et Rey). Of a lighter or darker reddish
colour, with the head, and a greater or less part of hind body before
apex darker, apex itself testaceous; antenne entirely red, moderately

40 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Ischnoglossa.

thickened, third joint hardly longer than second, 6-10 strongly
transverse ; thorax broader than long, with sides not strongly rounded,
rather closely punctured ; elytra a little longer, and evidently more
strongly punctured than thorax, reddish with the region round seutellum
and the posterior angles more or less broadly darker; hind body rather
strongly punctured, a little more finely so on the sixth segment, parallel-
sided until towards apex; legs clear reddish testaceous. L. 3mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body sometimes
ebsoletely crenulated, ventral plate prolonged.

Under bark of various trees ; not uncommon in the Southern and Midland districts,
but very rare in the north; Chatham, Darenth Wood, Shirley, Richmond, Putney,
Croydon, Dulwich, &c.; Tonbridge; New Forest ; Hastings under oak-bark ; Burton-
on-‘Trent and many midland localities; Liverpool; Manchester; Northumberland
district, very rare ; Scotland, very rare, Tay district.

The var. proliza (I. prolixa, Ky., Sharp’s Cat., &c.) differs from the
type form in being entirely red, the head only and one or two segments
of hind body before apex being of a pitchy black colour. Apparently
very rare ; Cobham ; Loughton,

I. corticina, Er. (varia, Heer.). This species much resembles the
preceding, but is distinctly smaller and narrower, and has the elytra
rather less convex and evidently more finely and shallowly although
not less closely punctured; avcording to Erichson the pubescence is
somewhat different in colour, and the upper surface is duller; the
specimens, however, that I have seen appear to be rather brighter than
ordinary specimens of J. prolixa. L. 25 mm,

The ventral plate of the seventh segment of hind body in the male
appears to be more prolonged than in the preceding species, and the
dorsal plate is very obsoletely crenulated, but often shows traces of a
larger tooth at each extremity of its apical margin.

Under bark; rare; Bromley (Kent),and Mickleham ; Bournemouth ; New Forest ;
Needwood Forest; Sherwood Forest; Olton; Dudley; Repton ; Northumberland
district, one example, Gosforth Woods; Scotland, very rare, Lowlands, Forth district
only.

OCYUSA, Kaaatz.

About a dozen European species are contained in this genus; of these
two have been usually reckoned as British: two others, however, must
apparently be added, which have hitherto been known as Oxypoda
incrassata and Aleochara hibernica ; these two species certainly differ
considerably zéer se, and also from our other members of the genus, but
they are regarded by continental authorities as belonging to it, and at
all events can hardly be retained in the genera to which they are at
present referred in our catalogues: it is most probable that the genus
Ocyusa will itself have to be subdivided ; the species belonging to it
occur in moss, under refuse, &e.

Ocyusa. | STAPHYLINID.E. 4]

I. Elytra not or scarcely broader than thorax ; form parallel
or almost parallel.
. Antenne short; elytra at suture shorter than thorax,
which is transverse; legs and antennae pitchy or
pluchy=red es) apes ees «sie aie OUINCRASSATA, Mus,
ii. Antenne long; elytra at least as long as thorax, which
is not transverse; legs and base of antenne clear tes-
taceous yellow . . O. arBERNICcA, Rye.
II. Elytra plainly broader than thorax. and ‘hind ‘body ; ;
antenne iong.
. Thorax not narrowed behind; antenna Aare base,
pond legs, dark . 2. . é . O. Maura, Er.
. Thorax slightly narrowed ‘behind; antenne “and legs
ae femora which are darker) reddish testaceous . ©. PictIna, Aubé.

O. incrassata, Kr. (Oxypoda aterrima, Wat., Leptusa nigra, Bris.)
Upper surface entirely black, rather dull, clothed with rather sparing
greyish pubescence ; head rather large, almost as broad as thorax,
antenne short, pitchy or reddish pitchy, third joint shorter than second,
5-10 strongly transverse ; thorax broader than long with an impression
before scutellum and a more or less obsolete central furrow, very finely
punctured ; elytra at suture slightly shorter than thorax, finely punctured,
but evidently more strongly so than thorax ; hind body parallel- sided, very
finely and closely punctured, the punctuation becoming a little less close
behind; legs pitchy red, posterior tarsi not long, with the first jot equal
to the two following united. L. 25 mm.

In moss, among leaves, under bark, &¢.; occasionally by sweeping ; local, and as a
rule not common ; London district, rare, Sheerness, Shirley ; Snowdon; Dean Forest ;
Milland districts, not uncommon, Coleshill, Needwood and Sherwood Forests ;
Knowle; Foremark near Repton, Burton-on-Trent (in some numbers in dry moss on
an old wall in a wood); Liverpool; Scotland, local, Lowlands, Highlands, and Alpine ;
Solway, Forth, Tay, Clyde, and Dee districts.

It is probable that this species will form the type of a new genus:
Mulsant and Rey suggest the name Mniusa,

©. hibernica, Rye. Linear, pitchy-black, with the legs and four
basal joints of the antenne testaceous ; head shining, rather plainly but
not closely punctured, nearly smooth on dise ; thorax somewhat convex,
more closely punctured than the head, with an obsolete fovea at base ;
elytra almost longer than thorax, and more strongly but less closely
and somewhat rugosely punctured; hind body shining, upper surface
somewhat closely punctured, almost smooth at apex. L. 3 mm.

A single specimen was taken by Mr. Champion, in June, 1876, out of moss at the
top of Slieve Donard (a mountain 2800 feet high, co. Down, Ireland), in company
with Oxypoda rupicola, and other hill-frequenting species, and Dr. Sharp has taken
a specimen at Braemar.

This species is very closely allied to O. nigrata, Fairm., but differs in
its longer and lighter antenne and lighter femora ; the punctuation also
is a little finer and closer; Mr. Rye, i in describing the species, remarks
that it is of the size, and nomeniat of the build of Homalota cambrica,

42 STAPHYLINIDA. [Ocyusa.

Woll., but is darker, more convex, elongate, and shining, less closel
’ : 3 ’ 5 y 3)
punctured, with shorter antenne, &c.

©. maura, Er. Rather convex, finely pubescent, shining black ;
head large, nearly as broad as thorax, antenne long, pitchy or dark
ferruginous with the base lighter, third joint a little shorter than second,
4—6 not transverse, seventh slightly, 8-10 plainly transverse ; thorax
subquadrate, about as long as broad, with sides scarcely rounded, rather
finely and thickly punctured ; elytra plainly broader but scarcely longer
than thorax, thickly and rather strongly punctured ; hind body parallel,
with the front segments strongly impressed horizontally, finely and not
closely punctured; legs pitchy or pitchy red, with the knees, tarsi, and
sometimes tibie lighter. L. 2} mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body
prolonged.

Marshy places, under refuse, at roots of grass, &c.; not uncommon in the

London, Southern, and Midland districts; rarer further north, and not recorded from
Scotland.

Q. picina, Aubé (fulvicornis, Fairm., ruficornis, Kr.). Very closely
allied to the preceding, but rather larger, and easily distinguished by its
reddish antennz and legs, and less strong punctuation ; the pubescence
also is a little closer, and the antenne are a little longer; the thorax is
slightly narrowed behind; the hind body is a little more closely
punctured, and the fifth segment is horizontally impressed at hase ; the
upper surface is never as black as in O. maura, and occasionally it is
entirely of a pitchy brown colour. L. 22 mm.

Marshy places; in moss at the roots of trees, at roots of grass, in the stems of
water-plants, &e.; local nd not common. London district rare; Waddon (Surrey),
Cowley, Maidstone, Bearsted, Balcombe (Hayward’s Heath); Tonbridge; Shirley
Warren, Southampton; Horning Fen; Bewdley; Sutton Park, near Birmingham
(taken abundantly by Mr. Blatch).

PHL@OPORA, [richson.

At present there are about thirty species known of this genus, which
have been found in most parts of the world: Dr. Sharp, who has lately
described twelve new species from Central America, is of opinion that in
all probability South and Central America will be found to be the head-
quarters of the genus; they are found under bark: the two British
species may be distinguished as follows :—

Elytra entirely, or almost entirely, red; upper surface

rather dull, with close pubescence; elytra longer . . . P. REPTANS, Grav.

Elytra usually dark brown, or red only towards apex ;

upper surface rather shining with less close pubescence ;
elytrashorter. 5 5 6 0 ss 6 2 ne oe ee os) IPNCORTIOATIS Grate

The larva of Phleopora reptans is described and figured by Perris, Ann. Fr. 1853,
p- 557, P. 17, Fig. 1—8: it is about 3 mm. in length, linear and elongate, of a livid
white colour, with the head and thoracic segments reddish; the head is rather large

q

Phleopora. | STAPHYLINID®. 43

and elliptical, and the prothorax is nearly as large as the meso- and meta-thorax
together; the first seven abdominal segments are of equal length, the eighth is
prolonged in a short and bluntly pointed process above the ninth, which bears a rather
thick and moderately long ambulatory anal appendage, which is bilobed at apex, and
two very short cerci: the sides of all the segments of the body are strongly setose.

This larva lives in the galleries of species YE Tomicus, and devours their larve and
pup; it changes into a pupa in these galleries without any preparation: the pupa is
white and very ; soft, and presents no peculiarities that need be noticed.

P.reptans, Gray. Rather long and narrow, dull black or pitchy,
with the elytra red and the apex of hind body reddish testaceous ;
head not much narrower than thorax, antenne ‘short, slightly thickened,
reddish testaceous, sometimes a little darker towards apex, second and
third joints of about equal length, 4-10 transverse, the latter strongly so,
last joint oval hardly as lone as the two preceding ; thorax se arcely
transverse, very finely and thic :kly punctured ; elytra longer than thorax,
and a little less finely and closely punctured, entirely red with the
seutellary region sometimes darker; hind body parallel-sided with
segments 2-5 more or less strongly impressed horizontally, finely and
thickly punctured in front, less closely behind ; legs rather short, reddish
testaceous, L. 25 mm.

Male characters indistinct.

Under bark of various trees, especially pines and firs; widely distributed and not
uncommon in England and Wales and Scotland, and probably also in Ireland.

P. corticalis, Grav. (¢ransita, Muls. et Rey). Resembles the
preceding, but is smaller, darker, and more shining, with the elytra entirely
black or pitch-brown or red towards apex; the thorax is a little more
narrowed towards base, so that it appears plainly narrower than the elytra;
the elytra are shorter in proportion to the thorax, and the hind body is
more uniformly coloured. L. 2+ mm.

Under bark, especially of pines; scarce, but somewhat widely distributed ; Mickle-
ham, Shirley, Richmond Park, Dulwich, Weybridge, Hampstead, Addington (Cossus
trees), The Holt (Farnham); Holm Bush, Brighton; iactinest Cannock Chase ;

Needwood and Sherwood Forests; Tamworth ; Sutton Park; Repton; Chat Moss 3
not recorded from the north of England or Scotland.

V. transita, Muls. et Rey. This variety, considered by Rey to be a
distinct species, is in colour intermediate between P. repfans and corticalis,
the elytra being forthe most part red; the elytra are a little longer than
in type specimens of P. corticalis, and the upper surface is a little
duller with rather closer pubescence ; it cannot, however, be considered a
distinct species.

I have received an English specimen from M. Fauvel, but I do not
know its locality.

OSALEA, Erichson.

About twenty species are at present contained in this genus; they are
all found in the European and Mediterranean region with the exception

44 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Ocalea,

of one from Japan and one from Central America; our species are
shining chestnut-brown insects, and are rather conspicuous: they are
found in moss, dead leaves, faggots, at roots of grass, &c.
I. Elytra finely and thickly punctured.
i, Elytra narrower; antennew rather shorter and more
thickened towardsapex =~. 2 . « =. «© . « » ©: CASTANEAUE7D
(picata, Steph.)
ii. Elytra broader; antenne slightly longer and more
slender’ 5 5 eee <a hee os 2 ey) yon oh 4) ON DANTPHNNTS Spans
II. Elytra rather strongly punctured . . . . . . . . O. Babi, Er.

©. castanea, Er. (picata, Steph, révularis, Mill.?). Shining pitchy
black with the thorax and elytra chestnut-brown (the elytra being much
lighter than thorax), and the apex of hind body testaceous ; head rather
large, antenne long, gradually, but slightly, thickened to apex, ferruginous
with base lighter, second and third joints about equal in length, 4-7
longer than broad, 8-10 as long as broad, eleventh plainly longer than
the two preceding together; thorax about as long as broad, narrowed in
front, finely punctured, with an impression before scutellum, and some-
times an obsolete central furrow; elytra scarcely longer than thorax,
finely, thickly, and rugosely punctured ; hind body narrowed from
fourth segment to apex, finely and sparingly punctured, with segments
2-4 strongly impressed horizontally at hase; legs long, testaceous.
L. 4-45 mm.

Male with ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body sinuate at
sides of apical margin and produced in the middle in an angle.

In moss, dead leaves, faggots, &e. ; rather common and widely distributed through-

out Englind «and Wales and Scotland; I have found it in abundance in faggots in
Langworth Wood near Lincoln, but it usually occurs in small numbers,

V. rivularis, Mill.? This variety differs from the type in having the
elytra somewhat more coarsely punctured, and the hind body smoother ;
Muilsant and Rey consider it to be a variety of O. castanea, but in the
catalogue of Heyden, Reitter, and Weise it is given as synonymous with
O. latipennis, Sharp, and the specimens in Dr. Sharp’s collection labelled
rivularis appear to be more closely related to the latter species than to
the former. Mr. Champion has taken this insect not uncommonly on
the banks of the Thames near Putney and Hammersmith, but-has never
found itin company with 0. castanea.

O.latipennis, Sharp. Allied to O. casfanea, but rather larger, and
darker in colour: the elytra are considerably broader, so that the thorax
appears much narrower in proportion; the antenne are slightly longer
and more slender, and not quite so much thickened towards apex, the
length of every joint being distinctly longer than its width ; the thorax
is black, and has the posterior angles obtuse, but more marked than in the
preceding species ; the hind body is sparingly and finely punctured, and a
little yellowish at apex. L. 5-53 mm.

Ocalea. | STAPHYLINIDN. 45

Rare; usually on the banks of rivers; Tonbridge ; Manchester ; Hartlepool ; banks
of Irthing and Mersey ; Scarborough ; Wallington, Northumberland ; Scotland, rare,
Forth and Solway districts (banks of Nith and Avon).

C. badia, Er. (prolira, Gyll.). This species resembles O. castanca,
but is easily distinguished by its smaller size, and the less close and
coarser punctuation of the head, thorax, and elytra, which latter are
usually, but not always, of a lighter colour; the thorax is almost as
broad as the elytra, which gives the insect a more parallel appearance ;
the posterior tarsi, also, are rather longer in proportion to the tibie.
L. 33-3$ mm. ;

In moss, dead leaves, &e.; very common in the London district ; not so common
but somewhat widely distributed in the South and the Midlands; rarer further
north; Hartlepool; Northumberland, rare; Scotland local, Lowlands, Forth and
Solway districts.

ILYOBATES, Kraatz.

This genus contains about eight European species, which are chiefly
confined to the central and southern portions of the Continent, one
species from Morocco, and another from Japan; there are four British
species, three of which are found in moss, flood refuse, sandpits, &e., and
one occurs in company with ants; from continental observations, however,
it is probable that most of the species of the genus are more or less
myrmecophilous ; with the exception of L. nigricollis they are extremely
tare in our country.

I. Head, thorax, and elytra thickly and strongly punctured,

dull; fourth and fifth joints of antenne not much

shorter than the following ones . . . . - . . I. nigGRICcoLLIs, Payk.
Il. Thorax finely punctured more or less shining.

i. Antenne plainly but gradually thickened ; fourth and

fifth joints not differing much in length from the
Seavey ones. . I, pRoPINquus, Aube.
. Antenne plainly thie kened, but with “joints 5-10
ene equal in breadth; fourth and fifth joints short
or very short.
1. Thorax narrower with sides almost straight in
middle; elytra a littlelonger than thorax. . . . I. FoRTICORNIS, Lae.
2. Thorax broader, somewhat orbicular; elytra at
suture slightly shorter than thorax. . . . . . J. @LABRIVENTRIS, Rye.

I. nigricollis, Payk. Of a dull red colour with the thorax black,
and the head brownish or blackish ; the hind body is darker before apex,
which is testaceous ; upper surface of head, thorax, and elytra thickly
pubescent, thickly and rugosely punctmed; head nearly as broad as
thorax, antenne red with the apex of the last joint usually lighter,
plainly and gradually thickened, second and third joints nearly equal,
4-10 transverse, but not strongly so (as the antenne are a little flattened
they appear more or less transverse according to the view taken of then),
last jot as long as the two preceding together; thorax about as broad

46 STAPHYLINID&. [Ilyobales.

as long, with sides rounded and narrowed in front ; elytra longer and
broader than thorax; hind body parallel-sided until near apex, with
segments 2—5 strongly impressed horizontally, the impressions being
rugosely punctured, punctuation sparing towards apex; legs reddish
testaceous, posterior tarsi with first joint equal to the three following
united. L. 33-43 mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body angularly
produced and ciliate, thorax with an obsolete furrow behind (which is
wanting in female).

In moss, flood refuse, under stones, &e.; rare, although somewhat widely distributed.
Notting Hill (formerly), Birch Wood, Reigate, Amberley, Rusper; Shipley, near
Horsham ; Folkestone; Hastings; Parkhurst Forest, Isle of Wight; Horning and
Wicken Fens; Worcester, banks of Severn; Knowle, near Birmingham (under bones) ;
Stalybrushes, Cheshire; Scarborough ; Lincoln; Northumberland district, in dead
leaves in Gibside Woods and ona moor near Lanercost; Mr. Bold remarks that the
latter specimens are “ scarcely more than one-half ” as large as the former ; Scotland,
rare, Solway, Tweed, Forth, and Clyde districts ; Ireland, Malahide near Dublin.

This species appears to vary considerably in colour, the thorax being
occasionally red ; the punctuation of the thorax also is somewhat finer in
some specimens than in others ; according to Mulsant and Rey it is almost
always found in company with ants in France.

I. propinquus, Aubé (rufus, Kr.). This species is easily
distinguished from the preceding by the much finer punctuation and more
shiny appearance of the head and thorax ; the colour is entirely lighter
or darker red with the apex of hind body testaceous, and the elytra lighter ;
the antenne are perhaps a little less thickened; the punctuation of the
elytra is distinctly feebler but more confused and wrinkled, and the
longitudinal impressions on the front segments of the hind body -are
rather more strongly punctured. L. 33-4 mm.

Male characters much as in the preceding.

In sandpits, &e.; very rare; Shirley, Mickleham (banks of Mole), Reigate, West
Wickham ; Littlehampton ; Fairlight, near Hastings; the species is found rarely in
France under stones in company with Formica rufa and Myrmica rubra; the British

specimens that I have seen are much smaller than ordinary I. négricollis, but, as a
general rule, it appears to be only slightly smaller than that species.

I. forticornis, Lac. More linear, more shining, less pubescent,
and less strongly punctured than either of the preceding species ; colour
very variable, pitchy black, or brown, or reddish, with the apex of the
elytra and of the hind body lighter ; occasionally the basal segments of
the latter are lighter than the apical ones; antenne brownish with
base lighter or entirely red, strongly and uniformly thickened from fourth
joint, fourth very short, fifth exceedingly short (a point that will at once
distinguish it from either of the preceding species), 6-10 strongly
transverse, but all much longer than 5th; thorax as broad as long,
scarcely narrowed in front, and hardly rounded at sides, finely and
rather sparingly punctured ; elytra as long as thorax finely and not closely

Ilyobates. | STAPHYLINIDE. 47

punctured ; hind body parallel-sided, almost smooth except that the
transverse impressions on the front segments of hind bocly are strongly
and rugosely punctured ; legs reddish testaceous, posterior tarsi with the
first joint equal to the three following united. L. 34 mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body slightly
prolonged in an obtuse or rounded angle.

In moss, sandpits, flood refuse, &e.; very rare; Snodland (Kent), Caterham,
Shirley, Walton-on-Thames, Riddlesdown, West Wickham, Margate, Reigate;
recorded as very rare in Polyporus versicolor at Fordlands, Exeter, in Parfitt’s
Devonshire catalogue, but this may perhaps be in error: this species does not
appear to be ever associated with ants in France, although it is common and widely
distributed.

I. glabriventris, Rye (Donnairei, Fauv.). Shining, entirely
ferruginous-testaceous, with the head and more or less of hind body some-
times darker; head almost smooth, antennze rather short, thickened,
with joints 4-10 strongly transverse, 4-5 very short; thorax somewhat
orbicular with sides plainly rounded, extremely finely and closely
punctured ; elytra at suture shorter than thorax, sometimes darker
about scutellum, very finely punctured ; hind body parallel-sided, dark
red, or pitchy brown, with the apex of the segments light, front segments
closely punctured at base, hinder segments finely and diffusely punctured,
sixth segment smooth ; legs reddish testaceous. L. 3 mm.

This species was found by Dr. Power in May and June 1863 in the
runs of Formica fuliginosa, and has not since been captured ; it did not
occur in the nest of the ants.

Mr. Rye introduced the species as Oxypoda glabriventris, and compares
it with O. lucens; he also says that “in general appearance it somewhat
resembles Jschnoglossa corticalis, but with the antenne of Ilyobates
forticornis:” it is identical with the I. Bonnairet of M. Fauvel, and
there seems some doubt as to which name is entitled to priority.

CALODERA, Mannerheim.

This genus comprises about forty species, about half of which occur in
Europe; several, however, have been described from South America,
especially from Chili, and from Australia; and it is most probable that
many others will be found; there are five British species, two of which,
C. rubens and C. umbrosa, differ very considerably from the rest and
from each other: these have been placed by Thomson in different
genera, Ityocara and Amarochara respectively.

I. Elytra much broader than thorax.
i, Length 3-4 mm. ; third joint of antennz twice as long as
fourth.
1. Length 33-4 mm.; upper surface deep black, some-
Cais Gh o So 0 od Blo. Ge mb. 50 C. NIGRITA, Mann,
2. Length 3 mm, ; upper surface black, very shining . . C. Ripanta, Lr.

48 STAPHYLINIDE [ Calodera.

ii. Length 2 mm. ; third joint of entenne rery small, not

much longer than fourth. . . . . C. mrHIoPs, Grav.
Il. Elytra scarcely broader than thor ax; form more or less
linear.
i. Upper surface very dull, pitchy brown or reddish ; head
orbicular; length 3-3} mm. . se 2 2 CSRUBENSHeEs
ii. Upper surface shining black or pitchy black; “head almost
square; length 2-2 mm. . ..... .. =. . . CO. UMBROSA, Er.

Cc. nigrita, Mann. Ofa deep black colour, very finely and thickly
pubescent ; head nearly as broad as thorax, antenne Jong, evidently
longer than head and thorax together, pitchy with base lighter, third
joint plainly shorter than second, 4—6 slightly transverse, the following
joints as long as broad, eleventh about as long as the two preceding
together ; thorax longer than broad, rather strongly narrowed in front,
much narrower at base than base of elytra, with a broad and not deep
central furrow, very finely and thickly punctured ; elytra square, longer
than thorax, very finely punctured ; hind body almost parallel-sided, a
little broader behind, with the second to the fifth segments horizontally
impressed at base, the impressions being rugosely punctured, punctuation
of the rest of the surface very close and fine; apex lighter; legs black
or pitchy black with the knees and tarsi reddish testaceous. L. 33-3}
mm.

Male with ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body slightly
prolonged.

In marshy places; rare; Notting Hill and Hammersmith Marshes; Forest Hill,
Surrey; Reigate; Hampstead.

©. riparia, Er. Somewhat similar to the preceding in form, but
with the elytra broader in proportion and more convex and the thorax
shorter; the upper surface is deep black or pitchy black, very shining,
the extreme apex of hind body being light; head nearly as broad as
thorax, antenne long, ferruginous with base lighter; third joint twice as
long as fourth, 5-10 transverse ; thorax about as long as, or slightly
longer than, broad, strongly narrowed in front, much narrower at base
than elytra, very finely and thickly punctured, with a more or less
obsolete impression before scutellum ; elytra hardly longer than thorax,
rather more strongly punctured than thorax ; hind hody almost parallel-
sided, a little broader behind, finely and sparingly punctured, with
segments 2-4 impressed at base, the impressions being rugosely punctured ;
legs pitchy or pitchy red with the knees, tarsi, and sometimes tibie
lighter. L. 3 mm.

Male with ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body produced in
an obtuse angle.

In marshy places ; rare; has only been found in the London district and in Scotland,
but probably ocears in the intermediate districts; Wimbledon, Shirley, Norwood (in
some numbers, Rev. H. S. Gorham), Cowley, Shooter’s Hill, Tonbridge; Scotland,
rare, Lowlands, Forth, Solway, and Clyde districts.

a i i

i

Calodera. ] STAPHYLINIDE. 49

G. wthiops, Grav. Very like the.preceding, but much smaller and
a little less shining; the third joint of the antenne is much shorter ;
the elytra also are not quite so long in proportion; the hind body is
plainly duller and a little more paralk ‘sided, more regularly and thickly
punctured, and with closer and thicker pubescence ; the colour is some-
what variable, the elytra passing from pitchy black to pitchy brown or
reddish ; light reddish examples are sometimes found, but these appe ir
to be only immature specimens. L. 2-2} mm.

In marshy places, at roots of grass, &e.; locally plentiful, but not generally,
although somewhat widely distributed; London district, common; Devonshire ;
Shirley Warren, Southampton ; Needwood Forest, Staffordshire; Scotland, local,
Lowlands, Dee and Solway districts,

C. rubens, Er. ([fyocara rubens, Thoms.). Linear and almost
parallel-sided, the elytra being very little broader than thorax, of a dull
pitchy black or reddish brown colour, thickly and closely pubescent ;
head orbicular, antenne dark testaccous with first ae and often the
last yellow, second joint much longer than third, 5-10 almost equal,
transverse, but not strongly so, eleventh oval not as long as the two
preceding together ; thorax at least as long as broad, only slightly narrowed
in front, thickly punctured, with a more or less obsolete impression
at base; elytra a little longer than thorax and a little more distinctly,

although very finely, punctured; hind body parallel, very eel
pubescent and finely punctured; legs reddish testaceous. L. 3-33 mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body considera-
bly produced.

Iu marshy places, amongst flood refuse, &e., during early spring; very local ; first

taken by Dr. Power at Thee Kent, and afterwe ada at Cowley, near Uxbrid: ge; i has
occurred in lar: ‘ge numbers in the former locality.

6. umbrosa, Er. (Amarochara umbrosa, Thoms.). Elongate, rather
narrow, and parallel, the elytra being hardly broader than thorax, shining
pitchy black, clothed with fine, rather short, and somewhat sparse
pubescence; head almost square, antenne rather long, but stout and
uniformly thickened from the fifth joint, dark with the base sometimes
lighter, third joint plainly shorter than second, fourth very short, 5-10
strongly transverse ; thorax about as long as broad with sides only
slightly rounded, nearly as broad as elytra, very finely punctured ; elytra
about as long as, or slightly longer than, thorax, pitch-black or
occasionally reddish brown, very finely punctured; hind body parallel-
sided, with segments 2-4 impressed at base, finely and rather closely
punctured, almost smooth at the apex of each segment; legs pitchy red
or reddish testaceous. L. 2-23 mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body s ightly
produced.

In damp sandpits, in moss in woods, under dead leaves, and in decaying fungi, &e. ;
occasionally by sweeping; rare; Shirley, Caterham, Claygate, Bromley, Darenth,

VOL, iI. LE

50 STAPHYLINID&. [ Calodera.

Chatham, Faversham, Wandsworth, Wimbledon, Charlton, West Wickham; Deal ;
Plymouth.

CHILOPORA, Kraatz.

This genus comprises about five European species which have very
much the general appearance of Tachyusa, but differ from that genus in
having the tarsi all distinctly five-jointed : our two species were origi-
nally associated by Erichson with Calodera ; they chiefly differ from the
species belonging to that genus in their longer and more slender antenne,
of which the second and third joints are of equal length, and the
penultimate joints are hardly, if at all, transverse; they occur in marshy
and damp places, chiefly on the banks of streams.

Upper surface dark, femora and antenne more or less

pitchy ... . . C. Lon@rrarsis, Zr.
Upper surface more or less testaceous or - reddish ; legs
and antenne entirely testaceous . . . . . . . . +. C. RUBICUNDA, Er.

Cc. longitarsis, Er. Dull black, very finely punctured, and clothed
with extremely fine silky pubescence ; head nearly as broad as thorax,
antenne long, dark with the base testaceous, second and third joints
about equal in length, 4-6 longer than broad, 7-10 about as long as
broad in female, slightly transverse in male; thorax slightly longer
than broad, much narrower at base than elytra, with an impression be-
fore scutellum that is usually prolonged in a more or less obsolete central
furrow; elytra a little longer than thorax; hind body parallel until near
apex, with segments 2-4 rather strongly impressed horizontally at base,
very finely punctured or shagreened; legs long, testaceous with femora
more or less dusky, posterior tarsi nearly as long as tibie with first joint
not quite as long as the three following. L. 4 mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body much
prolonged beyond dorsal plate.

In marshy places and on the banks of streams; common and widely distributed
throughout the country.

CG. rubicunda, Er. Narrower than the preceding with the elytra
distinctly shorter, and also narrower, so that the insect appears more
linear and parallel-sided ; the thorax is also more convex, and the pos-
terior tarsi are slightly longer and have the first joint a little more elon-

gate, about as long as the three following united ; it may, however, be
easily distinguished by its colour, which is rufo- testaceous or rufo-piceous
with the head and more or less of hind body before apex darker ; the
legs and antenne are entirely testaceous. L. 33-4 mm.

‘Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body less
prolonged than in the preceding species.

On the banks of streams; rare, but has occurred in some numbers in one or two
localities. Bewdley Forest, sandy banks of Dowles Brook (W. G. Blatch); Clifton,
near Manchester (Reston); Scarborough (Lawson); Cumberland; Northumberland

——E—EEeE————————

Chilopora. | STAPHYLINID. ol

”

district, “ Ravensworth Woods, banks of Devil’s Water and Trthing, in rejectamenta
(Bold); Scotland, local, Solway district (Sharp), Clyde district, Paley (Morris
Young).

The genus Gymnusa ought to be inserted at the end of this division,
if we keep accurately to the tarsal system; it has, however, been so
long associated with Myllana and Deinopsis that it seems the best course
to still keep these three genera together at the end of the Aleocharine ;
their connexion, however, is considerably slighter than it is usually
supposed to be, and they might with reason be separated,

MYRMEDONIINA.

The members of this tribe have the anterior tarsi four-jointed, and the
intermediate and posterior tarsi five-jointed : only a comparatively small
number are found associated with ants, so that the name of the tribe is
somewhat misleading, and might with advantage be changed to Homalo-
tina ; the number of genera contained in the tribe can hardly be stated
with accuracy, as so many different opinions are held by authors regard-
ing the division of the large genus Homalota.

I. Elytra with sides reflexed Sage forming an ex-

planate margin . foe oben) tS DINARDA, Manik,

me eager without reflexed margin.

Thorax square, oblong, or transverse; pro-
* sternuin scarcely developed in front of anterior

cOXe.
1. First three (apparent) dorsal segments of hind
body furnished with lateral tufts of hairs . . ATEMELES, Sleph.

2. First three (apparent) dorsal segments of hind
body without lateral tufts of hairs.
A. First joint of posterior tarsi at least as long
as the next two together.
a. Intermediate coxe distant; antennae

stouter.
a*, Form rather broad; thorax square or

transverse; insect winged. . . . . Mynrmeponta, Dr.
b*. Form narrower; thorax oblong; in-

sect apterous . . . . Jeeta Astiteus, Dillwyn.

b. Intermediate coxe contiguous ; antenne
long and slender.
a*. Tarsi more elongate; form narrower ;
head less sunk in thorax.
af. Neck:broad ; head narrower, not, or

only slightly, depressed oe 5 Tacuyusa, Er.
bt. Neck very narrow; head Breil
very strongly depressed . . - Myemecorona, Sauley.
b*. Tarsi less elongate ; form broader ;
head more sunk in Nora 6 aes . Gwypera, TZ oms,

B. ree joint of posterior tarsi not elongate ; *
last joint, as a rule, very long.

* Homalota gregaria and H. pygm@ea are more or less exceptions; these species
will be discussed under Homalota.
E 3

or
bo

STAPHYLINID &. [ Myrmedoniina.

a. Mandibles simple.
a*. Penultimate joint of maxillary palpi
very much dilated. . . . . CALLIOCERUS, Grav.
. Penultimate joint of maxillary palpi
not, or very slightly, dilated.
at. Intermediate cox distinctly sepa-
rated,
*. Hind body more or less narrowed
towards base and apex; thorax
strongly transverse, habits para-
sitic.
+. First joint of intermediate tarsi
about equal to second ; posterior
angles of thorax rounded (habitat
in Cossus-burrows) . . . THAMIARMA, Thoms.
tt. First joint of inter mediate fave
plainly shorter than second;
posterior angles of thorax well
marked (habitat in ants’ nests) . NorornEcta, Thoms.
**, Hind body parallel; thorax sub-
quadrate, or but little broader than
long; habits not parasitic . . . Atranta, Thoms.
b+. Intermediate coxz contiguous or
nearlyso. . . . . « « « » » Homazota, Mannh.
b. Mandibles bifid . . . . . . . . . ScHisroquossa, Kraatz.
ii. Thorax more or less cordiform; prosternum
plainly developed in front of anterior coxe .
1. Mandibles slender, unlike, the left simple, the
Pa i dentate — - - + . +. Borzsoropora, Kraatz.
. Mandibles not slender, both simple . . + » Fataaria, Steph.

DINARDA, Mannerheim.

This genus contains three species from Europe and one from Ceylon ;
they are found associated with ants ; they differ from all the other Aleo-
charine by the broad turned up margin of the elytra; the thorax at
base is much broader than the elytra, and has the posterior angles strongly
produced.

Antenne more strongly thickened; forehead scarcely im-

pressed between eyes; posterior angles of thorax less pro-

longed; length 83-4mm.. . . . . . + . - . . . D, MarRrxent, Kies.
Antenne less strongly thickened; forehead with a distinct

longitudinal impression between eyes ; posterior angles of

thorax more prolonged; length3mm.. . . 2. . . . . D.DENTATA, Grav.

BD. Maerkeli, Kies. Broad in front and strongly narrowed behind,
of a dull black more or less ferruginous colour, with the sides of thorax
and the elytra red, and the apex of hind body testaceous ; head much
narrower than thorax very thickly punctured, antenne short and thick,
pitchy, with the base red and the apical joint reddish testaceous, fourth
joint moderately transverse, 5-10 strongly transverse ; thorax fully twice
as broad as long, much narrowed in front, with large explanate side
border, posterior angles strongly produced, thickly covered with small

Dinarda.] STAPHYLINIDE. 53

tubercles, the intervals being very finely shagreened ; elytra about as
long as thorax with posterior angles produced in a spine, sculptured like
thorax but not so finely ; hind body very strongly narrowed towards
apex, sparingly sculptured towards base, much smoother behind; legs
rather short and stout, ferruginous red, L. 35-4 mm.

Male with dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body strongly
ciliate at apex, ventral plate produced,

Tn nests of Formica rufa; local, but not uncommon in some districts, and occa-
sionally occurs in numbers. Plumstead, Chatham, Esher, Guildford; Hastings;

Bewdley Forest, Worcestershire; Buddon Wood, Leicestershire; Scarborough: it
appears not to be found further north.

D. dentata, Grav. Smaller than the preceding, and distinguished
from it by the distinct longitudinal furrow on its head, and the less
thickened antenne ; the thorax and elytra are a little less closely sculp-
tured, and the former has the posterior angles a little more produced and
sharper; the hind body is somewhat less narrowed behind, and is
clothed with a little less long and less close pubescence ; the general
colour, moreover, is brighter. L. 3 mm.

In nests of Formica fusca and sanguinea; first found at Plymouth by Mr. J. J.
Reading ; Weston-super-Mare (Crotch); Shirley, near Croydon (Power ; Guildford ;
recorded from Exeter as taken with F. rufa, and also by Dr. Sharp as occurring with
that ant very rarely in the Tay district, Scotland; Mulsant and Rey say that it
occurs equally with F. rufa and F. eunicularia; in Ent, Annual, 1864, p. 112, it is
mentioned as having been taken in plenty ly Messrs. Scott and Douglas near Croy don
in company with Formica sanguinea, but these specimens were afterwards said to be

small D. Maerkeli: the species are exceedingly closely allied, and have given rise to
a great deal of confusion in our collections.

ATEMELES, Stephens.

This genus contains about six European and two or three North
American species; they are found in company with ants ; in appearance
they closely resemble Lomechusa, but they are in many points rather
widely distinct from that genus. Two species are British, one of which
is extremely rare ; they have the power of curling themselves up into a
sort of ball, and in this position are quickly carried off by the ants with
which they associate, when the nest is disturbed : when alive they bear
a much more striking resemblance to some of their hosts than might be
expected from an examination of dead specimens, and might easily be
passed over by an inexperienced observer,

Thorax much narrowed in front; poe angles strongly

projecting . ... . s . . . A.EMARGINATUS Payk.
Thorax hardly narrowed in front ; 5 posterior angles mode-

rately projecting. . . . . +. + + © » « - . A, PARADOXUS, Grav.

A. emarginatus, Gray. Oblong, broad, of a dull ferruginous red
colour, with the elytra and apex of hind body lighter, sometimes almost
orange-coloured, and the head, a portion of hind body before apex, and

HA STAPHYLINID ©. [Alemeles.

sometimes the dise of thorax dark; head much narrower than thorax,
antenne long and stout, entirely ferruginous, first joint much broadened,
third much longer than second, 4—5 transverse, 6-10 longer than broad,
eleventh very long and acuminate; thorax strongly transverse, finely
sculptured, much narrowed in front, posterior angles strongly and sharply
projecting, side margins very widely raised, dise somewhat convex with a
more or less obsolete central furrow ; elytra somewhat narrower and
slightly longer than thorax, very finely punctured; hind body rather
short, almost impunetate, with the front segments furnished at their sides
with a thick yellowish fringe directed backwards, seventh segment very
strongly emarginate with sides produced into a rather sharp lobe ; legs
ferruginous. L. 4 mm.

The sexual differences of the hind body appear to be slight and
hardly noticeable.

In nests of Formica fusca, Myrmica scabrinodis, ruginodis, and levinodis ; accord-
ing to Mulsant and Rey it oceurs with ‘ Myrmica rubra, and more rarely with Formica
Jusea, rufa, and cunicularia ;” not uncommon in the London district and the Mid-

lands, but I know of no locality further north than Lineoln, where I have taken it
with F. fusca; it is recorded from Devonshire, Cheshire, aud North Wales.

A. paradoxus, Grav. This very distinct species is easily separated
from the preceding by the very different shape of the thorax, which is
very little narrowed in front, so that the sides are almost parallel, and
has the posterior angles very much less produced ; the third joint of the
antenn is much longer in proportion to the second, and the penultimate
joints are evidently shorter; the hind body also is evidently, although
finely, punctured, and also much less shining ; the colour appears to be
slightly darker. L. 4mm.

In nests of Myrmica levinodis and Formica fusca; according to Mulsant and Rey
it is not rare in France under stones in the months of May and June in company with
M. rubra, and occurs more rarely with #. rufa and fuliginosa; very rare in Britain;
Charlton, Surrey; Folkestone (Lewis); Bournemouth (Saunders); Weston-super-
Mare (Crotch): L took a single specimen in April, 1885, on the cliffs between Sandown
and Brading, Isle of Wight.

MYRMEDONIA, Erichson.

This large and important genus is rightly called by Dr. Sharp a “ poly-
morphic ” genus, as 1t appears at first sight to be made up of many dis-
cordant elements ; in fact there is no genus belonging to the Staphy-
linide in which the members have a more widely differing facies ; the
species are about one hundred in number, as at present described, but it
is probable that they will be found to be far more numerous, as Dr.
Sharp has lately described nineteen new species taken by Mr. Champion
in Central America ; the range of the genus is very wide, from Siberia
and Russian America to Ceylon and South America; there are about
thirty European species, of which nine are found in Britain; as a rule
they are associated with ants, but it does not appear to be at all certain

Myrmedonia. | STAPHYLINIDZ. 55

in several cases that this is their invariable habitat : the first two species
differ considerably from-the others, and belong to the sub-genus Zyras,
Stephens.

I. Thorax much narrower than elytra with diffuse scat-
tered punctures.
i. Thorax black; elytra reddish testaceous with pos-
terior angles broadly darker; length 7 mm. . « M. Haworrart, Sfeph.
ii. Thorax red; elytra black ; length 4mm. . M. coutaRkis, Payk,
II. Thorax as broad or nearly as broad as elytra, closely
punctured. 2
i. Thorax more or less strongly transverse, very finely
punctured.

1. Antenne with last joint as long as the three pre-
ceding together; hind body plainly baru in
front, nearly smooth behind . 0 sieve M.

2. Antenna with last joint as long or "hardly as long
as the two preceding together; hind body quite
smooth and shining.

A. Thorax moderately strongly transverse, 14 times
as broad as long; antennz elongate.
a. Upper surface “entirely black, shining . . M. FUNESTA, Grav.
b. Upper surface pitch-brown with the shoulders
of elytra and more or less of hind body
lighter.
a*, Basal segments of hind body entirely
testaceous. . . M. HUMERALIS, Grav.
b*. Apex only of basal segments of hind body
testaceous. . . : M. coenata, Maerk.
B. Thorax very strongly transverse, twice as ; broad
as long; antenne shorter.

i

LIMBATA, Payk.

a. Elytra broadly testaceous at shoulders . . M. LUGENS, Grav.
b. Elytra unicolorous, black or dark pitehy
brown. . . M. Laticoiyis, Maerk.

ii. Thorax subquadrate, not much broader than long ;
punctuation close, but deep and distinct; antenne
very long; elytra reddish testaceous . . . . . . M. pLicata, Er.

M. Haworthi, Steph. This is the largest and finest of our species ;
it is rather broad, finely and sparsely pubescent, with head, thorax, and
hind body before apex shining black, and the rest of the upper surface
except the posterior angles of elytra (which are broadly dark) reddish
testaceous ; head much narrower than thorax, antenne reddish testa-
ceous with base lighter, moderately long and not stout, slightly thickened
towards apex, third joint longer than second, 4-10 gradually a little
thicker and shorter, 7-10 transverse; thorax broader than long, with
sides rounded in front and behind but almost straight in middle, with
very diffuse coarse punctures, quite irregular at sides, and forming two
somewhat irregular rows on disc with a smooth space between ; elytra
considerably broader and hardly longer than thorax, very strongly and
coarsely punctured ; hind body long with the basal segments strongly im-
pressed and the impressions strongly punctured, apex of segments almost
smooth ; legs testaceous. L. 7 mm.

56 STAPHYLINIDE. [| Myrmedonia.

Male with dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body raised in
middle and somewhat produced, and emarginate. ® '
Very rare; in company with F. fuliginosa; taken in the vicinity of the nests by
sweeping, also from under dead leaves aud moss. Reigate, Dulwich Wood, and
Sutton, Surrey (Dr. Power and others!; The Holt, Farnham (Power); near Southend

(Gorham) ; Bloxworth (O. P. Cambridge). 2
Dr. Skarp has a fine specimen in his collection from Bishops Wood,
Hampstead, measuring 8-85 mm.

™M. collaris, Payk. Head, elytra, and apex of hind body black,
thorax and rest of hind body reddish testaceous; head narrowed in
front and behind, antenne rather long, plainly and gradually thickened
towards apex, brownish with the base ferruginous and the three or four
apical joints more or less brightly testaceous, penultimate joints rather
strongly transverse, thorax about as broad as long, with coarse diffuse
punctures ; elytra broader than thorax, and hardly longer, diffusely and
not deeply punctured ; hind body with sides slightly rounded, almost-
smooth behind, with base of front segments impressed and strongly
punctured ; legs testaceous. L. 4 mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body pro-
longed in the middle of its apical margin in a short plate which is
emarginate, and presents the appearance of a short tooth at each side.

In company with various ants, or in their vicinity at roots of grass, in moss, &e.,
in marshy places: it does not, however, appear at all certain that this and the
preceding are necessarily associated with ants. Wimbledon Common; Merton
(Surrey); Shirley Warren, Southampton (in moss in a swamp); Wicken and Ran-
worth Fens; New Forest (in Sphagnum) ; Scotland, very rare, Tweed district only.

M. limbata, Payk. This species is easily distinguished by the very
long terminal joint of the antenne and the somewhat closely punctured
hind body ; the colour is pitchy brown or pitchy black with the base
and sides uf the elytra and the base of the hind body more or less testa-
ceous ; antenne rather long, rather strongly and gradually thickened
with penultimate jomts very transverse, and the last joint as long as the
three preceding; thorax moderately transverse, with sides narrowed in
front and contracted slightly in almost a straight line towards base,
very finely punctured ; elytra about as long as thorax ; hind body with
basal segments finely and thickly punctured, apical segments more
sparingly, but distinctly, punctured. L. 5 mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body strongly
emarginate in a semicircle, the emargination being very finely denticu-
late and ending at each side in a sharp tooth, thorax broadly and dis-
tinctly impressed longitudinally.

In nests of Formica flava and fusea, and has also been recorded as associated with
F. fuliginosa, also found under stones, in moss, &c., near the nests ; not uncommon in
the south; London district, generally distributed ; Hastings; Swannage; Isle of
Wight (Ventnor, Sandown, &.); Bristol ; Sherwood Forest ; Liverpool; Northum-
berland district, banks of Irthing ; Scctland, very rare, Tweed district only.

Myrmedonia.] STAPHYLINID.E 57

™M. funesta, Grav. A shining black species, which in colour and
general appearance very much resembles the ant with which it is in-
variably associated —F. yuliginosa—particularly when it is alive; the
antenne are reddish brown, gradually thickened towards apex, with the
penultimate joints moderately transverse ; thorax about half as broad
again as long with sides rounded in front and contracted behind, finely
punctured; elytra about as broad, and hardly as long as, thorax, very
finely punctured ; hind body entirely smooth and .shining ; legs pitchy
with tibiw, and often tarsi, lighter, L. 5-5 53.mm.

Male with dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body broadly
truncate and finely and obsoletely crenulate on apical margin, thorax
. furrowed before scutellum.
~- Not uncommon in the London district and the south, but is not found farther
north,

™. humeralis, Grav. A_ large and conspicuous species ; pitchy
brown, with the thorax often lighter, and the elytra and base ‘of hind
body more or less broadly testaceous ; head thickly punctured, antenn
reddish brown with the base and more or less of apical joint lighter,
penultimate joints somewhat strongly transverse, last joint as long as the
two preceding ; thorax about half as broad again as long, with sides
rounded in front, and slightly contracted in almost a straight line to
base, very finely punctured ; elytra about as long as thorax, very finely
punctured ; hind body with three or four basal segments and the apex testa-
ceous, entirely smooth ; legs testaceous or reddish testaceous. 1. 6 mm.
Male with the seventh dorsal segment of hind body truncate and
obsoletely crenulate on apical margin, thorax broadly furrowed before
~ scutellum

In nests of Formica rufiz, and has been recorded from nests of FF. filiginosa, but
the latter habitat appears doubtful; rather common in the London, Southern, and
Midland districts; Yorkshire, Scarborough, &e.; Scotlund, local, Tay and Dee
districts.

_™. cognata, “Maerk. A darker and more dusky-looking species
than the preceding, and smaller, pitchy-black or brown with the shoulders
of elytra and the apex of the basal segments of hind body testaceous ;
antenne entirely reddish, with the basal joint a little lighter, with penul-
timate joints strongly transverse, more so than ia the preceding species ;
thorax half as broad again as ‘Tong, with sides more rounded than in

~M. humeralis; elytra about as long as thorax, and, together with it,
very finely punctured; hind body almost entirely smooth; legs ferrugi-

nous. L. 5 mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body broadly
and feebly emarginate and obsoletely crenulate, thorax with an obsolete
longitudinal furrow.

. In nests of Formica fuliginosa ; 3 very local, but sometimes not uncommon where it
occurs; it has only been found in the ‘London district ; Mickleham, Croydon, Tilgate
Forest, aud ‘Toubridge.

Ou
io'6)

STAPHYLINID2. [Myrmedonia.

WW. lugens, Grav. This species has very much the appearance of
M. cognata, which it resembles rather closely in colour, but it is easily
distinguished by its more transverse thorax and distinctly shorter and
thicker antenne, which are dark with the basal joints lighter, instead of
being entirely red, as in the preceding species; the penultimate joints
are also much more strongly transverse; the elytra are a little longer
than the thorax, and have the shoulders a little more broadly testaceous ;
the thorax and elytra are very finely punctured, and the hind body is
entirely smooth and shining; legs reddish testaceous. L. 4-42 mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh sesment of hind body broadly
emarginate on apical margin, thorax longitudinally impressed.

In nests of Formica fuliginosa ; local and almost entirely confined to the London
district, as at present known; not uncommon sometimes where it occurs. Mickleham,
Sydenham, Croydon, Caterham, Chobham, Tilgate Forest; Battle, near Hastings.

MM. laticollis, Maerk. A very distinct species, rather smaller than
any of the preceding, and easily distinguished by its almost uniform dull
black colour and very transverse thorax, of which the sides are strongly
rounded ; head finely and rather thickly punctured, antenne lighter or
darker reddish or reddish brown with the base lighter, penultimate
joints strongly transverse ; thorax quite twice as broad as long, about as
broad at base as base of elytra, very finely punctured; elytra very
transverse, but a little longer than thorax, very finely and thickly and
somewhat rugosely punctured, not quite as black as the rest of the body,
and occasionally obscurely brownish ; hind body almost impunctate,
smooth and shining ; legs reddish testaceous. L. 33-4 mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body broadly
truncate and finely denticulate on its apical margin, thorax with an
obsolete central furrow.

In nests of Formica fuliginosa; not uncommon in the London district and the
south, but not found further north. Mickleham, Croydon, Norwood, Chatham, Tilgate
Forest, Shipley near Horsham, Rusper, &c.; I have taken it in some numbers at the
top of ILuccombe Chine, Isle of Wight, by placing grass in a tree inhabited by
F. fuliginosa, and shaking it three or four days after over a sheet of paper.

M. plicata, Er. A rather long, somewhat parallel-sided species,
apterous, of a reddish-testaceous colour, with the head, thorax, and a
greater or lesser portion of hind body before apex pitchy; head rather
strongly and thickly punctured, antenne long, entirely red, or brownish-
red, with the penultimate joints not trarisverse, and the last joint not as
long as the two preceding ; thorax subquadrate, about as long as broad,
with sides almost straight, thickly and rather strongly and deeply
punctured; elytra only slightly longer than thorax, entirely reddish
yellow, rather more finely punctured than thorax with the punctuation
sometimes a little rugose ; hind body very finely and thickly punctured
in front, almost smooth behind, fourth and fifth segments with raised
prominences in middle. L. 4-5 mm.

Very rare; has only been taken in Britain by the late Mr. F. Smith and his son,

-

Myrmedonia. | STAPHYLINIDA. Hy)

who found it in 1865 in the nests of the small ant Zupinoma erratica, in a sandy
place near Bournemouth.

This insect has often been compared with A. canaliculatus, but in
general appearance is very different; in the catalogue of Heyden,
Reitter, and Weise it is associated w ith the latter insect under the genus
Astilbus ; although it certainly seems hardly to belong to the genus
Myrmedonia proper, yet, except perhaps in one or two points, it appears
to be quite as far removed from Asti/bus: it may perhaps be made the
type of a separate genus altogether.

ASTILBUS, Dillwyn.

The old name of Astil/us has lately been revived in place of the
name Drusilla (which is preoccupied for a genus of Lepidoptera) for the
small genus containing the common and well- known Myrmedoniu canalicu-
lata, and three or four other species which are not found in Britain :
the superficial characteristics are the narrower form, more projecting
head, longer thorax, and very short elytra, the latter being distinctly
shorter than the thorax, which is evidently longer than broad ; the legs
are more slender, and have the intermediate and posterior tarsi longer ;
the species are wingless,

A. canaliculatus, F. (Myrmedonia canaliculata, Ev., Drusilla cana-
liculata, Mann.). Elongate and narrow, of a chestnut or reddish-chestnut
colour, with the head and more or less of the hind body-before apex black ;
head large, nearly as broad as thorax; antenne long, gradually and
slightly thickened towards apex, brownish, with the basal joints testa-
ceous, penultimate joints hardly transverse ; thorax plainly longer than
broad, broadly impressed longitudinally in male and channelled in centre
of impression, channelled in female, plainly narrower at base than
base of elytra, closely and moderately strongly punctured; elytra very
transverse, shorter than thorax, widest at apex, rather strongly and
somewhat rugosely punctured ; hind body with sides somewhat rounded,
narrowed at base, finely punctured in front, almost smooth behind ;
legs long and slender, testaceous, posterior tarsi almost as long as tibie.
L. 4 mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body rather
broadly emarginate in a semicircle, with the emargination finely denti-
culate, and ending on each side in a small sharp and projecting tooth.

In runs of Formica flava and other ants, also under stones, in haystack refuse,
decaying sea-weed, moss, &c.; abundant in England, especially in the Midlands and

the South ; Scotland, scarce, Lowlands, Forth, ‘Solway, and Clyde districts; Ireland,
Beltast, Armagh, and Dublin, and probably generally distributed.

CALLICERUWS, Gravenhorst.

This genus contains a few species found in Europe, and one from

60 STAPHYLINID. [ Cullicerus.

Syria; it is closely connected with Homalota, but has more the facies
of Calodera; Mulsant and Rey place it at the head of their fourth
division of the Myrmédoniaires, the Homalotates: our two species occur
in moss, haystack refuse, in sandpits, near banks of rivers, &c.

Length 23 mm.; last joint of antenne very long, tenth

much longer than\ninth<) 6) 9ste. © - . . . C. opscurus, Grav.
Length 4-44 mm.; last joint of antenne moderately long,
tenth about equalitominth.. . . «2 .) « « « « ~ CuRIGIDIOORNISipEr

©. obscurus, Grav. Dull black or pitchy brown with the elytra
lighter, finely pubescent, head rather large nearly as broad as thorax,
antenne very long, reaching nearly to the apex of the elytra, rather
more thickened in the female than in the male; the latter sex has the
tenth joint very long, and joints 6—9 moderately transverse; in the
former the tenth is less elongate, and joints 6-9 more strongly trans-
verse ; the last joint is also longer in the male than in the female ; thorax
about as long as broad, plainly narrower than elytra, obsoletely punc-
tured ; elytra a little longer than thorax, thickly punctured ; hind body
parallel-sided until near apex, finely punctured towards base, almost
smooth behind ; legs lighter or darker testaceous. L. 22

The sexual differences of the hind body in this species are slight,
but the sexes differ very much in general appearance, the females that
T have seen appearing to be somewhat broader and stouter with broader
and squarer thorax and elytra, and of a browner colour ; the antenne
also differ considerably, as will be seen from the above description; in
fact they might be taken for different species.

In moss, haystack refuse, near rivers, in sandpits, &e.; local, but not uncommon in
some localities, and widely distributed ; London district, rather common ; Tonbridge ;
Hastings; Brighton; Lewes; Knowle, near Birmingham; Lincoln; Scarborough ; 3
Manchester ; Liverpool ; Northumberland district ; Scotland, local, Lowlands, Forth
und Solway districts; Ireland, Portmarnock and near Beltast ; it is usually found
most plentifully in early spring : Haliday remarks that be took it abundantly at Holy-
wood, Belfast, under the shelter of furze-bushes on the fresh grass of sunny banks at
this time of year.

C.rigidicornis, Er. (¢ wnicarinatus, Fairm.). Much larger than
the preceding species, and very different from it in general appearance ;
pitchy black, rather shining, with the elytra chestnut-brown and the
apex of hind body testaceous ; head, as a rule, distinctly narrower than
thorax, antenne long, plainly longer than head and thorax, gradually
thickened towards apex, entirely reddish testaceous, penultimate joints
not transverse, tenth about equal to ninth, eleventh as long as the two
preceding; thorax subquadrate, a little broader than long, slightly
narrower at base than elytra, thickly and somewhat asperately punctured ;
elytra about as long as, or a little longer than, thorax, and more plainly
sculptured ; hind body thickly and finely punctured in front, almost
smooth behind ; legs testaceous. L. 4-45 mm.

Callicerus. ] STAPHYLINIDH. 61

Male with the seventh segment of hind body furnished with a strong
raised tubercle in the middle of its posterior margin.

In sandpits, and also running on the mud by the side of small ditches and streams ;
occasionally found under hedge rubbish, bones, &c.; usually considered rare, but it
is widely distributed ; Kent and Surrey and the London district generally, Chath: im,
Lewisham, Esher, Shirley, Reigate, Upnor, Dulwich, Colney Hateh, Chobham,
Wimbledon, Charlton, Weybridge, West Wickham ; Harwich; Yardley and Knowle
near Birmingham; Worcester; Liverpool; Northumberland district, very rare ;
Scotland, very rare, Forth and Clyde districts.

THAMIARZE=A, Thomson.

This genus contains two very distinct European species, which are
found exclusively in burrows of Cossus Uigniperda: besides the separa-
tion of the intermediate coxe, they are distinguished by having the hind
body more or less narrowed both at base and apex and so slightly ovate,
by the strongly transverse thorax of which the posterior angles are blunt
and rounded, and by the very strongly transverse penultimate joints of the
antenne : in the latest European catalogue this and the succeeding genus
are placed between Thiasophila and Microglossa ; inthis way they are
widely separated from Homalota, as Aleochara, Myrmedonia, Dinarda,
&ec., are intercalated between them and the latter genus; our two
species of Thamiarea certainly have the facies of true Aleochare ; Dr.
Sharp has lately described two or three other species from Central
America, which differ somewhat from our species in general appearance.

T. cinnamomea, Grav. This is one of the largest species of the
genus, and is more like a Myrmedonia or Aleochara than a Homalota ;
broad and robust, cinnamon-brown, with the abdomen black and
shining, the hind margins of the segments being often brownish ;
front parts dull ; head broad and short, much narrower than thorax, with
eyes prominent, finely and not closely punctured ; antenne pitchy, with
base testaceous, stout and rather shoit, third joint longer than second,
fourth rather small, fifth much broader than fourth, 5-10 strongly
transverse ; thorax twice as long as broad, with sides rounded, narrower
in front than behind, finely and rather closely punctured; elytra
transverse, longer than thorax, finely and somewhat closely punctured ;
hind body rather ovate, narrowed in front and behind, but not very
noticeably, with basal segments finely and sparingly punctured, the
others impunctate ; legs yellow or reddish yellow. LL. 4-43 mm.

Male with the seventh abdominal segment furnished on middle of dise
with a projecting longitudinal keel, “ ‘lateral margin projecting on each
side as a short, pointed, rather curved spine ; between these two spines
the middle part of hind margin is much produced, and the apex in the
middle has a small notch ” (Sharp) ; Mulsant and Rey in describing
these characters speak of the segment as armed with four teeth, the
outer spiniform and a little curved inside, the inner tuberculiform,

62 STAPHYLINIDZ. [ Thamiarea,

“‘rapprochées au sommet dune lame angulaire plus prolongée que les
dents latérales.”

The suture of the elytra in the male is elevated into a distinct carina
terminating abruptly at scutellum ; a variety oecurs in which this
sutural carina, and also that on seventh segment of hind body are
wanting.

At the exuding frass of Cossus-infected trees; not uncommon in the London
district, and the Southern and Midland counties; rarer further north; Manchester,

Dunham Park, not uncommon; not recorded from the Northumberland district ;
Scotland, rare, Moray district only.

T. hospita, Maerk. (castanea, Aubé, australis, Rey. This
species closely resembles the preceding in colour, but is much
smaller, and has the hind body much more plainly punctured ; with
this exception the punctuation does not differ much, and the strue-
ture is much the same ; the antenne are stout, yellowish, third joint
longer than second, fourth about as stout as third, as long as broad,
5-10 each a little broader than the preceding, fifth slightly, 6-10
strongly, transverse ; thorax with an indistinct longitudinal channel ;
hind body with segments 2-4 evenly and pretty closely and finely
punctured, fifth more sparingly punctured, sixth impunctate, or nearly so ;
legs yellowish. L. 35 mm.

Male with the seventh segment of hind body furnished with an obtuse
tubercle on its upper surface towards middle of base, apex produced in
middle, in the form of two teeth close to one another, hind margin also pro-
duced on either side in the form of two rather blunt teeth or projections.

In burrows of Cossus ligniperda like the preceding, often occurring in company
with it; local; Sheerness; Sittingbourne; Shirley; Caterham; Dulwich; New
Forest ; Holecombe, Devon; Dean Forest; Repton ; Scarborough; Manchester ;
not recorded from the northern counties or from Scotland.

NOTOTHECTA, Thomson.

This genus differs from Thamiarea in having the hinder angles of the
thorax well marked, and the first joint of the intermediate tarsi plainly
shorter than the second ; the elytra also are furnished with a plain raised
fold at the apex towards the posterior external angle: the species are
found exclusively in ants’ nests ; three are found in Britain, one of

which is placed by Thomson in his sub-genus Lyprocorrhe ; this,’

however, can hardly be separated from Motothecta, and together with
Kraatzia, Muls. and Rey, is usually included under that genus.

N. flavipes, Grav. Rufo-piceous, with the head and central portion
of hind body blackish ; rather a broad and robust species ; head black
and shining, broad and short, finely and indistinctly punctured ; antenne
pitchy, pale at base, rather long, scarcely thickened towards apex,
joints 2-3 about equal in length, rather long, 4—10 not differing much in
length, fourth rather longer than broad, 5-6 hardly, 7-10. slightly,

Notothecti. | STAPHYLINID®. 63

transverse, eleventh long, longer than the two preceding, often light-
coloured ; thorax more or less pitchy, about as broad as elytra, twice as
broad as long, narrowed in front, sinuate near exterior angles which are
distinct, closely and rather plainly punctured, with an indistinct
impression before scutellum ; elytra rather longer than thorax, very
transverse, somewhat rugosely punctured ; hind body shining, segments
2-4 sparingly punctured, 5-6 impunctate, sides and apex with long
exserted sete ; legs reddish yellow. L. 31 mm.

Male with the hind margin of dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind
body distinctly emarginate in middle.

In nests of Formica rufa; widely distributed and common from Yorkshire south-

wards; not recorded from the Northumberland district ; Scotland, local, Tay, Dee,
and Moray districts.

N. confusa, Maerk. Very like the preceding, but smaller, and
little more shining; the antenne are rather thicker, and have joints
4-10 plainly shorter and more transverse ; the sides of the thorax are a
little less rounded ; moreover, the hind body is more closely punctured,
the base of the fifth segment being distinctly ae the sexual
characters are much the same as in NV. flavipes. L. 3 mm.

Rare; in nests of Formica fuliginosa ; Mickleham (Champion), Tilgate, Charlton,

Birdbrook (Power and F. Smith); in the latter locality Dr. Power has found the
species somewhat plentifully.

N. anceps, Er. (Lyprocorrhe anceps, Thoms., angularis, Heer.).
Very different from the two preceding species ; fuscous black with the front
parts dull and very distinctly and “closely punctured, hind body rather
shining, yellowish at apex; pubescence short, thick, and fine; head
rather broad and short ; antenne pitchy, paler at base, rather long and
slender and scarcely thickened towards apex, joints 2-3 of nearly equal
length, 4-10 differing httle in length, 5-10 scarcely transverse ; thorax
at base as broad as elytra, nearly twice as broad as long, narrowed in
front, posterior angles distinct and not rounded, disc flat, and channelled
longitudinally ; elytra rather short, transverse, rather flat, somewhat
rugosely punctured ; hind body narrowed behind, finely punctured
throughout. L. 25 mm.

Male with the ‘ventral plate of the seventh segment of hind body
narrower and more produced than in female,

In nests of Formica rufa ; widely distributed and common in the Midlands and the
South ; Scarborough district; not recorded apparently from the extreme northern
counties of England, but probably occurs; Scotland, local, Tay, Dee, and Moray
districts.

ALIANTA, Thomson.

This genus is here understood as including Alianta, Thoms., Discerota,
Muls. et Rey, and Heterota, Rey, which, together with the two preceding
genera, are separated from Homalota proper by the evident separation of

64 STAPHYLINIDE. , [Alianta.

the intermediate coxe: there are only two British species, A. ineana,
which bearsa very close resemblance to H. nigella, and is generally placed
in close connexion with that species, and A. plumbea, which has hitherto
been placed in our lists between Gnypeta eerulea and labilis and
HT, fallax.

A. incana, Er. Black, rather dull, finely and somewhat thickly
pubescent ; head narrower than thorax, sometimes impressed in middle,
punctuation rather close but indistinct; antenne short, thickened
towards apex, testaceous with apical joints darker, first joint longer than
second or third, third a little shorter and narrower than second, fourth as
long as broad, 5-10 gradually broader, 7-10 distinctly transverse,
eleventh twice as long as tenth ; thorax much narrower than elytra,
slightly narrowed behind, broader than long, punctuation indistinct,
sometimes, but not always impressed or feebly channelled in front of
scutellum ; elytra one-half longer than thorax, sculpture distinet,
granulate ; hind body with basal segments closely and distinctly
punctured, segments 4-7 finely granulated ; legs pitchy, knees and tarsi
paler. L. 3mm.

Male with segments 4—6 of hind body rather shining, seventh segment
with a row of four large indistinct tubercles just before apex, the space
before these thickly granulate ; female with segments 4-6 not more
shining than the others, seventh segment with four tubercles as in
male, but these are much more indistinct, and the segment is duller,

Marshy places, in stems of reeds and in the axils of the leaves of water plants ; also
found in moss, flood refuse, &e., at the edges of pools; local; formerly common at
Notting Hill and Hammersmith Marshes; Sheerness, Strood, Lee, Merton,
Mickleham, Dagenham, Sheppy; The Holt, Farnham; Tonbridge; Glanvilles
Wotton; Devonshire; Coleshill, Sutton Park, and Knowle, near Birmingham ;
Horning Fen and other fen districts ; not found in the north of England or Scotland ;
according to Mulsant,and Rey it is rather rare in France, and occurs under sea-weed on
the shore; it somewhat resembles the next species, but is more linear, and has the
first joint of the intermediate and posterior tarsi shorter; superficially it is extremely
like H. nigella, but is considerably larger than that insect.

A. plumbea, Wat. (Heterota plumbea, Muls. et Rey). Leaden
black, dull, hind body more shining, very closely and finely punctured
and pubescent ; head a little narrower than thorax, narrowed behind
eyes, obscurely impressed on vertex ; antenne moderately long, only
slightly thickened towards apex, pitchy, with first joint usually reddish,
third joint plainly shorter than second, fourth than third, 4-10 not
differing much in length, but shghtly in breadth, so that the last joints
are somewhat transverse, eleventh stout about twice as long as tenth ;
thorax subquadrate, much narrower than elytra, slightly narrowed
behind, with a broad impression, often more or less obsolete, before base ;
elytra rather broader than long, considerably longer than thorax ; hind
body closely and finely punctured except at extreme base of each
segment ; legs fuscous testaceous, tarsi testaceous, short and stout.
L. 8 mm.

Alianta. | STAPHYLINIDE. 65

Male with the seventh segment more rounded at apex above and below
than in female according to Dr. Sharp, less rounded according to
Mulsant and Rey: Dr. Sharp (1. ¢. p. 115) points out the uncertainty as
regards the sexes, and says that as the antenne are Jonger in the
specimens with the apex of seventh segment slightly emarginate, they
may prove to be the males,

A coast species; common in the south under sea weed and among shingle ; Dover,
Folkestone, Weymouth, Shoreham, Isle of Wight, Exmouth, Falmouth; I have
found it commonly at Ventnor on warm days in April, flying aud settling on the
rocks and pebbles. Bold records it as “ rare, sea-coast near Hartley, Northumberland

district,” but this may be in error, as there is no other northern record, and it does
not occur in Scotland.

HOMALOTA, Mannerheim.

This very large genus comprises 600 or 700 species already described
from various parts of the world, 200 of these being found in Europe ;
there are no doubt a very large number of others yet unknown ; Dr.
Sharp has quite recently described nearly fifty new species from Central
America: the difficulty of dealing with so large a genus is obvious even
where the species present some striking characteristics, but the Homalote,
taken as a whole, are so very closely allied that it is often extremely
hard to separate the species, even those found in different parts of
the world ; forinstance //. spergula and EH. despecta found in Guatemala
and the Volean de Chiriqui at a height respectively of 38000 and
4000-6000 ft. are exceedingly like our common British AH. nigra.
Mannerheim’s type of the genus was /Z. plana; this is now considered
a separate genus—LHpipeda, Mulsant and Rey ; some authors (as
C. G. Thomson) therefore apply the name Homalota to H. plana
alone, and break up the rest of the species into numerous other genera:
Thomson establishes about thirty different genera on the various
individuals of the genus, but Mulsant and Rey, if we include their
sub-genera, all of which bear distinct names, bring the number up
to between fifty and sixty ; these latter authors devote nearly 900 pages
of their “ Histoire Naturelle de Coléoptéres de France, Brévipennes” to
the Homalota group ; their work on the various divisions, like Thomson’s,
is most valuable, but is exceedingly confusing, and it is obvious that
many of the genera are founded on such slight distinctions that, if
adopted, they must ultimately be again fused with others. By far the
best work on Homalote that has yet appeared is the Revision of the
British species by Dr. Sharp, published in the Entomological Society's
Transactions for 1869: if we follow his arrangement we may with
patient working determine almost any British Homalota, but the task,
always a hard one, is rendered almost impossible by the minute sub-
division into genera and sub-genera, which in many cases are of
extremely doubtful value ; Dr. Sharp’s system has therefore been in the
main adopted in this work; I have, however, after consultation with

VOL. Il. F

66 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Homalota,

Sharp, divided off those species that have the intermediate cox
separated by a plain interval; these form the genera WNotothecta,
Thamiarea, and Alianta, which have already been noticed. Gnypeta
(77. labilis and cwrulea) and Brachida (H. notha) have for some time
been considered as distinct ; to the description of each of the species of
Homalota given below are “added the names of the genera adopted by
Thomson and Mulsant and Rey, in order that any student of the group
may at once be able to refer to them im case he feels inclined to do so.

The Homalote are distinguished from most of the closelyallied genera by
the shorter first joint of the posterior tarsi, which is in most cases about
equal to, or only slightly longer than the second, and, as an almost
invariable rule, is shorter than the second and third together; in fact
there appear to be only two exceptions, H. gregaria, in which the first
joint is about equal to the second and third together, and H. pygmea,
in which it is equal to or even longer than these joints. In the former
species, also, the ligula is entire instead of being bifid, and this character
together with the structure of the tarsi seems quite sufficient to warrant
the establishment of a separate genus for the insect: I would therefore
propose for it the name of Glossola provisionally, the genus Disopora
under which it is placed by Mulsant and Rey including several other
species that are very different ; as, however, H. pygmcea presents the same
peculiarity of the tarsi, and the question does not seem capable of being
thoroughly settled in the present state of our knowledge of the genus, it
seems the best course to place HZ. gregaria after the sub-genus Disopora,
but in no particular group or section.

Students of the group will probably find a difficulty in the fact
(which has been noticed.in the introduction) that the penultimate and
anal segments of the hind body are spoken of by Mulsant and Rey as the
fifth and sixth segments, and by Dr. Sharp as the sixth and seventh
seements respectively ; as a matter of fact there is truly an additional
and more or less concealed segment at the base of the hind body, as
demonstrated by Kraatz, and, accordingly as this is reckoned or not, the
number of segments will of course appear different ; in the succeeding
descriptions the anal segment is counted as the seventh.

The species of Homalota are found in various localities, in hot-beds,
dung-heaps, under moss in woods, in fungi, under sea-weed on the
shore, in dead birds and animals, at roots of grass, at sap, &c.; one or two
species, besides those now included in the genus Notothecta, are found in
ants’ nests, and a few occur only under the bark of trees; a large
number may be obtained by sweeping herbage in damp localities,
especially about sunset on summer evenings.

The larva of HT. celata is described by Perris, Ann. Fr. 1853, p. 561, Pl. 17, Fig. 9-15,
as exceedingly like that of Phkleopora reptans, but differing in having the eighth
segment of abdomen quadrate and not prolonged over the ninth, and by the longer
aval appendage, and longer cerci, of which the first joint is equal in length to the
anal appendage, and the second joint very much shorter than the first.

ee

=

Homatlota. | STAPHYLINIDE. 67

It is found in the galleries of Hylurgus, &c.; the pupa is exactly like that of
Phieopora.

The larvee and pups of the smaller Aleocharinze appear to be very closely allied to
one another, and to differ chiefly in the characters of the last abdominal segments and
appendages ; the mouth organs also appear to afford important points of distinction
in some cases; very little, however, is really known about them.

As experience shows that detailed tables are of very little use in this
genus, they have been omitted; any student, however, who desires to
consult such tables is referred to Mulsant and Rey’s Brévipennes,
Aléochariens, 1873-1875.

The following are the sections into which the British species, as they
stand at present, may be divided :—

I. Hind body parallel; thorax quadrate (about as broad as long); the six
penultimate joints of the antenna longer than broad, or nearly as long as broad.

II. Hind body parallel; thorax quadrate or subquadrate; six penultimate joints of
the antenne transverse, but not very strongly so.

IIL. Hind body parallel; thorax quadrate or subquadrate ; six penultimate joints of
the antenne strongly transverse,

IV. Hind body parallel ; thorax moderately transverse, its sides evenly rounded.

V. Hind body parallel; thorax distinctly or strongly transverse; penultimate
joints of the antennz not, or only moderately, transverse.

VI. Hind body parallel; thorax strongly transverse; penultimate joints of the
antennze strongly transverse.

VII. Hind body more or less distinctly narrowed ; hinder angles of thorax rounded.

Section I.

Hind body parallel ; thorax quadrate (about as broad as long), the six
penultimate joints of the antenne longer than broad, or nearly as long as
broad.

This section may be divided into the following groups:—

1. Hind body with the sixth segment nearly impunctate ; male with a tubercle or
keel on the upper side of the sixth segment (p. 67).

2. Small delicate species, with all the segments of the hind body punctured ;
antenne not at all thickened towards the apex (p. 72).

3. Species of moderate size, with all the segments of the hind body punctured, and
the antenne slightly thickened towards the apex (p. 7+).

4. Male without tubercle or keel on the sixth segment; hind body with the sixth
segment nearly impunctate, the others rather closely punctured, the fifth often more
than the fourth (p. 76).

5. Hind body with the basal segments sparingly punctured, the apical ones nearly
impunctate (p. 79).

Grovr 1.

This group contains the following species: ZZ. currax, languida and
var. longicollis, insecta, pavens (= sulcifrons), ichoffi, cambrica,
planifrons ; of these the first four are larger species (4 mm. or nearly),
and the last three smaller (3 min. or less); the var. longicollis of
languwida is also 3 nm. in length. According to Dr. Sharp these species
ave all found on river banks with the exception of H. languida and

F 2

68 “STAPHYLINIDE. { Homalota.

pavens, which sometimes occur in marshes ; one or two species, however,
appear not to be exclusively confined to damp localities.

H. currax, Kr. (Disopora currar, Muls. et Rey). Depressed,
rather broad, fuscous black, somewhat shining, with the elytra rather
lighter, finely and densely pubescent ; head rather broad, but narrower
than thorax with a distinct longitudinal impression, very finely punctured ;
antenne long and slender (as long as head, thorax, and half elytra),
fuscous brown with the basal joints pitchy, all the joints longer than broad,
2-3 of about equal length, from 4-10 each slightly shorter than the
preceding, eleventh about half as long again as tenth ; thorax subquadrate,
narrower than elytra, with sides rounded in front and distinctly narrowed
behind middle, together with elytra very finely and closely ‘punctured,
with a fovea at base and a more or less distinct longitudinal channel in
middle ; elytra longer than thorax, together as long as broad; hind
body with segments 2—5 distinctly punctured, sixth segment almost
smooth ; legs dark testaceous. L. 4 mm.

Male with the sixth segment of hind body furnished on the upper
surface with a strong pointed tubercle, hind margin of seventh with four
small teeth, the two middle ones being placed very near together.

On the banks of rivers and streams ; not uncommon, although local, in the north of
Englind; also found by Mr. Blatch at Bewdley and Chureh Stretton; Scotland,
local, Forth, Solway, and Clyde districts ; Ireland, Bray, co, Wicklow (Champion).

As Dr. Sharp remarks H. hygrotopora much resembles this species, but
it may at once be distinguished by the much shorter and stouter antenna,
and the fact that the thorax is not narrowed behind.

H. languida, Er. (Disopora languida, Thoms.). Elongate, sub-
depressed, finely and rather thickly pubescent, very finely punctured,
fuscous black or fuscous, with the elytra and often the thorax lighter,
and the margins of the segments of hind body testaeeous; head a little
narrower than thorax ; antenne yellow, rather long and slender and
scarcely thickened towards apex, joints 1-3 elongate of about equal
length, third about half as long again as fourth, 4-10 each a little shorter
than the preceding, but none transverse, eleventh about half as long again
as tenth, thorax subquadrate narrower than elytra with the sides “nearly
straight, with an impression at base; elytra a little longer than thorax,
almost square, depressed ; hind body very thickly and finely punctured,
with sixth segment almost smooth; legs yellow. L. 35-4 mm.

Male with a distinct tubercle on the middle of sixth segment of hind
body, hind margin of seventh furnished with six small, but distinct teeth, of
which the inner four are placed rather close together.

Marshy places, rare; Hammersmith Marshes; Weybridge, Bromley, and other
localities near London ; it has also been recorded from Glanvilles Wotton, Dorset, and
by Mr. Sauuders from Worthing.

The v. lomzicollis is much smaller and narrower; the antenne are said
to have the fourth to the tenth joints less elongate, but the difference is

Homalota | STAPHYLINID.E. 69

hardly, if at all apparent, in Dr. Sharp’s typical specimens ; the colour is
often almost entirely testaceous, but this too is sometimes the case with
the type form. It is the H. longicollis of Mualsant and Rey, who con-
sider it a separate species. L. 3 mm.

Very rare; found in Claygate Lane, Esher, and one or two other localities in the
London district. Tonbridge (Horner).

H. insecta, Thoms. (Disupora insecta, Muls. et Rey, Aloconota
insecta, Thoms.). Fuseous or fusco-piceous with the elytra lighter,
finely punctured and pubescent ; head a little narrower than thorax with
a very distinct longitudinal impression on vertex; antenne pitchy
testaceous with the base paler, rather stout, and evidently, though not
strongly thickened towards apex, joints 1-3 elongate of about equal length,
4-9 each of about equal length, but each thicker than the preceding, so
that the ninth appears shorter than fourth, tenth very slightly transverse,
eleventh oblong ovate about twice as long as tenth; thorax subquadrate
with sides rounded in front and slightly narrowed from middle to base,
with a distinct central channel (in mature specimens) ; elytra a little
longer than thorax, narrower at base than apex; hind body with segments
2-5 evenly and finely punctured, sixth segment shining and smooth,
extremity of seventh yellowish ; legs yellow. L. 4 mm.

Male with a distinct tubercle in middle of sixth segment, and with the
apex of seventh furnished with four small indistinct teeth, sometimes
obsolete.

At roots of grass in marshy places ; also on banks of rivers and lochs ; local and, as
a rule, uncommon; Putney (banks of Thames); Tonbridge; Bewdley ; Matlock ;
Hightown, Liverpool; Manchester; Sawley ; bunks of the Irthing, Cumberland ;
Northumberland district ; Caernarvon; Scotland, local, Tay, Dee, Solway.

This species is closely allied to H. pavens, but isa little larger with the
head and thorax more shining and more sparingly punctured, the latter
being more strongly channelled; the antenne also are not so much
thickened towards apex and the jointsarelongerthan in H/.pavens, and the
furrow also on the vertex of head is much more distinct.

H. pavens, Er. (sulvifrons, Steph., Disopora pavens, Muls. et Rey,
Aloconota lissonura, Thoms.). Elongate and rather linear, finely and
thickly punctured and pubescent, rather shining, pitchy black with the
elytra brownish testaceous; head a little narrower than thorax with an
obsolete fovea in front; antenne pitchy testaceous with base pale,
rather long and stout, joints 1-3 of about equal length, 4-5 oblong, 7-10
slightly transverse; thorax subquadrate with sides slightly rounded in
front and narrowed from middle towards base with a more or less obsolete
central channel ; elytra scarcely longer than thorax, not so long as broad,
with punctuation not quite so close as on thorax, hind body with
segments 2—5 thickly and finely punctured, sixth almost impunctate ; legs
yellow. L. 33-4 mm.

70 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Homalota.

Male with a long raised tubercle on sixth segment, hind margin of
seventh furnished with four indistinet teeth.

Marshy places, especially on river banks; also in woods; it occurs under stones,
dead leaves, and vegetable refuse; it is never common, but the male is much rarer
than the female. Mickleham, Waltou-ou-Thames, Shirley near Croydon ; Tonbridge ;
Brighton ; Isle of Wight ; North Devon ; Nettlecomb, Somerset ; Sunbury ; Burford ;
Smallheath, near Birmingham (under bones); Matlock (moss in waterfall) ;
Searborough; Stretford, near Manchester; Whalley, Lancashire ; Northumberland
district. Scotland, scarce, Forth, Tay, and Solway districts (Nithsdale, Edinburgh,
Rannoch, &c.).

H. Bichofi, Scriba (agyptiaca, Mots.). A delicate and fragile
species, somewhat depressed, and shining, pitchy, with the elytra paler ;
head large, a little narrower than thorax, shining, narrowed in front, to-
gether with thorax very finely punctured ; antenne pitchy testaceous with
base lighter, long and slender, slightly thickened towards apex, joints 1-3
elongate, third not so long as second, fifth longer than tourth, 5-10 not
differing much in length, eleventh oval, half as long again as tenth; thorax
subquadrate, with sides a little narrowed towards base with a short
channel or impression in front of scutcllum; elytxa scarcely as long as
broad, hardly so finely punctured as thorax; hind body slightly
narrowed towards apex, with segments 2—4 finely and rathersparingly pune-
tured, fifth not so thickly punctured, s sixth smooth ; legs yellow. L.3mm.

Male with a pointed tubercle on sixth segment, posterior margin of
seventh furnished with four teeth, the two in middle close together and
distinct, the two outside more or less obsolete.

Very rare; Walton-on-Thames (Champion); Tonbrilge (Horner) ; Scotland, Tay
and Solway— Rannoch (Sharp and Crotch)—flood refuse, banks of Nith (Sharp).

This species very closely resembles the succeeding, but is distinguished
by being rather larger and more shining, with a larger head, which is
more produced in front; the antenne too are stouter, and the elytra
shorter and paler.

H. cambrica, Woll. (velox, Kr., Disopora velox, Muls. et Rey).
Rather depressed, not very shining, very finely and thickly pubescent ;
head subquadrate, a little narrower than the thorax, finely punctured,
black or fuscous black, with elytra pitchy brown or chestnut-brown ;
antenne long and slender, fuscous with light base, joints 1-3 rather

elongate, 4-7 slightly oblong, 8-10 nearly equal about as long as broad,
elev erik ol iene about half as long again as tenth ; thorax subquadrate,
scarcely narrowed behind, a little narrower than ely tra, very thickly and
finely punctured ; elytra half as long again as porns very finely
punctured ; hind body rather more shining, with segments 2-5 not ver

thickly punctured, sixth nearly impunctate ; legs long and slender,
yellow. L. 22’mm.

Male with a large raised tubercle on the middle of sixth segment,
apex of seventh segment with four teeth, the two outer ones very
obsolete.

Homalota.] STAPHYLINIDX. ct

Very local; apparently not found in the south of England; Bewdley Forest;
Wales; Hartlepool ; Northumberland district. Scotland, common among shingle on
banks of rivers, Solway, Forth, Tay, and Moray districts. Ireland. Bray, co. Wicklow,
(Champion).

H. planifrons, Wat. Somewhat depressed and shining, thickly
pubescent, black, with the elytra and sometimes thorax and head more
or less fuscous brown ; head large nearly as broad as thorax, sub-
triangular, narrowed in front with a distinct channel on the upper side,
rather sparingly punctured ; antenne rather stout with joints 1-3 of
about equal length, fourth shorter than fifth, 5-10 nearly equal, eleventh
ovate half as long again as tenth ; thorax snbquadrate, rather thickly
and finely punctured, with a central Jongitudinal depression; elytra
rather longer than thorax finely and somewhat sparingly punctured ;
hind body with segments 2—4 finely but not thickly punctured, fifth
more sparingly punctured, sixth smooth ; legs testaceous. L. 3 mm.

Male with a distinct tubercle on middle of sixth segment, posterior
margin of seventh with four teeth, the inner two placed close together
in middle,

Very rare ; sandpits, &c. ; Forest Hill, London (Champion) ; Shirley, near Croydon
(Rye) ; Charlton pit, Kent ; Hayling Island (KE. Saunders) ; Watermouth, North
Devon (Power).

The shape of the head will distinguish this species from all its allies
except H. Hichofi, from which it may at once be separated by its more
robust form, thicker antenn, and less dense punctuation,

H. gregaria, Er. (Disopora gregaria, Muls. et Rey, Aloconola
immunita, Thoms., Glossola gregaria, Fowler). Black or pitch-black,
not very shining, with the elyira pitchy brown; head narrower than
thorax very dull, extremely finely punctured ; antenne obscurely
ferruginous or pitchy, rather stout compared with the preceding species,
joints 2-3 rather long, equal, from 4-10 each a little shorter than the
preceding, eleventh about twice as long as tenth ; thorax subquadrate,
not narrowed behind, very finely and closely punctured, with a more or
less distinct impression at base ; elytra broader and a little longer than
thorax, densely and finely punctured ; hind body with segments 2-5
finely and evenly punctured, sixth segment almost smooth ; legs yellow,
femora pitchy ; posterior tarsi long and slender with first joint elongate
nearly, if not quite, as long as the next two together. L. 22-3 mm.

Male with no tubercle on sixth segment of hind body, with the
upper and under plates of seventh segment narrower than in female.

Very common throughout the country; found in flood refuse, haystack refuse,
decaying sea-weed, moss, at roots of grass, &e.

As mentioned above, the elongate first joint of posterior tarsi and the
entire ligula appear to separate this species from the other Homalote ;
if retained with them its present position seems the best for it, but it

72 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Homalota.

cannot be classed with Group 1, as the male has no tubercle on the sixth
abdominal segment.

Group 2.

The species belonging to this group are distinguished from the
preceding by their smaller size, by having the sixth segment of the hind
body punctured as well as the others, and to a certain extent by the fact
that their antenne are not at all thickened towards apex.

H. eximia, Sharp (Thinwcia merita, Muls. et Rey). Linear and
depressed, very finely and thickly pubescent, fuscous or pitchy brown,
dull, very finely and densely punctured ; antennz, mouth, legs, and apex
of hind body clear testaceous ; head scarcely narrower than thorax ;
antenne slender and elongate, each joint very distinctly longer than
broad, third joint a little shorter than second, fifth plainly longer than
fourth, 5-11 differing only slightly in lenuth and breadth; thorax a
little narrower than elytra, scarcely as long as broad, very slightly
narrowed behind, with a very distinct central channel, elytra considerably
longer than thorax ; hind body not so densely punctured as thorax and
elytra ; legs testaceous, tarsi rather short and stout. L. 2 mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body very
much produced, very broad, and truncate, and plainly visible from
above.

Very rare; Snowdon (Brewer) ; Tonbridge (Horner), six specimens 1884; Bewdley
Forest, Worcestershire (Blatch), 1886 ; Scotland, Solway, Tweed, and Forth districts
(Peebles, banks of Nith, and of Almond near Edinburgh).

EH. fragilis, Kr. (Zhinecia fragilis, Muls. et Rey, Hydrosmecta
fragilis, Thoms.). Rather closely allied to the preceding, but darker
in colour, with the antenne much shorter and the joints shorter in
proportion ; the eleventh joint instead of being equal to the tenth is half
as long again; the head is somewhat narrower bebind the eyes, and the
thorax is not so distinctly channelled ; in the male the under plate of the
seventh segment of hind body is rounded and not truncate, and in the
female it is gently emarginate in the middle ; sometimes the thorax has
a broad longitudinal depression in middle instead of achannel. L. 2 mm.

Apparently not found except in Scotland, but stated by Dr. Sharp to be “ very
abundant on the banks of rivers and streams everywhere’’ in that country. Ireland,
Bray., Co. Wicklow (Champion).

H. longula, Heer. (thinobioides, Kr.?, Thinwcia thinobioides, Muls.
et Rey, = 7. callida, Muls. et Rey, Hydrosmecta longula, Thoms.),.
Very like H. fragilis, but differs by having the abdomen much more
densely and finely punctured, and by its darker colour; head a little
narrower than thorax, almost square, thickly and very finely punctured ;
antenne pitchy with all the joints longer than broad, second joint longer
than third, third longer than tourth, 5-10 nearly equal, eleventh slightly
longer than tenth ; in H. fragilis joints two and three are about equal,
and the eleventh is much more ¢v idently longer than tenth ; thorax

Homualota. | STAPHYLINIDX. 73

rather longer than in H. fragilis, subquadrate ; elytra considerably longer
than thorax; whole swface of hind body very densely and finely
punctured, L. 2 mm.

Sexual differences very slight and hardly appreciable.

Rare; on the banks of rivers, &e., in shingle and damp sand; formerly taken by
Mr. Wollaston at Slapton Ley, Devonshire; has also occurred at Tonbridge and in
the New Forest. Scotland rare, Tweed and Solway districts (banks of a tributary of
the Nith near Dumfries, and of the river Bowmont at Yetholm, Kelso).

H. delicatula, Sharp (7hinecia simillima, Muls. et Rey). Very
small, linear and depressed, very finely and densely pubescent, pitchy-
black or fuscous with the elytra brownish ; head subquadrate, scarcely
narrower than thorax ; antenne long and slender, testaceous or slightly
pitchy, the length of each joint distinctly greater than the breadth,
second joint longer than third, third than fourth, 5-10 nearly equal,
eleventh plainly “longer than tenth ; thorax about as lone as broad,
densely and obsoletely punctured, slightly narrowed behind, in some
specimens broadly channelled, in others without channel ; elytra plainly
longer than thorax, very thickly and finely punctured ; hind body with
all the segments above “equally thickly and very finely punctured ; legs

pale testaceous. LL. 1} mm.

Sexual differences very slight, hardly appreciable.

On the banks of rivers; very rare, and only found in Scotland; banks of Nith,
Solway district, at Thornhill (Sharp) ; Rannoch (Crotch).

From H. longula, which it considerably resembles, this species may be
distinguished by its much smaller size and paler colour.

H. subtilissima, Kr. (Tiinecia subtilissima, Muls. et Rey). A
_very small species fuscous or pitchy-brown with the elytra and thorax
lighter, and the mouth, antenne, legs, and apex of abdomen testaceous ;
head large, subquadrate, about as wide as thorax ; antenne rather stout
but not thickened, third joint plainly shorter than second about equal to
fourth, joints 4-10 about as broad as long nearly equal, eleventh plainly
longer than tenth ; thorax hardly as long as broad, shghtly contracted
behind, with a central channel (which is sometimes obsolete), very
finely punctured; elytra lighter in colour than head and thorax, con-
siderably longer than latter, more thickly and finely punctured than
either; hind body with the segments finely and rather closely punctured,
the terminal ones with the punctuation somewhat less close than the
others. L. 11 mm.

Male with the seventh segment more produced than female, and its
hind margin rather more rounded,

Only found hitherto in Scotland, where it appears to be common on the banks of
rivers; Tweed, Solway, Forth, and Moray districts.

This species has much the appearance of Thinobius linearis, with
which it is found in company ; from the preceding species it may easily
be distinguished by its shorter and stouter antenne, of which the joints

74 STAPHYLINIDS. [ Homalota.

are shorter and thicker in proportion, by the shape of the thorax, and
lighter colour.
Group 3.

The species belonging to this group are larger than the preceding, and
have the antenne slightly thickenel towards apex; as Dr. Sharp
observes, they have much the habits of some of the Tachyuse ; in fact
two of the species that formerly belonged to the group, viz. H. labilis
and H. cwrulea, are now separated off under the genus Gnypeta, which is
placed next before Tachyusa,

H. littorea, Sharp (Metaxya meridionalis, Muls. et Rey, Atheta
cyrtonota, Thomson). Black, with the elytra brownish and apex of
hind body yellowish ; head distinctly narrower than thorax, obsoletely
and not very closely punctured; antenne pitchy with basal joint
lighter, rather stout, a little thickened towards apex, third joint a little
shorter than second, fourth than third, 4-10 becoming very gradually
and almost imperceptibly shorter, eleventh ovate nearly twice as long as
tenth ; thorax slightly transverse, narrower than elytra, very thickly and
finely punctured and pubescent; elytra longer and broader than thorax,
rather broader than long, with fine punctuation and delicate pubescence ;
hind body black and shining with all the segments, but especially the
apical ones, thickly and closely punctured ; legs dirty yelow. L. 25 mm.

Male with the under plate of the seventh segment considerably
produced, narrower than in female.

Local; a southern species; always found on the coast under tidal refuse, in muddy
places, &e. Sheerness; Deal ; Worthing; Littlehampton; Brighton; Lymington ;
Portsmouth, &e.

H. imbecilla, Wat. (Metaxya marina, Muls. et Rey). <A very
distinct species by reason of its colouring, and the development of the
posterior segments of the hind body; head nearly black, rounded,
narrower than thorax ; antenne long, testaceous, the length of each joint
greater than its breadth, joints 1-3 elongate, three and five rather
longer than four, 5-10 nearly equal, eleventh as long as the two preceding
together ; thorax pitchy, slightly transverse, a little narrowed behind,
finely and rather thickly punctured, with an obsolete impression at base ;
elytra chestnut-brown, rather longer than thorax, densely and not very
finely punctured; hind body somewhat coarsely pubescent, all the
segments finely and thickly punctured, the sixth much longer and some-
what more sparingly punctured than the rest, pitch-black with seventh
and apex of sixth segments reddish yellow ; legs yellow. L. 2% mm.

Male with the under plate of seventh segment of hind body considera-
bly produced and its hind margin gently rounded ; in the female it is
broadly and distinctly emargiate.

Local but not uncommon in the south, in decaying sea-weed on or near the coast.

Chatham, Sheerness, Whitstable, Rochester ; Southsea, Hythe, Shoreham, Lymington,
Southwold, Littlehampton, Brighton, Falmouth; Hartlepool (W. G. Blatch).

Homalota. STAPHYLINID A. 75

H. luteipes, Er. Ce is luteipes, Thoms.). This species resembles
Hf. littorea, but is rather larger and has the thorax longer and narrower,
the antenne longer, and the hind body a little less coarsely punctured ;
the colour is black with the elytra castaneous or ferruginous; head
plainly narrower than thorax with a fovea on middle; anteune pitchy,
elongate, slightly thickened towards apex, joints 2-3 of equal length,
fourth much shorter than third, and plainly shorter than fifth, 5-10
nearly equal in length but becoming gradually broader, all, however,
longer than broad, eleventh half as long again as tenth ; ora: narrower
than elytra, subquadrate, not narrowed behind, closely and_ finely
punctured, with a small fovea before scutellum ; elytra rather longer
than thorax, together with all the segments of hind body closely and
finely punctured, the sixth not at all more sparingly than the preceding ; ;
legs yellow. L. 22 mm.

Male with the antenne slightly more slender than female, and the
fovea on head more distinct; seventh segment of hind body with apex
rounded in male, narrowly emarginate in femaie.

Banks of rivers and marshy places; occasionally by sweeping ; Sheerness, Croydon,

Mickleham, Wimbledon, Sanderstead, Dagenham ; Tonbridge ; Winchester ; Wicken
Fen; Burwell Fen ; Horning Fen; Thornton Reservoir, Leicestershire ; formerly in
Hammersmith Marshes.

The very dense punctuation of the hind body is the chief distinguish-
ing mark of this species.

H. fallax, Kr. (Dilacra fullar, Muls. et Rey). A very peculiar
species that in punctuation and pubescence resembles an Oxypoda rather
than a Homalota; colour brownish black, with the elytra ferruginous,
punctuation and pubescence extremely close and fine, so that the whole
upper surface appears dull; head broad, almost as broad as thorax ;
antenne rather long, scarcely thickened towards apex, fusco-testaceous,
third jot a little shorter than second, 4-10 nearly equal in length,
but gradually‘broader, eleventh nearly twice as long as tenth ; thorax
subquadrate, nearly as broad as elytra, with a shallow impression in the
middle in front of base from which proceeds a more or less obsolete
channel ; elytra only slightly longer than thorax, rather broader than
long, ferruginous brown with base darker ; abdomen very dull, apex
yellowish ; legs reddish testaceous with the first joint of posterior tarsi
nearly twice as long as second. L. 23-22 mm.

Male with the under plate of seventh segment much narrower and
more produced than in female.

Under dead leaves, flood refuse, &c., in marshy places; rare; formerly not un-

common in Hammersmith Marshes and Notting Hill; Croydon; Mickleham (banks
of Mole); Burford Bridge; Dagenham, Essex ; also recorded from Devonshire.

It is very probable that this species will form the type of a distinct
genus when the group has been further studied.

76 » STAPHYLINIDE. { Homalota.

Group 4.

This group is distinguished by the absence of a tubercle on the sixth
segment of hind body, coupled with the fact that the sixth segment is
almost impunctate : the species have a strong resemblance inter se, and
are chiefly found in damp places under moss, leaves, and refuse.

H. luridipennis, Mann. (clongatula, var., Er., Pelurga luridipennis,
Mus. et Rey, At/eta producta, Thoms., wiginosa, Thoms.). Broad, dull,
and somewhat depressed, fuscous-black, with the elytra and apex of
hind body testaceous, and the hind margins of the segments of the
latter more or less distinetly reddish or reddish-testaceous ; head, thorax,
and elytra closely and finely punctured ; head broad, vertex depressed in
male ; antenne rather long and stout, a little thickened towards apex,
fuscous with base lighter, joints 2-3 about equa), joints 4-10 gradually
very slightly shorter, the latter somewhat transverse, eleventh halt as long
again as tenth ; thorax plainly transverse, broad, scarcely narrowed
behind, with an ‘impres ion at base ; elytra a little broader and longer
than thorax, rather broader than long ; hind body with segments 2—4
rather thickly and finely punctured, fifth sparingly punctured, sixth
almost impunetate ; legs yellow. L.4 mm.

Male with the upper plate of the seventh segmentof hind body emarginate
in middle, under plate much produced and turned upwards, female with
the upper plate obsoletely emarginate at apex, under plate not produced.

Damp places, on the banks of rivers, &e. ; generally distributed and not uncommon
throughout England and Wales; common in Scotland.

The more robust form, very transverse thorax, and peculiar male
characters will at once distinguish this species from the three or four
following species, to which it bears considerable resemblance.

H. Gyllenhali, Thoms. (londinensis, Sharp, Metarya terminalis,
Muls. et Rey, Homalota elongatula, var, Er., Atheta Gyllenhali,
Thoms.). Variable in colour, as a rule coloured as the preceding species,
but occasionally almost entirely rufo-testaceous ; head a little less
closely punctured than in the preceding species, antenne much the
same, except that the eleventh joint is shorter; thorax as long as broad
very obsoletely channelled, closely and finely punctured, more often reddish
brown than black; elytra longer and slightly broader than thorax, a
little longer than broad, very finely punctured; hind body with the apex
and the hind margins of segments more or less distinctly reddish-yellow,
segments 2-4 closely and finely punctured, fifth more sparingly, sixth
nearly impunetate; legs testaceous. L. 4 mm.

Male with the under plate of the seventh segment produced and _nar-
rowed towards apex, but scarcely bent upwards.

Marshy places; not uncommon in the neighbourhood of London; Tonbridge ;
Smallleath, near Birmingham (under bones); Needwood Forest, rear Burton-on-Trent ;

Homalota. | STAPHYLINIDE. ited

banks of Team near Ravensworth, Northumberland district ; Scotland, rare, Lowlands ;
Tay, Dee, Solway, and Moray districts.

This species differs from /7. elongatula by its almost invariably larger
size, brighter colour, rather more transverse penultimate joints of
antenne, and the male characters,

H. hygrotopora, Kr. (Atheta hygrobia, Thoms. (teste Muls. et Rey.),
opacula, Thoms.). Very like H. elongatula, but larger and broader ; black
or pitchy black, with the elytra and extreme apex of hind body more or
less obscurely pitchy brown; head rather broad, narrower than thorax;
antenne rather slender, pitchy black somewhat paler at base, joints 2-3
rather long, 4-10 differing very slightly in length, eleventh about half as
long again as tenth; thorax narrower than elytra, slightly transverse,
scarcely narrowed behind, with an indistinct impression in front of
scutellum; elytra a little longer than thorax, finely punctured; hind
body black, shining, segments 2-4 rather finely and thickly punctured,
fifth segment more sparingly punctured, sixth nearly impunctate; legs
testaceous. L. 33-4 mm.

Male with the under plate of the seventh segment much produced,
narrowed towards apex, apex not pointed,

Marshy places, on banks of rivers, &c.; local ; Mickleham ; Tonbridge ; Liverpool ;
Manchester; Smallheath and Knowle, near Birmingham; Bewdley; Cannock Chase ;
Northumberland district. Scotland, common Lowlands, especially in the south.
Ireland, co. Wicklow (Champion).

From the preceding this species may be distinguished by its darker
colour and shorter elytra.

H. elongatula, Grav. (Metaxrya elongatula, Ev., Atheta elonyatula,
Thoms.). An elongate and rather narrow species that somewhat closely
resembles others of the group, but may as a rule be easily distinguished
by its shape and general appearance; colour black or pitchy-black with
the elytra fuscous or reddish brown, and the apex of the elytra yellowish ;
head narrower than thorax, rather rounded, finely and not very closely
punctured; antenne rather long, scarcely thickened towards apex, joints
2-3 rather long and slender, third rather shorter than second; 4—10 not
differing much in length, the latter about as longas broad, eleventh nearly
twice as long as tenth; thorax slightly narrower than elytra, about as
long as broad, scarcely narrowed behind; elytra plainly longer than
thorax, nearly square, together with thorax closely and finely punctured ;
hind body shining, segments 2—4 rather closely and finely punctured; fifth
more sparingly, sixth nearly impunctate; legs yelow. L. 3-33 mm. :

Male with the under plate of seventh segment narrow, and projecting
considerably beyond upper plate, female with upper plate slightly
emarginate.

Marshy places, under tidal refuse, in moss, &c.; very common all over the
kingdom,

This species varies in size and colour; in some specimens, moreover,

78 STAPHYLINIDZ. [ Homalota.

the thorax is smooth, in others impressed at base, in others with a broad
central channel; the head too is occasionally furnished with a channel or
impression; small specimens resemble 7. gregaria, but that species may
be at once distinguished by the more close and even punctuation of the
hind body and the elongate first joint of posterior tarsi; it comes
exceedingly close to the following species, with which it was included,
until they were separated by Scriba.

H. volans, Scriba (Metarya volans, Muls. et Rey, Atheta halophila,
Thoms., var.=melanocera, Thoms.). One of the most variable of all the
species, some of its varieties being so closely allied to elongatula that it
is doubtful if it is a separate species; the antenne, however, arc a little
shorter and more slender, with the joints rather more narrowed towards
base of each; it is as a rule smaller; the under plate of the seventh
seement of hind body in male is broader, and in the female the upper
plate is not at all emarginate. L. 12-1} mm. in the type form; some
varieties are smaller and some larger.

The type form has the antenne obscurely ferruginous, the thorax a
fourth broader than long, elytra a third longer than thorax; legs reddish
yellow.

Dr. Sharp enumerates the following varieties :—

a. Smaller than type, narrower and more purallel, with thorax longer
and rather more narrowed behind; antenne and legs dusky yellow. This
var. is rather rare, and appears to be confined to Scotland.

B. Rather larger and more robust than the type, with the antenne,
legs, and elytra more brightly coloured; this var. and the type are the
commonest forms, especially in the south.

y. Like £, but still brighter in colour with more transverse thorax ;
rare, but generally distributed.

6. Broader and more depressed than the type, black with the antennz
pitchy and slender; head small and thorax more transverse one-third
broader than long. Very local, damp places on the Scotch hills.

The sculpture of thorax, &c., also varies very much, so that many more
varieties might be formed; the extreme variation of this species seems to
show that some of the other very closely allied species may be simply
varieties one of another.

H. clavipes, Sharp. Black, rather shining, finely and closely
punctured, with the elytra pitchy black; head narrower than thorax some-
times smooth, sometimes with a small channel or fovea; antenne pitchy
testaceous with base paler, second joint a little longer than third, 4-10
nearly equal in length but gradually broader, eleventh nearly twice as
long as tenth; thorax nearly as broad as elytra, about as long as broad,
with an indistinct impression at base, from which proceeds a short channel,
often obsolete; elytra about as long as thorax, sometimes scarcely as long;
hind body with segments 2-4 finely and densely punctured, fifth and sixth
more sparingly, apex paler. Legs pitchy testaceous. L. 3; mm.

a

Homatota. | STAPHYLINID, aS)

Male with ventral plate of seventh segment narrower than in female,
and projecting considerably beyond upper plate.

A mountain species; Ben Lomond, Mamsoul, and other mountains and hills in
the Dee, Moray, Solway, and Clyde districts ; also found on Snowdon ; Northumber-
land district (one specimen only recorded from Henhole, J. Hardy); Ireland, co.
Down, moss on mountains.

Allied to H. elongatula, but rather larger, darker, and more shining,
and with shorter elytra.

H. tibialis, Heer. (nivalis, Kies., Geostiba tibialis, Muls. et Rey).
Resembles the preceding, but is much smaller; elongate, narrow,
deep black, shining, with elytra very obscurely pitchy; head a little
narrower than thorax, flattened in male, convex and with a small fovea in
female; antenne pitchy or pitchy black, basal joint slightly paler, a
little thickened towards the apex, joints 2-3 about equal in length, 4-5
about as long as broad, 5-10 slightly transverse about equal, eleventh stout
half as long again as tenth ; thorax about as broad as elytra, distinctly
broader than long, finely and not closely punctured, with a depression in
front of scutellum; elytra about as long as thorax, rather sparingly
punctured, with fine and scanty pubescence; hind body with segments
2-4 sparingly punctured, fifth still more so, sixth Ley impunctate; legs
pitchy, sometimes yellowish, tarsi rather stout. L. 23 mm.

Male with the under plate of seventh segment considerably produced
and narrowed towards apex, of female broad and slightly emarginate.

Found under the same circumstances as the preceding ; common in high districts

throughout Scotland; Snowdon ; Lake district; abundant on the summits of the
Cheviots ; Ireland, co. Down, moss on mountains (Champion ).

Group 5.

The species belonging to this group have the basal segments of the
hind body sparingly punctured, and the apical ones nearly smooth; H.
vestita ought perhaps to be separated from the rest, but is best left in
this connexion.

H. vestita, Grav. (Liogluta vestita, Muls. et Rey, Thinobena quis-
quiliarum, Thoms.). Black, rather shining, with the elytra brownish,
clothed with yellow pubescence, which is thick on thorax and elytra,
and sparing on hind body; head narrower than thorax, diffusely
punctured; antenne rather long and stout, usually dark ferruginous
with base lighter, very slightly thickened towards apex, joints 2-3 about
equal in length, 4-10 not differing much in length, but gradually
broader, so that the latter are somewhat transverse, eleventh about twice as
long as tenth ; thorax about as long as broad, somewhat narrowed behind,
finely and diffusely punctured, with a more or less distinct longitudinal
channel ; elytra longer than thorax, rather closely and coarsely punc-
tured; hind body black and shining with apex paler, very sparingly

80 STAPHYLINIDA. { Homalota.

punctured, sixth segment nearly impunctate ; legs testaceous, posterior
tarsi long and rather stout. L. 34 mm.

Male with the under plate of seventh segment projecting a little beyond
the upper and with apex rounded, female with the under plate not
projecting and emarginate in middle.

Very common under sea-weed and among shingle on the coasts and estuaries
throughout the country.

Easily distinguished by its very scanty punctuation.

H. nitidula, Kr. (Liogluta nitidula, Muls. et Rey, Atheta nitidula,
Thoms.). Shining black with the elytra and sometimes the thorax
pitch-brown ; head narrower than thorax, diffusely punctured ; antenne
fuscous, paler at base, slightly thickened towards apex, joints 2-3
elongate, 4—5 slightly oblong,6—10 feebly transverse, eleventh twice as long
as tenth; thorax only slightly narrower than elytra, somewhat transverse,
finely and sparingly punctured, with an impression in front of scutellum,
but not channelled ; elytra plainly longer than thorax, but more closely
punctured ; hind body shining black, basal segments distinctly but
diffusely punctured; apical segments almost impunctate; legs testaceous,
sometimes more or less pitchy. L. 33-4 mm.

Male with seventh segment sparingly granulate, apical margin truncate
and obsoletely crenulate.

South of England, rare ; occasionally in the nests of Formica fuliginosa ; also in
dead birds, &e.; Scotland, Braemar, Arran, Raunoch, &e. Ireland, co. Down
(Champion). ;

H. alpestris, Heer. (v. nitidiusculu, Sharp). Very closely allied to
the preceding, but rather lighter in colour, not quite so shining, and
narrower, with antennz rather thinner, thorax longer and narrower,
not transverse, and elytra very slightly if at all longer than thorax;
male characters as in the preceding species. L. 381-3} mm,

A mountain species; Scotland, local, Solway, Dee, and Moray districts ; Ireland, on
Slieve Donard.

EH. oblongiuscula, Sharp. Black, shining with the elytra fuscous
or ferruginous; head much smaller than thorax, diffusely punctured ;
antenne black, stout, and distinctly thickened towards apex, joints 2-3
of about equal length, 4-10 differing very slightly in length, the first
oblong, the last somewhat transverse, eleventh twice as long as tenth ;
thorax scarcely narrower than elytra, rather transverse, finely and
diffusely punctured, not channelled; elytra slightly longer than thorax,
thickly and finely punctured; hind body black and shining sparingly
punctured, apical segments almost impunctate; legs testaceous, some-
times slightly infuseate. 3— 3+ mm,

Male with third joint ofantenne stouter than in female, seventh segment
of hind body with hind margin obsoletely crenulate, and ventral plate
more produced.

Homalota. | STAPHYLINIDE, 81

In moss, dead leaves, &c. ; rare; Norwood, Shirley, Merstham, and Sanderstead
(Surrey) ; Mickleham (in company with F. fuliginosa, Power); Drinkwater Park,
Manchester ; Smallheath and Knowle near Birmingham (bones, &e.) ; banks of Team,
Northumberland district ; Scotland, rare, Lowlands and Highlands, Solway, ‘Tay,
and Clyde districts. Ireland, co. Down (Champion).

This species is allied to H. vicina, but has no tubercle on the second
segment of hind body ; it is also smaller, and has rather stouter antenne
and shorter elytra, and the femora are never darker than the tibia as in
that species: from HH. nitidula it may be known by its smaller size,
comparatively stouter antenne, and the male characters,

H. silvicola, Fuss (Liogluta hypnorum, Thoms. (?)). Shining
black with the elytra reddish-castaneous ; head comparatively small, very
sparingly punctured ; antenne very peculiar to the species, long and
stout, fuscous with lighter base, first joint stout, 2-3 rather long, fourth
variable in different specimens, slightly oblong or transverse, 5—9 usually
more or less transverse, tenth plainly transverse, eleventh stout and very
long, as long as the three preceding together ; thorax rather narrower
than elytra, somewhat variable in length, finely and rather diffusely
punctured ; elytra rather longer than thorax, densely and rather strongly
punctured ; hind body black and shining, with segments 2—+ distinctly
but diffusely punctured, fifth sparingly punctured, sixth almost im-
punctate ; legs yellow. L. 35-47 mm.

Male with the under plate of seventh segment narrower and more
produced than in female.

Sandy places, under dead leaves, moss, &c.; rare; Highgate, Mickleham, Bexley,
Darenth Wood, Shirley, Caterham, Leith Hill, Esher, Addington; Tonbridge ;
Loughton; Glanvilles Wotton; Coleshill, near Birmingham; Cannock Chase ;
Bewdley ; Buddon Wood, Leicester; Hartlepool. Scotland, rare, Solway and Moray
districts,

The terminal joint of antenne will distinguish this from all other
allied species.

EH. vicina; Steph. (Liogluta wmbonata, Muls. et Rey, fucicola,
Thoms.). Black, shining, with the elytra more or less testaceous with
dark edges; head narrower than thorax, diffusely punctured ; antenne
rather stout, black, joints 2-3 about equal in length, rather elongate, fourth
oblong, 5-10 not differing much in length, the latter somewhat transverse,
eleventh about twice as long as tenth ; thorax a little narrower than elytra,
not narrowed behind, sparingly punctured, with an impression in middle
of base ; elytra plainly longer than thorax, finely and rather closely
punctured; hind body black and shining very sparingly punctured,
apical segments almost impunctate, second segment with a tubercle, very
plain in male, indistinct in female; legs testacecus, femora always
darker than tibie. L. 3} mm.

Male with tubercle on second segment strong (a character that at once
distinguishes the species) and the seventh segment with dorsal plate

VoL. Il G

82 STAPHYLINIDE, [Llomalota.

sprinkled with small tubercles, the hind margin projecting a little in
middle.

In haystack refuse, dung-he ips, decaying sea-weed, &c. ; very abundant through-
out the country.

H. crassicornis, Sharp (Gyll.?) (Ziogluta crassicornis, Thoms.
(sub-gen. Hypnota, Muls. et Rey = granigera, Kies., teste Muls. et Rey).
Black or pitchy-black, shining, with the elytra reddish-brown or
testaceous-brown, thorax sometimes brownish, hind body with posterior
edges of segments and apex pale; head narrower than thorax, sparingly
punctured ; antennz fuscous or fuscous testaceous with base lighter,
rather long, slightly thickened towards apex, third joint a little longer
than second, fourth oblong, 5-10 gradually shorter and thicker, eleventh as
long as the two preceding, subacuminate ; thorax rather narrower than
elytra, rather broader than long, shining, diffusely and plainly punctured;
elytra rather longer than thorax, alutaceous ; hind body pitchy black or
black, shining, very sparingly punctured, apical segments almost im-
punctate ; legs yellow. L. 33-4 mm.

Male with a broad impression on dise of thorax formed by two
longitudinal impressions nearly united ; seventh segment of hind body
thickly sprinkled with distinct granulations, hind margin of upper plate
thickened and a little produced.

Very rare; Scotland, Highlands, Dee and Moray districts; also recorded from
Manchester and Chat Moss.

The species may very easily be confounded with H. pagana, but is
smaller, and narrower in front, and the male characters are different, but
apparently very slightly so ; according to Mulsant and Rey the antenne
are darker and more sensibly thickened towards apex, the punctuation of
the head is stronger, and that of thorax less close, and the elytra appear
rather shorter ; the posterior tarsi are a little shorter with the four first
joints less elongate.

HE. pagana, Er. (Liogluta pagana, Thoms., sub-gen. Hypnota, Muls.
et Rey. . arvicola, Thoms). Very like the preceding, from which it
differs in the above particulars; head rather broad but narrower than
thorax; antenne much as in H. crasstcornis, last joint slightly less
acuminate ; elytra very closely and finely sculptured, alutaceous ; ab-
domen shining, fourth, fifth, and sixth segments darker than base
and apex, very sparingly punctured, apical segments impunetate;
second, third, and fourth joints of antennee with numerous fine site
hairs on inside; legs yellow. L. 4-45 mm.

Male with seventh segment distinctly granulated, and third joie of
antenne stouter than in female.

In moss, at roots of willows, under vegetable refuse, bones, &e.; local and not
common ; Wimbledon, Sanderstead, Birdbrook, Purley Downs, Darenth, Mickleham,
Putney, Reigate; Tonbridge; Birmingham district ; Manchester; Northumberland

district, Ouseburn Dene, &e.; Cheviot Hills; Scotland, rare, Tweed, Forth, and
Moray districts.

Homalota. | STAPHYLINIDE. 83

H. graminicola, Gyll. (Liogluta (Megista) graminicola, Muls. et
Rey, Atheta graminicola, Thoms.). A very distinct species by reason of
its shining black colour and the coarse and distinct sculpture of elytra;
head much narrower than thorax, diffusely punctured; antenne rather
long and slender, scarcely thickened towards apex, third joint longer
than second, fourth longer than fifth, 5-10 nearly equal, each longer
than broad, eleventh about twice as long as tenth; thorax distinctly
transverse, moderately closely punctured; somewhat asperate; elytra
plainly longer than thorax, rather depressed, coarsely sculptured with
small granulations; hind body sparingly punctured, fifth and sixth
segments nearly impunctate; legs testaceous, or pitchy-yellow, femora
darker than tibia. L. 31-32 mm.

Male with the head impressed, elytra more coarsely granulate and
dull than in female, sixth and seventh segments covered with distinct
granulations, the latter with apex truncate and finally crenulate, under
plate considerably produced and narrowed towards apex.

Damp places, especially near river banks, flood refuse, &c. ; very common throughout
the kingdom.

A variety occasionally occurs with reddish elytra.

Section IT.

Hind body parallel; thorax quadrate, or subquadrate; six penultimate
joints of the antenne transverse, but not very strongly so,

This section may be divided into the following groups:—

6. Head strongly punctured (p. 83).

7. Head finely punctured, or nearly impunctate (p. 84).

Group 6.

This group contains three closely allied species, which are found
exclusively on the coast, and are very distinct from the other members of
the genus. Thomson and Mulsant and Rey place them in a separate
genus Hulobrectha.

H. halobrectha, Sharp (africilla, Ev. (1), flavipes, Thoms., maritima,
Wat.). Fuscous black, clothed with yellowish pubescence, with elytra,
and sometimes thorax and head pitchy, and apex of hind body yellow;
head scarcely narrower than thorax, coarsely and distinctly punctured;
antenne reddish yellow, slightly darker towards apex, joints 2-3 long,
4-10 each a little shorter and broader than the preceding, 8-10 trans
verse; thorax considerably narrower than elytra, subquadrate, or very
slightly broader than long, rather closely punctured; elytra a little
longer or hardly as long as thorax, closely but shallowly punctured; hind
body black and shining, segments 2-4 sparingly punctured, 5-6 almost
impunctate; legs yellowish. L. Zh ie mm.

(eh

84 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Homalota.

Male with the apex of the dorsal plate of seventh segment a little
flattened on each side and obtusely pointed in middle.

A common species under sea-weed on the coasts of England and Scotland, and
probably also of Ireland.

The name H. atricilla, Er., is apparently now adopted for this species
on the Continent, but Dr. Sharp’s reasons-for not adopting it (as given
le. p. 140) do not appear to have been refuted, Erichson’s description not
agreeing with our types.

EE. algae, Hardy (puncticeps, Thoms., Halobrectha halensis, Muls. et
Rey). Very like the preceding, with which it has been included by
some writers, but easily distinguished by its dark colour, more depressed
form, longer elytra, and rather finer but more distinct punctuation; it
also bears a resemblance to H. plumbea, with which it is found in
company, but is readily separated by the punctuation of the head and
general shape. L. 22-3 mm.

Male with the apex of the dorsal plate of seventh segment truncate,
the truncate part narrow and with an indistinct projection in middle.

Under sea-weed on the coast ; not uncommon in the south, but less common towards
the north, Scotland, local, Forth and Clyde districts.

H. princeps, Sharp. A rather large species, closely resembling
H. alge, and coloured like that species as a rule, but with the
elytra sometimes fuscous-brown; it is allied by the male characters to
H. alge, and also by having the elytra comparatively longer than in
H. halobrectha, and it is allied to the latter species by its punctuation,
which is rather coarser than in the former species; the penultimate joints
of the antenne in HH. princeps are not so broad in proportion to their
leneth as in either of the other two. L. 4-45 mm.

Very rare; Ventnor, Isle of Wight; ‘although I have worked this locality for
several years, | have only found three specimens; Southsea; Hayling Island (E.
Saunders), one specimen,

The large size will at once distinguish this insect: I have a specimen
that measures nearly 5 mm., but the abdominal segments are a little
exserted.

Grovr 7.

This group is distinguished by having the head finely punctured or
nearly impunctate; it is, as Dr. Sharp remarks, a very artificial one, and
might well be divided into five or six others; this, however, would
complicate matters without affording a corresponding advantage; it would
perhaps be better to separate off the peculiar H. cesula with its very
short elytra, and the dull black linear and parallel species H. nigella.
H. subglabra bears a somewhat close resemblance to H. palustris, near
which perhaps it might be more correctly placed.

H. occulta, Er. (assimilis, Steph., Bessobia occulta, Thoms.).
Rather narrow, black, or pitchy black with the elytra fuscous ; head

Homalota.] STAPHYLINID ¥. 85

with a depression in front, rather obsoletely punctured ; antenne entirely
pitchy black, rather stout but scarcely thickened towards apex, first
joint stout and rather long, 2-3 of about equal length, 4-10 of about
equal length but gradually thicker so that 7-10 are transverse, eleventh
about half as long again as tenth; thorax rather transverse, slightly
narrowed behind, not channelled, finely and not very thickly sculptured ;
elytra plainly longer than thorax, finely and thickly punctured or even
alutaceous ; hind body black and shining, sparingly punctured, segments
5-6 almost impunctate ; legs pitchy testaceous. L. 3-34 mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment with sides very distinctly
raised, apical margin also raised, apex broadly, but very indistinctly,
emarginate: in this sex also the third joint of antennz is much stouter
and the head more plainly impressed,

Rare ; in decaying fungi, moss, dung-heaps, &e.; Cowley (in cowhouse), Highgate,
Gravesend, Forest Hill, Shirley, Walworth, Putney ; Manchester (also a var, with

dark legs); Lancashire; English Lake district; Smallheath and Knowle, near
Birmingham (under bones) ; Northumberland district (one female, Bold).

H. fungivora, Thoms. (Bessobia (Trichtota) gibbera), Muls. et Rey).
Very closely allied to the preceding; in fact in his last catalogue Dr.
Sharp mentions it as merely a variety: it differs in being smaller, and
in having joints 4-6 of the antennz narrower in proportion, so that the
antennz appear more thickened ; the head is broader and more broadly
and plainly impressed, and the thorax is more strongly impressed at
base ; moreover the posterior margin of the seventh segment of the
hind body in male is nearly straight instead of broadly emarginate, and
often shows traces of one or two small teeth in middle. L. 25-3 mm.

In decaying fungi, especially those growing on stumps of trees in antumn, under
moss, in haystack refuse, dung-heaps, &e.; occasionally on the wing and by sweeping ;
not uncommon, but local. London district generally ; Midlands, widely distributed ;
Northumberland district ; Scotland, rather common in several districts.

H. picipes, Thoms. (/uscofemorata, Wat., Atheta picipes, Thoms.,
Traumecia excavata, Muls. et Rey). Rather shorter, broader, and more
robust than the preceding, sculpture more or less alutaceous, more
distinct on elytra than on head and thorax ; head rather broad and
short, broadly impressed, and channelled in male, more obscurely in
female; antenne pitchy or pitchy testaceous, lighter at base, first joint
stout, 2-3 shorter than usual, fourth more slender than fifth, about as long
as broad, 5-10 about equal, distinctly transverse, eleventh nearly as long
as the two preceding ; thorax nearly as broad as elytra, plainly trans-
verse, with an impression or short channel in middle of base (broader
in male) ; elytra square, rather longer than thorax ; hind body black and
shining, yellowish or brownish at apex, sparingly punctured, segments
5-6 almost impunctate ; legs testaceous or pitchy testaceous. L. 22 mm.

Male with third joint of antenne thickened, dorsal plate of seventh
segment with posterior margin a little thickened and emarginate in

86 STAPHYLINIDE. { Homalota.

middle, ventral plate more produced than in female, dorsal plate in
female witha distinct notch in middle.

Rare ; under bark, &e.; Smuallheath, Knowle, and Yardley, near Birmingham ;
Sherwood Forest ; Manchester ; Northumberland district. Scotland, scarce, Solway,
Forth, Tay, and Moray districts,

This species somewhat resembles H. fungicola, but is more parallel,
and has the antennez shorter and much less stout, and the thorax and
elytra are longer.

H. excellens, Kr. (Bessobia excellens, Muls. et Rey). Black, with the
elytra fuscous black; head plainly narrower than thorax, rather dull,
with indistinct punctuation, impressed in middle, antennze rather short,
distinctly, but not strongly thickened towards apex, joints 2—3 rather
shorter than usual, 4-10 each broader than the preceding, 7-10 distinctly
transverse, eleventh rather shorter than usual ; thorax narrower than
elytra, fully one-third broader than long, with an impression or fovea in
front of middle of base from which proceeds a channel, often more or
less obsolete, finely and rather densely punctured ; elytra rather short,
finely sculptured ; hind body shining black, sparingly punctured towards
base, apical segments nearly impunctate ; legs pitchy, femora darker
than tibie and tarsi. L. 3 mm.

Male with seventh segment of hind body furnished before apex with
a curved transverse row of irregular tubercles, six in number, posterior
margin triangularly notched.

Rare; a northern species; Studley Royal, Ripon (Waterhouse) ; Whitley Sands,

Northumberland(Bold) ;Scotland, rare, Solway, Tay, Clyde, Dee, and Moray districts
(Rannoch, Arran, Thornhill, &c.).

H. monticola, Thoms. (essobia monticola, Thoms., sub-gen.
Trichiota, Muls, et Rey). Black with the elytra brownish or reddish
brown ; head rather broad, finely and sparingly punctured, in male with
a broad impression, in female channelled; antenne black, with base
lighter, rather short and stout and somewhat thickened towards apex,
joints 2-3 about equal, 4-10 each broader than the preceding, 5-10
distinctly transverse, eleventh pointed, half as long again as tenth;
thorax plainly broader than long, finely and not thickly punctured ;
elytra longer than thorax, sculpture and pubescence fine ; hind body
shining black, sparmgly punctured: towards base, apical seoments im-
punctate ; legs pitchy yellow. L. 3 mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment deeply triangularly
emarginate in middle at apex, sides and apical margin raised, the latter
with four raised longitudinal folds.

Rare. Purley Downs, Surrey ; Winchester; Smallheath, under bones; Yardley,
near Birmingham, in grass-tufts; Washington and Gosforth, Northumberland

district ; Wallington, Northumberland ; Scotland, local, in fungus, Thornhill, Dumfries,
and Balmuto, Fifeshire; Ireland, near Waterford (Power).

The very peculiar male characters will at once distinguish this species.

Homalota.] STAPHYLINIDE. 87

H. subglabra, Sharp. (Atheta subglabra, H. R. W.). “Resembles
H, palustris, but is rather broader, more robust, and more shining; black,
with the elytra pitchy testaceous ; head black and shining, finely
pubescent, almost impunctate, eyes rather prominent ; antenne black,
rather long and stout, joints 1-3 elongate, 4-10 each broader than the
preceding, 7-10 plainly transverse, eleventh about twice as long as
tenth ; thorax narrower than elytra, one-third broader than long, sides
nearly straight, not narrowed behind, punctuation very fine and not
dense, without fovea or channel ; elytra plainly longer than thorax

> Bie SED i J s ,
finely alutaceous ; hind body black and shining, basal segments sparingly
punctured, apical segments impunctate ; legs pitchy testaceous. L. 22—
24 mm. ’

Sexual differences very indistinct.

Rare. Buddon Wood, Leicester (Blatch), Seghill Dene, Northumberland district
(Bold) ; Scotland, rare but rather widely distributed, Solway, Tay, Clyde, Dee, and
Moray districts (Rannoch, Arran, Thornhill, Strath Cannich, &c.).

H. nigella, Er. (Pachnida nigella, Muls. et Rey, Dinarea punctiven-
tris, Thoms.). This species, as above remarked, very closely resembles
asmall A. ¢ncana; it is narrow and linear with the head and thorax
dull black, and the hind body of a somewhat more shining black colour ;
the antenne are rather short and stout, testaceous at base, darker towards
apex, with joints 4-10 each a little broader.than the preceding, 6-10
distinctly transverse, eleventh not quite twice as long as tenth; thorax
slightly transverse, not, or scarcely, narrowed behind, very thickly,
finely, and obsoletely punctured, with a broad central longitudinal im-
pression; elytra slightly longer than thorax, sculpture dense and dis-
tinct, consisting of minute granulations ; hind body with segments 2-4
closely and distinctly punctured, fifth more sparingly, sixth nearly im-
punctate, but granulate in male; femora pitchy, tibie and tarsi pitchy
testaceous. L. 24 mm.

Male with sixth segment of hind body sparingly covered with granu-
lations, seventh segment with hind margin furnished with four small
tubercles : in the females these segments are simple.

Marsby places; in stems of reedsand in the axils of the leaves of water plants;
also in moss, refuse, &c., on the banks of ponds and pools; rather common in the

south-eastern, London, and fen districts, and,also in the Midlands ; it has not, however,
occurred further north. .

H. equata, Er. (Dinarea aquata, Thoms.). Front parts dull
black, elytra brownish ; head rather large, nearly as broad as thorax,
broadly depressed in male, indistinctly sculptured; antenne stout,
sensibly thickened towards apex, first joint stout, third a little longer
than second, 5-10 plainly transverse, eleventh twice as long as tenth ;
thorax nearly as broad as elytra, subquadrate, slightly narrowed behind,
very dull and indistinctly sculptured, with a broad longitudinal depres-
sion in middle, which is sometimes channelled ; elytra a little longer

88 STAPHYLINIDE. [Homalota

than thorax, finely and thickly punctured ; hind body black, apex of
segments obscurely brownish, segments 2-4 closely punctured, fifth
more sparingly, sixth almost impunctate ; legs yellow. L. 31 mm.

Male with the fifth dorsal segment with two granulations, sixth with
two rows of short longitudinal raised lines, four in each row, posterior
margin of seventh with four small teeth, the outer ones indistinct.

Under bark of various trees; not uncommon; London district generally ; Tilgate
Forest ; Tonbridge ; New Forest; Repton, Bewdley, Needwood, Leicester, Sutton
Park, and Midlands generally ; Sherwood Forest ; Dean Forest; Bangor; not found
in the north of England or in Scotland,

Distinguished by its very dull head and thorax, brownish elytra, and
yellow legs.

H. angustula; Gyll. (Dinarea angustula, Thoms., sub. gen. Poly-
ota, Muls. et Rey. Parallel, rather depressed, head and hind body
black, thorax variable in colour, black, reddish, or even yellowish,
elytra rather bright reddish ; head closely and finely punctured, dull,
deeply impressed in male ; antenne rather long and stout and gradually
thickened towards apex, joints 2-3 nearly equal, rather long and stout,
4—5 longer than broad, sixth about as long as broad, 7—10 transverse,
eleventh about twice as long as tenth ; thorax nearly as broad as elytra,
subquadrate, very finely and densely punctured, with a very distinct
longitudinal channel; elytra about the length of thorax, or very slightly
longer, very thickly and finely punctured; hind body black, apex
lighter, rather dull, segments 2-5 thickly punctured, sixth segment
rather sparingly punctured ; legs yellow. L. 3-32 mm,

Male with the sixth segment covered with small elevations, seventh
with four short raised lines before apex, and four on hind margin pro-
jecting a little beyond margin, the outer ones very indistinct.

Marshy places ; in moss, flood refuse, &e.; occasionally in sandpits ; local, but not
uncommon; London district, widely distributed; Isle of Wight and southern
districts ; Midlands, rather common ; Chat Moss; Manchester ; not found hitherto in
the extreme north of England; Dr. Sharp possesses Scotch examples of the species,
but without note of their locality.

The bright colouring, parallel form, and very strongly channelled
thorax will at once separate this species.

H. linearis, Grav. (Dinarca linearis, Thoms., sub-gen. Aglypha,
Muls. et Rey), Rather narrow, black, with the elytra reddish brown,
and the apex of abdomen testaceous ; head rather dull, not very dis-
tinctly punctured, with a longitudinal impression in middle, broadly im-
pressed in male ; antenne yellowish with basal joints clear yellow,
rather stout, a little thickened towards apex, with distinct projecting
hairs, first joint stout, 2-3 equal in length, fourth not so broad as fifth,
6-10 distinctly transverse, eleventh half as long again as tenth ; thorax
nearly as broad as elytra, about one-fourth broader than long, rather
shining and finely punctured, with a distinct longitudinal channel ;

Homalota. | STAPHYLINIDE. 89

elytra about the length of thorax, and rather more distinctly punctured ;
hind body with segments 2-4 sparingly punctured, 5-6 almost impunc-
tate and shining; legs yellow. L. 24-3 mm.

Sexual differences of hind body hard to distinguish, but the male
has the head broadly impressed.

Under bark of dead trees, in moss on tree trunks, &e.; local, but not uncommon.
London district generally ; Horning Fen and other fen localities; N w Forest;
Knowle, near Birmingham; Cannock Chase; Sherwood Forest ; not recorded from
Northumberland district. Scotland, local, Forth district.

This species resembles H. equata, but is less robust and smaller, and
more shining, and has the hind body more sparingly punctured

H. pilicornis, Thoms. (pilosa, Kr., <Atheta pilicornis, Thoms.,
xanthopus, Muls. et Rey. H. R. W., nee wanthopus, Thoms.). Broader
and more robust than the preceding, and with longer elytra ; head black,
rather broad and short, shining, sparingly and finely punctured; the
species is easily distinguished by its antenna, which are verticillate
pilose, having each of the segments furnished with long projecting
hairs, much more so than is usual with members of the genus; their
colour is yellowish with basal joints clear yellow; they are rather stout,
and gently thickened towards apex, joints 1-3 elongate, 4-6 about as.long
as broad, 7-10 transverse, eleventh half as long again as tenth; thorax
nearly as broad as elytra, black or pitchy brown, slightly transverse,
not thickly punctured, with traces of channelin middle ; elytra brownish
or reddish brown, rather longer than thorax, very finely punctured,
alutaceous ; hind body black and shining, testaceous at apex, segments
2-4 finely and diffusely punctured, fifth more sparingly, sixth almost
impunctate, sides and apex furnished with long outstanding hairs ; legs
clear yellow. L. 32 mm.

Male with dorsal plate of seventh segment with apex truncate, pos-
terior margin not quite straight, thickened, and indistinctly crenulate.

Female with the seventh dorsal segment of hind body broadly and
obsoletely emarginate at apex, with the external angles acute, seventh
ventral segment emarginate in middle.

Rare; under bark, in moss, dead leaves, &e.; Richmond Park, Surrey ; Hamp-
stead (Bishops Wood); Highgate; Tilgate Forest; Needwood Forest (under holly
bark); Sherwood Forest ; Scotland, rare, under bark, Solway and Tay districts,

H: debilis, Er. (Atheta debilis, Thoms, Hygracia debilis, Muls.
et’ Rey.). Rather a narrow species, pitchy black, with the elytra
brownish or yellowish, aud the apex of hind body testaceous; the
thorax is sometimes lighter than the head; head short, but rather large,
finely and thickly punctured; antenne testaceous, a little thickened
towards apex, joints 1-3 rather long, 4-5 rather slender, sixth about as
long as broad, 7-10 transverse, eleventh rounded, rather shorter
than usual; thorax about as broad as elytra, slightly trans-
verse, finely and closely punctured, more or less indistinctly
channelled; elytra plainly longer than thorax, finely and rather

90 STAPHYLINIDE. [Homalota.

thickly punctured; hind body shining, rather long, segments 2—4
finely and rather closely punctured, fifth more sparingly, sixth almost
impunctate ; legs clear yellow. L. 2% mm.

Male with ventral plate of seventh segment produced considerably
beyond upper plate, apex truncate.

Marshy places, in flood refuse, moss, &e.; local, and as a rule uncommon; Notting
Hill; Lee; Darenth Wood; Tonbridge; Repton; Scarborough; Scotland, local,
Lowlands, Solway district.

This species has somewhat the appearance of asmall H. elongatula.

EI. fallaciosa,; Sharp (Hygracia parca, Muls. et Rey). Re-
sembles the preceding, but is more robust and duller, with narrower
head, and shorter elytra; head considerably narrower than thorax, finely
punctured ; antenne much as in the preceding species; thorax nearly
as broad as elytra, distinctly transverse, and more convex than in
H. debilis, with an obscure impression in front of scutellum, finely
and closely punctured; elytra very plainly transverse only slightly
longer than thorax, thickly and finely punctured ; hind body shining,
punctured as in the preceding species. L. 3 mm.

Male with the head more distinctly channelled, and with ventral
plate of seventh segment produced and narrowed towards hind margin
which is rounded.

Marshy places; rare; Lee, Kent (Champion). Scotland, local, Lowlands, Solway
Tay, and Dee districts.

Distinguished from small varieties of H. volans by its shorter and
stouter antenne, with transverse penultimate joints.

H. deformis, Kr. (Zhinacia (Hydrosmecta) deformis, Muls. et Rey,
complana, Mann. (?)). A small, pecuhar, immature-looking species,
very thickly pubescent, pitchy-brown, with the thorax and elytra, and
sometimes head, fuscous testaceous, and the apex of hind body testa-
ceous ; head rather broad, finely and indistinctly punctured ; antennz
testaceous, stout for the size of the species, slightly thickened towards
apex, third joint plainly shorter than second, much longer than fourth
(af viewed sideways), 7-10 distinctly transverse; thorax nearly as
broad as elytra, transverse, thickly and finely punctured, with a broad
longitudinal channel in middle ; elytra longer than thorax, thickly and
finely punctured, hind body with segments 2-4 finely punctured, fifth
sparingly, sixth almost impunctate. L. 2 mm.

Male with hind margin of dorsal plate of seventh segment gently
rounded, female with the same part widely and indistinctly emarginate.

Marshy places; rare; Eltham (Kent); Wandsworth; Tonbridge Wells.

H. cesula, Er. (Geostiba cesula, Muls. et Rey, Stpalia brachyp-
tera, Thoms.). One of the most distinct of the Homalote by reason of
its small size and exceedingly short elytra; shining black or fuscous
black with the elytra sometimes, but not always, fuscous ; head large,
almost impunctate, narrowed in front; antenne pitchy, or entirely more

|
|

Homalota. | STAPHYLINIDE. 91

or less obscurely testaceous, with the base in either case lighter, third
joint shorter than second, 6-10 plainly transverse ; thorax almost wider
than elytra, slightly broader than long, finely punctured, and obsoletely
channelled in male; elytra very short, apparently only about half the
length of thorax, finely, plainly, and somewhat rugosely punctured ;
hind body shining, narrower at base than apex, sparingly punctured
towards base, apical segments impunctate; legs lighter or darker
yellowish, femora sometimes pitchy. L. 1-12 mm.

Male with apex of seventh segment distinctly produced, and broadly
truncate.

Sandy places, at roots of grass; rare; Sheerness; Deal; Hayling Island; Portland,
1886 (J. J. Walker); Weymouth ; Leasowe, Liverpool; “ under sea-weed and stones
at South Shields and Marsden in March” (J. Hardy) ; not recorded from Scotland.

Section III.

Hind body parallel; thorax quadrate or subquadrate; five or six
penultimate joints of the antenne strongly transverse.
This section may be divided into the following groups:—

8. Convex, or but little depressed species (p. 91).
9. Very flat species (p. 93).

o
fo]

Grove 8.

The species comprising this group are very rare with the exception of
H. circellaris, which is one of our commonest insects ; with the exception
of H. egra they are rather brightly coloured, being mostly of a reddish-
testaceous or brownish-yellow colour.

H. circellaris, Grav. (Geostiba circellaris, Thoms.). Reddish yellow
or reddish brown, with the head and a more or less broad portion of the
hind body darker ; head rather long, ovate, a little narrowed in front,
almost impunctate ; antenne testaceous, joints 1-3 elongate, 4-5 about as
long as broad, 6-10 transverse, eleventh as long as the two preceding ;
thorax subquadrate, about as broad as elytra, fecbly impressed at base,
closely and indistinctly punctured ; elytra very transverse, plainly shorter
than thorax, closely and rather strongly punctured ; hind body with
segments 2—4 finely and rather thickly punctured, 5-6 almost impunctate ;
legs yellow. L. 22-3 mm.

Male with a distinct elevation on each elytron near base, sixth
segment of hind body with a raised tubercle before apex in middle, hind
upper margin of seventh segment with two indistinct tubercles, under
plate considerably produced beyond upper.

Both marshy and dry places; under stones, moss, bark, &e.; very abundant
throughout the kingdom ; one of the most distinct and commonest species.

H. elegantula, Bris. (Alewonota elegantula, Muls. et Rey). Reddish

92 STAPHYLINIDE. [Homalota

yellow or brownish testaceous with the head and central portion of the
hind body more or less pitchy ; head rather elongate, parallel-sided,
narrower than thorax, with mandibles and palpi reddish yellow, rather
strongly and not closely punctured, impressed or channelled ; antenne
testaceous, stout, much thickened towards apex, second joint longer than
third, 4-10 transverse, the latter very strongly so, eleventh as long as the
two preceding, all the joints furnished with long projecting hairs ; - thorax
about as long as broad, diffusely punctured, alutaceous between punctures,
with distinct central channel ; elytra long, plainly longer than thorax,
very finely alutaceous; hind body almost impunctate, but very finely
alutaceous, and covered sparingly with long hairs ; legs yellow. L. 34 mm.

The sexual characters are apparently very slight.

In moss, &e.; occasionally by sweeping or on the wing; rare; Chatham and
Sheerness (J. J. Walker) ; Reigate, Esher, Shirley, Amberley, Caterham, Wandsworth,
Ashstead, Claygate (Esher), Monks’ Wood, Amberley; New Forest ; Studley, near
Ripon.

H. rufotestacea, Kr. (Aleuonota atricapilla, Thoms.). Rufo-
testaceous with the head and fifth segment and base of sixth segment of
hind body pitchy; head rather narrow, with sides nearly parallel,
obsoletely punctured ; antennz yellow, stout, thickened towards apex,
second joint longer than third, 4-10 strongly transverse, eleventh nearly
as long as the two preceding ; thorax narrower than elytra about as
broad as long, slightly narrowed behind, rather dull, alutaceous, very
obsoletely punctured, finely and not distinctly channelled ; elytra plainly
longer than thorax, alutaceous ; hind body shining and impunctate ; legs
testaceous. L. 22-3 mm.

Male with the apical margin of ventral plate of seventh segment
regularly rounded, female with the same part slightly sinuate.

By sweeping herbage ; unique as British ; Mickleham, Surrey, one example, May
1868 (Champion). In France it has been found rarely in flood refuse.

H. hypogea, Rey (egregia, Rye). This species is allied to both
the preceding, which it resembles in colour ; the antenna however are
longer, gradually and but slightly thickened towards apex, with the fourth
joint consider rably less transverse, joints 5-10 rather differently shaped,
and the apical joint much longer ; it is more depressed and more shining
than H. rufotestacea ; the thorax, too, is darker than in that species,
more obsoletely channelled, and more plainly punctured, and the elytra
are rather longer; the smaller size, very obsoletely punctured head, and
shape of the antenne will at once separate it from H, elegantula. L. 3
mm.

Unique as British ; one specimen taken by sweeping in a lane at Caterham, Surrey,
on June 3, 1873, by Mr. Champion,

H. splendens, Kr. (Owralia splendens, Muls. et Rey). Linear,
narrow, black or pitchy, avith the elytra, and often thorax, brownish, and

Homalota. | STAPHYLINIDE. 93

apex of hind body testaceous ; head large and broad, parallel-sided, flat,
diffusely punctured ; antenna testaceous, stout, joints 1-3 elongate and
rather stout, 4-10 transverse, the latter very strongly so, eleventh large,
as long as the two preceding ; thorax subquadrate, almost impunctate ;
elytra longer than thorax with very indistinct sculpture ; hind body
shining and almost impunctate, segments 5-6 usually darker than the
others ; legs light yellow. L. 2} mm.

Dr. Sharp’s specimens are all females ; I can find no description of
the male characters.

Very rare; Lee and Esher; chalkpit, Charlton, Surrey,-(Sharp) ; roots of grass in
sandpit near Dorking (Champion); Toubridge ( Horner).

H. wegra, Heer. (Microdota wgra, Muls. et Rey). Shining, scarcely
visibly punctured, finely and sparingly pubescent, black or pitchy black
with the elytra and sometimes thorax rather lighter, apex of hind body
obscurely yellowish ; head rather large, parallel-sided ; antenne slightly
thickened towards apex, pilose, third joint shorter than second, fourth as
long as broad, 5—10 transverse, the latter very plainly so, eleventh shorter
than usual, not as long as the two preceding together; thorax slightly
transverse, a little narrower than elytra, impunctate ; elytra very plainly
longer than thorax, smooth ; hind body shining, almost impunctate, but
under a high power finely alutaceous, and studded very sparingly with
fine granules from which arise rather long hairs; legs yellow. L. 2 mm.

Male with the upper and under plates of seventh segment of hind
body narrower than in female, under one more produced.

In moss, &e.; occasionally by sweeping; rare; Purley Downs, Esher, Shirley,
Mickleham, Dagenham, Caterham ; Brighton ; Cambridge; Scotland, rare, Lowlands,
Forth district (Edinburgh).

Group 9.

This group consists at present of three species, of which HZ. immersa
and H. cuspidata are always found under bark, and may be recognized
by their very flat appearance ; H. ertbriceps is a very peculiar insect,
and somewhat doubtful, as it rests on one specimen without locality ;
H. plana has until comparatively recently been placed in this group, but
was separated off as a distinct genus—Kpipeda—by Mulsant and Rey.
Thave followed Dr. Sharp in adopting this arrangement, as his judgment
is so much to be depended upon in all matters relating to the
Staphylinide, but that of the last European catalogue appears in some
ways preferable, in which Hpipeda is merged as a sub-genus under
Thectura, Thoms., and so is brought again into closer connection with
H. cuspidata, which is the sole representative of that genus in its
narrowest sense: it seems certain that if H. plana be removed, H.
eribriceps should also be taken out of the group, as it was chiefly placed
in its present position through its relation with that species ; it is,
however, left in the group provisionally, so little being known about it,
that it is almost impossible to place it elsewhere at present.

94 STAPHYLINIDE. { Homalota.

H.immersa, Er. (Dadobia planicollis, Thoms., Dadobia immersa,
Muls, et Rey, genus Thectura, Thoms., H. R. W.). A small flat species,
black or dark pitchy black ; head large and broad, narrowed in front
of eyes, with sides parallel behind eyes, posterior angles nearly right
angles, finely but rather distinctly punctured; antenne short, third
joint nearly as long as, but more slender than, second, 5-10 transverse,
the latter more strongly so, eleventh long, twice as long as tenth;
thorax as long as broad, plainly narrowed behind, rather dull, finely
punctured ; elytra a third longer than thorax longer than broad, finely
and not thickly punctured, sometimes obscurely lighter than the rest of
the insect; hind body black, rather narrowed and feebly punctured
towards base, impunctate behind, femora pitchy ; tibize and tarsi testaceous.
L. 13-2 mm.

Male with the seventh segment not projecting, apical margin slightly
emarginate, forehead obsoletely but visibly impressed ; female with
seventh segment projecting, apical margin obtusely rounded, forehead
even.

Under bark of trees, especially fir; not common, Cobham and Sevenoaks, Kent;
Reigate ; Hainault ; Richmnond, Surrey ; The Holt, Farnham ; Tonbridge; Smallheath
and Knowle, near Birmingham ; Markfield, near Leicester ; Cannock Chase ; Needwood,
near Burton-on-Trent ; Sherwood Forest ; Northumberland district ; Scotland, local,
Forth, Tay, Tee, and Moray districts.

The peculiar shape of the head will distinguish this species ; it is
broader, shorter, and more narrowed in front than in the succeeding.

H. cuspidata, Er. (inconspicua, Heer., Thectura cuspidata, Thoms.).
Avery small, flat species, pitchy black or brown with the apex of the
hind body obscurely lighter; head quadrate, broad and flat, closely and
distinctly punctured; antennie short, thickened towards apex, third
joint as long as second but more slender, 4-10 plainly transverse,
eleventh comparatively short; thorax: somewhat broader than long,
channelled ; elytra half as long again as thorax finely and rather thickly
punctured ; hind body with the basal segments finely and not thickly
punctured, apical segments impunctate, apex of seventh joint with a
long projecting spine in middle ; legs yellow, tarsi short. L. 14 mm.

Male with third, fourth, and fifth segments each with a pair of
tubercles on the upper side, spine on seventh larger than in female.

Under bark of oak, fir, and other trees ; rather common in the London district, and
Southern and Midland counties, but I can find no record further north than
Scarborough ; it has not hitherto occurred in Scotland,

The species may at once be distinguished, apart from its size and
shape, by the distinct spine at the apex of hind body, which is present
in both sexes, but is most distinct in the male; on either side of the
large spine there is a small one; these, however, are not always very
apparent.

HE. cribriceps, Sharp. Broad, rather depressed, somewhat shin-
ing, pitchy-black, with the elytra yellowish, their apical angles fuscous ;

THomalvta. | STAPHYLINID®. 95

head nearly black, narrowed behind eyes which are large and prominent,
very coarsely and closely punctured, with a smooth space in front;
antenne yellow at base, somewhat fuscous towards apex, rather short
and stout, third joint as long as second, fourth as long as broad, much
narrower than fifth, 5-10 strongly transverse, eleventh as long as the two
preceding ; thorax very transverse with sides much rounded and narrowed
behind, coarsely and closely punctured, especially on disc ; elytra plainly
longer than thorax, indistinctly punctured; hind body pitchy, paler
towards apex, with basal segments rather closely, apical segments
sparingly, punctured; legs yellow. L. 23 mm.

A rather doubtful species that rests entirely on one example of which
the locality is unknown; it is very peculiar in appearance, and can
hardly be compared with any other species; the specimen is in Dr,
Power's collection.

Section IV.

Hind body parallel ; thorax moderately transverse, its sides evenly
rounded.
This section comprises three groups as follows :—
10. Sixth segment of hind body punctured sparingly, or impunctate ; antenna mode-
rately long, not stout (p. 95).
11. Sixth segment of hind body closely punctured; antenne not very stout
(p. 97).
12. Sixth segment of hind body impunctate; antennz stout or very stout (p. 100).

Group 10.

The species belonging to this group may be distinguished from some
of those to which they bear a resemblance by their short thorax, taken
in conjunction with their somewhat thin antenne, of which the fourth
joint is well developed.

H. eremita, Rye (islandica, Kr., Liogluta (Hypnota) eremita, Muls.
et Rey.) Black or pitchy black with the elytra sometimes brownish,
apex of hind body obscurely testaceous ; head short and rather broad,
but much narrower than thorax, finely punctured ; antennz obscurely
testaceous, rather long and slender, third joint longer than second, 4-10
only slightly different, eleventh nearly as long as thetwo preceding; thorax
half as broad again as long, almost broader than elytra, finely pune-
tured, with an impression or short channel at base; elytra short, not as
long as thorax, more distinctly sculptured than thorax; hind body
black, sparingly punctured towards base, smooth and shining towards
apex, apical segments with numerous long projecting hairs ; legs testa-
ceous, femora sometimes darker. LL. 3-31 mm.

Male with the under plate of seventh segment of hind body con-
siderably produced and narrowed towards apex.

A common Scotch species in moss in both Lowlands and Highlands ; Northumber-

96 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Homalota.

land district ; Manchester district ; Coleshill and Sutton Park, Birmingham ; Cannock
Chase ; Dean Forest; has not, however, been recorded from further south. Ireland,
co. Down, moss on mountains (Champion).

The broad thorax and short elytra of this species will at once dis-
tinguish it.

H. Aubei, Bris. (breviceps, Thoms. sub-gen. Dimetrota, Muls. et Rey).
Fuscous black, with the elytra as dark as the rest of the body, or dark
chestnut-brown ; head much smaller than thorax, finely punctured, and
distinctly channelled ; antenne rather long and slender pitchy with
paler base, second and third joints about equal, 4-10 differing little in
length, eleventh half as long again as tenth ; thorax nearly half as
broad again as long, almost more narrowed in front than behind, with
sides gently rounded, closely and finely punctured, with an obscure
impression at base from which proceeds a somewhat obsolete channel ;
elytra broader and longer than thorax, closely and finely punctured ;
hind body with segments 2-4 thickly punctured, fifth more sparingly,
sixth almost impunctate; legs testaceous or pitchy testaceous. L.
22 mm.

“Male with the upper plate of the seventh segment of hind body
narrowly emarginate at apex (?).

Very rare; Horning Fen, Norfolk; also taken by Mr. Hislop in Scotland.

I feel a little doubt as to this species, as the descriptions are rather
at variance. Dr. Sharp (l.c. p. 171) lays stress on the fact that joints five
to nine of the antenne “are each longer than broad, ten about as long
as broad,” and he also says that he cannot satisfactorily separate the
male from the female; Mulsant and Rey says expressly (Brévipennes
Myrmédoniaires, p. 440) that the fourth and fifth joints of antenne are
sensibly transverse, and the sixth to the tenth rather strongly transverse,
and they give the above male character. As Dr. Sharp compared his
specimens SwithM. Brisout’s types, they must be right ; viewed from above
the joints in Dr. Sharp’s type certainly appear transverse, viewed side-
ways it would be rather hard to tell whether the latter of them were
transverse or not; this may perhaps explain the discrepancy; as re-
gards the sexual differences Mulsant and Rey say that the female is
unknown to them: these facts are mentioned, as showing the difference
that is often found between descriptions of the same species given by
different authors. H. Aulbei is an obscure species. Dr. Sharp com-
pares it with AH. gemina and H. volans; it is twice the size of the
former, and has the fifth segment of hind body punctured ; from small
varieties of H. volans it may be separated by its shorter ‘and broader
thorax, and more closely punctured hind body.

H. gemina, Er. (Atheta gemina, Thoms., Metarya gemina, Muls. et
Rey). Fuscous black with apex of hind body testaceous, and the
elytra sometimes a little lighter; head considerably narrower than

Homaiota.] STAPHYLINID&. 97

thorax, channelled, indistinctly punctured; antenne pitchy or pitchy testa-
ceous with base lighter, joints 2-3 about equal, 4-10 differing little in
length, gradually slightly broader, eleventh rather long, nearly as long as
the two preceding together; thorax nearly half as broad again as long,
more narrowed in front than behind, with sides gently rounded, thickly
and finely punctured, with an obsolete double impression before scutellum ;
elytra plainly longer than thorax, finely punctured, but rather more
distinctly than thorax; hind body with segments 2-4 distinctly punc-
tured, 5—6 almost impunctate ; legs testaceous. L. 2 mm.

Male with channel on head longer and more distinct than in female,
ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body more produced and narrower.

Marshy places; rare; Hammersmith Marshes; Lee, Keut ; Scotland, local, Solway
district ; Thornhill, near Dumfries.

About the size of H. analis, but easily distinguished by its longer
antenne and quite differently shaped head.

Hi. curtipennis, Sharp. Allied to the preceding, but easily dis-
tinguished by its much shorter elytra and shorter antenne, of which the
joints are more transverse; the thorax is about as broad as the elytra,
and shaped much as in H. gemina ; sometimes it is even, and sometimes
broadly channelled ; elytra scarcely longer than thorax, and usually of a
lighter colour, finely and densely punctured ; hind body as in the pre-
ceding species ; legs testaceous, sometimes a little infuseate. L. 2 mm.

Scotland, local and not common; Forth, Tay, Dee, and Solway districts (Rannoch,
Pentlands, Thornhill, &ec.). Sutton Park, near Birmingham, grass-tufts in bogs
(W. G. Blatch).

Grovr 11.

The species belonging to this group may be distinguished by the
shape of their antennw which are moderately but not very stout, but
more especially by the closely punctured sixth segment of the abdomen ;
several of the species are so extremely closely allied that it is very
difficult to determine whether they are really separate species or races of
the same species ; they are all-small, none exceeding 2 mm. in length.

EH. vilis, Er. (Dilacra vilis, Muls. et Rey). Fuscous black, with
the elytra, and sometimes thorax, brownish, duil, rather thickly pubes-
cent, apex of hind hody pitchy brown; head rather large and almost
quadrate, pavrallel-sided, very finely punctured ; antenne dirty testa-
ceous, third joint rather shorter than second, 4-10 differing little in
length and breadth, rather stout, eleventh nearly as long as the two pre-
ceding ; thorax broader than long, very finely punctured ; elytra longer
than thorax and rather more distinctly sculptured ; hind body closely
punctured throughout ; legs testaceous. L. 1¢-2 mm.

Male with head obscurely impressed, seventh segment of hind body
a little produced underneath.

Very rare; marshy places; Eltham, Kent (Sharp); Tonbridge (Horner); Lee,

VOL. II. u

98 STAPHYLINIDS. [ Homalota.

Kent (Champion); rare in France, under dead leaves on the banks of ponds or
streams.

H. laticeps, Thoms (dificilis Bris., pumila, Kr., nana, Muls. et
Rey, Dilacra difficilis, Muls. et Rey, Atheta laticeps, Thoms.). Very
near the preceding, but easily distinguished by its smaller size, lighter
coloured antenne, shorter thorax, and elytra longer in proportion; the
colour also is usually lighter; the head is larger, being almost as large as
thorax, and the punctuation of the hind body is a little less close ; the
male has the seventh segment of the hind body slightly emarginate
both above and below. L. 14 mm.

Marshy places; under dead leaves, in flood refuse, &c.; very rare; Lee, Staines,
Arundel, and Egham (Surrey) (Champion).

This and the preceding species somewhat resemble H. analis, but
H, vilis has longer antenne, which are less thickened, and a more
parallel-sided head ; HZ. laticeps is distinguished by its small size, colour,
and general appearance.

H. analis, Grav. (Amischa analis, Thoms., arata, Muls. et Rey, filum,
Muls. et Rey, tantilla, Woll., contempta, Heer). Black with the thorax
and elytra pitchy, more or less lighter or darker coloured, apex of hind
body testaceous; head rather large, considerably widened behind eyes,
obscurely triangular, obsoletely punctured ; antenne rather thickened
towards apex, third joint shorter than second, fourth much shorter than
third, 5-10 of about equal length, but each a little broader than the
preceding, eleventh large, as long as the two preceding ; thorax plainly
broader than long, nearly as broad as elytra, sides moderately rounded,
scarcely narrowed behind, very finely punctured, with a fovea or in-
distinct channel in front of scutellum ; elytra rather short, closely
punctured; abdomen rather dull, closely punctured throughout, seventh
segment of hind body triangularly emarginate in middle; legs yellowish
or clear yellow. L. 1{-2 mm.

Sexual differences indistinct.

Extremely abundant in all sorts of situations throughout the kingdom.

The colour varies from quite black or pitchy black with legs and
antenne pitchy to pitchy brown with thorax and elytra bright reddish
brown, and legs and antennz yellow.

A large dark variety occurs, which is found more commonly in the
north than the south, which, besides colour and size, differs from the
type form in having the joints of antenne longer, the thorax more
transverse and broader, and the elytra longer; the hind body also is
duller and more closely punctured : this variety is very like H. soror,
and appears to he quite as distinct a species as several others that are
described as allied to H. analis ; at all events it should be provisionally
separated as H. analis, var. major, Sharp.

HH. decipiens, Sharp. This species is described by Dr. Sharp as

Homalota.| STAPHYLINIDE. 99

very closely allied to H. soror, and differing from it only by the more
finely punctured hind body, with differently formed seventh segment,
and by having the legs, antennz, and extremity of the abdomen of a
clearer yellow colour; it is also on the average slightly smaller than
#. soror. 1. 13-2 mm.

Male with the under plate of the seventh segment of hind body
slightly narrower and more elongate than in female.

Marshy places; rare; Lee, Chatham, Hammersmith, Charlton (Kent) ; Southend;
Tonbridge ; Weymouth.

Distinguished from H. analis by its rather longer elytra, more closely
punctured hind body, and the absence of the notch on the seventh
segment which appears to be always found in H. analis; in the cata-
logue of Heyden, Reitter, and Weise the species is sunk as the female
of H. analis; it is true that the sexual differences of HA. analis, as
mentioned above, are obscure, and that Kraatz considered the emargina-
tion to be indicative of the male; if AH. decipiens were as abundant as
HZ. analis it might prove to be the other sex, but as H. analis swarms
everywhere and invariably has the characteristic notch, whereas //.
decipiens is apparently exceedingly rare, it seems hardly possible that it
can be regarded as the female, and, in this case, must stand as a separate
species.

H. cavifrons, Sharp (simillima, Sharp (?), Amischa cavifrons,
Muls. et Rey). The differences between this species and the small forms
of H. analis are almost entirely sexual; the upper surface of the head in
the male is very broadly and distinctly impressed, whereas in all speci-
mens of H. analis it is convex; in this sex also the ventral plate of
seventh segment is considerably produced, as in H. soror, and furnished
in middle with a bunch of five or six distinct black hairs ; according to
Mulsant and Rey the male has the seventh dorsal segment of hind body
broadly emarginate, while the female has it narrowly sinuate. Dr. Sharp
(Le. p. 177) says that in the female of H. cavifrons the notch of the
seventh segment is broader and deeper than in specimens of H. analis of
the same size, both sexes being furnished with the notch as in H. analis ;
the elytra are rather shorter in both sexes, L. 13 mm.

Found only in Scotland, in hilly districts, near Edinburgh and Thornhill,

H. simillima, Sharp. This species appears to be hardly distinct
from H. cavifrons: it is similar in every way, and possesses the same
sexual characters (depressed head in male, &c.), but is more unicolorous,
more parallel, more densely and finely punctured, with flatter and more
transverse thorax, and with the elytra slightly longer: I have Dr. Sharp’s
type specimens before me, and the differences seem exceedingly slight ;
there is far more difference between H. analis var. major and the type
form; on the Continent H. cavifrons and H. simillima appear to be
considered synonymous. L. 1$ mm.

H 2

100 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Homalota.

Only found on the banks of the Nith and its tributary Cairn Water by Dr. Sharp,
under stones, in company with Scopeus Erichsoni.

HX. sorer, Kr. (forcipata, Muls. et Rey, Amischa soror, Muls. et
Rey). This species very closely resembles H. analis vy. major in colour
and general appearance, but is distinguished by its more thickly and dis-
tinctly punctured hind body, and especially by the sexual characters; in
the male the head is more or less distinctly channelled ; the seventh
dorsal segment has a larger notch, commencing on each side near the
outside angle of the upper plate; the ventral plate is very much produced,
and furnished at apex with five or six distinct black hairs in middle.
L, 2 mm.

Marshy places; rare; Lee and Tonbridge, Kent; Barnes, Mickleham, Weybridge,
Egham and Walton, Surrey ; not hitherto recorded except from the London district.

Group 12.

This group contains five very small species, all less than 2 mm. in
length ; they are easily distinguished by their stout or very stout
antenne, and the impunctate sixth segment of hind body. H. parallela
micht perhaps be placed in a different group by reason of its different
habitat and appearance, and the differently shaped antenne.

E. exilis, Er. (parasita, Rey, parilis, Rey, Meotica exilis. Muls. et
Rey). A pale-coloured little species, pitehy-brown, dull, with thick
pubescence and extremely fine punctuation; head large, as broad or
nearly as broad as thorax; antenne short and stout, third joint not
nearly as long as second, 5-10 very distinctly transverse, tenth joint
twice as broad as long, eleventh large and broad, twice as long as
tenth ; thorax nearly as hroad as elytra, sides nearly straight, a little
narrowed behind ; elytra a little longer than thorax, almost square ; hind
hody with extremity testaceous, middle sezments more or Jess pitchy,
basal segments often lighter, punctuation extremely fine, scarcely visible
towards apex; legs yellow. L. 13-1{ mm.

Male with the seventh dorsal segment of hind body truncate and
slightly sinuate, female with the same part slightly rounded; the dif-
ferences, however, are very slight.

Marshy places, during early spring; very local; London district, generally ;
Hythe; Scarborough; Worcester (sandy banks of Severn). Scotland, local, Low-
lands, Forth and Solway districts.

A variety occurs in the London district (Wimbledon, Esher, Lee, &c.)
which is rather darker and narrower, with rather shorter antennz, and
less transverse thorax ; this appears, in fact, to be much more common in
the London district than the type form; the Scotch forms also vary ‘in
some degree.

“H. pallens, Reit. (indocilis, Heer (2), Meotica indocilis, Muls. et Rey,

ee a

Homalvta. | STAPHYLINIDE. 101

Sipalia tenuis, Muls. et Rey (?)). This species night easily be mistaken
for a small pale variety of the preceding; it is smaller, of a uniformly
pale testaceous colour, segments 4-5 of hind body being sometimes
slightly darker; the sculpture is even finer, and the elytra rather shorter ;
the differences, however, appear to be exceedingly slight; the sexual
characters seem to be the same as in JZ. evilis, except that the seventh
dorsal segment in male is “obtusely truncate” instead of “slightly
sinuously truncate” (Muls. et Rey, Brévipennes, 1875, p. 90). L.14 mun.

Very rare; on the banks of streams; only found hitherto in Scotland in the Forth,
Tay, and Solway districts (‘banks of Nith and Avon under stones in rather muddy
places,” Sharp). :

The name zndocilis, Heer, must be adopted instead of the name above
used, if it is proved that Heer’s and Redtenbacher’s species are
identical.

H. palleola, Er. (Microdota (Hilara) palleola, Muls. et Rey). Tes-
taceous with the head fuscous, elytra darker than thorax, and the hind
body darker before apex ; in some specimens the contrast of the light and
dark colour is much more pronounced than in others; the pubescence
and punctuation are very tine; head large, nearly as broad as thorax ;
antenne short and thick, third joint more slender and shorter than
second, 5-10 each broader than the preceding and strongly trans-
verse, eleventh large and broad, at least twice as long as teuth; thorax
slightly narrower than elytra, transverse; elytra long, half as long
again as thorax; hind body finely punctured towards base, smooth
behind ; legs yellow. L. 135 mm.

Male with the upper plate of seventh segment of hind body truncate.

In decaying fungi, dead leaves, &e.; rare; Reigate, Claygate Lane (Esher), Birch
Wood, Darenth, Braxtead, Chatham, Dorking; appears to be rather generally dis-
tributed in the London district, but bas not been found elsewhere ; in France it occurs
in forests in the gills of fungi that have not decayed.

_H. validiuscula, Kr. (Meotica validiuscula, Muls. et Rey). This
species is allied to the preceding, but is rather darker, and not so
depressed or parallel; the head is narrower in proportion to the elytra,
and the anterior parts of the body are more distinctly punctured and
pubescent ; it is also allied to H. evils, but is stouter and broader, anid
less depressed, and more plainly sculptured; head rather large, round,
black, and shining; antenne stout, third jomt shorier than second,
fourth slightly transverse, 5-10 plainly transverse, tenth twice as broad
as long, eleventh large twice as long as tenth; thorax broader than
long, finely but distinctly punctured and pubescent, with an indis-
tinct central channel behind; elytra a little longer than thorax, slightly
transverse, finely, but distinctly, punctured; basal segments of hind
body very finely punctured, apical ones smooth; legs yellow. L.
13 mm.

Male with a smal] fovea on middle of head, seventh segment of hind

102 STAPHYLINID#, [ Homalota.

body with ventral plate longer and narrower and more rounded at apex
than in female.

In decaying fungi, dead leaves, &e.; Mickleham and Caterham, Surrey (Champion);
Scotland, local, Tay and Forth districts (in numbers in a ditch among dead leaves in
early spring on the Braid Hills, Edinburgh (Sharp).

The antenne of this species are usually rather more obscurely testaceous
towards apex than at base.

H. parallela, Mannh. (falpa, Heer, Amidobia parallela, Thoms.).
This species, as remarked above, is in some points different from the
others belonging to this group; it is rather like HZ. analis, but differs in
the impunctate and shining extremity of the hind body and the shape of
its head; it is black with the elytra brown and the apex of hind body
testaceous ; head rather large, rounded at sides, smooth and shining ;
antenne rather longer than in the preceding species, yellowish,
second joint longer than third, fourth nearly quadrate, 5-10 strongly
transverse, eleventh not as long as the two preceding; thorax transverse,
finely punctured; elytra rather longer than thorax, thickly and finely
punctured ; hind body with basal segments finely and indistinctly
punctured, apical segments smooth ; legs yellow. L. 13 mm.

Male with upper and lower plates of seventh segment of hind body
more strongly rounded in the male than in the female.

Scotland ; in nests of Formica rufa in the Tay and Dee districts ; abundant in the
large ants’ nests at Rannoch and Braemar; it has also been taken at Scarborough
by R. Lawson, and two specimens have been recorded from Wallasey, near Liverpool,
by Dr. J. W.Bllis.

According to Mulsant and Rey the elytra in this species are a little
shorter than the thorax ; they appear to vary somewhat in length.

Section V.

Abdomen parallel ; thorax distinctly or strongly transverse ; penulti-

mate joints of the antennze not, or but moderately, transverse.
This section may be divided into the following three groups :—

13. Large species, with the thorax strongly punctured; penultimate joints of the
antennz transverse (p. 102).

14. Large species, with the penultimate joints of the antenne not transverse
(p- 104).

15. Moderately-sized, or small species, with the penultimate joints of the antennze
transverse (p. 106).

Group 13.

This group contains three or four species, of which one or two are
somewhat doubtful. H. brunnea, Fab., and H. depressa, Gyll., are con-
sidered by several authors to be identical, but by others they are
separated as distinct species ; H. hepatica and H. exarata too are classed

Homatlota. | STAPHYLINID, 103

in the latest European catalogue as synonymous, although the latter
seems both in habitat and structure to be distinct from the former.

H. depressa, Gyll. (Platarwa depressa, Thoms. (H. brunnea, Fab. =
Platarwa brunnea, Muls. et Rey?)). One of the largest and most
conspicuous British species ; rather flat and shining, brownish testaceous
with the head and portion of hind body between base and apex more or
less broadly black or dark-coloured; head rather small, diffusely
punctured ; antennz dark with light base, rather long and comparatively
slender, joints 2-3 of about equal length, fourth as long as_ broad,
5-10 nearly equal but more transverse in the female than in the male,
eleventh joint as long as the two preceding together; thorax plainly
narrower than elytra, slightly transverse, diffusely and distinctly punc-
tured ; elytra plainly longer and more closely punctured than thorax,
usually darker about scutellum ; hind body somewhat variable in colour,
segments 2—4 more or less distinctly punctured, sixth almost impunctate ;
legs yellow. L. 3-43 mm.

Male with the sixth segment of hind body furnished in middle just
before margin with a distinct raised tubercle, hind margin of seventh
seoment with four strong and distinct tubercular teeth.

In moss, dead leaves, &e. ; often found on walls and palings, and also frequently by
sweeping in early summer. I have taken it by sweeping in a wood near Lincoln in
May or June, and in abundance on the rocky sides of a gravel-pit close to the town
far from any trees ; it is by no means an uncommon species throughout the country.

According to Mulsant and Rey H. depressa is exceedingly closely
related to H. brunnea, but is distinguished by its antennz being slightly
longer, by the finer punctuation of the head and thorax, and by the latter
being less transverse, and more evenly furrowed on its median line, also
by the elytra being a little shorter, and a little more densely punctured,
and above all by the sixth abdominal segment of male being without a
tubercle ; Thomson (Skand. Col. 1. 45, 46) briefly mentions the sexual
differences of the male which, according to him, in P. brunnea has only
two teeth on the sixth segment of the hind body instead of four; of
P. depressa he says, ‘‘ Male with the sixth dorsal segment of abdomen
with a small tubercle at apex, seventh armed with four tubercles, those
at the side being the larger.” Dr. Sharp’s type is certainly depressa, that
is to say if Thomson is right, as it is impossible to tell which species or
variety is meant by Gyllenhal or Erichson ; if the male characters are
really constant they would seem different species, but the whole question
seems as yet to have been hardly settled.

H. hepatica, Er. (major, Aubé, castaneipennis, Fairm., Liogluta
(Hypnota) hepatica, Er.). A fine large species of a dark reddish-brown
colour with the elytra and sometimes thorax lighter, the apex of hind
body testaceous, and the apex of the segments of the hind body some-
times lighter; head roundish, coarsely punctured ; antennew reddish,
joints 1-3 elongate, 4-10 each a little broader and gradually more trans-

104 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Homalota.

verse, 6-10 distinctly transverse, eleventh as long as the two preceding
together ; thorax nearly as broad as elytra, broader than long, with sides
rounded in front and nearly straight behind, rather closely and distinctly
punctured, and, together with elytra, clothed with rather thick yellowish
pubescence; ely tra plainly longer than thorax, distinctly punctured ;
hind body ‘shining, segments 2-4 sparingly punctured, fifth more so,
sixth nearly impunctate ; legs yellow or reddish yellow. L. 4-44 mm.

Male with a raised longitudinal line nearly parallel to suture on each
elytron, and with two raised lines converging behind on the upper surface
of sixth segment of hind body ; female with the posterior margin of lower
surface of seventh segment excised in middle.

Rare, but has oceurred singly or very sparingly in many localities ; in moss, dead
leaves, and other situations; also by sweeping ; Greenhithe, Chatham, St. Mary Cray,
Dareuth Wood, Esher, Ashtead, Caterham, Shirley, Cobham, Coombe Wood, Hamp-

stead ; Wimbledon Common (by beating ASDA Highgate (on fences); in London
(birds? nests); Studley, Ripon, Yorkshire (by sweeping binebells),

H. exarata, Sharp. Thisspeciesis certainly allied to the preceding,
and, like it, the male has the raised fold on each elytron, but it appears to
be distinet by its much smaller and narrower form, shorter and more slender
antenne, and shorter thorax; the elytra also are more coarsely sculp-
tured ; the appearance of the two insects is entirely different, one being
large, broad, and robust, and the other slender and linear. L. 34 mm.

Very rare; in nests of Formica fuliginosa, Yilgate Forest (Power and Brewer);
The Holt, Farnham (Power).

Group 14.

The species belongiug to this group are in -general appearance much
allied to those of Group 5 (H. luridipennis, &e.), but differ by their
more transverse thorax, shape of antennz, and other points of structure ;
they seem, however, in their present position to be rather too widely
separated from that group.

EH. aquatica, Thoms. (swlwnea, Sharp, Atheta aquatica, Thoms.).
Black with the elytra chestnut brown or fuscous brown, anterior parts
dull, hind body shining; head narrower than thorax, slightly brassy,
finely and indistinctly punctured; antennez rather long and slender,
and scareely thickened towards apex, black with reddish or yellowish-
red base, joints 2-3 rather slender, of about equal length, fourth shorter
than fifth, 5-10 each a little longer than broad, and each a little
narrowed towards base, eleventh shorter than the two preceding to-
gether; thorax black, often with a rather distinct brassy reflection,
broader than long, very finely punctured, with a broad impression in
middle of base ; elytra transverse, longer than thorax, distinctly punc-
tured ; hind body with segments 2—4 diffusely but distinctly punctured,
5-6 impunctate or nearly so; legs testaceous or dirty testaceous, L.
3-35 mm.

Homalota.] STAPHYLINID. 105

Male with the apex of seventh segment of hind body truncate and
plainly crenulate.

Marshy places; at roots of grass, in moss, &c.; not uncommon, but rather local ;
London district generally; Tonbridge; Smallheath, Sutton Park, and Knowle, near
Birmingham ; Northumberland district; Scotland, common, Tweed, Solway, Tay,
Forth, and Moray districts ; Ireland, near Waterford.

Allied to wanthoptera, but easily distinguished by the darker antenne
of which the last jot is evidently shorter, the brassy reflection of
head and thorax, and more strongly punctured elytra.

H. eneicollis, Sharp (H. Pertyi, Heer?). Closely allied to
Hl. xanthoptera, but vather smaller and narrower; elytra paler and
more distinctly marked with black ; antenne darker and not quite so
long or stout, with apical joint not so long, although this is hardly per-
ceptible as it bears the same relation to the two preceding ones as in
H. xanthoptera. L. 3-3} mm.

In decaying fungi and other vegetable matter ; generally distributed in the London
district and other parts of the country, but very common in Scotland, where it is
commoner than H. ranthoptera.

H. parisiensis, Bris. (ovaria, Kr., cristata, Mot., aquatica, Rey,
nec Thoms.), is very closely allied to this species, but appears to be
considered distinct from it; it seems a question whether all the de-
scribed species belonging to this group are really distinct.

H. xanthoptera, Steph. (casfanoptera, Mann., Atheta merdaria,
Thoms.). Black, rather shining with the elytra more or less obscurely
brownish testaceous, or castaneous, obscurely darker about scutellum,
extremity of hind body sometimes yellowish ; bead black, narrower
than thorax, finely and indistinctly punctured; antenne long and rather
slender and but little thickened towards apex, yellowish, a little
darker towards extremity, last joint paler than preceding, joints 1-3
rather long, third longer than second, fourth as broad as third, longer
than broad, fifth broader than fourth, 6-10 nearly equal, not transverse,
eleventh very long nearly as long as the three preceding ; thorax one-
third broader than long, finely and rather closely punctured, with an
indistinct impression in middle of base; elytra longer than thorax,
rather closely and finely punctured and pubescent ; hind body black and
shining, segments 2—4 sparingly punctured, 5-6 almost impunctate ; legs
bright yellow. L. 31-4 mm.

Male with the hind margin of upper plate of seventh segment of
hind body truncate and crenulate, the outer crenulations being the
largest. ‘

In decaying fungi and other vegetable refuse, especially in early autumn; one of
the commonest of the British species; Dr. Sharp says that it is occasionally found at
sap of trees.

H. incognita, Sharp. A very distinct, large, robust species, allied
to the preceding, but usually larger and broader in proportion, the

106 STAPHYLINIDE. [Homalota.

thorax being evidently broader ; it is more obscurely coloured, has the
elytra more strongly punctured, and the fourth joint of the antennz
longer ; the antennz themselves are longer, and in the male rather more
thickened towards apex; besides this the apex of the upper plate of
seventh segment of male is hardly visibly crenulate ; this latter point will
also serve to distinguish it from H. valida, from which it may, moreover,
be separated by its more obscure colour, paler antenne, and less coarsely
punctured elytra. L. 4 mm.

A Scotch species, not common in Highland districts ; found about decaying branches
of Scoteh fir, &e.; Solway, Forth, Tay, Dee, and Moray districts. In Dr. Power’s
collection there is a specimen from Lee Valley, North Devon, labelled “incognita,
var.,”’ which certainly appears to belong to this species.

H. valida, Kr. (conveca, J. Sahlb., robusta, Muls. et Rey). A
large robust species, black, with the elytra shining brown ; head shin-
ing, finely and sparingly punctured; antenne pitchy with the three
basal joints reddish yellow, rather long and stout, slightly thickened
towards the apex, third joint rather longer than second, 4-10 each
slightly broader than the preceding, in male each longer than broad, in
female about as long as broad, eleventh joint pointed rather longer than
the two preceding ; thorax nearly half as broad again as long, finely
and somewhat diffusely punctured, with a broad shallow impression in
middle of base, and sometimes an indistinct channel; elytra longer than
thorax, strongly and closely punctured and pubescent ; hind body with
apex obscurely paler, segments 2-4 sparingly punctured, 5-6 impunctate
or nearly so; legs yellow. L. 4-43 mm.

Male with the upper plate of seventh segment of hind body crenu-
late, and sometimes slightly emarginate.

In vegetable refuse; rare; Northumberland district, Gosforth, three specimens.

Scotland, Solway, Forth, and Moray districts (Thornhill, Edinburgh, and Strath
Cannich); Ireland, summit of Slieve Donard, co. Down (Champion).

Group 15.

This is a very artificial group, and contains no less than twenty-three
species, varying very much in size, appearance, and habitat; they are
distinguished from the preceding group by having the penultimate joints
of the antenne transverse. H. euryptera, Steph. (suecicola, Thoms.),
and H. diversa are the largest, being about the size of small specimens of
H. wanthoptera, whereas H. palustris (small specimens), H. corvina, H.
puberula, and H. clancula\(atrata) are only about 2 mm. in length, and H.
atomaria and H. perexigua are only 1} mm. and 1 mm. respectively ;
the remaining species vary from 23-3 mm.

H. euryptera, Steph. (succicola, Thoms. et auct., validicornis,
Maerk., Atheta succicola, Thoms.). This species bears rather a strong
relation to H. wanthoptera, but is broader and stouter, and is easily dis-
tinguished by the stouter, shorter, and darker antenne, of which the
penultimate joints are transverse; head narrower than thorax, finely

Homatota. | STAPHYLINID&. 107

and sparingly punctured ; thorax half as broad again as long, a little
narrowed in front, rather finely and not closely punctured, with a more
or less distinct impression in middle of base ; elytra longer than thorax,
brownish, rather closely and finely punctured ; hind body black and
shining, segments 2-4 sparingly but plainly punctured, 5-6 impunctate
or nearly so; legs yellow. L. 34-34 mm,

Male with the apex of upper plate of seventh segment of hind body
truncate, and crenulate, the crenulations being more in number than in
the wanthoptera group.

At sap of trees, in decaying fungi, dead leaves, &c.; rather common throughout
the country. Scotland, common, Solway, Forth, Dee, and probably other districts,

H. trinotata, Kr. (Atheta socialis, Thoms.). A very common and
distinct species, black, with yellowish elytra, which have a dark, more
or less well defined, triangular patch at scutellum, and another one each
side at apical angle; head black, finely and indistinctly punctured,
antenne black or pitechy with lighter base, slightly thickened towards
apex, joints 1-3 moderately long, fourth broader than third, 5-10 dis-
tinctly transverse, eleventh stout, as long as the two preceding
together ; thorax half as broad again as long, with sides nearly straight,
gently rounded in front, finely and not closely punctured, with an in-
distinct impression in middle of base; elytra fully a third longer than
thorax, finely and rather closely punctured ; hind body shining, seg-
ments 2-4 finely and rather closely punctured, fifth distinctly but more
sparingly, sixth very sparingly punctured ; legs yellow. L. 3 mm.

Male with the posterior margin of seventh segment of hind body
finely crenulate, the crenulations being terminated on each side by a small
sharp tooth.

In haystack refuse, decaying sea-weed, dung-heaps, &e.; especially fond of foul
straw ; abundant throughout the kingdom.

H. hybrida, Sharp. Closely allied to the preceding; the colour,
however, is not so well marked, the black being pitchy, and the elytra
obscure yellow with the markings indistinct; the antenne are more
slender, and less thickened towards apex, with the terminal joint longer
and more pointed ; the male characters also are different; in that sex
the penultimate joint of the antenne is plainly longer than in the
female, being about as long as broad, and the seventh dorsal segment of
the hind body has the hind margin non-crenulate ; from H. xanthopus it
may be separated by its shorter and more transverse thorax, broader and
less parallel form, and the male characters, L. 3 mm.

Very rare; Edinburgh (Sharp).

H. xanthopus, Thoms. (sublinearis, Kr., suwbrecta, Muls. et Rey (1),
Atheta xanthopus, Thoms.). A pretty and brightly coloured species, more
parallel and narrower than the two preceding, to which it bears some resem-
blance ; the colour is black with the elytra yellow marked with three rather

108 STAPUYLINIDE. [Homalota.

distinct patches, one triangular at scutellum, and one on each side near
outer angle ; head rather large, rounded behind eyes, rather indistinctly
and not closely punctured ; antennie rather long and stout, pitechy with
basal joints yellow, joints 2-3 equal, fourth small, fifth broader than
fourth, 5-10 transverse but not strongly so, eleventh pointed as long as
the two preceding together; thorax nearly as broad as elytra, plainly
broader than long, indistinctly sculptured; elytra longer than thorax,
distinctly and moderately closely punctured; hind body black and
shining, segments 2—4 sparingly punctured, fifth very sparingly pune-
tured, sixth nearly impunctate ; legs yellow. L. 3 mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body truncate
and crenulate, female with the dorsal and ventral plates of the same
segment very obsoletely emarginate.

In moss, &e.; occasionally in sandpits ; not common; Cobham, Caterham, Shirley,
Charlton, Reigate, Woking, Kilburn, Hampstead, Hythe, St. Mary Cray, Southend ;
Isle of Wight; Doniford, Somerset ; Yardley, Sutton Park, and Knowle, near Bir-
mingham ; Needwood Forest, near Burton-on-Trent ; Northumberland district, rare,
Gosforth and Hartley. Scotland, scarce, Solway district only.

H. triangulum, Kr. Allied to trinotata, but larger and darker,
more parallel, and with the thorax more developed ; the last joint of the
antenne is longer, and the triangular patch round scutellum more de-
veloped and more distinct; the antenne also are entirely black ; the
head is narrower than the thorax, finely and indistinctly punctured ;
antenne rather long and stout with penultimate joints transverse, but
not strongly so; thorax a third broader than long, finely and somewhat
closely punctured, strongly alutaceous between the punctures; elytra
testaceous with a large dark, well-defined patch at scutellum, and
another on each side at apical angles extending more or less towards
base, distinctly punctured; hind body shining, with segments 2—4
cee punctured, fifth very sparingly, sixth impunctate or nearly

; legs fusco-testaceous, femora pitchy. L. 3-31 mm.

ats with the apex of dorsal plate of seventh’ segment of hind body
truncate and crenulate, the outer crenulations being more distinct,
female with the apex of dorsal and ventral plates of the same segment
very feebly emarginate.

In decaying sea-weed, haystack refuse, &c.; also at sap of trees; not uncommon in
the London district ; Tonbridge ; Margate; Hastings ; Knowle, near Birmingham,
under bones; Repton, Burton-on-Trent ; Wallasey near Liverpool; English Lake
district ; not recorded from the Northumberland district or from Scotland.

H. fungicola, Thoms. (itidicollis, Fairm., Atheta fungicola, Thoms.).
A variable species; black or pitchy black, with the fore parts dull, and
the elytra brown; head narrower than thorax, broad and short, finely
and not closely punctured; antenne rather stout, dark, with basal joints
lighter, third joint plainly longer than second, slender in female, stout in
male, fourth joint small, fifth broader than fourth, 5-10 distinctly but
not strongly transverse, eleventh pointed as long as the two preceding
together ; thorax about as broad as elytra, half as broad again as long,

Honalota. | STAPHYLINIDE. 109

sometimes with an indistinct central channel, rather closely and dis-
tinctly punctured ; elytra one-third longer than thorax, thickly pune-
tured, closely pubescent; hind body black and shining, sometimes with
apex of segments and extremity yellowish, segments 2—f finely and not
closely punctured, fifth sparingly punctured, sixth impunctate; legs
yellow. L. 3 mm.

Male with upper plate of seventh segment of hind body truncate and
finely crenulate, the crenulations being terminated on each side by a more
distinct tubercle; ventral plate more produced and narrower than in
female ; female with the ventral plate broad at margin and gently
rounded, but a variety oceurs rarely in which it is distinctly and rather
deeply excised.

Among dead leaves, at sap of felled trees, in decaying fungi (especially in autumn),
&e, ; abundant throughout the kingdom.

H. ignobilis, Sharp. Allied to H. fungicola, and included under
it as synonymous by some continental authorities; it is, however, a
little larger and darker, and not so flat, with the front parts not so dull,
the base of the antennw dark, and the head narrower; the thighs are
pitchy, and the tibie pitchy testaceous ; the male characters are much as
in H. fungicola, but the ventral plate of the seventh segment of hind
body in the female has the hind margin fringed with closely set, parallel
cilia, and is in the middle distinctly excised. L. 3 mm.

In decaying fungi; &e.; not common; Sevenoaks, Loughton, Darenth Wood,
Shirley, Putney, Dorking, Mickleham, Caterham, St. Mary Cray, Croydon, Lee,
Dulwich ; Tonbridge; Hastings; Knowle and Yardley, near Birmingham; Man-
chester; Northumberland district, Gosforth, Wallington, &c.; Scotland, local, Forth
and Solway districts.

H. diversa, Sharp. Allied to H. sucetcola but not quite so shining,
with darker elytra, and differently formed antenne, the fourth joint not
being transverse, the following ones narrower, and the eleventh joint
much shorter than in that species; head much narrower than thorax,
generally with a small fovea; thorax nearly half as broad again as long,
with a more or less distinct central channel, finely and not closely punc-
tured ; elytra longer than thorax, pitchy brown, rather closely and dis-
tinetly punctured ; hind body shining, segments 2—4 finely and sparingly
punctured, fifth very sparingly punctured, sixth impunctate or nearly
so; legs testaceous. L. 3} mm.

Male with the hind margin of seventh segment of hind body trun-
cate and finely crenulate, with a distinet tubercle on each side.

From H. fungicola this species may be distinguished by its larger size,
darker colour, less parallel form, and differently formed antenne.

Found only in Scotland in the Solway, Tay, and Dee districts; apparently not
uncommon at Rannoch,

H. boletobia, Thoms. (n/qrifula, Grav. nee Gyll., pubescens, Heer,
Homalota (Tetropla) nigritula, Muls. et Rey, Atheta boletobia, Thoms.).

110 STAPHYLINID®. | Homatota.

Black or pitchy with the elytra and apex of hind body testaceous, the
former with obscure dark markings at scutellum and at hinder angles ;
form rather short and broad; head broad and short, shining, finely and
indistinctly punctured ; antenne short, a little thickened towards apex,
pitchy, with paler base, fourth joint small, 5-10 distinctly transverse,
eleventh rather long, nearly twice as long as tenth; thorax often
pitchy, nearly as broad as elytra, very transverse, rather finely and not
closely punctured, with an indistinct impression at base, or central
channel; elytra longer than thorax, rather distinctly punetured ; hind
body with segments 2—4 distinctly but not closely punctured, fifth
punctured at base smooth at apex, sixth impunctate; legs yellow.
L. 22 mm.

Male with the posterior margin of seventh segment of hind body
truncate, with four blunt obsolete teeth.

A southern species as a rule; local and not very common ; in decaying fungi, &e. ;
London district generally ; Tonbridge; Knowle, near Birmingham; Repton, near
Burton-on-Trent ; I can find no record from further north.

H. liturata, Steph. (nigritula, Gyll. nec Gray., Gravenhorsti, Kr.).
Pitchy black or pitchy testaceous with the head and more or less of the
hind body before apex dark, and the elytra and apex of hind body
always testaceous; head narrower than thorax, finely and indistinctly
punctured ; antennz rather short and stout, yellow, joits 2-3 of about
equal length, 4-10 short, the latter very transverse, eleventh long, as
long as the two preceding together ; thorax strongly transverse, twice as
broad as long, finely punctured, with or without a central furrow ;
elytra half as long again as thorax, finely and densely punctured ; hind
body with segments 2—4 finely but not very closely punctured, 5-6 im-
punctate or nearly so; legs pale yellow. L. 25 mm.

Male with a semicircular incision in middle of hind margin of
dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body, with the margin thickened,
and a raised line outside on each side terminating in a slight projection
at each outer angle.

Very local; in fungi; Cambridge Fens, abundant (Crotch) ; Tonbridge (Horner) ;
Tewkesbury (Blatch).

H. coriaria, Kr. A rather broad and convex species; black,
shining, occasionally partly obscurely piceous, with the elytra brown ;
head rather broad, but narrower than thorax, finely punctured, rounded
behind eyes; antenne blackish, with base lighter, rather stout and
short, a little thickened towards apex, joints 2—3 of equal length, fourth
small not quite so long as broad, 5-10 transverse, but not strongly so,
eleventh as long as the two preceding ; thorax strongly transverse, twice
as broad as long, narrower in front than behind, very finely punctured,
in female with a small fovea in front of scutellum, in male more or less
distinctlyimpressed in middle; elytra longer than thorax, finelyand closely
punctured; hind body shining, segments 2-4 sparingly, fifth very

an i TT OO re

Homalota.] STAPHYLINIDE. 111

sparingly, punctured, sixth almost impunctate ; legs yellow, sometimes a
little pitchy. L. 22 mm.

Male with the upper plate of seventh segment of hind body witha
notch on middle of hind margin, lateral margin on each side produced
into a small tooth; third and fourth joints of antenne strongly ciliated,
and thorax impressed in middle.

At sap of felled trees ; also in cut grass, moss, &c. ; occasionally in sandpits ; not
common; Mickleham, Darenth Wood, Weybridge, West Wickham, Sittingbourne,
Shirley; Littlington and Hurst, Sussex; Winchester; Knowle, near Birmingham ;
Repton, Burton-on-Trent ; also recorded from Manchester in fungi, but this may be

in error as its habitat is usually different; Scotland, local, Solway district only ;
Thornhill (Sharp).

H. sodalis, Er. (incisa, Muls. et Rey, Atheta sodalis, Thoms.).
Rather like the preceding, but larger ; somewhat convex, rather shining,
black with the elytra obscurely brownish, or nearly black ; head rather
small, finely and indistinctly punctured; antenne somewhat stout,
thickened towards apex, pitchy with paler base, joints 2-3 nearly equal,
fourth about as long as broad, 5-10 gradually more distinctly transverse,
eleventh as long as the two preceding together; thorax transverse, but
not so plainly as in the preceding species, narrowed in front, distinctly
and not finely punctured, with a broad obsolete impression in front of
scutellum, sometimes appearing double ; elytra longer than thorax, thickly
and plainly punctured and pubescent ; hind body shining, seements 2—4
distinctly but not thickly punctured, 5-6 nearly impunctate ; legs reddish
yellow. L. 3 mm.

Male with the hind margin of upper plate of seventh segment
emarginate and very obsoletely crenulate.

In decaying fungi, dead leaves, moss, &c.; sometimes at sap; not uncommon ;
London district generally ; Tonbridge; Birmingham district ; Bewdley ; Needwood ;
Manchester; Northumberland district; Scotland, local, Forth, Dee, Solway, and
probably other districts.

H. humeralis, Kr. (fennica, J. Sahlb., Atheta pallidicornis, Thoms.,
Homalota (Mycota) humeralis, Muls. et Rey). Very like H. sodalis
but differs, according to Mulsant and Rey, in being generally darker,
except as regards legs ; in this respect, however, it must be variable, as
Dr. Sharp (Ent. Mo. Mag. viii. 247), comparing it with H. sodalis, speaks
of it as “smaller, with paler elytra and antennz,” and his single specimen
certainly presents these characters in a marked degree; the antenne are
decidedly shorter with the fifth to the tenth joints more strongly
transverse ; the elytra are shorter, and the hind body is even more
sparingly punctured ; iu the male the hind margin of the upper plate of
seventh segment of hind body is scarcely sinuate, and finely and
obsoletely crenulate, the outside crenulations being the strongest.
L. 24 mm.

Very rare; Cirencester (McNab) ; Winchester (Horner): in France this species
occurs rarely among dead leaves and in old faggots on which there is fungoid growth.

112 STAPHYLINIDE. [ JZomalota.

H. clancula, Er. (atrata, Kr. (? Mann.), Dochmonota funebris,
Thoms., Dochmonota atrata, Mauls. et Rey). Allied to gagatina, but
rather smaller, shorter, and broader with the hind body thickly and finely
punctured over the whole upper surface; the form of the species is
short and compact, and somewhat resembles that of a Gyrophaena; the
colour is black with the elytra obscure brown ; head finely and thickly
punctured ; antenne slightly thickened towards apex, third joint oblong
plainly shorter and more slender than second, fourth joint rather
strongly, 5-10 strongly, transverse ; thorax much broader than long with
sides rather strongly rounded, thickly and finely punctured, with an
obsolete central furrow ; ; elytra longer than thorax, broader than long,
finely, thickly, and slightly rugosely punctured; hind body with all the
segments finely, thickly, and almost uniformly punctured ; legs clear
yellow. L.2 mm.

Male characters apparently obscure.

Very rare ; ina marshy place near Lee, Kent, in flood refuse, during early spring
(Champion) : rare in France in damp forests, among dead leaves.

H. gagatina, Baudi (variabilis, Ky, proxima, Kr., mutata,
Fairm., Atheta compressicollis, Thoms., sub-gen. Alaolia, Muls. et Rey).
Rather convex, thickly pubescent, and rather dull in consequence,
black, with the elytra brownish or pitchy brown; head moderately
broad, much narrower than thorax, finely punctured ; antenne rather
slender, a little thickened towards apex, pitechy black with basal joints
yellow or yellowish, joints 2-3 about equal, 4-6 about as long as broad,
7-10 slightly transverse, eleventh as long as the two preceding together ;
thorax very little narrower than elytra, half as broad again as long,
narrower in front than behind, finely and rather closely punctured, very
indistinctly impressed in front of scutellum; elytra plainly longer than
thorax, finely and closely punctured; hind body black with extremity
sometimes paler, segments 2-4 distinctly and moderately closely
punctured, fifth sparingly punctured, sixth nearly impunctate, segments
5-6 rather shining; legs yellow, sometimes more or less pitehy. L.
2+ mm.

Male with the hind margin of dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind
body furnished with a slightly emarginate or bidentate plate, flanked on
each side by a long tooth, each of these separated from the central plate
by a very deep notch.

In fungi, dead leaves, &c.; generally distributed and not uncommon, although
somewhat local, in the South and Midland districts ; rarer further north ; Northumber-
land district, rare ; Scotland, not common, Solway and Moray districts ; the northern
specimens are larger and darker.

The male is easy to distinguish, but the female rather closely seule
Hl. fungicola.

H. divisa, Maerk. (impressicollis, Muls. et Rey, Atheta aridula,
Thoms., Microdota divisa, Muls. et Rey, sub-gen. Trawmecia, Rey,

Homalota. | STAPHYLINIDE, 113

teste H. R. W.). A rather broad, pone parallel, flat species,
distinguished by the strongly channelled head and thorax in male, and
the comparativ ely elongate. eleventh joint of the antennz in both sexes
black, anterior parts dull, elytra fuscous, or dark yellowish brown ; head
subquadrate, plainly channelled in m ile, finely punctured ; antenne
rather slender, fuscous with lighter base, third joint not quite so long as
second, fourth rather small about as long as broad, 5-10 slightly
transverse, eleventh proportionally long about three times as long as
tenth ; thorax distinctly transverse, rounded in front, finely and closely

punctured, channelled, the channel in the male being entire, in the
female more or less abbreviated. in front; elytra plainly longer than
thorax, finely and rather thickly punctured ; hind body with segments
2-4 finely, and rather closely, punctured, fifth more sparingly punctured,
sixth nearly impunctate ; legs light yellow. L.25 mm.

Male as above, with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body
with thickened margin, feebly emarginate and very obsoletely erenulate ;
female with forehead and thorax rather finely ciliated on their central
line.

In fungi, moss, dead leaves, dead animals, &c. ; rather widely distributed, but rare ;
Darenth Wood, St. Mary Cray, Gravesend, Wootton, ‘Tonbridge, Richmond,
Weybridge, Mickleham, Putney, Esher, Shirley, Tilgate Forest; Deal; Hastings ;
Winchester ; Birmingham district (under bones, &c.); Bewdley Forest ; Manchester ;
Holy Island (J. J. Walker). Scotland, local, Forth and Solway districts; Ireland,
near Waterford (Power).

H,. nigricornis, Thoms. (T7homsoni, Jans. Atheta nigricornis,
Thoms., Zraumacia nigricornis, Muls. et Rey). Allied to H. divisa, but
distinguished by its somewhat broader form, especially in female, and
darker colour, especially of the elytra, and also by the shorter list joint
of antenne ; black, with elytra fuscous black, finely and indistinetly
punctured, head finely punctured, in male more or less depressed, but not
channelled; antenne rather Jong, slightly thickened towards apex,
black, with the basal joint pitchy, joints 2-8 about equal, fourth about
as long as broad, fifth slightly, 6-10 evidently transverse, eleventh
nearly ‘twice as long as fen thorax about half as broad again as long,
with sides rounded in front, and scarcely narrowed behind, male with a
broad depression on disc, female sometimes, but not always, with an
abbreviated channel before scutellum; elytra longer than thorax, finely
and closely punctured; hind body with segments 2-4 finely and
moderately thickly punctured, fifth segment very sparingly and finely
punctured, sixth nearly impunctate ; legs ‘pitchy yellow, femora darker
than tibia. L. 23 mm.

Male with the posterior margin of the dorsal plate of the seventh
abdominal segment slightly excavated.

At sap of felled trees, in vegetable refuse, fungi, &c. ; not uncommon, but local and
not abundant; Darenth Wood, Shirley, Esher, Weybridge, Richmond Park,
Micklehamn, Streatham (in Cossus-burrows) ; Tonbridge ; Glanvilles Wotton; New

VOL. If. t

114. STAPHYLINID#. { Homalota.

Forest ; Exmouth; Birmingham district ; Northumberland district, rare; Scotland,
rare, Solway district.

z. ravilla, Er. (Atheta angusticollis, Thoms. 9, Atheta ravilla,
Thoms., Homalota (Dimetrota) ravilla, Muls. et Rey, sub-gen. Philhygra,
Rey, teste H. R. W.). Rather narrow and elongate, black with the
elytra fuscous ; very like the preceding, but distinguished by the less
transverse penultimate joints of the antennz in the male, and by the
thorax in that sex being not broadly depressed but more or less ob-oletely
channelled ; in the female the dise is smooth; the antenne are black
or pitchy black with the basal joint lighter; the head is rather large,
scarcely narrower than thorax, with sides straight behind the eyes
and then rounded at posterior angles ; the punctuation of thorax is. less
dense and fine than that of elytra; hind body much as in the preceding
species ; legs pitchy testaceous, femora darker. L. 22 mm.

Male with the hind margin of dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind
body obsoletely emarginate.

In dead leaves, fungi, vegetable refuse, &e.; local; Chatham, Bexley, Mickleham,
Croydon, Richmond Park, Esher, Cobham, Tilgate Forest ; New Forest; Yardley and
Knowle, near Birmingham; Hopwas Wood, ‘lamworth (dead animals); Sherwood
Forest; Manchester; Northumberland district, rare; Scotland, common, Solway,
Forth, Tay, Dee, and Moray districts ; Ireland, near Waterford (Power).

It seems now to be agreed that H. ravilla and H. angusticollis are
synonymous; it used to be considered that H. ravilla was distinct by
having the terminal joint of the antennz longer.

H. palustris, Kies. (cwrrens, Woll., Atheta brunnipes, Thoms..
Microdota (Philhygra) palustris, Muls. et Rey). Allied to the preceding,
but distinguished from it by its more shining appearance, broader thorax,
shorter elytra, and the male characters; black, shining, with the elytra
cbseurely brown; head slightly narrower than thorax, indistinctly
punctured ; antenne rather slender, pitchy or pitchy black with base
sometimes obscurely paler, third joint not quite so long as second, fourth
smaller than fifth, 6-10 each a little broader than long, eleventh about
twice as long as the preceding ; thorax broader than long, very finely and
not closely punctured, and extremely finely pubescent; elytra longer
than thorax, sometimes almost black, finely and closely punctured ;
hind body black and shining, segments 2-4 finely and moderately closely
punctured, filth very finely and sparingly punctured, sixth almost
‘impunctate ; legs yellow, somewhat infuscate. L. 2-25 mm.

Male with the hind margin of dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind
body distinctly emarginate.

In haystack refuse, dung. fungi, &e.; often near banks of streams; moderately
common throughout the greater part of England and Scotland; it has not been
recorded from the Northumberland district, but probably occurs,

EH. corvina, Thoms. (lepida, Kr., Atheta corvina, Thoms., Anopleta
lepida, Muls. et Rey). This is a smali dark species, black, with the elytra

Homatlota. } STAPHYLINID. 115

also black or pitchy black ; it is distinguished by its large and rather
long head, which in the male has a deep longitudinal channel along its
whole length, and in the female a short impression in middle behind
antenne ; the antenne are black, with the basal joint pitchy, third
joint not so long as second, fourth smaller than any others, 5-10
distinctly transverse, tenth longer and ey less transverse than ne
eleventh rather short and stout, only about half as long again as tenth
thorax very plainly narrower than elytra, searcely a third broader than
long, finely, but somewhat roughly sculptured, in male with a large
fovea in middle, in female indistinctly éhannelled before scutellum. :
elytra half as long again as thorax, finely and rather closely punctured ;
hind body shining, segments 24 sparingly punctured, 5-6 nearly
impunctate ; legs pitchy or pitchy testaceous. L. 13-2 mm.

Male with the seventh segment of hind body narrower than in female,
and the apex of its dorsal plate a little truncate, third joint of antenne
stouter.

In decaying fungi, vegetable refuse, &e., especially in the autumn; very local, but
occasionally common; Ashtead, Esher, Mickleliam, Weybridge, Richmond Park ;
Loughton ; Tonbridge Wells; New Forest; Sutton Park, Birmingham ; Sherwood

Forest ; Nor thumberland district, rare and local ; Scotland, scarce, Solway, Forth,
and Dee districts. -

H. puberula, Sharp (sub-gen. Anopleta, Rey). Allied to the
preceding, and about the size of that species, hut differs in being more
parallel, and especially in having the thorax distinctly broader, very
nearly as broad as the elytra ; the anterior parts of the body are also
much more finely and sparingly punctured ; head rather broad, flat and
shining, slightly channelled in male ; antenre black, rather long pro-
portionally, third joint shorter than second, 4-10 each slightly broader
than the preceding, eacha little transverse and a little narrowed to base,
eleventh joint not twice as long as tenth; thorax nearly as broad as
elytra, more than half as broad again as long, very finely and sparingly
punctured, with a deep impression on dise in male; elytra black, or
pitchy, much longer than thorax, finely and not closely punctured ;
abdomen black and shining, pubescent, sparingly punctured in front,
impunctate, or nearly so, behind; legs yellowish, slightly infuscate, or
dirty yellow. L. 2mm.

Male with dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body broad and
truncate, and crenulate.

Very rare; in dead leaves, and perhaps fungi ; September and October; Mickleham,
Surrey (Power and Sharp); Caterham, Surrey (Champion), one specimen by brushing
herbage ; Watermoutb, North Devon (Power).

H. atomaria, Kr. (ylabricula, Thoms., minuscula, Bris., Ouralia
atomaria, Muls. et Rey). A very small, narrow, black, and very shining
species, with punctuation and pubescence scarcely visible ; head a little
narrower than thorax ; antenne black, base sometimes pitchy, a little

thickened towards apex, third joint shorter and more slender than
Ties

116 STAPH YLINID. { Homalota.

second, 4-10 transverse, eleventh nearly twice as long as tenth ; thorax
nearly as broad as elytra, not very transverse, with a small obsolete
Impression in middle of base ; elytra black, or sometimes pitchy,
extremely finely punctured ; hind body black and shining, broader at
apex, and narrowed gradually to base, very sparingly punctured ; legs
pitchy. L.12 mm.

Sexual characters obscure, except that the male has the seventh
segment of hind body narrower.

In cut grass, dead leaves, &c.; rare ; Sanderstead, Peckham, Ashtead, and Mickleham,
Surrey ; Birdbrook, Essex ; New Forest ; Scotland, rare, Solway and Dee districts ; it
probably occurs in intervening localities, and is very likely overlooked by reason of its
minute size.

HZ. perexigua, Sharp. Very closely allied to the preceding ; it is,
however, as Dr, Sharp (le. p. 215) remarks, still smaller and more
fragile, with the thorax less transverse, and more distinctly narrower
than the elytra; the antenne are evidently thinner, but, as they are
similarly formed, the intermediate joints are less transverse ; the male
has the seventh segment of hind body narrower than the female, with
the ventral plate narrow, a little produced, and with hind margin
rounded. L. 1mm.

Tn dead leaves, flood refuse, &e.; very rare; London district (Sharp) ; Tonbridge
(Horner) ; Walton-on-Thames (Champion) ; Sheerness (J. J. Walker).

Section VI.

Hind body parallel; thorax strongly transverse ; penultimate joints of
the antenne strongly transverse.
This section may be divided into the following two groups :—

16. Moderately-sized species, or not very small species (p. 116).
17. Very small species, none exceeding 2 mm. in length, and usually less (p. 119).

Group 16.

This group contains several well-marked species, which differ con-
siderably in colour and size; the male characters are very peculiar and
pronounced ; Dr. Sharp includes H. cinnamomea and H. hospita in this
group, but the abdomen in these species is so evidently narrowed to
apex that it is better to separate them, more especially as they are
considered a very distinct genus (Thamiarwa) by Thomson and other
authorities, far removed from Homalota: I have now placed these two
species as a separate genus just before H. flavipes, confusa, and anceps,
to the first two of which they bear a somewhat close relation ; they are
placed near these by Mulsant and Rey and other continental authorities,
and it seems hardly right to separate them more widely than is possible.

¥. scapularis, Sahlb. (echracea, Er., Alaobia scapularis, Thoms.).

Homalota.} STAPHYLINIDE, 117

Rufo-testaceous with the head and the fourth and fifth segments of hind
body blackish, pubescence well marked and coarse; head roundish,
rather small, together with thorax rather finely and moderately closely
punctured ; antenne yellow at base, darker towards apex, somewhat
thickened towards extremity, third joint as long and as thick as second,
fourth about as long as broad, 5-10 plainly transverse, eleventh about as
long as the two preceding ; thorax convex, nearly twice as broad as long,
narrowed in front; elytra longer than thorax, closely and rather strongly
punctured ; hind body with segments 2-4 rather strongly and closely
punctured, fifth more sparingly punctured, sixth almost impunctate ;
legs yellow. L. 23-3 mm.

Male with the hind margin of dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind
body armed with four teeth, the middle ones stout, short, and rounded,
the outer ones slender and pointed.

In moss, fungi, &c.; occasionally by evening sweeping; rather scarce; Monk’s
Wood, Weybridge, Mickleham, Croydon, Darenth Wood, Esher, Chatham, Strood ;
Glanvilles Wootton; Tonbridge; The Holt, Farnham; Hastings; Folkestone ;
Brighton ; Scotland, Tay district, Aviemore (Champion).

H. subterranea, Muls. et Rey (sub-gen. Alaobia, Muls. et Rey).
Allied to the preceding, and coloured in the same way, but smaller and
narrower, a little more shining, less pubescent, and less thickly and
more finely punctured; the antenne are a little more thickened towards
apex, and have the third joint more slender, and the penultimate shorter ;
the head and thorax are smoother, and the thorax is plainly less narrowed
in front, and is almost as broad as the elytra; the elytra are a little
shorter in proportion, and the hind body is a little less punctured ; legs
yellow. L. 22 mm.

Male with the hind margin of the dorsal plate of seventh segment of
hind body furnished with four strong teeth of nearly equal length, the
inner ones rounded, the outer more pointed.

Very rare; Sco'laud only ; Beauly in Inverness-shire (Crotch) ; Forres (Hislop) ;
according to Dr. Sharp it is found among moss and dead leaves ; it occurs in
Provence near Hyéres, according to Mulsant aud Rey, in April, under stones, in

company with a species of testaceous ant of the genus Atta, and is sometimes found at
a depth of four inches below the surface of the ground.

H. dilaticornis, Kr. (Ceritaxa dilaticornis, Muls. ct Rey). Rufous
or rufo-testaceous, with the head, and the bind hody, except apex, and
more or less of the extreme base, dark ; the elytra also have the apical
angles more or less infuscate; from H. scapularis it may at once be
separated by its smaller size, less robust form, ditlerently shaped head,
and narrower thorax ; it rather closely resembles H. swhterranca, but may
be distinguished by the shape of its head, narrower thorax, rather less
robust form, and the male characters ; the upper surface is finely punc-
tured and delicately pubescent ; the head presents a peculiar shape
through being strongly narrowed behind eyes; the antenne are con-
siderably thickened towards apex, with joints 2-3 of about equal

118 STAPHYLINIDS. | Homalota.

length, fourth small but transverse, 5-10 strongly transverse, eleventh
as long as the two preceding ; thorax plainly narrower than elytra, slightly
narrowed in front ; elytra slightly longer than thorax; hind body with
segments 2—4 finely and sparingly punctured, 5-6 nearly smooth ; legs
yellow. L. 25 mm.

Male characters very peculiar; seventh segment of hind body with
dorsal plate a little produced behind in middle, with a notch in middle
of hind margin, the edge of which is thickened ; a little before the
hind margin, close to the outside is to be seen on each side a distinct
raised tubercle ; the lateral margin of the segment is on each side pro-
duced into a slender and indistinct spine, not reaching so far back as
the produced middle part of segment.

» In moss, &e.; very rare ; Mickleham (Champion and Power); Caterham (Champion).

H. testaceipes, Heer (/revicollis, Baudi, varicornis, Kr., Saunderst,
Rye, Ceritara testace/pes, Heer). Rather shining, finely punctured, and
pubescent, black, with the elytra testaceous, the lateral margins and
sometimes a patch at scutellum being obscurely darker; the species is
flatter, broader, and darker in colour than the two preceding ; head
rather broad, black and shining ; antennz short, and very stout, blackish,
paler at base, third joint nearly as long as second, fourth small, but
transverse, 5-10 strongly transverse, eleventh pointed, as long as the two
preceding ; thorax nearly as broad as elytra, about twice as broad as
long, not much narrowed in front; elytra longer than thorax, finely
but rather distinctly punctured ; hind body black and shining, segments
2-4 sparingly and finely punctured, fifth very sparingly “punctured,
sixth nearly impunctate ; legs yellow. L. 23 mm.

Male with hind margin of dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind
body furnished on each side with a very slender spine, curved on its
interior side towards apex, and in the middle with two teeth, blunt and
broad at apex, not so far prolonged as the lateral spines, and separated
by a strong deep excision.

Sandy and chalky places; in moss, &e.; rare; Reigate, Ezham, Walton-on-
Thames, Sanderstead, Chatham, Mickleham, Esher, Croydon, Faversham, Staines ;
Littlington, Sussex; Scotland, Tay district, Braemar (Champion); in Mrance it

appears to be widely distributed and not uncommon in vegetable refuse, dry dung, and
eavcases of small animals.

H. oblita, Er. (Jongula, Fairm., Homalota (Alaobia) oblita, Muls.
et Rey). Black, rather dull, with the elytra brownish or fuscous, and
the apex of hind body sometimes yellowish ; a small and obscure species
with short stout antenne; head broad, rather closely, but very finely
and indistinctly punctured ; antenne pitchy, with base obscurely red-
dish, joints 2-3 of about equal length, fourth transverse, 5-10 strongly
transverse ; thorax nearly as broad as elytra, fully half as broad again as
long, with ‘sides gently rounded in front, very finely punctured, distinctly

channelled; elytra longer than thorax, finely and closely punctured,
nearly black, fuscous brow n, or brown ; hind -body distinctly pubescent,

Homalota. | STAPHYLINID&. 119

with segments 2-4 distinctly and rather closely punctured, fifth spar-
ingly and finely punctured, sixth nearly impunctate ; legs testaceous,
sometimes slightly pitchy. L. 2 mm.

Male with dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body with two
stout rounded teeth or tubercles, separated at apex by a slight notch, and
with a rather longer, slender, pointed spine on each side, curved
inwards.

In decaying fungi, dead leaves, &c., especially in the autumn ; loeal, but occasionally
found in numbers; Loudon district, generally; Littlington, Sussex; Tonbridge ;
Stourport, Birmingham district, fungi; not recorded from further north,

H. autumnalis, Er. (/foveola, Muls. et Rey, laticornis, Mots.,
Microdota autumnalis, Muls. et Rey). Rather like the preceding, but dis-
tinguished from it by being more sparingly punctured and pubescent,
by its brighter-coloured legs and base of antennz, and by the shape of the
thorax which has the sides straighter and less narrowed in front; the
antenne also are shorter ; black, rather dull, with the elytra brownish ;
head broad, indistinctly punctured ; antenne pitchy with the three basal
joints yellow, third joint more slender than second, but nearly as long,
fourth small, nearly as long as broad, 5-10 plainly transverse ; thorax
transverse, nearly as broad in front as behind, finely and sparingly
punctured, with an indistinct, longitudinal central channel ; elytra longer
than thorax and more closely and distinctly punctured; hind body with

‘segments 2-4 sparingly and moderately finely punctured, 5-6 nearly
impunctate ; legs yellow. L. 2 mm.

Male with the front of the head channelled, hind margin of dorsal
plate of seventh segment of hind body furnished with four teeth, the
lateral ones fine and pointed and separated from the middle ones by a
deep excision on each side, the middle ones broad and rounded and near
one another; segments 5-6 with oblong granulations ; the whole upper
surface is rather strongly alutaceous between the punctures in both
sexes, and hence the dull appearance of the insect.

In marshy places ; often under bark ; also at the exuding frass of Cossus-infected
trees; rare; Norwood, Coombe Wood, Cowley (Power, at sap); Hampstead; Ton-
‘bridge; Granvilles Wotton; New Forest; Bedford; Bewdley Forest; Salford
Priors; Knowle, near Birmingham ; also recorded from Manchester, but from no place
further north.

This species curls up its hind body in running like a Gyrophena.

Group 17.

This group is composed of small species, none of them except large
specimens of H. sericea exceeding 2 mm. in leneth, and some of them
being among the smallest representatives of the genus; H. inquinula,
in fact, is the smallest species known; the species are found in moss,
fungi, bottoms of haystacks, and in vegetable refuse generally ; also in
dung, and dead birds and animals, and occasionally at sap; some of

120 STAPHYLINIDZ. [ Homalota.

them are extremely closely allied ; in fact by some continental authori-
ties H. indiscreta, Sharp, is now considered as synonymous with H. sub-
tilis, Seviba, and ZH. atricolor, Sharp, with H. mortuorum, Thoms. ; the
former pair differ in certain points of size and punctuation, but are
certainly very hard to distinguish ; the latter, however, appear very dis-
tinct by reason of the relative difference of the length of the elytra and
different sculpture ; as regards the former point, however, some specimens
appear to differ somewhat from others.

EZ. sericea, Muls. (amicula, Steph., Microdota sericea, Muls. et
Rey). Black with the elytra blackish or pitehy black, rather shining,
somewhat robust, with short, stout, more or less pitchy antenne ; head
rather Jarge with sides straight behind eyes and then narrowed ; antennz
with two first joints hghter, thickened from third joint to apex,
second joint stout, third shorter than second, 4-10 gradually stouter,
and more transverse, the latter being strongly transverse, eleventh stout
as long as the two preceding ; thorax nearly as broad as elytra, half as
broad again as long, about as wide in front as behind, sometimes with
an obscure channel, sometimes with an indistinct impression before
scutellum, sometimes without either, finely punctured; elytra rather
short, slightly longer than thorax, finely and closely punctured and
pubescent ; hind body black, broader towards apex, segments 2-4 finely
and vather sparingly punctured, 5-6 nearly impunctate; legs dusky
testaceous. L. 13-2 mm.

Male with the apical margin of seventh segment of hind body rather
broadly and very feebly emarginate, the emargination sometimes being
extremely indistinctly crenulate, under plate of the same segment more
produced than in female.

At bottoms of haystacks, in vegetable refuse, funyi, &e.; also at sap of felled trees ;
common throughout the country.

H. subtilis, Scriba (Homalota (Alaobia) subtilis, Muls. et Rey).
Allied to the preceding ; itis, however, distinguished by its thicker punc-
tution and pubescence, longer elytra, and more slender antenn, of which
joints 2-6 are evidently thinner; the hind body is punctured much as
in HZ, sericea, but not quite so sparmely ; the male, apparently, has the
apex of the seventh segment of hind body indistinctly truncate and not
emarginate, but the sexual characters appear to be obscure and hardly
known ; Mulsant and Rey remark that its form is less linear than that of
H. sericea, and that it is further distinguished by having the third joint of
the antenne not shorter than the second, but these characters, certainly
the latter of them, seem to be of little value. L. 15 mm.

Rare ; usually found singly; Scotland, Forth, Solway, Tay, and Dee districts;
Sherwood Forest (W. G. Blatch).

HL. indiscreta, Sharp. Closely allied to the preceding, but a
little more shining, with the thorax foveolate at base, and the hind
body differently punctured ; in H. sericea and H. subtilis segments 2-4

Homalota. | STAPHYLINIDA. 121

are rather sparingly punctured, and 5-6 almost smooth, whereas in this
species segments 2-4 are rather closely punctured, the fifth more spar-
ingly, and the sixth is almost smooth ; the punctuation appears very
slightly coarser in Dr. Sharp’s type specimen of the male, and the
upper surface of seventh segment is granulate; there appears some
doubt whether it is a distinct species. L. 13 mm.

Rare ; Scotland, Solway, Dee, and Moray districts.

According to Dr. Sharp this species is distinguished from H. sericea
by being darker in colour, more depressed, rather broader, but more
narrowed to the front, tle pubescence finer, denser, and more regular,
and the elytra longer in proportion to the thorax; from H, indubia it
is distinguished by its shorter antenne which are more thickened
towards the apex, of which joints 5-10 are distinctly transverse, and
by the uncrenulate seventh segment of hind body in male.

H. indubia, Sharp. About the size of H. sericea but blacker, still
more sparingly pubescent, and therefore more shining, with the antenne
not quite so stout; head rather broad, with disc flat, almost smooth ;
antenne black, with joints 2-3 longer and more slender than in H.
sericea, fifth slightly transverse, 9-10 strongly so, eleventh pointed, as
long as the two preceding ; thorax half as broad again as long, finely
and sparingly punctured and pubescent, indistinctly impressed before
scutelium ; elytra longer than thorax and more distinctly punctured ;
hind body black and shining, segments 2-4 sparingly punctured, 5-6
almost impunctate. L. 13 mm.

Male with apical margin of seventh abdominal segment distinctly and
plainly crenulate : this is the best distinguishing mark of the species.

In haystack rubbish, dead leaves, tidal refuse, &c.; rare; Sheerness, Weybridge,
Birdbrook, Mickleham, Caterham, Sanderstead, Cowley, Birch Wood; Loughton ;
St. Leonards ; Hastings; Tonbridge ; Seaton, Devonshire ; Smallheath and Knowle
(bones) ; Yardley, near Birmingham (grass-tufts) ; Scotland, scarce, Forth and Solway
districts.

EH. mortuorum, Thoms. (Atheta mortuorum, Thoms.). Allied to
H. sericea, but smaller and blacker, and with shorter antenne than in
that species, the basal joints being less elongate ; head nearly as broad
as thorax, with an impression or channel in middle; antenne black,
thickened towards apex, second joint almost twice as long as third, 4-10
distinctly transverse, eleventh about twice as long as tenth; thorax
transverse, subquadrate, rather dull, thickly punctured, sometimes
obsoletely channelled ; elytra short, scarcely longer than thorax, black
or dark fuscous, very closely punctured and pubescent; hind body
rather shining, with segments 2-4 somewhat closely punctured, 5-6
smooth ; legs pitchy. L. 14 mm.

Sexual differences obscure.

Rare; Dr. Power has specimens in his collection from Shirley, Esher, Birch Wood,

Highgate, and Littlington, but I do not feelsure that they all belong to this species.
Scotland, rare, Tay, Dee, and Solway districts.

122 STAPHYLINID®. | Homalota,

H. atricolor, Sharp. Very closely allied to the preceding, but it
is slightly smaller, and plainly narrower, and the punctuation, although
fine, is distinctly rough; the antenn appear to be a little shorter, and
the elytra are plainly longer in proportion to the thorax ; the hind body
also is differently punctured, segments 2-4 being rather closely and
finely, but roughly punctured, fifth more sparingly punctured, sixth
nearly impunctate ; legs black or pitchy black. L. 14 mm.

Male with the apex of dorsal plate of seventh segment truncate in
middle.

In moss, haystack refuse, dung, dead animals, &c. ; extremely abundant throughout

Scotland ; not so common in England and Wales, but widely distributed, and by no
means uncommon in many localities; Mr. Blatch records it as abundant under elm
bark in Sherwood Forest.

WH. inquinula, Er. (Microdota inquinula, Muls. et Rey). A very
small, linear species, in fact, the smallest species of the genus ; punctua-
tion and pubescence rather close and fine ; colour black, with the elytra
obscurely brownish or pitchy ; head rather large and long with a distinct
channel or impression in middle ; antennz short and rather stout, joints
1-3 stout, second joint stonter and much longer than third, 4-10 trans-
verse, 5-10 strongly so, eleventh stout and pointed as long as the two
preceding ; thorax about a third broader than long, sometimes channelled ;
elytra longer and broader than thorax; hind body shining, segments
2-4 finely and rather closely punctured, fifth finely and sparingly
punctured, sixth more sparingly punctured ; legs dirty yellow or pitchy.
L. #-1 mm.

Male with the apical margin of dorsal plate of seventh segment
obtusely truncate in middle.

In dung ; local but not uncommon in sandy places in the London district, and south
of England. London district generally, Darenth, Mickleham, Birch Wood, Cowley,
Cowtold near Horsham, Tonbridge, Hampstead, Southend, &e. I can find no record

from the Midlands or further north, but the species from its minute size is probably
often overlooked, unless specially searched for.

Section VII.

Hind body more or less distinctly narrowed to apex ; hinder angles of
thorax rounded.

This section may be divided into five groups as follows : the species
belonging to Groups 21 and 22 are included together by Dr. Sharp as
species of moderate size, but H. parva and its alles are distinctly small
species, and are often confounded by beginners with the 7. nigra group,
and appear naturally to succeed them, at all events more naturally than
H. marcida, intermedia, and longicornis ; of these and two other species
T have formed Group 22, and placed it immediately before the H. me-
lanaria group, to which H. longicornis appears to bear a distinct
relation.

Homatota. } STAPHYLINIDE. 123

18. Very small species (14-2 mm.); hind body only a little narrowed towards apex,
closely punctured; thorax but little narrowed in front (p. 123).

19. Small species (2-2 mm.); hind body slightly or moderately narrowed towards
apex ; thorax scarcely or moderately narrowed towards the front; hind body with
apical segments sparingly punctured or impunctate (p. 126).

20, Moderately-sized species (3-34 mm.); hind body and thorax shaped as in the
preceding ; apical segments of hind body impunctate or punctured * (p. 130).

21. Hind body strongly pointed and thickly punctured, thorax strongly narrowed
towards the front (p. 133).

22. Hind body distinctly narrowed towards the apex, therax distinctly narrowed in
front, apical segments of the abdomen sparingly punctured or impunctate (p. 137).

o Group 18.

The species of this group are all very small, none exceeding 2 mm. in
length, and the majority being even smaller; they occur in vegetable
refuse, dead leaves, decaying fungi, dung, &c.; the male characters are
rather obscure, especially in some of the species. H. nigra is very
common and abundant, but all the others are more or less rare; very
probably, however, some of them at least are overlooked. In the last
European catalogue (Heyden-Reitter-Weise) HH. germana, Sharp, is
given as synonymous with H. celata, Er., and HH. hodierna, Sharp, is
included under H. zostere, Thoms. = H. nigra, Kr.; there appears to be
considerable confusion with regard to-the synonymy of H. nigra, Kr.,
H. celata, Er., and H. celuta, Thoms. nee Er., which has not yet been
satisfactorily cleared up. HH. germana is more closely allied to H. nigra
as we generally consider the species than to /H. celata, Er., as described
by Sharp ; Thomson, however, considers that Erichson’s description of
H. celata probably refers to H. nigra, Kraatz, and Dr. Sharp thinks he
is very likely right ; the confusion appears to be so great that it seems
better to retain the six species, especially as Dr. Sharp retains them
all as separate in the last edition of his british catalogue.

H. nigra, Kr. (Microdota (Datomicra) nigra, Muls. et Rey, Athetu
celata, Thoms., zostere, Thoms. = vicina, Kr.). Narrow and linear, rather
shining, entirely black (the elytra sometimes lighter in immature speci-
mens), clothed with thick pubescence which gives it a grey appearance,
closely and finely punctured; head narrower than thorax, sometimes
indistinctly impressed or channelled; antenne black or pitchy, a little
thickened towards apex, first joint stout, second longer than third, fourth
about as long as broad, 5-10 each a little broader than the preceding,
but none strongly transverse, eleventh as long as the two preceding
together ; thorax about a third broader than long, nearly as broad as
elytra, with an impression in middle of base, and sometimes more or less

* H. longicornis has the apical segments finely and evenly punctured ; in the other
species they are sparingly punctured or impunctate.

H. atramentaria has an average size of nearly 3 mm., but varies from 24-3 mm. ;
in some ways its more natural position is in the preceding group.

124 STAPHYLINID2, | Homalota,

obscurely channelled ; elytra longer than thorax, closely and finely
punctured; hind body a little narrowed towards apex, closely, finely,
and evenly punctured, segments 5-6 more sparingly than the others.
L. 13-2 mm.

Male with the upper plate of seventh segment of hind body truncate
and furnished with four indistinct projections or teeth, two at the sides,
and two intermediate ; female with the hind margin of the same part
indistinctly emarginate in middle.

In haystack refuse, decaying fungi, and vegetable refuse generally ; very abundant
throughout the kingdom.

H. hodierna, Sharp (sub-gen. Microdota, Muls. et Rey). This
species is certainly very closely allied to H. nigra, but is larger and more
robustly formed, and the antenne are longer and less thickened towards
apex, and have the last joint much longer than in H. nigra; head
broader and shorter than in this species, in the male distinctly chan-
nelled ; the general punctuation, also, is rather finer, especially of the
hind body ; male characters as in H. nigra. L. 2 mm.

Very rare; Horning Fen, Norfolk ; it has also occurred in Scotland.

If closely compared with H. nigra under /a high magnifying power,
this certainly appears to be a good and distinct species.

H. germana, Sharp (sub-gen. Microdota, Muls. et Rey). About
the size of H. nigra, but distinctly broader in proportion, with a shorter
and more transverse thorax and more distinct and rougher punctuation ;
the antenne are rather shorter, as also is the head; the elytra also are
slightly shorter; the hind body is black, a little shining, closely and
finely but distinctly punctured, the punctuation not closer but more dis-
tinct than in H. nigra; legs pitchy. L. 13 mm.

Male characters much as in H. nigra, except that the teeth are still
more obsolete and sometimes hardly visible.

In haystack refuse, dead leaves, &c.; not common in the London district ; Lee,
Esher, Woking, Mickleham; Gomshall, Highgate, Chatham ; Riddlesdown ; Yurdley
and Knowle, near Birmingham ; Sherwood Forest ; commouer further north; North-
umberland district, nearly as common as H. nigra, Bold. Scotland, common, ‘Tay,
Forth, and Solway districts,

Dr. Sharp compares this species, as above, with H. nigra ; it appears,
however, to be more closely connected with H. celata, from which it is
distinguished by its darker colour, distinctly longer elytra, longer head,
and distinctly coarser sculpture ; the thorax also is plainly more narrowed
in front, whereas in H. celata it is almost as broad in front as behind ;
the colour of the antennz and legs, also, is darker ; it certainly appears
to be a distinct species.

H. celata, Er, (Microdota (Datomicra) celata, Muls. et Rey, indi-
gena, Heer, Atheta dadopora, Thoms., arenicola, Thoms,). Black, rather
dull, with the elytra fuscous, and the apex of hind body sometimes

Homatota. | STAPHYLINIDZ. 125

lighter; it strongly resembles H. nigra, from which it differs by its
slightly smaller size, more transverse thorax, less narrowed hind body,
and especially by having segments 5-6 more sparingly punctured than
in that species ; from H. sericea and its allies it may be distinguished by
its more densely punctured hind body; it is also closely related to
HT. sordidula, but that species is smaller, narrower, more flat and
depressed, with longer terminal joint of antenne, and has the apical
segments of hind body more thickly punctured; the head is broad,
sometimes with an obscure impression on disc; antenne rather stout,
blackish, obscurely paler at base, second joint longer than third, fourth
nearly as long as broad, fifth broader than fourth, 6-10 slightly trans-
verse, eleventh quite as long as the two preceding together; thorax
about half as broad again as Jong, nearly as broad in front as behind,
more or less distinctly channelled; elytra longer than thorax, usually
brownish or fuscous brown; hind body moderately shining, segments
2-4 closely and distinctly punctured, 5-6 more sparingly punctured ;
legs yellowish or yellow. L. 14 mm.

Male with hind margin of upper plate of seventh segment of hind
body furnished with four small teeth, one at each angle and two in
middle, the outer ones more distinct, the inner ones separated bya rather
broad and very shallow emargination.

In decaying fungi, and at sap of felled trees, also among dead leaves, &e. ; it also
oceurs in small carcases. The larva, according to Perris, lives in the galleries of
Hylurgus piniperda, and attacks their young larvae, and also those of the small
Poduride which swarm in such localities; the species is rare in Britain: Weybridge,
Esher, Dareuth Wood, Hampstead, Gomshall, Ashtead Common; it has not been
found, apparently, except in the London district.

H. sordidula, Er. (Atheta sordidula, Thoms., Microdota (Dato-
micra) sordidula, Muls. et Rey). A small narrow species with hind
body rather distinctly pointed, and with the last joint of the antenne
elongate, longer than the two preceding, characters which, besides its
smaller size, distinguish it from H. nigra; the head is small with the
sides a little straight behind eyes, generally indistinctly impressed in
front ; the thorax is about one-third broader than long, finely and closely
punctured, with a fine, but distinct longitudinal channel in front of
scutellum ; the elytra are about as long proportionately to thorax as in
H. celata, and so shorter than in any of the other three, closely and
finely punctured ; hind body distinctly narrowed to apex, upper surface
closely finely and evenly punctured, and thickly pubescent; legs pitchy
yellow. L. 1+ mn.

Sexual differences obscure.

In dung, dung-heaps, hotbeds, dead leaves, &c. ; common over almost the whole of
France, but either very local or overlooked in Britain ; London district, not uncom-
mon, Darenth Wood, Hampstead, Lee, Chatham, Sheerness, Esher, Reigate, Caterham,
Walton-on-Thames, Wimbledon, Eltham, Dagenham, Loughton; Tonbridge; New

Forest ; Weymouth; Exeter; Yardley and Knowle, near Birmingham; Manchester ;
Northumberland district ; Sweethope (Power); Scotland, Solway district only.

126 STAPHYLINID A. { Homaleta.

H. canescens, Sharp (sub-gen. Microdota, Muls. et Rey). This
species is rather closely allied to H. sordidula, but is broader aud more
parallel, with the antenne shorter, the terminal joint especially, the
latter point affording a good distinguishing character ; the punctuation
throughout is not quite so close and fine, but owing to its rather
thicker pubescence the upper surface is slightly duller ; the head is
rather broad; the antenne have joints 5-10 more distinctly transverse
than in H, sordidula ; the thorax is slightly more transverse, and the
elytra a little longer in proportion; hind body scarcely narrowed
towards apex, finely, evenly, and closely punctured; legs pitchy yellow.
L. 14 mm.

Male with the hind margin of dorsal plate of seventh segment much as
in H. celata, but with tLe four teeth smaller and more indistinct.

In dung, dead leaves, &e. ; local and not common, or perhaps overlooked; London
district, not uncommon, Highgate, Ashtead, Walton-on-Thames, Croydon, Mickleham,
Esher, Caterham, Weybridge, Lee, Eltham, Loughton, &c.; Tonbridge; Hainault
Forest; New Forest; Winchester; Knowle, near Birmingham; Sherwood Forest ;
Scotland, Solway district only ; it will probably be found in many other localities, as
most persons who work the Homalo/@ appear to find it in their neighbourhood.

This little group is perhaps the most difficult of all the Homalote, not
even excepting the H. sericea group, which in some ways rather
resembles it.

Group 19.

This group contains seven species, one or two of which are very
distinct from the rest, and might well be separated from them ; they
occur chiefly in dung, but are occasionally found in moss and vegetable
matter; the sexual characters are usually more or less obscure.

H. cauta, Er. (pulicaria, Er., parvula, Mann., Atheta cauta,
Thoms., H. parva of our catalogues (? parva, Sahlb.), Badura parva,
Muls. et Rey). A small, black, shining species with rather rough
punctuation and pubescence; head a little narrower than thorax ;
antenne moderately long and) not stout, joints 2-3 moderately long,
slender, third hardly as long as second, fourth about as long as broad,
5-10 slightly transverse, eleventh joint gently pointed, quite as long or
rather longer than the two preceding together ; thorax a little narrower
than elytra, narrowed in front, rather strongly and roughly punctured,
with distinct outstanding hairs at sides, indistinctly channelled in front
of scutellum ; elytra a little longer than thorax, black or pitchy, a little
more closely punctured than thorax ; hind body black, plainly narrowed
towards apex, segments 2—4 distinctly and rather closely, fifth more
sparingly, sixth very sparingly punctured ; outstanding sete of sides and
apex very distinct ; legs pitchy, the four posterior tibize each with two
fine exserted sete, of which the lower one is considerably the longer.
L. 2mm.

Male without any particular structure of seventh segment of hind

Homalota. | STAPHYLINID&. 127

body, female with the hind margin of ventral plate ciliate, and exvised
in middle.
In dung, dead leaves, moss, &c., common throughout the kingdom.

From H. nigra it may at once be distinguished by its more strongly
narrowed hind body which is more shining especially towards apex,
the rough punctuation of front parts, and the strong exserted sete of
the segments of the hind body, thorax, and posterior pairs of tibiz.

I have adopted the name #H. cauta, Er., as H. purva appears to be
considered by continental authorities as the proper name to be applied
to H. pilosiventris, Thoms. = stercoraria, Kvaatz.-

H. villosula, Kr. (Athefa villosula, Thoms., sub-gen. Dimetrota,
Muls. et Rey, nigripes, Thoms.). Deep black, rather dull except the
hind body which is shining, somewhat strongly punctured ; head much
narrower than thorax; antenne black, somewhat stout, thickened
towards apex, joints 2-3 rather stout, of about equal length, 4-10 each
alittle broader than the preceding, the first as long as broad, the latter ones
slightly transverse, eleventh stout, gently pointed, as long as the two pre-
ceding together ; thorax a little narrower than elytra, half as broad again
as long, narrewed in front, indistinctly impressed in front of scutellum,
with a few outstanding sete at sides; elytra longer than thorax, dis-
tinctly sculptured ; hind body shining, only narrowed behind, segments
2-4 moderately punctured, 5-6 finely and sparingly punctured, sides and
apex with distinct sete; legs pitchy, tarsi lighter, the posterior ones
hairy ; intermediate and posterior tibie each with two long seta, the
lower ones being the longer. L. 22 mm.

Male with the hind margin of dorsal plate of seventh segment truncate
in middle, and armed on each side with a fine spine; in the female
the same part is obsoletely emarginate with a small sharp tooth on each
side.

In dung, dead leaves, &e.; rather widely distributeda, but local; London district,
rare, Lee, Cowley, Hampstead, Darenth Wood, Chatham, Loughton ; Littlington,
Sussex; Upnor, near Rochester; Marktield, near Leicester; Birmingham district ;
Repton; Tonbridge ; Liverpool; Manchester; Northumberland district ; Scotland,
scarce, Tay, Dee, and Solway districts; Ireland (near Waterford) (Power).

H. setigera, Sharp (sub-gen. Dimetrota, Muls. ct Rey). Black,
rather shining, with the elytra pitchy black, closely and rather strongly
punctured ; antenne slightly thickened towards apex with joints 7-10
distinctly transverse ; thorax one-third broader than long, plainly nar-
rower than elytra, narrowed both in front and behind but not strongly
in either case; elytra about a third longer than thorax, rather closely
and strongly punctured; hind body black and shining, segments 2-4
distinctly but not closely punctured, fifth more sparingly punctured,
sixth impunctate or nearly so, sides and apex with distinct out-
standing sete ; legs pitchy, four posterior tibiz each with two fine, rather
short sete. L. 2 mm.

128 STAPHYLINIDA. { Homalota.

Male with the hind margin of ventral plate of seventh segment gently
rounded, female with the same part excised and ciliate.

In dung; local, but somewhat widely distributed ; Hampstead ; Tonbridge; New
Forest; Simallheath and Knowle, near Birmingham; Manchester; Northumberland
district, very rare, Wallington (Power), and Whitley Sands; Scotland, scarce,
Solway, Forth, Tay, Dee, and Moray districts,

Dr. Sharp in his description compares this species with H. parva and
H. atramentaria ; from the former its more thickened antenne, broader
head, less transverse thorax (which is also less narrowed in front), rather
more sparing punctuation, and the shorter lower sete of its tibize, dis-
tinguish it; it is much smaller than H. atromentaria, with the anterior
parts blacker and more shining, and the antennae shorter and more
thickened towards apex. In the last European catalogue it is given as a
variety of H. levana, Muls. et Rey, with which species Dr. Sharp does
not even compare it; it is smaller than that species and much blacker
(the elytra in H. levana being brown, and the apex of hind body
testaceous or pitchy); the antenna, too, appear quite different, the
penultimate joints being scarcely transverse in H. laevana, and plainly
transverse in /Z. sefigera; they are also, taken as a whole, shorter; the
male characters, moreover, are quite different, the dorsal plate of seventh
segment of hind body being emargivate and toothed in H. levana, anil
without any peculiar structure in H. setigera,

H. levana (sub-gen. Dimetrota, Muls. et Rey). Black, rather
shining, with the elytra brownish, and the apex of hind body more or
less obscurely pitchy or testaceous; from H. setigera it differs as above ;
it resembles both H. cinnamoptera and H. atramentaria; from the
former it is distinguished by having the antennz stouter towards apex,
the head, thorax, and elytra more shining and less densely punctured,
and the hind body less narrowed towards the apex and more sparingly
punctured ; from the latter it is easily separated by the stouter antennex,
unicolorous brown elytra, pale legs, and narrower thorax ; the head is
rather broad; the antenne are moderately long and stout with the
penultimate joints only slightly transverse, and the eleventh joint long,
longer than the two preceding together ; thorax a third broader than
long, rather closely and finely punctured with a few outstanding sete,
sometimes with a short channel in front of scutellum, sometimes smooth;
elytra one-third longer than thorax, rather closely and finely and some-
what rugosely punctured ; hind body with segments 2—4 distinctly and
not very closely punctured, fifth more sparingly punctured, sixth almost
impunctate ; legs yellow, intermediate and posterior tibia with two fine
sete, the one nearest the knee the shortest. L. 23-22 mm.

Male with the hind margin of dorsal plate of seventh segment emar-
ginate in middle with two teeth, placed close together, on each side.

In dung, &e.; rare; Highgate, Lee, Bexley, Esher, Mickleham, Caterham, Leith
Hill, Croydon, Shirley, Weybridge; Tonbridge; Brighton; Smallheath and Knowle,

Homalota. | STAPHYLINID!. 129

near Birmingham (under bones); Northumberland district, Wallington (Power) ;
Scotland, local, Solway, Tay, and Moray districts.

H. cinnamoptera, Thoms. (Atheta cinnamoptera, Thoms., Homa-
lota (Dimetrota) putrida, Kraatz (Muls. et Rey?)). Black with the
front parts dull, elytra brown ; head and thorax sometimes with a very
slight brassy reflection; head somewhat large and coarsely punctured;
antenne rather long, longer than head and thorax, pitchy, with lighter
base, joints 2-3 rather long, 4—9 as long as or longer than broad, tenth
transverse, eleventh as long as the two preceding together ; thorax trans-
verse, distinctly, closely and somewhat roughly punctured, with a few
plain exserted sete, channelled in middle, the channel extending the
whole length of thorax or abbreviated; elytra longer than thorax,
distinctly and somewhat rugosely punctured; hind body black and
shining, segments 2-4 finely and rather closely punctured, fifth more
sparingly, sixth very finely and sparingly, punctured, sides and apex
with distinct exserted sets ; legs yellow, middle and posterior tibia with
two sete, one near the knee, another nearer tarsus, the latter longer.
L. 24 mm. “

Male with the hind margin of dorsal plate of seventh segment of

hind body with external angles less rounded than in female.
_In dung, eareases, decaying fungi, &e.; local; Hampstead, Sheerness, Ashtead,
Hsher, Leith Hill, Shirley, Richmond Park; Tonbridge; Birmingham district ;
Needwood Forest; Dean Forest; Northumberland district, Wallington (Power) ;
Scotland, common, Solway, Forth, Dee, Tay, and Moray districts.

H. fuscipes, Heer (jimorum, Bris., Colpodota (Solenia) fimorum,
Muls. et Rey, sub-gen. Acrotona, Thoms.). This species comes very
near the preceding, but is smaller, darker, rather more sparingly punc-
tured, and with shorter antenne; head rather strongly punctured ;
antenne slightly thickened towards extremity, pitchy, with the base
sometimes obscurely lighter, third joint almost as long as second, fourth
small, 6-10 slightly, but not strongly, transverse; thorax as broad at
base as elytra, broader than long, rather distinctly punctured, with a
‘fovea before scutellum, and a more or less distinct central channel ;
elytra a little longer than thorax, somewhat rugosely punctured, obscurely
brown or reddish ; hind body shining, finely and rather thickly punctured
towards base, sparingly punctured or almost smooth at apex ; legs testa-
ceous, intermediate and posterior tibiz with two exserted sete, one near
middle, and one a little above it. L. 2} mm.

Very rare; taken by Mr. Crotch, probably in Norfolk; in France it is rather
common in dry fungi and dung-heaps in the middle of fields, near Lyons, and also near
Paris.

According to Mulsant and Rey it differs from H. subsinuata by the
obscurely testaceous colour of its elytra, an1 by having the posterior
angles of thorax a little less pronounced, and from H. c/ientula by its
thorax being always furrowed, and by the dark hase of the antenne ;

VOL. Il. K

130 STAPHYLINIDE, { Homalota.

the small fourth joint of the antenne is also a distinguishing cha-
racter.

#Z. macrocera, Thoms. (Atheta macrocera, Thoms., Dimetrota nudi-
cornis, Rey). Rather narrow, with the hind body strongly pointed ;
black, with the elytra fuscous or brownish, and the apex of hind body
lighter ; head only a little narrower than thorax, closely but distinetly
punctured ; antenn pitchy with lighter base, long and scarcely thickened
towards apex, joints 1-3 clongate, fourth smaller than fifth, 5-9 longer
than broad, tenth about as long as broad, eleventh elongate, oblong, as long
as the two preceding together ; thorax slightly narrower than elytra,
broader than long, rather closely and finely punctured, with a fine channel,
varying in length and distinctness, before scutellum ; elytra very little
longer than thorax, closely and finely punctured, hind body with seg-
ments 2-4 rather closely and finely punctured, fifth more sparingly, but
distinctly, sixth very sparingly punctured, sides, apex, and hind
margin of segments with distinct sete; legs testaceous, with a distinct
outstanding seta in middle of each of the intermediate and posterior
tibie. L. 2 mm.

Sexual differences apparently obscure.

In dung, cut grass, under bones, &e.; rare in England; Mickleham (Power) ;
Snowdon (Sharp); Smallheath and Knowle, near Birmingham (Blatch); Northum-

berland district, Long Benton (Bold); Scotland, local, in dung, Solway district,
Thornhill, in numbers (Sharp), also in the Tay and Moray districts.

Group 20.

This group contains five species, which are included by Dr. Sharp in
the same group as the preceding ; H. atramentaria might perhaps be
with better reason placed near H. villosula, but it appears to be inter-
mediate in some respects between: this and the preceding group; H.
consanguinea, which has recently been found at Hastings by Mr. E.
Saunders, is very closely allied to H. sordida and H., testudinea, and forms
a connecting link between this and the succeeding group.

H. atramentaria, Gyll. (impressicollis, Sahlb., cenescens, Zett.,
Atheta atramentaria, Thoms., sub-gen. Dimetrota, Muls. et Rey). Front
parts rather dull, obscurely brassy, a character which at once distin-
guishes the species, hind body shining black, elytra sometimes reddish,
head sparingly and indistinctly punctured ; antenne blackish with pitchy
base, joints 2-3 about equal in length, 4-6 longer than, or as long as,
broad, 7-10 slightly broader than long, eleventh as long as the two pre-
ceding together; thorax broader than long, sides nearly straight, rather
closely and finely punctured, with an indistinct transverse impression
before scutellum ; elytra longer than thorax, rather closely and some-
what rugosely punctured; hind body with segments 2-4 finely and
sparingly punctured, fifth more sparingly punctured, sixth almost im-
punctate, the segments furnished at sides with very distinct outstanding

Homatlota. | STAPHYLINID. 131

sete ; legs pitchy, femora usually darker, middle and posterior tibie with
two distinct exserted sete. L. 2$-3 mm.

Male with the hind margin of seventh s segment of hind body shallowly
emarginate, with a blunt, short, indistinct tooth at each side of emargi-
nation.

In dung; abundant throughout the kingdom, more especially in Scotland, where it
is found everywhere from the coast to the tops of the mountains.

H. cadaverina, Bris. (sub-gen. Dimetrota, Muls.et Rey = tristicula,
Muls. et Rey (1)). A fine and rather robust species, with broad head
and thorax; head narrower than thorax, rather sparingly punctured ;
antennze black, moderately long, rather slender, joints 2-3 elongate, 4-7
alittle longer than broad, 8-10 slightly transyerse, eleventh pointed as
long as the two preceding together ; thorax broad, nearly twice as broad
as long, with sides slightly rounded, finely but plainly punctured, some-
times indistinctly channelled; elytra longer than thorax, much more
strongly sculptured than thorax; hind body shining, sparingly punc-
tured towards base, impunctate behind ; legs reddish testaceous, femora
pitchy, tibia without the long exserted sete so characteristic of the
allied species. L. 13 mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body narrower
and more produced than in female.

In dead animals, moss, fungi, &c.; rare; Shirley, Dorking, Weybridge, Esher,
Richmond Park, Loughton, Bloxworth, Bishops Wood ; Manchester (h: iystacks) ;
Scotland, local, Solway and Dee districts (Thornhill, heaps ‘of cut grass, &c.).

H. marcida, Er. (sub-gen. Dimetrota, Muls. et Rey). Black
rather shining, with the elytra brownish and the thorax sometimes pitchy ;
the apex of hind body is often paler; head rather narrowed behind eyes,
which are a little prominent, sparingly and indistinctly punctured ;
antenne long and scarcely thickened towards apex, fuscous with three or
four basal joints yellow, the joints furnished with long outstanding hairs,
joints 2-3 rather long, 4-5 rather stouter than third each longer than
broad, 6-10 square or slightly transverse ; thorax plainly narrower than
elytra, not much broader than long, finely but distinctly and roughly
punctured, with an indistinct transverse impression in front of seutellum ;
elytra long, longer than broad, much longer than thorax, closely and
rather roughly punctured; hind body shining, very sparingly punctured
towards base, smooth or almost smooth behind, sides and apex with dis-
tinct outstanding sete; legs clear yellow, intermediate tibiae with two
distinct sete, one near knee and another about middle, the latter the
longest. L. 3-34 mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body narrow
and indistinctly rounded at apex which is slightly thickened, female
with apex of ventral plate rounded and ciliated.

In decaying fungi, dead leaves, &c.; local, but often found in abundance in autumn ;
London district, generally distributed, Birch Wood, Bexley, Lee, Esher, Highgate,
Mickleham, Richmond, &c. ; Tonbridge ; Sutton Park, Birmingham ; Repton, near

vow

132 STAPHYLINIDE. { Homalota.

Burten-on-Trent ; Sherwood Forest; Pendlebury, near ] Manchester ; Northumberland
district, Wallington ; Scotland, scarce, Solway district: it appears to be a Southern
und Midland species, and rarer further north.

In some respects this species resembles H. occulta and its allies,

3i. intermedia, Thoms. (Atheta intermedia, Thoms., sub-gen.
Dimetrota, Muls. et Rey). Distinguished from the preceding by its
shorter and less parallel elytra, more pointed hind body, the head not
narrowed behind the eyes, the punctuation of. hind body, and other
points ; black with the elytra yellow, a little darker about scutellum
and at sides, thorax sometimes pitchy, apex of hind body more or less
obscurely testaceous; head rather broad, finely and indistinctly pune-
tured ; antenne long’ and rather stout, but scarcely thickened towards
apex, joints 2-3 elongate, fourth about as long as fifth, 5-10 each about
as long as broad, elev enth about as long as the two preceding together,
thorax nearly as broad as elytra, with sides nearly straight, finely and
rather closely punctured, with a small narrow impression at base before
scutellum ; elytra not much longer than thorax, closely and finely punc-
tured ; hind body shining distinctly narrowed to apex, segments 2—5 finely,
evenly, and rather closely punctured, sixth nearly impunctate, sides with
a few outstanding sete, apex with a larger number; legs bright yellow,
intermediate tibie with one seta in middle, posterior tibize without sete.
L. 3-3} mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body narrower
and longer than in female.

In decaying fungi, dead leaves, moss, &c.; not common; Bexley, Mickleham,
Reigate, Shirley, Leith Hill, Caterham, Esher, Dorking, Highgate, Purley Downs,
Epping, Tonbridge ; Winchester; Knowle, near Birmingham ; Wicken and Burwell
Fens; Northumberland district, in fungi; Wallington (Power); Scotland, scarce,
Solway, Tay, Dee, and Moray districts.

E. longicornis, Grav. (Athela longicornis, Thoms., Chetida longi-
cornis, Muls. et Rey). One of the commonest and most distinct of the

3ritish species; the long thick antenne, much pointed and thickly
punctured hind body, with its strong pubescence and exserted sete, and
the very long exserted sete of thorax and tibia, will at once distinguish
t; black with the elytra brownish or brownish yellow, apex of hind body
more or less pitehy ; head rather small. sparingly and finely punctured ;
antenne long and stout, although not much thickened towards apex,
nearly black, with first joimt pitehy, third joint longer than second,
fourth much smaller than any of the others, 5-10 each distinctly longer
than the preceding, 5-6 transverse, 7-10 longer than broad, eleventh
long, half as long again as tenth; thorax nearly as broad as elytra, half
as broad again as long, sides slightly rounded in front, rather finely and
not closely punctured ; elytra a little longer than thorax, elosely and
rather strongly punctured ; hind body strongly narrowed towards apex,
densely and evenly punctured, sides and apex with distinct outstanding
hairs ; legs dark yellow, femora infuseate, middle and posterior tibie
each with two long exserted set. L. 3 mm.

es

—

Homalota. | STAPHYLINIDA. 133

Male with the apex of dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body
indistinctly emarginate, ventral plate rounded, female with the Sed
plate emarginate and ciliated.

In dung, haystack refuse, vegetable refuse, &c. ; ‘extremely abundant throughout
the kingdom.

H. consanguinea, [pplesheim (Coprothassa consanguinea, H.R. W.).
Pitchy black or brownish with the thorax slightly lighter, the elytra red-
dish or reddish brown, and the apex of hind body broadly testaceous ;
head rather large, finely but not very closely punctured ; antenne long
and robust, pitchy black with base sometimes ferruginous, joints 2-3 of
about equal length, much longer than fourth, 5-10 not differing much
in length, the penultimate being about as long as broad, last joint
long, pointed, at least as long as the two preceding together; thorax
transverse with sides rather evenly and not strongly rounded, and not
strongly narrowed in front, the apex being nearly as broad as the
base, punctuation fine ; elytra about as long as thorax, finely sculp-
tured ; hind body not strongly narrowed behind, very finely punc-
tured, less evidently at apex than at base ; legs clear testaceous
yellow. L. 23-3 mm.

The male appears to have the under plate of the seventh segment of
hind body produced beyond the upper plate and rounded.

Several specimens of this rare species were taken by Mr. E. Saunders
in a sandy place at Hollington near Hastings in 1871; there is no
doubt as to their being indigenous, but M. Fauvel, who kindly deter-
mined the species for me, expressed his surprise at their occurrence in
Britain, as the species is mainly an Austrian one, and does not occur at
all in France,

In general appearance H, consanguinea strongly resembles //. sordida
and H. testudinea, but is easily distinguished by the shape of the
thorax and the sculpture of the hind body, which is, moreover, not so
much narrowed behind: judging from the specimens before me, it must
when alive be a bright and conspicuous-looking insect.

Group 21.

The species belonging to this group are characterized by having the
hind body strongly pointed at apex and thickly punctured throughout,
and also by having the thorax strongly narrowed towards the front ; they
form a natural group, although they vary considerably in size and
colour; one or two of them are, at first sight, extremely like H. cautu
and its allies ; they occur in dung, vegetable refuse, moss, leaves, &c.

H. sordida, Marsh (lividipennis, Ev., Heer, &e., fulvipennis, Kol.,
Coprothassa melanaria, Thoms., Co lpodota (Hemitropia) melanaria, Muls.
et Rey). This distinct and common species has been generally supposed to
be the Oxypoda melanaria of Mannerheim, but, as in the catalogue of
Heyden Reitter and Weise the name melanaria is applied to the following

134 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Homalota.

species, it appears the best course, in order to avoid confusion, to drop the
name of melanaria altogether, until, at all events, the question is more
fully settled.

The species may be found in abundance in almost any hotbed, dung-
heap, or heap of fermenting vegetable rubbish, and may at once be dis-
tinguished by its dull black, almost pitchy, colour and clear yellow elytra,
which have a dark triangular black patch about seutellum ; the pubes-
cence is very fine and thick, as also isthe punctuation, the hind body as
well as the front parts being finely and evenly punctured throughout ;
the head is broad and short ; the antenna are rather long and stout, of
a pitchy, or yellowish-pitehy, colour, lighter at base, joints 2-3 rather
long, fourth slightly transverse; 5-10 nearly equal not or very little
transverse, eleventh long, pointed, longer than the two preceding together ;
thorax at base as broad as elytra, convex, very transverse, strongly
narrowed towards the front; elytra strongly transverse, not markedly
longer than thorax, coloured as above, the triangular dark patch some-
times reaching to apex; hind body thickly pubescent, sides furnished
with long outstanding black sete; legs clear yellow, the intermediate
tibie only with a long seta in middle. L. 31-33} mm.

Male with the hind margin of dorsal plate of seventh segment of
hind body indistinctly emarginate, ventral plate a little produced in
middle, female with the ventral plate rather deeply emarginate in middle,
the emargination furnished with pale cilia.

In haystack refuse, dung, hotbeds, &c.; extremely abundant throughout the
kingdom.

“ #. testudinea, Er. (teniata, Kol., tenera, Sahlb., Coprothassa
testudinea, Thoms., Colpodota testudinea, Muls. et Rey (melanaria,
Mann., feste H.R. W.)). Black, with the elytra dark testaceous or
brownish with a dark triangular patch about scutellum, and with the sides
also darker ; the apex of hind body is obscurely pitchy ; from H. sordida
it is distinguished by its smaller size, darker colour, stronger punctuation,
and less developed antenne ; it is also allied to H. aterrima, but cannot
well be confounded with that species, by reason of its considerably
larger size, stouter antenne, coarser punctuation, and quite differently
coloured elytra ; head broad and short ; antenne black, pilose, with basal
joint pitchy, third joint a little longer than second, 4—6 about as long as
broad, 7-10 very slightly transverse, eleventh as long as the two pre-
ceding together; thorax as broad as, or broader than elytra, convex,
much narrowed in front, with exserted sete; elytra scarcely longer than
thorax, rather strongly and closely, and somewhat rugosely, punctured ;
hind body strongly narrowed to apex, closely and distinctly punctured,
the sixth rather more sparingly, with numerous outstanding sete which
are more numerous at apex; legs pitchy testaceous, middle and posterior
tibiae each with a long seta in middle. L. 22-3 mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body narrow

Homalota. | STAPHYLINIDE. 135

at apex and rounded ; female with the same part broader, slightly emar-
ginate, and furnished with black cilia.

In dung, haystack refuse, dead leaves, &c.; very local; not uncommon in the
London district and the south; it also occurs in the Midlands, but I can find no
record from any place further north than Birmingham, Highgate, Hampstead, Lee,
Deal, Darenth Wood, Sheerness, Reigate, Wimbledon, Mickleham, Shirley, Caterham,
Esher, Barnes, Surbiton, Birch Wood, Dagenham; Tonbridge; Deal; Glunvilles
Wotton; New Forest ; Knowle, near Birmingham.

H: aterrima, Grav. (fuscula, Mann., Acrotona aterrima, Thoms., Colpo-
dota aterrima, Muls. et Rey). Black, rather dull, with the elytra black or
brownish black, rather broad, with strongly pointed hind body, rather
long and slender antenne, and dense and fine punctuation; head
rounded, antenne a little longer than head and thorax, black, joints
2-3 nearly equal in length, fourth plainly longer than broad, 5-10
differing very slightly, hardly transverse, eleventh pointed, as long as
the two preceding together; thorax at base nearly as broad as elytra,
nearly twice as broad as long, narrowed in front, with central channel
present or absent; elytra blackish, rarely with a reddish tint, sometimes
pitchy, hardly longer than thorax, strongly transverse, closely and finely
punctured; hind body thickly, finely, and evenly punctured, sixth seg-
ment rather more sparingly, with outstanding scte; legs testaceous
more or less infuscate, femora pitchy, middle and posterior tibie with a
distinct outstanding seta: this latter is a good character by which to
separate this species from the two succeeding, in which the sete on
posterior tibie are indistinct or absent. L. 2} mm.

Sexual differences obscure; the ventral plate of seventh segment of
hind body appears to bea little more prolonged in the male than the
female.

In dung, haystack refuse, dead leaves, &c.; common; London district, common ;
Tonbridge; Exmouth; Chat Moss; Birmingham district; Repton; Liverpool ;
Northumberland district, common; Scotland, abundant throughout the country ;
Ireland, near Waterford, and probably common.

Hi pygmea, Grav. (sericata, Mann., Acrotona obfuscata, Thoms.,
Colpodota pygmea, Muls. et Rey., H. aterrima var. 1, Er.). This
species very strongly resembles the preceding, but it is generally of a
lighter colour, and its pubescence is a little more distinct and longer;
the antenne are lighter, and have the sixth to the tenth joints a little
shorter ; the thorax is a little less strongly transverse, and a little less
finely punctured, and is very slightly narrower in proportion to the
elytra; the hind body is more strongly narrowed behind, and has the
apex lighter; the legs are clearer testaceous, and the exserted seta of the
posterior tibiz is absent or exceedingly small; the basal joint of the
posterior tarsi is as long as the two succeeding, whereas in H. aferrima it
is but little longer than the second. LL. 2 mm.

Sexual differences obscure; male with the ventral plate of seventh
segment of hind body a little more prolonged than in female.

136 STAPHYLINID 2. [ Homalota.

In moss, dead leaves, &e., especially in marshy places ; not uncommon in the south ;
rarer further north; London district, generally distributed ; Tonbridge; The Holt,
Farnham; Cannock Chase; Bewdley; Kuowle; Repton; Liverpool; Manchester
district ; Northumberland district, not common ; Scotland, scarce, Tay and Solway
districts: the Seotch form is darker than the southern form, and is very probably the
HT, obfuscata, Heer = aterrima var. 2, Evichson.

The elongate first joint of the posterior tarsi, which is at least as long
as, if not longer than, the two succeeding, appears to remove this species
from the true Homalote tothe Oxypode ; it is, however, generally
regarded as a true Homalota, but must be looked upon as a somewhat
abnormal member of the genus.

EH. muscorum, Bris. (= Colpodota siercoraria (pilosiventris), teste
Muls. ct Rey). ‘Lhis species is distinguished from H. pygmea, which
it much resembles, by its less elongate form, shorter antenne, and the
shorter basal joint of the posterior tarsi; from HH. aterrima it is
distinguished, among other points, by the shorter antenne, of which the
penultimate joints are plainly more transverse, by the small and indistinct
sete of the posterior tibiae, and also by its less transverse thorax ;
H. pilosiventris also closely resembles it, but is smaller on an average,
with a shorter thorax which is finely channelled at base ; in H. muscorum
there is no trace of a channel or impression; the antenne also are
shorter in the former than in the latter species, and the head is smaller;
H. pilosiventris also is furnished with a distinct exserted seta on the
outer side of the intermediate and posterior tibiz, which is situated just
below the knee. L. 2 mm.

The colour of H. muscorum is black with the elytra blackish or
obscurely fuscous, and is usually darker than in H. pygmea.

Sexual differences obscure, much as in the preceding species.

In moss, dead leaves, fungi, &e.; common as a rule throughout the country, but
perhaps not so abuudant or overlooked in the Midland districts; Scotland, abundant ;
Ireland, near Waterford, and probably common, ;

HH. pilosiventris, Thoms. (parvula, Mann., parva, Sahlb.%, Acrotona
pilosiventris, Thoms., stercoraria, Kr., Colpodota stercorariu, Muls. et
Rey). Black, rather dull, with the antenne black or pitchy, and the
legs pitchy ; the elytra are also pitchy, pitchy black, or brownish; the
species comes extremely close to the three preceding, and is best described
by comparison with them: the points in which it ditfers from H. mus-
corum have just been noticed ; from HH. aterrima it differs by its rather
smaller and narrower form, its rather less fine punctuation, and also by its
shorter antenne, which have the third joint proportionally shorter, and
the penultimate joints.a little more transverse ; the hind body also in H.
pilosiventris is more uniformly punctured ; from H. pygmcea it differs by its
darker antenne, unicolorous hind body, of which the apex is not lighter,
and also principally by the less elongate first joint of the posterior
tarsi, and the strong exserted single seta of posterior tibia. L. 13-2 mm.

Sexual characters obscure, much as in the preceding species.

—__ EO ee

Homalota.] STAPHYLINID 2. 137

In dung, dead leaves, &e.; rare; Birch Wood, Merton, Mickleiam, Esher, Lee,
Shirley, Caterham, Ashtead, Leith Hill; Tonbridge ; New Forest; Deal ; Sherwood
Forest (under bark, W. G. Blatch); Northumberland district, Wallington, &e.

Group 22.

The species contained in this group are characterized by having the
hind body distinctly narrowed towards apex (in H. subsinuata not
strongly so), and the thorax plainly narrowed in front: from the.
preceding group they are distinguished, among other things, by having
the apical segments of the hind body sparingly punctured, or evidently
more sparingly punctured than the others, which gives them, as a rule,
a more shining appearance ; except for H. ertbrata they form a fairly
natural group, now that Srachida notha has been removed from it
(and from the genus Homalota altogether) to a much more natural
position ; the species are all found in moss, dead leaves, haystack refuse,
&c.; they are of small size, ranging from 2% mm. (Z. laticollis) to
14 mm. (Z. cribrata).

H. laticollis, Steph. (fusca, Sharp l.c., vernacula, Er., Atheta
vernacula, Thoms., Colpodota (Solenia) vernacula, Muls. et Rey).
Fuscous, rather shining, with the head black, thorax fuscous, elytra
yellowish, and hind body fuscous black, lighter at apex and sometimes
at base; head rather broad and short, closely and distinctly punc-
tured ; antennz yellow at base, dusky yellow towards apex, with joints
2-3 moderately long, fourth smaller than the others, 5-7 each a
little longer than broad, 8-10 very slightly transverse, eleventh stout,
hardly as long as the two preceding together; thorax broad, as
broad at base as elytra, about twice as broad as long, narrowed in front,
paler at sides, closely punctured, obscurely channelled, sometimes with
a depression before scutellum ; elytra not much longer than thorax,
closely and rather distinctly punctured ; hind body with segments 2-4
closely and rather finely, 5-6 sparingly punctured, shining ; legs yellow,
without outstanding sete. L.22 mm.

Male with the hind margin of dorsal plate of seventh segment
furnished with four distinct equidistant teeth, the inner ones blunt at
apex, the outer ones longer and sharper.

In moss, dead leaves, fungi, &c.; common and generally distributed throughout the
kingdom.

H. subsinuata, Er. (rustica, Brisout, castanipes, W. C., Acrotona
fimetaria, Thoms., Colpodota (Solenia) subsinuata, Muls. et Rey).
Black, with front parts somewhat dull, elytra black or pitchy black, and
the apex of hind body pitchy ; distinguished from the allied species by
its small head, and the closer punctuation of the hind body, and also by
the fact that the hind body is distinctly less narrowed towards apex ;
head only about half as broad as thorax ; antenne blackish with first

138 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Zomalota.

joint pitchy, moderately short, but not stout, joints 2-3 rather long
about equal, 4-10 each very slightly broader than the preceding, but the
last of them are only slightly transverse, eleventh stout, about as long as
the two preceding together; thorax at base about as broad as elytra,
half as broad again as long, narrowed in front, rather closely and finely
punctured, obsoletely channelled ; elytra not much longer than thorax,
closely and distinctly punctured ; hind body with segments 2-4 rather
closely and distinctly, 5-6 more sparingly, punctured ; legs pitchy
testaceous, intermediate tibie each with a short outstanding seta in the
middle. L, 2-2} mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body a little
produced in middle, female with the same part broadly emarginate, and
furnished with distinct black cilia.

In moss and dead leaves, generally in the spring; not common; Notting Hill,
Caterham, Mickleham, Birch Wood, Hampstead, Shirley, Cowley, Esher; Lit-
tlington, Sussex; Smallheath and Knowle, near Birmingham ; Scotland, scarce, Forth
district only.

3Z. montivagans, Woll. (pulchra, Kr., Colpodota pulchra, Muls. et
Rey, sub-gen. Acrotona, Thoms.). Black, with the thorax fuscous,
paler at sides, elytra testaceous with a large indistinct patch around
scutellum, and the parts towards apical angles more or less broadly
infuseate, apex of hind body pitchy or yellowish ; head black and
shining, indistinetly punctured; antenne rather slender, yellowish,
first joint stout, 2-3 of about equal length, 4-10 nearly equal in length,
the last slightly transverse, eleventh about as long as the two preceding
together; thorax at base as broad as elytra, more than half as broad
again as long, narrowed in front, sparingly punctured, very indistinctly
impressed in middle of base; elytra plainly longer than thorax,
rather coarsely but shallowly punctured; hind body black and
shining, moderately narrowed behind, segments 2-4 sparingly but
distinctly punctured, fifth more sparingly punctured, sixth almost
impunetate, very long; outstanding sete of segments distinct ; legs
yellow, tibie without sete. L. 25 mm.

Sexual differences obscure; male with ventral plate of seventh
segment of hind body narrowed and rather more produeed than in
female, ;

In moss, haystack refuse, dead leaves, &e.; rare; Sheerness, Charlton (Kent),
Egham (Surrey), Red Hill, Hanwell, Cowley (in a cow-house), Birdbrook (Essex) ;

The Holt, Farnham ; Littlington (Sussex); Horning Fen; Knowle, near Birmingham
(cow-shed refuse) ; Scotland, rare, Forth district (Braid Hills, Edinburgh),

As Wollaston’s name has the priority over Kraatz’s (as Dr. Sharp has
pointed out, Ent. Mo. Mag. vi. 230), it must be retained ; in the catalogue
of Heyden, Reitter, and Weise it is not even mentioned as a synonym
of pulchra, under which also H. Sharpt is included as synonymous with
it ; as, however, Dr. Kraatz considered H. Sharpt to be quite distinct
from H. pulchra after having himself examined Mr. Rye’s specimen,

Homalota. | STAPHYLINIDS. 139

there seems no reason to doubt that it is a good species; I would here
remark that from the synonymy adopted by Heyden, Reitter, and Weise in
their catalogue, and the way in which they have there dealt with several
of Dr. Sharp’s species, I feel certain that they have either not seen some
of them at all, or have seen wrongly named specimens: through the
kindness of Dr. Sharp, I have been enabled to examine all his actual
type specimens as I have worked the group, and I may say that I feel
sure that in several instances they would have modified their views, if
they had had these types before them.

H. Sharpi, Rye. Black, shining, with the elytra chestnut-brown ;
head broad, but little narrower than the extreme width of thorax, black,
very shining, with somewhat indistinct and shallow, but large and wide
punctures ; antenne entirely black, longer and more slender than in H.
muscorum (which species it rather resembles), apical joint acuminate
and quite as long as the two preceding together; thorax more than half
as broad again as long, convex, unchannelled, very finely punctured with
shallow punctures like those of head interspersed ; elytra plainly longer
than thorax, chestnut-brown, darker at base, sides, and scutellum, rather
dull, closely yet coarsely punctured ; hind body black, shining, strongly
and widely punctured, especially towards apex ; legs yellowish, slightly
infuscate ; the whole insect is clothed with short and rather depressed

yellowish pubescence, and has moderately long lateral dark sete. L.
3-2 mm.

One specimen from the London district taken by Mr. Rye and

described as above by him (Ent. Mo. Mag. vii. 7).

H. orbata, Er. (Acrotona orbata, Thoms., Colpodota orbata, Muls.
et Rey = fungi 9, teste H.R. W.). Very like H. fungi, but with darker
antenne, rather longer thorax, which is also more delicately punctured
and pubescent, and with brownish elytra; the difference in punctuation
and pubescence, however, is very slight ; according to Mulsant and Rey the
thorax is a little less strongly transverse than in H. fung?, more plainly
narrowed in front, with the anterior angles more obtuse and rounded ;
the elytra are generally more depressed ; the antenne also have the
fourth joint, as a rule, more oblong, and the penultimate joints very
slightly longer; the sexual differences are obscure, and the same as in H.
fungi: considering that H. fungi is a very variable species, it seems most
probable that this is only one of its numerous varieties ; in fact in some
respects the vars. dubia and clientula have almost more right to be con-
sidered distinct. L. 23 mm.

Sandy places on the coast, under vegetable refuse ; alsoinland; rare; Shirley, near
Croydon; Esher; Dulwich; Deal; Whitstable; Weymouth; Ryde; Barrucane Bay,
North Devon; Wallasey, near Liverpool ; Northumberland district ; Scotland, sandy

places (P maritime), Forth and Tay districts; Ireland, Newcastle, co. Down
(Champion).

H. fungi, Gray. (Acrotona fungi, Thoms., Colpodota fungi, Thoms.,

140 STAPHYLINIDE. { Homalota.

9 orbata, Er.%). Black, rather shining, with the elytra black, some-
times very obscurely pitchy, apex of hind body more or less obscurely
yellowish ; head small, finely and indistinctly punctured ; antenne testa-
ceous, rather long and slender and hardly at all thickened towards apex,
joints 2-3 rather long, of about equal length, fourth not so long as fifth,
5-10 differing but slightly in either length or breadth ; in the type none of
the joints are transverse; eleventh joint acuminate, as long as the two
preceding together; thorax almost broader than elytra, half as broad
again as long, convex, narrowed in front, finely but not closely punc-
tured, with or without central channel; elytra slightly longer than
thorax, closely and distinctly, but shallowly punctured ; hind body -
shining black, segments 2—4 distinctly and rather closely punctured,
fifth more sparingly, sixth sparingly, punctured ; sides and apex with
numerous outstanding sete ; legs yellow, posterior tibia without sete.
L. 24 mm.

Sexual differences obscure; male with apex of ventral plate of
seventh segment of hind body narrower and more produced than in
female.

In haystack refuse, moss, dead leaves, fungi, &c.; abundant throughout the king-
dom; the black shining colour and yellow legs and antenne will at once superficially
distinguish this our commonest species of the genus.

V. dubia, Sharp. This variety has the antenne a little shorter and
slightly thickened towards the apex, with the penultimate joint slightly
transverse, and the last joint a little stouter and less pointed ; the
thorax also is somewhat shorter, and the elytra, therefore, a little
longer in proportion.

Found in company with, and more abundantly than, the type form.

V. clientula, Er. (Homalota clientula, Er.). Smaller than the type
form, not so broad in the middle, with the antennz in proportion to
the size somewhat stouter with penultimate joints more transverse ;
the colour is brighter, the elytra being yellowish or brownish, and the
thorax often fuscous; the sides of the thorax are lighter coloured than
the disc; the apex of hind body is more broadly testaceous, and the
apex of the segments is often light-coloured ; the punctuation of the
thorax and elytra, also, is somewhat closer and finer. L. 2 mm.

Not so common as the type form, but it cannot be called uncommon,
and is quite as widely distributed ; it is found in the same situations,
and in company with it.

Tt seems rather doubtful whether this ought to be considered a dis-
tinct species or not ; the var. dubia seems to form the connecting link
between it and the type form.

H. orphana, Er. (xavicula, Muls. et Rey, Acrotona orphana,
Thoms., Colpodota orphana, Muls. et Rey). Black, rather shining, with
the elytra fuscous, or fuscous-black, and the apex of hind body more or

Homalota.] STAPHYLINID &. 141

less obscurely lighter; allied to H. fungi, but much smaller, and pro-
portionately broader ; head rather broad and short, finely and indistinctly
punctured, antenne yellowish, or pitchy with yellowish base, distinctly
thickened towards apex, third joint nearly as long as second, 4—5 about
as long as broad, 6-10 transverse, the latter moderately strongly so,
eleventh joint stout nearly as long as the two preceding together ; thorax
at base as broad as elytra, nearly twice as broad as long, narrowed in
front, finely and rather closely punctured, with or without obsolete
central channel ; elytra longer than thorax, closely but very distinctly
punctured ; hind body with segments 2-4 closely and distinetly pune-
tured, fifth rather more sparingly, sixth sparingly, punctured ; legs
pitchy testaceous, tibiz without outstanding sete. L. 13 mm.

Sexual differences obscure ; male with the ventral plate of seventh
segment of hind body a little more produced than in female.

In moss, haystack refuse, dead leaves, &e.; very rare; Sheerness (J. J. Walker) ;
Weybridge (Champion); Hammersmith Marshes; Sheppy; Seaton Beach, Devon
(Power); Holm Bush, near Brighton (Power).

H. eribrata, Kr. (sub-gen. Microdota (Pyenota), Muls. et Rey). A
very small and distinct species, bearing a sort of resemblance to
Brachida notha ; it might well be placed in a group by itself : it is dis-
tinguished by its short broad form and the coarse sculpture of the head,
thorax, and elytra ; head rather broad, distinctly punctured ; antenne
pitchy, rather short, but not very stout, second joint stout, much
longer and thicker than third, 4-10 each a little broader than the
preceding, and gradually more transverse, eleventh rather short and
stout, not quite as long as the two preceding; thorax nearly as broad at
base as elytra, nearly twice as broad as long, with sides and base rounded,
narrowed in front, closely and distinctly punctured ; elytra longer than
thorax, rather strongly, although closely, punctured, punctuation slightly
rugose, pubescence more distinct than on head and thorax ; hind body
broad, with sides somewhat rounded, distinctly narrowed to apex,
segments 2-4 finely and distinctly punctured, fifth more sparingly, sixth
very sparingly, punctured ; legs pitchy testaceous. L. 12 mm.

Male with ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body considera-
bly more produced than in female.

In moss, dead leaves, &e.; very rare; Shirley, near Croydon (Sharp); Scot-
land, Solway district, and Dee district (Braemar) (Sharp), Aviemore (Champion).
Mr. Horner records the species doubtfully from Sherwood Forest.

SCHISTOGLOSSA, Erichson.

This genus contains one European species, which is chiefly separated
from Homalota because of its mandibles, which are bifid or bidentate at
apex; it is extremely rare as British ; in appearance it somewhat
resembles Homalota eremitu, Rye, which was at first mistaken for it.

142 STAPHYLINIDA, [ Schistoglossa.

S. viduata, Er. Rather broad and parallel-sided, very finely pubes-
cent, and with the front parts very finely punctured, dull black ; head
rounded, plainly narrower than thorax, antenne dark testaceous or red-
dish with the first joint usually lighter, second and third joints of about
equal length, 4-10 gradually a little thicker, but none of them trans-
verse, last joint almost as long as the two preceding together ; thorax
broader than long with sides only slightly rounded, almost as broad as
elytra, obsoletely impressed before scutellum ; elytra about as long as
thorax (in the only pair I have seen they are somewhat shorter in the
female than in the male); hind body parallel-sided, finely and thickly
punctured, but a little less so and therefore a little more shining than the
front parts, sixth segment less closely punctured than the others ; legs
reddish testaceous. L. 3 mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body granu-
late, truncate at apex, very finely crenulate, and furnished at each side
with a minute tooth.

Very rare; as far as I know it has only been taken by Mr. Crotch; in Dr. Sharp’s
collection there is a pair labelled ‘* Merton, Norfolk, G. R. C.’ It has been several
times recorded from the Lake district, and from Scotland, but the insects referred to
appear to have been H. eremita. (See Ent. Monthly Mag. ii. 46, 49, 88, &c.)

GNYPETA, Thomson.

This genus was formed by Thomson to inciude three or four European
species that had previously been placed under Homalota; M. Fauvel has
recently described a species from Australia, and Dr. Sharp has described
three from Central America, which are similar in appearance to the
European species, but, according to Dr. Sharp himself, two of them have
the intermediate cox more distant: the genus is very closely related
both to Tachyusa and to Homalota, and it is hard to formulate the dis-
tinctions between them ; if, however, we include Gnypeta under Homa-
lota, we can hardly help sinking Tachyusa as well.

1. Upper surface deep black, very shining . . . G. LaBILis, Er.
2. Upper surface with a distinct bluish. reflection, somewhat
duller” 20 ¢. & 3 G0 ws tate cee) te he er ee ee GR O@RE DRAM aioS

G. labilis, Er. (carbonaria, Mann., nec Sharp). Black, very shining;
head nearly as broad as thorax, antenne moderately long, pitchy, with
base sometimes lighter, slightly thickened towards apex, joints 5-10
nearly equal in length, the penultimate being scarcely as long as broad,
eleventh about half as long again as tenth; “thorax about as broad as
long, considerably narrower than elytra, very finely punctured, with an
impression before scutellum ; elytra about one quarter longer than
thorax, very finely punctured ; hind body thickly and finely punctured
throughout, sixth segment rather more distinctly than the front ones ; legs
yellowish with femora and more or lesa of tibize pitchy. L. 22-3 mm.

Gaypeta. | STAPHYLINID. 148

Male with the head impressed and the ventral plate of seventh
segment of hind body narrow, and distinctly produced.

On muddy banks of rivers and streams; common throughout the kingdom.

G. coerulea, Sahlb. (ripicola, Kies., carbonaria, Sharp, l.c.). Very
like the preceding, but rather larger, and not so shining, and of a dis-
tinct blue colour with the legs and antenne entirely blue black except
that the tarsi and sometimes the knees are more or less testaceous; the
head is impressed in both sexes ; in colour it much resembles Tachyusa
flavitarsis and Dianous. L. 3 mm.

On banks of streams; very rare; banks of Derwent, near Derby (J. T. Harris) ;
Charlton, near Manchester, and banks of Ballin, Cheshire (J. Chappell) ; Scarborough

(Lawson); Northumberland district, the Wansbeck (Power); Scotland, banks of
Nith (Sharp), Crook of Devon (Power).

TACHYUSA, Erichson.

As at present constituted this genus contains twenty-eight species,
twenty from the European region, four from North America, two from
Chili, and two from Central America ; the species occur chiefly on the
sandy banks of rivers and streams, and are exceedingly swift runners ; the
two sea-side species, 7. uvida and 7. sulcata, are now separated off under
the genus Myrmecopora, Sauley (Xenusa, Rey).

Our British species may be divided as follows, but some of them are
rather hard to distinguish by a table :—

I. Hind body very strongly narrowed at base.

i. Elytra longer ; legs testaceous. . T. constRioTa, Er.
ii. Elytra shorter; legs pies. red or brownish with
tarsilighter . . T. coarctaTa, Er.
II. Hind body distinctly but not strongly narrowed at
base . T. scrruLa, Er.
III. Hind body parallel-sided or narrowed towards. apex.
i. Upper surface with a strong bluish reflection . . . T. FLAVITARSIS, Sahlb.
ii. Upper surface black.
1. Upper surface shining; legslighter . . . . . T. UmBRaTICcA, Er.

2. Upper surface dull; legs darker.
A. Eyes not prominent; head and thorax sub-

quadrate; antenn longer . . T. aTRA, Grav.
B. Eyes prominent; head and thorax strongly
transverse; antenne shorter. . . . . . . T.CONCOLOR, Er.

T. constricta, Er. Elongate, narrow, pitchy-black, shining, clothed
with fine and rather long pubescence; head large, about as broad as
thorax, narrowed behind, antenne moderately long, more or less dark,
with the basal joints testaceous, second and third joints about equal in
length, penultimate joints slightly transverse ; thorax longer than broad,
almost oval, very finely and thickly punctured, plainly + narrower than
elytra ; elytra distinctly longer than thorax, with shoulders rounded, very
finely, thickly, and somewhat rugosely punctured ; hind body strongly
narrowed at base, where it is about half the breadth of the elytra, and

144 STAPILYLINIDZ. [ Tachyusa.

gradually enlarged behind, almost smooth in front, finely punctured
towards apex; legs testaccous. L. 22 mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body prolonged
in a blunt angle.

Sandy banks of rivers and streams ; not uncommon, but rather local ; Mickleham,
banks of Mole; Tonbridge; Hastings; Bewdley Forest; South Wales; Cheshire ;
Repton, Burton-on-Trent ; Scarborough ; Northumberland district, ‘‘ abundant in
June and July on the banks of the Irthing and Till, and on the Devil’s Water at
Dilston;’’ not recorded from Scotland.

T. coarctata, Er. Resembles the preceding, but is a little less
elongate, and rather stouter ; the colour is generally darker ; the elytra
are shorter ; the hind body is somewhat less contracted at base and more
evidently punctured ; the legs are pitchy red or brownish instead of being
testaceous as in Z constricta: the male has the ventral plate of the
seventh segment produced and rounded at apex. L. 22 mm.

Very rare; found under the same conditious as the preceding ; Mickleham (banks
of the Mole), two specimens taken by Dr. Power in 1862; Netherfield, near Hastings
(HE. A. Butler).

T. scitula, Er. (forticornis, Fairm.). Rather narrow, very finely and
thickly pubescent and punctured, black, moderately shining ; head large,
nearly as broad as thorax, antenne rather shorter than in some of the
allied species, entirely testaceous, or somewhat fuscous towards apex,
third joint a little shorter than second, penultimate joints hardly trans-
verse ; thorax almost square with the angles rounded, narrower than
elytra ; elytra scarcely longer than thorax, and a little more distinctly
punctured ; hind body plainly but not strongly narrowed at base and
gradually and slightly widened behind, very finely, thickly and uniformly
punctured ; legs pitechy or brownish-red with the knees and_ tarsi
testaceous. L. 3 mm,

Male with dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body slightly
sinuate, ventral plate rounded and slightly produced.

In damp sandpits, on the banks of rivers, &c.; rare; Shirley, near Croydon ; West
Wickham ; Reigate; Bewdley ; Constantine and Whalley, Lancashire ; Northumber-
land district, banks of Irthing.

T. flavitarsis, Sahlb. (Jewcopus, Marsh). Of a dull black colour
with a strong bluish reflection, very finely and thickly punctured and
pubescent ; head large, nearly as broad as thorax, antenne rather long
slightly thickened towards apex, blackish or dark reddish-brown, penul-
timate joints a little longer than broad; thorax almost square, with
angles rounded, plainly narrower than elytra; elytra distinctly longer
than thorax; hind body parallel-sided, very finely and uniformly punc-
tured, narrowed at apex. L. 33} mm.

Male with ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body produced.

Banks of rivers; not uncommon; Mickleham, Lee, Tonbridge, Bearsted ; Hastings ;
Dean Forest; Midland districts, common ; Selby and Searborough, Yorkshire ; banks

SO I

‘achyusa. | - STAPHYLINIDE. 145

of Mersey and Irwell; Northumberland district, rather common; Scotland, common,
Tweed, Forth, and Solway districts.

T. umbratica, Er. Shining pitchy-black, with the elytra some-
times obscurely brown, finely and thickly pubescent and punctured ;
head large, subquadrate, about as broad as thorax, antenne long, feebly
thickened, joints 4-10 gradually a little broader but all longer than broad,
brownish or pitchy-red ; thorax almost square, narrower than elytra ;
elytra about as long as thorax, not so broad and squarer than in 7’. flavi-
tarsts ; hind body parallel-sided, very finely, thickly, and uniformly
punctured ; legs pitchy, knees, tarsi, and sometimes the entire tibie,
testaceous. L. 3 mm. j

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body prolonged
and rounded at apex.

Banks of streams and rivers ; local, but not uncommon in some places; Mickleham
(banks of the Mole); Weybridge (banks of the Thames); Tonbridge ; Shipley, near
Horsham ; Lee; Hastings; South Wales; Bewdley ; Tewkesbury ; Northumberland
district ; recorded from the Tweed and Dee districts, Scotland, but Dr, Sharp con-
siders it doubtful whether the specimens were correctly named.

T. atra, Gray. (Thinonoma atra, Thoms.). This species is easily
distinguished from the preceding by its darker and much duller colour,
and darker and more slender antenne, of which the penultimate joints
are longer ; the general punctuation is distinctly finer; the elytra are
broader in proportion to the thorax ; the hind body is less parallel, with
the sides somewhat rounded and plainly narrowed from the hinder
portion of the fourth segment to apex ; the legs are as a rule darker ;
the male has the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body strongly
rounded and much prolonged. L. 3 mm,

Marshy places, banks of streams, se. ; local, but not uncommon ; London district,
generally distributed ; Deal; Coleshill; Cannock Chase ; Eggington, near Burton-on-
Trent ; Repton ; Scarborough; Manchester; Scotland, rare, Lowlands, in marshes,
Tay and Solway districts ; Ireland, Dodder Banks, near Dublin.

T. concolor, Er. (Brachyusa concolor, Muls. et Rey). This species
resembles the preceding in colour and punctuation but is at once distin-
guished by its shorter and broader form, short and transverse head and
prominent eyes, shorter antenne#, and short, broad, transverse thorax
which is nearly as broad at base as base of elytra; the elytra are plainly
broader than thorax, and are a little wider at apex than at base; the
hind body is gradually and somewhat strongly narrowed towards apex ;
legs pitchy, knees and tarsi yellowish. L. 2-24 mm.

Male with thorax broadly furrowed longitudinally, dorsal plate of
seventh segment of hind body broadly emarginate, ventral plate much
produced.

Marshy places; rare; first found in Britain by Dr. Power; it has only occurred
hitherto in the London district: Hammersmith and Notting Hill Marshes, Lee,
Barnes, Forest Hill, Mickleham, Chelsea, Eltham.

VOL. IL. L

146 STAPHYLINID&. [Myrmecopora.

MYRMECOPORA, Saulcy. (Xenusa, Muls. et Rey).

The two species contained in this genus have until lately been united
with Tachyusa; they differ in their very large head, narrow neck, more
parallel and depressed form, shorter and less slender legs, &e., and also
in their habitat.

Length 3 mm.; antenna long with penultimate joints some-
what longer Ane broad saan = ote « Mi. Uva

Length 2 mm.; antenne short sith penultimate joints evi-
dently transverse. . 5 « © « . 5 « os « « « . M.SULCATA, Kies:

M. uvida, Er. Depressed, parallel, front parts very finely punctured
and pubescent, black, rather shining ; head very large, as broad as thorax,
strongly narrowed in front of eyes, “antenne long, lighter or darker red,
second and third joints of about equal length, 4— 10 gradually a little
shorter and thicker, but not transverse ; thorax subquadrate about as
long as broad, narrowed in front to meet the neck of thorax, broadly im-
pressed longitudinally in middle ; elytra ‘plainly broader than thorax,
and about as long or somewhat longer; hind body parallel-sided rather
distinctly and not closely punctured, especially behind; legs pitchy or
pitchy-red with tibia and tarsi usually lighter. L. 3 mm,

Male with the thorax more broadly impressed than in female.

In decaying seaweed and among shingle on the coast, often below high-water mark ;
local but sometimes in great abundance where it occurs ; Whitstable, Rochester,
Sheerness, Southend ; Southsea; Hythe ; Southampton ; Dawlish ; Isle of Wight, in
the greatest profusion in early spring, flying in the sun and settling on the rocks and
pebbles at Ventnor; Northumberland and Durham districts, rare, sea-coast near
Hartley in October; not recorded from Scotland ; the single northern record is some-
what curious, and seems to require confirmation.

M. sulcata, Kies. Very like the preceding but much smaller and
narrower with the antenne much shorter in proportion and having the
penultimate joints transverse, and the last joint more oval ; the elytra
are somewhat longer in proportion to the thorax, and the thorax is more
narrowed behind. L. 2 mm.

Found under the same circumstances and often in company with the preceding ;
not so common perhaps but more widely distributed ; Whitstable ; Rochester ; South-
sea; Weymouth; Isle of Wight; Falmouth; Watermouth (Deven); Dawlish;
Hunstanton and Heacham, Norfolk (in abundance in the latter locality); Scarborough
(Cornelian Bay); Northumberland district, rare; Scotland, rare, Clyde district
“under seaweed near Corrie in Arran” (Sharp).

BORBOROPORA, Kraatz.

This very distinct genus has somewhat of the facies of a Scopxus,
but is more nearly allied to Falagria: it may be distinguished from any
known genus of the Aleocharide by the very large subquadrate head,
and by its long and slender mandibles, of which the right hand one only
has on the inner side below the middle a very large strong tooth, the

Borboropora. | STAPHYLINIDE. 147

left hand one being attenuate and toothless; the labial palpi are sub-
acuminate at apex; at present two European species are contained in
the genus ; one specimen only, belonging to the originally described
species, has been found in Britain.

B. Kraatzi, Fuss. (Saulceyi, Kraatz). Depressed, nigro-piceous,
shining, with grey pubescence, elytra and legs pitchy-brown ; head large
and broad, transversely subquadrate ; forehead deeply channelled ;
thorax narrower than the head and elytra, deeply foveolate at the base,
and obsoletely channelled ; hind body very finely punctured. L. 3 mm.

Very rare; a single specimen was taken by Dr. Power at Mickleham on July 13,
1862, and remains unique as British ; it was captured by evening sweeping; when
Dr. Power introduced his insect as British, only seven specimens were known to exist
in the Continental collections, one from near Paris, and six from Germany, which
latter were taken under half-dried dung and the carcase of a toad.

FALAGRIA, Stepliens.

This genus, as it stands at present, comprises about sixty species,
which are distributed over most parts of the world ; Dr. Sharp, however,
(Biol. Cent. Am. Staphylinide, p. 232) is of opinion that it must
undergo dismemberment, as examination proves that those European
forms for which the name was first proposed possess the peculiarity of
having the prosternum behind the front coxe entirely corneous, whereas
im many other forms that have been included in the genus it is entirely
membranous ; these latter, therefore, must be removed from the genus
Falagria ; as thus constituted the genus is not found in South America,
but is otherwise widely distributed ; the species occur in marshy places,
under vegetable refuse, in hotheds, &c., and are, as a rule, easily dis-
tinguished by their large heads and deeply sulcate thorax; four species
are found in Britain which may be distinguished as follows :—

I. Scutellum with two parallel longitudinal raised lines, placed near together, and

presenting the appearance of a deep furrow ; thorax very deeply sulcate.
i, Elytra longer than thorax ; form broader; agus eas

yee punctured, duller . . . . F. sutcata, Payk.
i. Elytra rather shorter than thorax; form narrower;
ciers less closely punctured, shining + + ¢ . . - F, suncatuna, Grav.

IL Scutellum without raised lines.

Thorax not strongly cordiform, gradually narrowed to

base; elytra almost square, without impression between

shoulders and scutellum ; thorax suleate in both sexes . F. THORACTICA, Curt.
Thorax very strongly cordiform, very much narrowed

at base; elytra plainly transverse, strongly impressed

between shoulders and scutellum; thorax suleate in male,

convex and smooth infemale . ..... . . . F. opscura, Grav.

F. suleata, Payk. Pitch-black, rather shining, very finely and
thickly punctured, finely pubescent ; head large, almost straight at sides,
and narrowed in front of eyes, antenne about as long as head and thorax
together, brownish, with base a little lighter, slightly thickened with the

L 2

148 STAPHYLINID. { Falagria.

penultimate joints hardly transverse ; thorax cordiform, about as broad
in front as long, with a broad deep longitudinal furrow ; scutellum with
two longitudinal raised lines; elytra a little longer than thorax; hind
body slightly broader behind than before, very finely punctured, with
front segments longitudinally impressed and crenulate at base; legs
lighter or darker testaceous. L. 2+ mm.

In haystack refuse, hotbeds, and vegetable rubbish generally; very abundant
throughout the greater part of England and Wales ; not so common further north ;

Scotland, local, Forth, Solway, and Clyde districts ; Ireland, near Dublin and pro-
bably widely distributed.

F. sulcatula, Grav. Smaller and narrower than the preceding,
more sparingly punctured and pubescent, and therefore much more
shiny; the elytra are sometimes brownish, and the legs are light tes-
taceous or a little reddish ; the antenne have the base lighter than in,
F. sulcata; besides these points, the thorax is narrower and longer in
proportion, and the punctuation, especially of the elytra, is distinctly
less close. LL. 2 mm.

Marshy places in moss, &e., also in damp haystack refuse ; local, and not nearly as
common as the preceding. Chathain, Sheerness, Walton-on-Thames, Southend,
Shipley, near Horsham, Faversham, Cowley; Deal; Exeter; Wicken Fen; Tewkes-

bury ; Knowle, near Birmingham ; not recorded from the northern districts or Scot-
land.

F. thoracica, Curt. Resembles the two preceding in form, but is
easily distinguished by its pitchy-red colour, the thorax being usually
light reddish testaceous, and the elytra darker than thorax but lighter
than head and hind body; the antennz and legs are reddish testaceous
or testaceous, the former being usually a little darker after the first two
or three joints ; the thorax is deeply furrowed in both sexes ; the scutel-
lum is without the two raised lines so conspicuous in the preceding
species; the elytra are a little longer than the thorax ; the hind body is
a little less thickly pumeione ee in front than behind and is rather widened
towards apex. L, 2-2} mm.

Under stones, by sweeping, &e.; local and somewhat widely distributed but not
common ; Mickleham, Birch Wood, Purley Downs, Tilgate Forest, St. Peters, Kent
(in decaying seed potatoes) ; Southend ; Dover; Lulworth, Dorset; Birmingham

district, Edgbaston, &c.; Bewdley ; Matlock ; Hunstanton ; Northumberland dis-
trict, very rare; not recorded from Scotland. Ireland, Bray, co. Wicklow.

F. obscura (Cardiola obscura, Muls. et Rey). In colour this species
much resembles the preceding, except that the thorax is of a darker
reddish colour ; the antenne are entirely reddish testaceous ; it may
easily be distinguished by its more transverse head, more strongly cordi-
form thorax, which is more convex and much more distinctly narrowed
behind, and much broader elytra, which are more transverse, and are
strongly impressed between the shoulders and scutellum ; the hind body
has the sides slightly rounded and is widest about middle ; the legs are
long, entirely testaceous ; in the male the thorax is distinctly furrowed

Falagria.} > STAPHYLINIDA. 149

longitudinally, whereas in the female it is quite smooth ; the head also
is impressed in the former sex and not in the latter; the male also has
the ventral plate of the seventh segment of hind body somewhat pro-
longed, L. 2}-23 mm.

In haystack refuse, decaying seaweed, and vegetable rubbish generally ; common

and widely distributed throughout the greater part of England and Wales; more
local further north; Scotland, local, Forth, Solway, and Clyde districts.

BOLITOCHARINA.

The’members of this tribe have the anterior and intermediate tarsi 4-
jointed, and the posterior tarsi 5-jointed; they differ very much in
general appearance and some of them are amongst the most abnormal of
the Staphylinide ; the name of this tribe, or that of the preceding, is
misleading, for they are by no means exclusively found in fungi or
boleti, as many of the species oceur under bark and vegetable refuse,
and in various situations ; the genus Brachida was formerly included
under Homalota, and Sipalia testacea has in our catalogues been con-
sidered to be a Leptusa; it is, however, evidently distinct from that
genus, and I have followed Sharp and Mulsant and Rey in referring it
to Sipalia ; there are sixteen British genera contained in the tribe ; their
differences are rather hard to express in words, but a cursory study of
type specimens will at once show how widely they differ ; the last genus
Myllena is described together with Gymnusa and Deinopsis at the end
of the Aleocharine.

I. Labial palpi of the ordinary form, or filiform ;} hind
body not terminating in two styles ; form more or
less parallel.

. Prosternum rather strongly developed in front of
anterior coxe ; temples not bordered at the sides . AuraLta, Steph.
ii. Prosternum scarcely developed in front of anterior
cox ; temples finely bordered at the sides.
1. Anterior and intermediate tibiz simply ciliate or
pubescent.
A. Intermediate cox distant; eyes more or
less prominent.
a. Mesosternal plate narrowed in middle
and dilated laterally towards extremity ;
(habitat under refuse at roots of grass, &c.)
a.* Hind body with sharp and strongly
reflexed lateral border; antenni

shorter . . . ENcEPHALUS, Westw.
b.* Hind body with thick and blunt
lateral border ; antennz longer - Bracnipa, Rey.

b. Mesosternal plate narrowed from base to
apex (habitat in fungi or poll
a.* Ligulaentire . . . + «+ . « GyropHena, Mannh.
b.* Ligulabifid . . . . . . . . . AG@akiICcocHARA, Kraatz.

1 As in Silusa.

150 STAPHYLINIDS. [ Bolitocharina.

B. Intermediate cox contiguous.
a. Labial palpi 2-jointed.
a.* First joint of posterior tarsi elongate,
at least as long as the two following ;
labial palpi short, first joint thickened Pxtacusa, Er,
b.* First joint of posterior tarsi equal or
nearly equal to the following : labial
palpi rather long, first joint not
thickened.
a.f Ligula entire ; third joint of maxil-
lary palpi not or slightly dilated.
a.f[ Thorax slightly narrowed behind,
about as broad at apex as at base ;
elytra square ; body depressed . Eripepa, Rey.
b ~ Thorax scarcely narrowed behind,
broader at base than at apex:
elytra transverse: body rather
convex . . Sittsa, Er.
b.¢ Ligula broad ard triangular, bifid;
third joint of maxillary palpi very
strongly dilated . . . . . . ACTECHARIS, Janson.
b. Labial palpi 3-jointed.
a.* Intermediate coxe more or less distant ;
insect winged.
a.t Ligula entire; mesosternum not

carinate.
a.t Thorax wider than elytra, not
narrowed behind . .. . Eurywusa, Zr.

b.f Thorax slightly narrower than
elytra, narrowed behind . . . Lerprusa, Kraatz.

b.t Ligula bifid; mesosternum cari-

nate ; thorax rach narrower than

elytra peba + + . . . . BorrrocHara, Mannh.
b.* Intermediate coxee Cee in-
sect apterous . . - . Sparta, Rey.
2, Anterior and intermediate tibie ar med with
spines on their outer margins . . .- . . Puytosus, Curt.

If. Labial palpi setiform ; hind body terminating in
two styles; form fusiform (like a Conurus). . . . Mytimna, Er.

AUTALIA, Stephens.

This genus contains five European species and one or two from the
East Indies ; three are found in Britain; they have somewhat the
appearance of Falagria, but are distinguished by having the thorax
stronely narrowed to a point in front, and by the large convex elytra
which are deeply furrowed at base ; the ligula of this genus is very
peculiar, being very long and furnished at the end with long spinous
processes ; with a little care it may easily be dissected out and forms a
beautiful microscopical object.

The species occur in dung, vegetable refuse, decaying fungi, &e.

I. Upper surface pitchy-red, with the head and apical
portion of hind body black . . . . A. IMPRESSA, Ol.

Autalia.} " STAPHYLINIDE. 151

II. Upper surface entirely black.
1. Thorax less evidently punctured, with central furrow

more or less distinct throughout . . . . . A. RIVULARIS, Grav.
. Thorax more evidently punctured, with centr: al furrow
eee perceptible anteriorly 2 2s © @ .. ~ A. PUNCTICOLLIS, Sharp.

A. impressa, Ol. Pitchy-red with the head and apical portion of
hind body black, extreme apex testaceous ; head large, a little broader
than thorax, antentie moderately long, fuscous or dark red with three or
four basal joints lighter, evidently thickened towards apex, joints 5-10
transverse ; thorax about as long as broad but suddenly narrowed to a
point in front, much narrower at base than elytra, obsoletely punctured,
with amore or less obsolete central furrow (sometimes wanting) and
three furrows or impressions on each side of this ; elytra broad and con-
vex, broader than thorax, strongly furrowed at base, very obsoletely
punctured, almost smooth ; hind body much narrower than elytra,
enlarged behind, almost smooth ; legs testaceous or reddish testaceous.
L. 2 mm.

In decaying fungi; generally distributed and common throughout the kingdom,
especially in autumn.

A. rivularis, Grav. Closely allied to the preceding in form, but
smaller, of a uniform black colour, with the antennze somewhat less
thickened towards apex, and the thorax with more pronounced central
furrow and otherwise somewhat differently sculptured; the elytra are
proportionately a little longer, and the hind body is more parallel sided
and less widened behind ; the pubescence of the front parts is a little
longer and more scanty ; the legs are lighter or darker pitchy testaceous.
L. 13 mm.

In moss, haystack refuse, dung, &c., and frequently by evening sweeping ; not as
abundant as the preceding, but common and generally distributed in England ;
Scotland, common, Tweed, Solway, Forth, aud Clyde districts ; Ireland, near Belfast
and Dublin, and probably common.

A. puncticollis, Sharp. Very like the preceding both in form and
colour, but as a rule larger ; in the point of size, however, it varies very
considerably ; it may be easily distinguished by the more evidently
punctured thorax, the central furrow on which is only perceptible in
front ; the lateral fovez, also, are not deeply impressed, and those at the
base of the elytra are shorter; the pubescence is more evident and
thicker, and the apex of the hind body is concolorous. L. 13-2 mim.

A northern species : ‘‘ Northumberland district, two specimens takeu on the Cheviot
Hills by Mr. James Hardy in July” (Bold). Scotland, common in sheep-dung in
the Highlands, Solway, Clyde, Forth, Tay, Dee, Moray, and Orkney districts: it has
also occurred in Sweden, Norway, and Iceland.

ENCEPHALUS, Westwood.

This very peculiar genus contains only two or three species, which are

152 STAPHYLINID&, [Encephalus,

remarkable for their peculiar broad thick ovate form, and the very strong
raised margins of the hind body: they have the power of turning the
hind body over the whole of the rest of the body and thus enclosing
it within these raised margins; in this position they form a sort of ball
and may easily be mistaken for small species of Agathidiwm; the genus is
perhaps more closely connected with Gyrophena than with any other,
but differs in many important points, notably in its shorter thorax and
much shorter elytra, and in the fact that the intermediate coxe are
more widely distant.

E. complicans, Westw. Of a-short, thickset, oval form, almost
smooth, shining black, with the elytra usually reddish towards suture ;
head much narrower than thorax, antenne very short, testaceous or
reddish, penultimate joints strongly transverse ; thorax very transverse,
but much narrower in front than at base where it is three times as broad
as long ; elytra about as long as thorax, very transverse, almost smooth
or very finely shagreened ; hind body with sides rounded and narrowed
behind, very strongly margined ; legs ferrugimous, posterior femora some-
times darker. L. 2 mm.

Male with the seventh dorsal segment of hind body furnished on each
side with a spiniform tooth.

In moss, flood refuse, &e,, also by sweeping ; usually considered rare, but it is very
widely distributed, aud I have records of about forty localities for it in Britain, and
could doubtless obtain more ; London district, general ; Hastings ; Glanvilles Wootton ;
Birmingham district, Repton, Needwood and Sherwood Forests and other localities :
Hunstanton ; Church Stretton; Scarborough; Manchester; not recorded from the
Northumberland district ; Scotland, scarce, among moss, Lowlands, Tweed, Forth,
Solway, and Moray districts; Ireland, Belfast, Galway, Dublin, and Portmarnock.

In consequence of the very peculiar appearance of this insect it is
seldom passed over, as it is quite unlike any other of the British Staphy-
linide ; it therefore naturally appears to be more widely distributed than
many others which, from their similarity to common species, are
neglected, and perhaps in many cases considered very rare, whereas In
time to come they may be found to be comparatively common.

BRACHIDA, Rey.

This genus was formed to include the anomalous Homalata notha,
which is plainly allied to Enxcephalus on the one hand, and to Gyro-
phena on the other ; it is abundantly distinct from Homalota by reason
of its short thick form, prominent eyes, more widely separated inter-
mediate cox, and above all by the intermediate tarsi being 4-jointed,
a fact which seems to have been overlooked: B. notha has a little in
common with Homalota cribrata, but it seems probable that this latter
species may form the type of a separate genus; when alive it doubles
up the hind body over the head in exactly the same manner as Ence-
phalus complicans. The genus now comprises one European, three

Brachidu.] : STAPHYLINIDE, has}

Australian, and three American species, and may ultimately be found
to be of large extent.

B. notha, Er. Short and broad, somewhat ovate, finely and rather
sparingly pubescent, shining black, or pitchy-black, with the apex of
basal segments of hind body sometimes lighter ; head broad, but much
narrower than thorax, eyes prominent, antennae moderately long,
thickened, fuscous towards apex, basal joints reddish, penultimate joints
reddish; thorax very short, more than twice as broad as long, nearly
as broad as elytra, finely and indistinctly punctured ; elytra very trans-
verse, about as long as thorax, rather closely and distinetly punctured ;
hind body flat above and convex beneath, with sides rather strongly
and bluntly raised, the margins of the segments finely and indistinctly
punctured ; legs reddish- yellow. L. 2 mm.

Male with each elytron furnished at apex near suture with a distinct
tubercle, apex of dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body with a
notch in the middle.

At roots of grass and beneath rejectamenta on river banks; has also been taken by
sweeping herbage: very rare; found at Chatham on the banks of the Medway by Mr.
Brewer, and at Folkestone by Mr. Rye.

GYROPHENA, Mannerhei.

- This genus contains about eighty species, of which Dr. Sharp has
lately described twenty from Central America (I. ¢., p. 254): there are
about sixteen European species, eleven of which are found in Britain ;
the others are found in Ceylon, Austro-Malasia, Japan, and North and
South America, so that in all ‘probability the genus will prove to be
spread over nearly the whole world: all the species known inhabit
fungi ; they are distinguished by their short broad form, broad head
(which is usually short and has the eyes very prominent), and short
thorax and elytra; they have the power of curling their hind body
over their thorax, but not so perfectly as the species belonging to the two
preceding genera: Dr. Sharp is of opinion that the forests of tropical
America will be found to be the headquarters of the genus, and points
out the curious fact that in the numerous tropical species the sexual
armature of the terminal segments of the hind body is as peculiar in the
female as in the male: in no genus is the sexual armature more im-
portant, perhaps, than in Gyr ophena, but in the European species the
females present no peculiarities ; in some of the tropical species the male
armature may be very similar, but in the females it is very dissimilar,
and so seems to separate the species.

The following table may help roughly to distinguish the British
species, but some of them are very closely allied and require careful study :—
I. Head strongly transverse, suddenly and obliquely con-

tracted behind eyes, which are very prominent, and are
separated from thorax bya very short space.

154 STAPHYLINIDA.

. Antenne with joints 6-10 not or slightly transverse,
thorax punctured in two rows.

1. Elytra almost smooth ; upper surface testaceous with
the head, postero-external angles of elytra, and a
narrow band on hind body, pitehy . 66 ann

2. Elytra sparingly but distinctly punctured ; upper
surface pitchy red or brownish with base of elytra
lighter . . .

. Antenne with joints 6-10 more or less strongly ‘trans.
verse.

1. Base of thorax more or less punctured . . 1...

2. Base of thorax not punctured.

A. Elytra distinctly, thickly, and somewhat rugosely

punctured ; thorax with two rows of punctures on
disc.

a. Fourth joint of antenne hardly transverse not
much narrower than the fifth, 5-10 moderately
strongly transverse ; upper surface generally lighter

b. Fourth joint of antenne plainly transverse, much
narrower than fifth, 5-10 strongly transverse ;
upper surface generally darker

B. Elytra finely, and hardly rugosely punctured, with
the interstices plainly shagreened ; upper surface
mostly reddish testaceous; hind body almost
smooth.

a. Thorax with two rows of punctures on disc;
length 2mm. .

b,. Thorax sperinely and diffusely punctured ; length
1mm.

C, Elytra smooth or almost smooth on ‘disc, obsoletely
punctured towards postero-external angles; thorax
with two rows of punctures.

a. Length 2 mm.; thorax and hind body more or
less testaceous or brownish testaceous: hind sun)
smooth . .

b. Length 13 mm. ; thorax and ‘hind body black ;
hind “body closely and obsoletely punctured

D. Elytra closely and uniformly punctured: upper
surface entirely black : length 1 mm.; hind body
rather thickly punctured . .

II. Head not, or feebly, transverse, gradually contracted be-
hind the eyes, which are scarcely prominent, and are
separated from thorax by a rather wide interval, colour
entirely pitch-black

[Gyrophena.

G. PULCHELLA, Heer.
G, arrinis, Sahlb.

G. PowERI, Crotch.

G. GENTILIS, Er.

G. nana, Payk.

G. conarua, Er.

G, Minima, Ey,

G. LEVIPENNIS, Kr.

G, LUCIDULA, Er.

G, MaNcA, Er.

G. sTRICTULA, Er.

In all the following species of Gyrophena (with the exception of G.
strictula) the head is strongly transverse, with the eyes prominent, and
in all the species the thorax is much broader than long, and narrower
than elytra, with the sides rather strongly rounded; the head, thorax,
and elytra are nearly always plainly shagreened between the punctures :
for a detailed account of the British species the student is referred to the

valuable paper on them by Mr. G, R. Waterhouse in the Entomological
Society’s Transactions for 1861 (p. 241), to which Iam much indebted
in the following descriptions ; the differences in the seventh segment of the
hind body in the males of the various species are exceedingly important,

Gyrophena. | : STAPHYLINIDA, 155

but are hard to observe in dead and dry specimens, as, unless the
segment is fixed in its place while supple with strong gum, it-runs up
into the sixth segment: these sexual differences are mostly figured by
Mulsant and Rey, ‘“ Brévipennes Aldochariens,” 1871, pl. i.

G. pulchella, Heer. Testaceous, with the head, postero-external
angles of elytra, and one or two segments before apex of hind body,
pitchy ; thorax with disc darker than sides; antenne testaceous, rather
long, slightly thickened from the fifth joint, joints 5—7 not transverse, 8-10
hardly transverse ; thorax with two rows of punctures on disc, the central
punctures being obsolete ; elytra nearly smooth; hind body smooth to-
wards base, in female very finely punctured towards apex; legs pale
testaceous. L. 2-2 mm.

Male with the sixth segment of hind body furnished with a raised
area in the form of a horseshoe open towards base, seventh segment
strongly emarginate at apex, the emargination being bounded by two
long convergent processes, and bearing on its edge two minute teeth.

In fungi, rare ; Coombe Wood, Esher, West Wickham ; the species was first intro-
duced as British by Dr. Power, and has only occurred in the London district.

This species is distinguished from G. agfinis by its rather larger form
and relatively longer thorax and elytra, the latter being much more finely
punctured ; from ‘all the other British @ yrophence it is distinguished by
its long antenne, of which the intermediate joints are not transverse.

G. affinis, Mann. Pitchy-testaceous, with the head, thorax, posterior
angles of elytra, and segments of hind body before apex, pitchy ; antenne
testaceous, with joints 5-10 not or hardly transverse ; thorax with two
dorsal rows of punctures and some strong scattered punctures at sides ;
elytra more strongly transverse than in the preceding species, and
diffusely, but much more distinctly, punctured, the punctures being large
and shallow ; bind body smooth ; legs testaceous, L. 2 mm.

Male with the sixth segment of hind body furnished with a small
tubercle towards apex, seventh terminated by two long projecting pro-
cesses which are somewhat incurved at apex.

In fungi ; not uncommon and widely distributed. London district, common; New
Forest ; Glanvilles Wootton ; Midland districts, not uncommon; Llangollen; Lincoln,

Nocton Wood, in abundance ; Wallington, Northumberland ; Scotland, Forth, Solway,
and Moray districts.

G. Poweri, Crotch (puncticollis, Thoms., punctulata, Rey). Testa-
ceous ; head, postero-external angles of elytra, and fifth segment of hind
body, pitchy; head with rather large scattered punctures ; antenne
testaceous, a little darker towards apex, with joints 5-10 strongly trans-
verse ; surface of the thorax with fine, rather widely-scattered punctures,
base more thickly punctured ; elytra transverse, rather finely and thickly
punctured and pubescent ; hind body smooth or almost smooth ; legs
testaceous. L. 1} mm.

156 STAPHYLINIDE [Gyrophena,

Male with sixth segment of hind body furnished with four short
ridges, seventh segment with four rather long, slender processes, the
middle pair near one another, and the outer pair somewhat convergent ;
immediately above the middle pair are two small tuberculiform processes,
which do not project beyond the apex of the segment.

In fungi; September and October; rare: Esher, Caterham, Mickleham ; first
introduced as British by Dr. Power.

In male characters this species approaches G. fasciata and G. gentilis,
but differs from both in having the thorax furnished with minute
scattered punctures throughout, and in the punctures of the dorsal row
being obsolete.

G. gentilis, Er. (congrua, Thoms., nec Er.). Rufo-testaceous ;
head and postero-external angles of elytra black ; thorax and fourth and
fifth segments of hind body pitchy; head strongly and sparingly punctured
at sides; antenne reddish testaceous, with the four first joints paler,
5-10 strongly transverse; elytra thickly and finely rugose-punctate ;
hind body smooth ; legs testaceous. L. 2} mm.

Male with a row of four small ridges or prominences at the apex of
sixth segment of hind body, seventh segment terminated by four slender
processes, the inner ones approximate, the outer ones longer, and incurved
at apex,

In fungi; rather common; Birch Wood, Mickleham, Darenth Wood, Weybridge,
Hawkhurst, Chatham, Bexley, Westerham, Box Hill, Coombe Wood, Dulwich ;
Glanvilles Wootton, Dorset ; New Forest ; Knowle, near Birmingham ; Leicestershire ;
Repton; Hampton-in-Arden; Scarborough; Northumberland district, common ;
Scotland, local, Forth, Solway, and Moray distriets.

This species resembles G. nana, but is rather larger and has the
antenne rather longer, with the intermediate joints less strongly trans-
verse; the fourth joint of the antenne is subglobose, and the elytra are
rather finely and thickly punctured, with the punctuation rugose, and
with a few scattered indistinct larger punctures,

G. nana, Payk. Prevailing colour black ; elytra (except the postero-
external angles) and basal half of hind body testaceous ; antennz reddish
testaceous with base lighter; legs yellow; head strongly and sparingly
punctured at sides, antenne with joints 5-10 strongly transverse ;
thorax with two rows of punctures on disc, which are distinetly inter-
rupted in the middle ; elytra very strongly transverse, finely, thickly, and
somewhat rugosely punctured, the punctuation being a little less close
and stronger towards the postero-external angles; hind body smooth.
L. 2-2} mm.

Male with a row of four short longitudinal ridges on the sixth segment
of hind body, seventh armed at apex with three projections, the lateral
spiniform, a little convergent, the central rather shorter, and sometimes
bifid ; the male armature of this species appears to differ somewhat in

Gyropluena. | : STAPHYLINIDE. 1D

different specimens ; the colour of the upper surface is much blacker in
some specimens than in others.

In fungi; not uncommon; Esher, Dulwich, Bishops Wood, Weybridge, Reigate ;
Tonbridge ; Glanvilles Wootton ; Knowle, Tewkesbury, Tamworth, Cannock Chase,
and other Midland localities; Hunstanton; Manchester; Repton; Northumberland
district ; Scotland, Forth, Solway, and Moray districts.

G. fasciata, Marsh (congrua, Er., carpini, Baudi., despecta, Rey).
Testaceous ; head pitchy black, with scattered punctures ; thorax fuscous
or fusco-testaceous, with two rows of punctures on disc; elytra pale
testaceous, with the outer margin (excepting near and at the shoulder)
black, very strongly transverse and finely punctured, the punctures being
more diffuse in front and closer and somewhat rugose towards apex ;
hind body with fifth segment and part of fourth and sixth segments
black, almost smooth. L. 1{-2 mm.

Male with a row of six minute short ridges near the apex of the sixth
segment of hind body, seventh segment with a long acute and slender
tooth on each side, widely separated.

In fungi; rather common; Birch Wood, Darenth Wood, Chatham, Mickleham,
Weybridge, Caterham, Coombe Wood, Esher, Tilgate; Southern district ; Tewkes-
bury ; Knowle ; Hunstanton ; Northumberland district, rare ; Scotland, Forth, Solway,
and Moray districts.

Very like G. nana but smaller, with the general colour paler, except
that the antenne are darker towards apex than in that species; the
intermediate joints of antenne are somewhat less transverse, and the
punctures on the elytra are fine and less numerous; the male characters
are totally different.

G. minima, Er. This species may at once be distinguished from
all the other pale-coloured species by its very small size ; it is rufo-
testaceous, with the head, posterior angles of elytra, and segments of
hind body before apex, pitchy ; head rather sparingly punctured at the
sides ; antennz with sixth joint strongly, 6-10 very strongly, transverse ;
thorax very strongly transverse, fully twice as broad as long, with punc-
tures irregularly scattered over the surface ; elytra finely and not thickly
punctured ; hind body almost smooth ; legs pale testaceous. L. 1 mm.

Male with four short ridges on sixth segment of hind body, seventh
segment terminated with three teeth, the outer pair slightly incurved at
apex, the inner one in the centre forming a triangular plate ; according
to Waterhouse there are two teeth in the centre placed near together.
Mulsant and Rey appear to be right in their description, but in some
lights the male characters present a different appearance to what they do
in others, and the broad central tooth in a cross light might easily be
supposed to be divided, even if this be not actually the case in some
specimens.

In fungi; rather common; Bireh Wood, Chatham, Weybridge, Esher, Shirley,
Bishops Wood, Addington; Dean Forest ; Tamworth; Repton ;* Markfield, Leicester-

158 STAPHYLINIDS. [ Gyrophena.

shire; Lincoln; Northumberland district, Gosforth, &c., not rare ; Scotland, very
rare, a single specimen found near the junction of the Nith and Scar, Solway district,
by Dr. Sharp, August 22nd, 1867.

G. levipennis, Kr. Testaceous : head, postero-external angles of
elytra, and penultimate segments of hind body, pitchy; thorax reddish
pitehy ; head with a few scattered punctures ; antennz with the inter-
mediate joints not so transverse as in some of the allied species ; thorax
with two series of punctures on disc, the intermediate ones somewhat
obsolete; elytra smooth, impunctate, except at the postero-external angles,
which are obsoletely punctured; hind body almost smooth; legs tes-
taceous. L. 2 mm.

Male with two or four very minute tubercles at the apex of the sixth
segment of hind body, seventh sinuate or somewhat angularly emar-
ginate at apex.

The smooth elytra of this species will distinguish it from all the
others.

In fungi; rather local and not so common as some of the other species; London
district, rare, Snodland (Kent), Shirley, Mickleham, Coombe Wood; Tonbridge ;
Hastings; Hampshire; Gumley, Leicestershire; Knowle, Tewkesbury; Repton ;
Northumberland district, abundant (Bold) ; Scotland, rare, six specimens only found
on the Corstorphine Hills, Forth district, by Dr. Sharp, June 12th, 1866.

G. lucidula, Er. A small species, easily distinguished by its colour;
entirely black or pitchy-black with the elytra testaceous, more or less
broadly margined with black at the sides and base ; antenne fuscous
with base testaceous; legs testaceous ; head almost impunctate; thorax
very short, with two distinct punctures on the hinder part of the dise
marking the position of the two dorsal series which are otherwise wanting
or indistinct; elytra impunctate, except towards the postero-external
angles which are obsoletely punctured ; hind body very finely and
obsoletely punctured towards apex, aJmost smooth towards base. L.
12 mm.

Male with the sixth segment of hind body obsoletely and finely
granulate ; seventh segment emarginate and terminated on each side by
a strong sharp tooth, the base of which is broad and stout.

In flood refuse, &c., in marshy places; very local ; Lee, Eltham, Snodland ; formerly
in Hammersmith and Notting Hill Marshes; Scarborough; it appears not to have
occurred in fungi in Britain as at present observed, but according to Mulsant and
Rey it inhabits boleti and fungi attached to trees, and prefers cold and mountainous
regions ; the species was first taken in Britain by Dr. Power.

The species is like a very small and dark specimen of G. nana, but
besides other points, it has the intermediate joints of the antenne less
strongly dilated.

G. manca, Er. Entirely dark pitchy-black, with the antenna, legs,
and apex of hind body testaceous; antenne with fifth joint strongly,
6-10 very strongly transverse ; thorax very short, diffusely punctured over

Gyrophena. ] STAPHYLINIDA, 159

its whole surface ; elytra very short and transverse, thickly and finely
punctured ; hind body closely and very finely punctured. L. 1 mm.

Male with the seventh segment of hind body terminated by two
widely separated spines, which are broad at base, and sharp and con-
vergent at apex.

In fungi, and under bark of old fungus-grown stumps; very local; Thornton
Reservoir, near Markfield, and Gumley, Leicestershire ; Wicken Fen; Salford Priors,
Evesham; Repton; Lincoln (in abundance, in boleti growing on an old stump by the
side of the road between Lincoln and Langworth) ; Northumberland district, very

rare ; the only southern locality recorded is Littlington, Sussex, and it has not been
found in the London district or in Scotland.

G. strictula, Er. (Phenogyra strictula, Muls. et Rey, polita, Grav.,
var. cat. H. R. W., brevicornis, Rey). Entirely pitchy-black, and in
general appearance resembling the preceding; the head, however, is much
less transverse and less suddenly contracted behind the eyes which are
not nearly so prominent ; the head, thorax, and elytra are very dis-
tinctly alutaceous and therefore comparatively dull: antenne and legs
testaceous ; thorax with very indistinct traces of the two dorsal rows of
punctures which are sometimes quite obsolete, except for two rather strong
punctures on the posterior third ; elytra a little longer in proportion to
the thorax than in G. manca, with very minute scattered punctures ;
hind body almost smooth, except that the sides of each segment are
very finely and obsoletely punctured ; the shoulders of elytra and apex
of hind body are often reddish. L. 14 mm.

Male with four or six short ridges on sixth segment of hind body,
seventh segment armed at apex with two sharp, rather stout, teeth,
convergent and enclosing a broad emargination.

In boleti; local; Maidstone, Mickleham, Epping Forest, Darenth Wood; The Holt,
Farnham; Dean Forest ; Evesham district ; Scotland, very local, Solway district,
“abundant in Dedalea quercina, growing on oak-stumps near Eccles’ (Sharp).

The most local species of the genus Gyrophena are often exceedingly
abundant where they occur, and the contents of one or two boleti are
often enough to supply most of our collections.

AGARICOCHARA, Kuaatz.

This genus is exceedingly closely allied to Gyrophena, and was sepa-
rated from it by Kraatz chiefly on the ground that the ligula is bifid,
whereas in Gyrophena it is entire ; there is also a slight difference in
the shape of the mesosternum, and the intermediate coxz are less per-
ceptibly distant, and the elytra are distinctly longer in proportion ; the
genus contains two European species.

A. levicollis, Kr. Ferruginous-red, with the head, postero-external
angles of elytra, and the hind body (except the apex of the segments)
brownish or pitchy ; head less transverse, and with eyes less prominent

160 STAPHYLINIDR. [| Agaricochara.

than in any of the Gyrophene except G. strictula, impunctate ; an-
tenn rather long; thorax very short, much narrower than elytra,
almost impunctate, but, together with head, finely shagreened ; elytra
much longer and broader than thorax, finely and sparingly, but distinctly,
punctured ; hind body almost smooth, or obsoletely shagreened ; legs
testaceous, L. 1 mm.

The sexual differences do not appear to be important.

In boleti growing on old stumps and trees; local; London district, rather common ;
Hampshire; Yardley and Knowle, near Birmingham ; Buddon Wood, Leicestershire ;
Repton ; Sherwood Forest; Scarborough; Manchester distriet; Northumberland
district, rare, North Seaton and Ravensworth ; not recorded from Scotland.

PLACUSA, Erichson.

This genus contains between twenty and thirty species, the majority
of which are found in Europe : it is probable that the genus has a very
wide distribution, as, although two or three species only besides the
European species have hitherto been known (from Ceylon, Australia,
&c.), Dr. Sharp has lately described no less than nine new species from
Central America ; the species are small and obscure, and live under the
bark of dead trees and logs: they are also found at sap; the male
characters are peculiar, and in many cases afford helps to identification,
but otherwise the species are very hard to distinguish ; the synonymy is
in consequence very confused, and it seems hardly settled how many
species we really possess as British.

The larva of Placusa pumilio is described by Perris, Ann. Fr. 1853, p. 565, pl. 17,
fig. 20-25; it is about 3 mm. in length, entirely yellowish-white, with the head and
three last segments of abdomen spotted with reddish markings; the general shape
calls for no “particul: ir observation; the 8th segment of the ‘abdomen is quadrate,
narrower than the 7th, and the 9th is much narrower than the 8th and bears a short
anal appendage and two short cerci, the 2nd joint of which is a little longer than

the Ist.

This larva, like that of Phlwopora reptans, appears to prey on the pups of Tomicus
and probably on their larva; it transforms itself into a soft white pupa in the middle
of the detritus with which they fill their galleries.

I, Thorax at base fully as broad as elytra; upper surface

duller.
. Size smaller; antenne with joints 5-10 erongly
| transverse, about equalin length . . - P. PUMILIO, Grav,

. Size larger; penultimate joints of antenne a little
mon strongly transverse than the preceding . . . P. COMPLANATA, Er.
II. Thorax at base slightly but distinctly narrower than
Rtiaies upper surface more shining.
. Size smaller; spines on each side of 7th segment of
male short. . . - P. Inrima, Er.
ii. Size larger ; spines on ‘each side of 7th "segment. of

pikttaihrt C8 G5 6 6 BB Goo Boo eG os Uc P. DENTICULATA, Sharp.

P. pumilio, Gray. Of a dull black colour with the elytra and apex

Placusa. | STAPHYLINIDZ, 161

of hind body brownish, very finely punctured and pubescent ; antennie
reddish brown with the base testaceous, with joints 5-10 strongly
transverse; thorax broader than long, fully as broad at base as elytra,
with base sinuate near posterior angles; elytra longer than thorax,
depressed ; hind body closely punctured, posterior segments a_ little
smoother and more shining, with punctuation not so close ; legs testaceous,
posterior femora sometimes darker. L. 2 mm.

Male with the seventh segment of hind body furnished with a tubercle on
disc, and three tubercles or blunt teeth at apex, of which the central one is
most conspicuous, and the lateral ones appear to he sometimes absent ;
on each side the segment is terminated by a long slender spine, slightly
curving inwards: the male characters, however, of this species appear to
vary somewhat, and on these variations have been founded other species.

Under bark, and also at fresh sap of various trees, beech, fir, oak, &c. ; not uncommon ;
Richmond Park, Ashtead, Mickleham, Caterham, Tilgate Forest, Highgate, Lee,

Yonbridge; Cannock Chase; Bewdley Forest; Sherwood Forest ; Scotland, under
bark of dead trees, Tweed, Forth, Tay, and Dee districts.

P. complanata, Er. Larger than the preceding, and distinguished
by having the intermediate joints of the antenne not strongTy transverse,
and longer in proportion to the following joints; the general colour is
duller, and the elytra as a rule darker ; the posterior angles of the thorax
are a little more blunt ; the male characters appear to differ very little
from some forms of P. pumilio, three tubercles, however, being always
present on the apex of hind margin. L. 2} mm.

This species was introduced as British by Crotch many years ago,
but was afterwards dropped: there are, however, specimens from
Braemar, Rannoch, and Paisley in Mr. Rye’s collection, and others that
appear to belong to it.

P.infima, Er. More shining than either of the two preceding,
pitchy black with the elytra brownish ; antenne ferruginous or fuscous
with base lighter, with joints 5-10 transverse, more strongly so in the
female than in the male; thorax much broader than long, a little
narrower than elytra, very finely and thickly punctured, sinuate on each
side near posterior angles, which are right angles ; elytra widened behind,
longer and less closely punctured than thorax; hind body finely and
closely punctured throughout ; legs clear testaceous. L. 2 mm.

Male with the seventh segment of hind body terminated on each side
by a slender spine, the apex between these furnished with four short
even tuberculiform teeth, and the dise of the segment having on its
upper surface two small tubercles, placed transversely.

Under bark ; rare; Shirley, Weybridge, West Wickham, Addington (Cossus trees);
Repton, near Burton-on-Trent ; Chat Moss ; Northumberland district, rare, Gosforth.

P. denticulata, Sharp. This species appears to be considered a
variety of the preceding by some authorities, but it is less depressed than
von. 1. M

162 STAPHYLINID, [ Placusa,

the other species, and much larger than its nearest ally P. pumilio,
which it resembles in form and punctuation of hind body, &c.; it is also,
as a rule, more brightly coloured; it is, however, chiefly distinguished
by the characters of the male, in which sex the seventh segment of hind
body has two tubercles before apex, which is armed as in the preceding
species with two lateral incurved spines ; between these, however, there
are three rather long tubercles, the external pair of which are strongly
bifid, and appear divided almost to their base. L, 22-3 mm.

At the overflowing sap of various trees, especially beech, birch, and fir; rare;
Mickleham, Ashtead, Ripley (Surrey), Woking, Bishops Wood; Sherwood Forest ;
Scotland, Tay, Dee, and Moray districts.

EPIPEDA, Mulsant et Rey.

This genus was formed to include the single species 1. plana ; as this
appears to have been the original type Homa/ota, Thomson applies the
generic name to this species alone: this plan of limiting the names of
large genera to the old types which appear to belong to genera distinct
from the mass of species is giving rise at present to the greatest con-
fusion of nomenclature, and is much to be deprecated; the genus Epipeda
is distinguished from Homalota by its four-jointed intermediate tarsi ;
the labial palpi are two-jointed, and the insect comes properly in the
neighbourhood of Si/usa ; there has been some question as to the number
of the joints of the intermediate tarsi, but Dr. Sharp appears to have
proved that they are only four in number; fourteen species have lately
been described by the latter writer from Central America, and it is pro-
bable that many more will be found in the New World ; they occur
under bark.

E. plana, Gyll. Depressed, black or pitchy with the elytra fuscous,
the fore parts very dull, and the hind body shining; head large, nearly
as broad as thorax, distinctly and closely punctured, eyes prominent,
antenne rather short and stout, pitchy, with base lighter, first joint as
long as second and third together, fifth much broader than fourth, 5-10
transverse, eleventh short ; thorax a little narrower than elytra, closely
punctured, with an indistinct central channel; elytra plainly longer than
thorax, very finely punctured ; hind body with extremity sometimes pale,
with basal segments finely and not thickly punctured, fourth segment
more sparingly punctured, fifth and sixth almost impunctate; legs
testaceous, femora pitchy. L. 3 mm.

Male with the sixth segment of hind body furnished on the upper side
before margin with a small raised tubercle, seventh segment with two
raised longitudinal lines which project beyoud the margin in the form
of two small indistinct tecth.

Under bark of dead elm and other trees; local; London district, rather common ;
Glanvilles Wootton, Dorset; Barnstaple, Devonshire; Repton, Burton-on-Trent ;

Bewdley and Sherwood Forests; Sutton Park ; Edgbaston ; Liverpool ; not recorded
from the extreme north of England or from Scotland,

Silusa. ] STAPHYLINID A. 163

SILUSA, Erichson.

Dr. Sharp has lately described eight new species of this genus from
Central America, but until recently it has only contained ten species, one
or two of these occurring in Europe, and the rest being very widely
distributed, occurring in North America, Chili, Ceylon, New Guinea, and
Australia; they are found under bark, at sap, &e.

S. rubiginosa, Er. (rufula, Mots.). Rather shiny, pitch-black,
with the elytra and apex of hind body reddish brown, the region round
scutellum and posterior angles being sometimes darker; head much
narrower than thorax, antenne as long as head and thorax together,
gradually thickened towards apex, ferruginous with base lighter,
penultimate joints gradually more strongly transverse, last joint rather
longer than the two preceding together; thorax broader than long, as
broad at base as elytra, with sides plainly and regularly rounded, finely
and thickly punctured ; elytra longer and more strongly punctured than
thorax; hind body parallel-sided, closely punctured at base, more
sparingly behind. L. 3-35 mm.

Male with the suture of elytra raised at apex ; sixth segment of hind
body furnished with a longitudinal keel, seventh nearly hidden, finely
and obsoletely crenulate on apieal margin.

At sap, especially of Cossus-infected trees, also under bark ; local; London district,
not rare; Dulwich, Putney, Mickleham, Tooting, Hanwell (bark of elm trees), Cowley ;
Tonbridge; Wraxall, Norfolk; Winchester; Cambridge; Dean Forest ; Ockbrook,
near Derby : it has not occurred in any locality in the north of England or in Scotland,

ACTOCHARIS, Janson.

The very anomalous insect that forms this genus is very rare, and its
position is very doubtful : the bifid ligula and swollen third and subulate
apical joint of its maxillary palpi are very peculiar characters, the latter
connecting it with Hudectus and Coryphium, with which, however, it
has little in common, although in the catalogue of Heyden, Reitter, and
Weise it is located not so very far from them between Ancyrophorus
and Compsochilus; in the elongate lobes of its maxille it clearly
approaches Myllena, and in its palpi Gyrophena; on the whole the
position near Si/uwsa, with which it has several points in common as regards
the structure of the mouth organs, seems as good as any that can be
adopted

A. Readingii, Sharp (marina, Fauvel). Elongate, linear, depressed,
very narrow ; reddish testaceous, with hind body except apex fuscous ;
head elongate,-with eyes small, not prominent, and unicolorous with head,
antennz testaceous, moderately long and stout, with joimts 3-10 some-
what transverse, the third joint smaller than the others; thorax not
transverse, narrowed towards base; elytra shorter than thorax ; hind

mM 2

164 STAPHYLINID®. [ Actocharés.

body somewhat widened behind ; legs short and rather stout, testaceous,
tarsi short. L. 13 mm.

Male with the sixth segment of hind body elongate, broadly impressed
longitudinally, and with the apex emarginate in a semicircle.

Under sea-weed, &c., usually below high-water mark ; very rare ; Plymouth (Reading
and Wollaston); it has also been taken quite recently (March, 1886) by Mr. J. J.
Walker at Falmouth ‘on the undersides of large stones sunk in the sand in places
where a little trickle of fresh water came down from the cliffs above.”

EURYUSA, Erichson.

This genus contains four European species, and a few from Chili,
North America, &e. ; they are usually associated with ants.

E. laticollis, Heer (linearis, Maerk.). Of a rather dull ferruginous
or pitchy-red colour, with the head and base of elytra darker, and a
broad pitchy black ring before apex of hind body which is testaceous ;
head much narrower than thorax, antenne reddish with the fast joint
and the basal joints lighter, third joint a little longer than second, 4-10
gradually thicker, the penultimate ones very strongly transverse, last joint
plainly as long as the two preceding together; thorax mucl: broader
than long, narrowed in front, broader at base than elytra, but with the
posterior angles obtuse and not produced as in Homausa and Dinarda,
finely, thickly, and somewhat rugosely punctured ; elytra a little longer
than thorax, finely and rather roughly punctured ; hind body long,
narrowed towards apex, finely and thickly punctured in front, less
finely and a little more strongly behind ; legs reddish-testaceous. L. 3
mm,

Male with the sixth segment of hind body furnished with a small
raised keel, seventh sinuate in middle of apical margin.

In rotten wood; rare; Loughton (Essex); Highgate; Shirley, near Croydon
(taken by Dr. Power running at the bottom of a beech tree infested by Cossus) :
according to Mulsant and Rey it is found in the frass of old trees in company with
Formica fuliginosu and fusea.

LEPTUSA, Kraatz.

In its widest sense this genus is made up of several sub-genera, and
contains upwards of one hundred species, which are chiefly found in
Europe and the Mediterranean region ; they bear a strong outward
resemblance to certain species of HTomalota; many are found under bark.

The larva of Leptusa fumida is described by Fauvel, Ann. Fr. 1862, p. 87, and
that of L. analis by Perris, Ann. Fr. 1853, p. 563: they appear to be closely allied
to the larve of Phiwopora, and are found under much the same conditions ; the larva
of L.fumida appears to have the eighth abdominal segment prolonged over the ninth as
in P. corticalis, whereas in LZ, analis it is obliquely truncate and not prolonged ; in
the latter larva the anal appendage is 1] ng and very narrow, and the cerci exceed it in
length; in the former the cerci are very short, and there is no trace of an anal
appendage; the colour appears to be whitish with the head and apical segments of

abdomen reddish.

Leplusa.] STAPHYLINIDAL. 165

The larva of LZ. fumida is said to be found in the galleries of Cery/on, and that
of ZL. analis in the galleries of Zomieus, but it is probable that neither of them are
confined to any particular insect.

According to our catalogues there are four British species of this
genus; but two of these, L. tesfacea and L. ruficollis, belong respectively
to the sub-genera Sipalia, Rey, and Pachygluta, Thoms.: many of the
continental authorities unite these as sub-genera under Leptusa, but they
seem to be very distinct from that genus ; the differences, however,
between Z testacea and L. rijicollis are very slight, consisting chietly
in the relative sharpness of the mesosternal ‘plate: The difference as
expressed by Mulsant and Rey is as follows: Sipalia, “Lame méso-
sternale rétrécie en angle aigu ;” Pachyglutu, “ Lame mésosternale ré-
trécie en pointe acérée,” aud I have therefore united them under Sipalia.
The genus Leptusa, as thus restricted, contains only four or tive Euro-

bs} Lf: ’ ?
pean species.
I. Thorax hardly narrower than elytra; colour brown or pitchy,

rather dull; antenne ferruginous or reddish testaceous . . . L, anais, Gyll.
Il. Thorax plainly a little narrower than ely tra ; colour pitch-black,

shiny; antenne pitchy with base lighter. . . . . . . . UL. Fumipa, Er.

L. analis, Gyll. Of an obscure pitchy-red or brownish-red colour,
with the head and part of hind body before apex darker, finely and rather
thickly pubescent ; head much narrower than thorax, antenna moderately
stout, slightly thickened, ferruginons or reddish-testaceous, with penul-
timate joints strongly transverse; thorax plainly broader than long,
about as broad as elytra, finely and thickly punctured ; elytra longer
than thorax, thickly and rugosely punctured, the punctuation being
evidently stronger than that of thorax ; hind body long, parallel-sided
until near apex, finely and thickly punctured in front, sparingly behind,
basal segments strongly impressed longitudinally ; legs clear reddish-
testaceous. L. 2% mm.

* Male with the sixth segment of hind body furnished with a long
longitudinal keel, seventh with a more or less distinct keel, apical
margin plainly sinuate.

Local; Scotland, Highlands, under bark of fir; Tay, Dee, Moray, and Solway

districts: Mr. W. G. Blatch tells me he has taken it im the Dean Forest, which is
hitherto the only English record.

L. fumida, Er. (hemorrhoidalis, Heer), Blacker and more
shining than the preceding, with lighter and less close pubescence ; it
is, moreover, a shorter and stouter insect ; the antenne are a little
longer in proportion, and are fuscous with base lighter; the thorax is
evidently narrower than the elytra, and the hind body is less elonyate ;
the male characters also are different, the sixth segment being furnished
with a small tubercle instead of a long keel, and the seventh being less
strongly sinuate and sometimes obsoletely crenulate at apex. L. 2}-23
mm.

Under bark, &.; common and widely distributed throuzhout the country.

166 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Leptusa,

This species has much the general appearance of an Ocyusa, but
apart from other things its habitat is quite different.

SIPALIA, Rey.

This sub-genus contains a large number of species that have until
recently been included under Leptusa ; as above stated, Pachygluta,
which only appears to differ slightly from Sipulia, is here included
under it as a sub-genus; Szpalia is distinguished from Leptusa by having
the intermediate coxe contiguous, by the absence of wings, and also
by having the hind body more or less widened behind ; the elytra
aiso, as a rule, are shorter, and the mesosternal plate is prolonged in a
sharper point.

I. Eyes small; mesosternal plate prolonged in a very sharp point

(sub-gen. Pachygluta, Thoms.); head and elytra black, thorax

bright reddish testaceous . Oro nc eo omaha oO . S. RUFICOLLIS, Er.
II. Eyes very small; mesosternal plate produced in a less sharp

pomt (Sipalia i. sp.); colour chiefly testaceous, with the head

and hind body, except base and apex, darker . . . . . . S.Testacea, Bris.

S. ruficollis, Er. (Pachygluta rufollis, Thoms.). Elongate and
narrow, with the head, elytra, and more or less of hind body before
apex black, thorax clear red, and base and apex of hind body more or
less broadly reddish or testaceous ; head almost as broad as thorax, an-
tenne moderately stout, pitchy, with the two or three first joints and
the last joint testaceous, penultimate joints strongly transverse ; thorax
nearly as broad as elytra, finely punctured ; elytra at suture shorter
than, or about as long as, thorax, rather strongly and rugosely punctured ;
hind body widened behind, finely punctured in front, almost smooth
behind; legs reddish testaceous. L. 2 mm.

Male with a raised prominence on each elytron near suture ; sixth
segment of hind body furnished with a small tubercle near apex, seventh
segment emarginate.

Under bark, and in dry moss on old trees; not uncommon; London district,
general; Glanvilles Wootton, Dorset; New Forest; Malvern; Midland districts,
Repton, &e., common; Lincoln ; Northumberland district ; Scotland, local, Lowlands
and Highlands, Tweed, Solway, Forth, and Tay districts.

This insect is the type species of Thomson’s genus Pachygluta, the
characters of which are that the hind body is widened at apex, and the
a9

elytra are not longer than thorax (Skand. Col. i. 32).

S. testacea, Bris. (Sipalia testacea, Muls. et Rey). Testaceous,
with the head sometimes darker, and the hind body more or less broadly
pitchy except at base and apex; head large, as broad as thorax, nar-
rowed in front of eyes, sparingly punctured, antenne as long as head
and thorax together, brownish with base testaceous, slightly thickened,

Sipalta, | STAPHYLINIDE. 167

and somewhat moniliform, with penultimate joints rather strongly
transverse ; thorax almost as long as broad, narrowed to base where it
is rather narrower than elytra, finely and thickly punctured ; elytra
evidently shorter than thorax, finely and thickly punctured, but with
the sculpture more evident than that of thorax ; hind body slightly
rounded at sides and a very little narrowed at base, See punctured
in front and almost smooth behind ; legs testaceous. L. 2-2} mm.

Under refuse on the sea-shore : a single specimen was taken by Mr, Champion at
Whitstable on June 6th, 1870, which remained unique as British, until Mr. Blatch
found it in numbers two or three years ago at Weymouth; it has also occurred at
Ventnor.

Although our single species of Sipalia proper is a coast species, and
appears to be very different in habitat from S. rujicollis, yet the majority
of the species of Stpalia appear to be found under stones and in moss
in woods and forests, and not therefore to differ much in habitat from
Pachygluta.

BOLITOCHARA, Mannerhcim.

This genus comprises a moderate number of species, of which about half
are found in Europe, and others occur in Ceylon, Chili, &c. ; they
inhabit fungi, rotten wood, faggots, &e.; many of them are rather
brightly coloured and conspicuous insects ; we possess four as British out
of the fourteen or fifteen European species ; these may be distinguished
as follows :—

I. Last joint of the antennz paler than the preceding ; male

with the sixth segment of hind body furnished with a

longitudinal keel ; prevailing colour testaceous.

i. Thorax much narrower at base than elytra; antenna

long.
i Size larger; antenne with joints 6-8 hardly transverse ;

elytra more coarsely punctured. . B.1vcrpa, Grav.
2. Size smaller; antennz with joints 6-8 evidently trans.

verse ; elytra less coarsely punctured . . . . . . B.nununara, Payk.

ii. Thorax “only a little narrower than elytra; antenuz short B. peLLa, Maerk.
Il. Last joint of the antennz as dark as the preceding ; male

with sixth segment of hind body not keeled, but with its

upper surface granulate; prevailing colour pitchy . . . . B. opriqua, Ly.

B. lucida, Grav. (elegans, Fairm.). Of a reddish testaceous colour,
with the region round scutellum, and a more or less broad oblique band
or patch near postero-external angles of elytra, and also a band before
apex of hind body, black; the head and thorax are sometimes of a darker
reddish colour ; head transverse, contracted before and behind eyes,
about as broad as thorax, antenne long, dark, with the base and apical
joint testaceous, penultimate joints transverse ; thorax not much broader
than long, narrowed in front, much narrower at base than elytra, rather
strongly and thickly punctured ; elytra a little longer than thorax with

168 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Bolitochara.

surface evidently uneven, very eoarsely and thickly punctured, the
punctures running one into the other; hind body with sides slightly
rounded, and plainly narrowed at apex, rather strongly and not closely
punctured, the punctuation becoming finer towards apex, basal segments
strongly impressed longitudinally ; legs long, testaceous. L. 45 mm.

Male with a longitudinal raised fold at apex of each elytron near su-
ture; sixth segment furnished with a- longitudinal keel, seventh with
dorsal plate more or less plainly erenulate on apical margin, ventral
plate much produced.

In fungi and rotten wood of fungus-grown trees; local; Darenth Wood, Reigate,
Caterham, Strood, West Wickham ; Sandwich (in abundance, Rev. H. S. Gorham) ;

New Forest ; Nettlecomb, Somerset ; Gumley, Market Harborough ; Riseholme, near
Lincoln ; Scarborough ; Scothind, very rare, ‘ Glasgow, R. Hislop.”

B. lunulata, Payk. (elongata, Heer’, flavicollis, Muls. et Rey).
Very like the preceding, but rather smaller and narrower ; the antennz
are a little shorter, and have joints 5-10 more strongly transverse ; the
elytra are longer in proportion to the thorax, less uneven on dise, and
less strongly and rugosely punctured ; the colour also is, as a rule, lighter
and more bright ; the male characters are much as in the preceding, from
which species it is certainly, in some cases, difficult to distinguish it. L.
33-4 mm.

In fungi, especially on fir trees; rare; Cobham (Kent) ; Llangollen; Scotland,
rare, Lowlands, Tweed and Clyde districts (Paisley, &c.).

B. bella, Maerk. (lunulata, Muls. et Rey, nec Payk.). In coiour
much resembling the two preceding, but at once distinguished by its
smaller size, more parallel form, and shorter antenne, of which the fifth
and sixth joints are shorter, and more strongly transverse ; the thorax is
only a little narrower at base than the elytra, and is much less con-
tracted in front than in either of the two preceding species ; the elytra
also are less strongly and rugosely punctured; the colour is perhaps,
as a rule, a little duller ; the male has the fold near suture of elytra, and
the longitudinal keel on the sixth segment of hind body as in these
other species. L. 3 mm.

In rotten wood, fungi, faggot stacks, &c. ; occasionally taken by sweeping ; local,
but sometimes in greatabundance. London district, generally distributed ; Glanvilles

Wootton ; New Forest ; Southampton ; Somerset; Midland district, not uncommon ;
North Wales ; not recorded from the north of England or Scotland.

B. obliqua, Er. Pitch-black with the elytra, except the region round
scutellum, and the postero-exterior angles, pitchy red; sometimes the
elytra are almost entirely pitch-black, and sometimes the thorax, the
chief part of the elytra, and the apex of the basal segments of hind body
are more or less reddish ; head as broad as thorax, antenne thickened
towards apex, pitchy, with base testaceous, with fifth joint transverse,
and joints 6-10 very strongly transverse ; thorax much narrower than
elytra, with a strong impression at base which is sometimes divided into

Bolitechara.] STAPHYLINID&, 169

two, finely and thickly punctured ; elytra longer than thorax and much
more strongly punctured, the punctuation being coarse and rugose ; hind
body finely and not thickly punctured, basal segments longitudinally
impressed ; legs reddish testaceous, L. 35 mm.

Male with the sixth segment of hind body rather strongly granulated
on its upper surface, seventh broadly emarginate and obsoletely crenulate
on its apical margin.

In fungi, especially on fir trees; local, but not uncommon; Dulwich, Kingsgate,
&e. ; Bognor (very common); Llangollen; Chat Moss; Leicestershire; Manchester ;
Liverpool; Hartlepool; Northumrerland district ; Scotland, common Lowlands
and Highlands, in fungus under bark, Tweed, Forth, Tay, Solway, and Clyde
districts.

PHYTOSUS, Cutis.

This genus contains three or four European species, which are found
under refuse, &c., on the sea-shore, usually below high-water mark ; Mul-
sant and Rey divide them into two genera on certain characters of the
metasternum and the greater or less length of the elytra: it seems a
matter of much uncertainty whether we have both species of the sub-
genus Actosus in Britain ; they are, however, so closely connected, that it
seems rather doubtful whether they are really separate ne

Bibs larva of Phytosus nigriventris is described by Fauvel, Ann. 1862, p. 84,
pl. 2, fig. 14: it is 2 mm. in length, a little widened behind, rue convex, of a
Sicah colour with the head slightly reddish ; in general shape it resembles very
much the perfect insect ; the head is large and bro: ad, and the antenne very short ;
the prothorax is larger and broader than the meso- and meta-thorax ; ; the abdominal
segments are very transverse, almost rectangular, the first being the narrowest part
of the body, so that the insect appears stré ingul: ate in the middle; the ninth sezment
is much narrower than the eighth, and apparently bears no anal appendage or cerci ;
the legs are rather long and stout.

This larva is found under stones in damp places near sand-hills, and appears to feed
on Poduride.

Upper surface dull black ; elytralonger than thorax . . . P. spInrrer, Curt.
Upper surface chiefly reddish testaceous; elytra very short,
much shorter than thorax . . . . .. . +... . ©. P. Bauticus, Kr.

P. spinifer, Curt. (semzlunaris, Rey). Depressed, linear, and parallel,
finely pubescent, dull black, with the elytra more or less broadly reddish
towards apex ; head about as broad as thorax, antenne short, somewhat
moniliform, with joints 4-10 gradually thicker, strongly transverse ;
thorax as long as broad, narrowed towards base where it is narrower than
elytra, very obsoletely, thickly, and finely punctured, and usually
broadly impressed longitudinally; elytra longer than thorax, finely
punctured; hind body a little narrowed at base and slightly widened
behind, much more shining than the front parts with the apex often
reddish or gelowiEy finely punctured, a little more finely on sixth
segment, segments 2 © plainly impressed longitudinally; legs testaceous,
with femora dusky. 2 2¢ mm,

Male with the sixth segment of hind body sinuate on its apical
margin,

170 STAPHYLINIDE. [Phytosus.

Under rubbish on the sea-shore below high-water mark, also among shingle; I have
also taken it flying in the hot sun and settling on large pebbles and rocks ; not common,
but sometimes occurs locally in some numbers; Margate, Broadstairs, Bognor ;
Weymouth ; Swanage; Hayling Island; Ventnor and Ryde, Isle of Wight; Southsea ;
Muablethorpe, Lincolnshire ; Hartlepool; Northumberland district, not rare (Bold) ;
Scotland, rare, Tweed district only ; Ireland, co, Down and near Dublin.

P. balticus, Kr. (Actosus balticus, Muls. et Rey, nigriventris,
Chevr. 1). Narrow and linear, finely pubescent, reddish testaceous,
with the head sometimes darker, and the hind body between base and
apex more or less broadly black ; head about as broad as thorax,
antenne short, with joints 4-10 strongly transverse, entirely testaceous ;
thorax as long as broad, narrowed behind where it is a little narrower
than elytra, thickly and obsoletely punctured ; elytra very short, only
about half as long as thorax, finely and thickly punctured ; hind body
finely but plainly punctured, parallel-sided or slightly widest behind ;
legs testaceous. L. 2 mm.

Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body pro-
duced in a blunt angle beyond the dorsal plate.

Under refuse, &c., on the sea-shore usually below high-water mark ; rare, but some-
times occurs in numbers ; Kingsgate; Weymouth ; Hastings; Isle of Wight; South-
sea; Whitsand Bay, near Plymouth ; Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire (in abundance under
dry dung on the beach); Liverpool, Crosby (abundant); Southport; Hartlepool ;

Northumberland district (beneath tufts of sea-rocket (Bold)); Scotland, rare, uuder
sea-weed in sandy places, Forth and Clyde districts.

P. nigriventris is said to differ from P. balticws in having the
fourth, fifth, and sixth segments of hind body (instead of only the fourth
and fifth) black, the hind body as a whole being enlarged behind, and
very finely and obsoletely punctured: I have, however, specimens from
Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, in which the hind body is much widened
behind, and the punctuation is very distinct ; the colour of the segments
of hind body appears to be very variable even in specimens from the
same locality, and, moreover, different writers seem to give different
accounts of the distinctions between the two species (cf. Fauvel, Ann.
Fr. 1862, p. 86, and Mulsant and Rey, Brévipennes, 1871, p. 304-307):
it seems, therefore, very probable that the species are really identical.

In strict accordance with the tarsal system the genus Myllena ought to
be inserted here, but it is placed as being anomalous with Gymnusa and
Deinopsis at the end of the Aleocharine.

OLIGOTINA.

This tribe contains three British genera, which are distinguished by
having all the tarsi four-jointed ; they differ from each other in several
important particulars, and can only be grouped together by the character
of the tarsal joints ; the genus Oligota contains a number of very minute
species, which are among the smallest known Staphylinide ; Hygronoma’

Oligotina. | STAPHYLINID.E. 71

externally much resembles some species of Homalota; the other genus,
Diglossa, is very distinct by reason of its exceedingly long maxillary
palpi.
I. Antenne 11-jointed.

i, Labial palpi long and slender, 2-jointed ; es. palpi

with the second and third joints elongate .. . . Dretossa, Hal.
ii, Labial palpi short, 3-jointed ; maxillary paces w ith second
and third joints not elongate . . . . Hy@ronoma, Hr.
dierAntennes LO-jointed 2. 2s . 4 s - « « « «ws « OLIGOTA, Mannh.

DIGLOSSA, Haliday.

The species belonging to this genus are characterized by their very
long four-jointed maxillary palpi, by having the thorax very strongly
contracted behind, by the anterior tibia terminating in a produced spine
externally, and by the slender and abruptly reflexed claws ; they are very
few in number, and occur among shingle, &e., below high-water mark.

1, Elytra plainly shorter than thorax ; insect apeeroue - . D.mersa, Hal.
2. Elytra as long as thorax ; insect winged . . . . . D. supmarina, Fairm.

D. mersa, Hal. Linear, entirely black, front parts dull, hind body
shining ; head large, as broad as thorax, antenna rather short, somewhat
moniliform, pitchy -red, or pitchy with base lighter, third joint much
shorter than second, penultimate joints plainly transverse ; thorax in front
as broad as long, truncate at apex, and strongly narrowed to base, where
it is plainly narrower than elytra, very finely and thickly punctured ;
elytra evidently shorter than thorax, finely and thickly punctured ; hind
body feebly widened behind, sparingly punctured ; legs pitchy red with
femora usually darker. L. 13-2 mm.

Under shingle, and on sand below high-water mark; I have also found it on the
wing settling on large pebbles, &c., in the sun, like Phytosus spinifer ; local, and usually
considered rare; Southend ; Sheppy; Weymouth ; Hunstanton ; Cleethorpes, Lincoln-
shire; Tenby, South Wales (in numbers) ; Ventnor, Isle of Wight (in numbers,

trapped in small pools on the rocks on a sunny day in April) ; Scotland, very local,
Forth and Clyde districts; Ireland, Baldoyle.

D. submarina, Fairm. (sinuatocollis, Rey). Distinguished from
the preceding by having the elytra as long as thorax, and by the hind
body being strongly enlarged behind, and more closely punctured; the
thorax alsa is more constricted at base, and the insect is furnished with
wings. L. 13-2 mm.

Has apparently occurred in Ireland, having been sent by Mr. Haliday to M. Javet.
(Vide Ent. Mo. Mag. xx. 168.)

HYGRONODIA, Erichson.

The single European species contained in this genus strongly resembles

172 STAPHYLINIDE, [Hygronoma:

in form certain species of Homalota, from which genus it is distinguished
by the number of the joints of the tarsi; it is found in fens and marshy
localities.

H. dimidiata, Gray. Elongate, linear, parallel-sided, depressed,
dull black, with at least half the elytra testaceous yellow, the colour being
very sharply defined ; head very large, somewhat diamond-shaped, almost
broader than thorax, antennze moderately long, pitchy, with base tes-
taceous, joints 5-10 somewhat transverse ; thorax fully as long as broad. a
little narrower at base than elytra, with a more or less obsolete central
channel, very finely and thickly punctured ; elytra scarcely longer than
thorax, with the punctuation slightly finer than that of thorax; hind body
almost parallel-sided, finely and thickly punctured throughout, with seg-
ments 2—5 plainlyimpressed longitudinally at base; legs reddish testaceous.
L. 23-22 mm.

Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body truncate,
ventral plate produced ; forehead broadly impressed, and thorax broadly
channelled ; female with forehead even, and the thorax finely chan-
nelled.

In stems of reeds, &c., and at roots of grass in marshy places ; local, but not uncom-
mon; Northfleet, Strood, and Lee (Kent); Walton-on-Thames; Battersea Fields ;
Dagenham ; Birchington, Ramsgate; Hastings ; Cambridgeshire and Norfolk fens ;
Midland district, Sutton Park, Knowle, Coleshill, Repton, &.; Askham Bog, York ;
not recorded from the extreme north of England ; Scotland, very rare, in marshes,
Tweed district, “ Lurgie Loch,” R. Hislop.

OLIGOTA, Mannerheim.

This genus contains about forty species of very minute insects, the
smallest members, perhaps, of the whole family; they are very widely
distributed, being found in Europe, North, Central, and South America,
Ceylon, Egypt, the Canary Islands, &c. ; they occur in vegetable refuse
of various kinds, and occasionally in ants’ nests ; the genus is here regarded
in its widest sense as including Microcera, Er. (Somatium, Woll.), and
the sub-genera of Mulsant and Rey: the species are exceedingly hard
to determine ; the distinctions rest principally on the number of joints
contained in the club of the antenne, but, as in the exotic genus
Languria, it is often very difficult to decide with accuracy whether the
club is three- or four-jointed, especially if the antenne are at all gummed
or not looked at from a right point of view ; the following table must not
therefore be depended upon apart from the comparative descriptions.

I. Hind body oblong, parallel-sided or nearly so; club of
antenne, 4- or 3-jointed ; form narrower.

i. Club of antennz not abrupt, 4-jointed . . . . . . O. INFLATA, Mann.

ii. Club of antenne somewhat abrupt, 3-jointed.

1. Sixth segment of hind body much longer than pre-
(eihays dl OO Skio, GO od ob dg o40: Ge sor Jc

2. Sixth segment of hind body scarcely longer than
preceding.

O. parva, Ar.

ww

Oligota.| STAPHYLINIDE 1

A. Form narrower and more linear ; oie shorter in

proportion to thorax . . O. PUSILLIMA, Grav.
B. Form broader; elytra longer | in proportion to
thorax.
a. Size smaller; antenne pitchy red with apex
darker . . , - . . - O, aToMARIA, Er.
b. Size larger ; antenne entirely red. . . . . O.PuNcTULATA, Heer

(rujicornis, Sharp).
II. Hind body broad, moderately contracted at anen; club
of antenne 4-jointed; form broader . . : O. Granaria, Er.
1 Hind body short, very strongly narrowed to ‘apex.
. Club of ‘antenne abrupt, 3-jointed; apex of hind

body black . . . etna | Ove LAVICORNIS, lacs
ii, Club of antenne gradual, 5-jointed; apex of hind
body ;broadily yellow’. . . . 9... « » » « - O. APICATA, Er.

O. inflata, Mann. Black, rather shining, with the elytra more or
less distinctly reddish brown, and the apex of hind body reddish testaceous ;
head plainly narrower than thorax, antenne nearly as long as head and
thorax together, testaceous with apex fuscous, third joint shorter and
narrower than second, eighth to eleventh joints forming a gradual club;
thorax nearly twice as broad as long, about as broad at base as elytra,
finely and thickly punctured ; elytra evidently longer and less closely
punctured than thorax; hind body parallel-sided very thickly and uni-
formly punctured, with the sixth segment evidently longer than the
fifth ; legs testaceous. L. 1 mm.

In haystack refuse, &e.; not uncommon; Birch Wood, Darenth Wood, Sheerness,
Croydon, Shirley, Tonbridge ; Glanvilles Wotton (abundant under fir trees) ; Hast-
ings; Exeter; Birmingham district; Repton; Scarborough; Manchester ; North-
umberland district ; Scotland, rare, Solway and Tweed districts only ; Ireland,
Dublin, aud near Waterford.

O. parva, Kr. (pyymea, Kr. olim). Distinguished from the preced-
ing by its smaller size and narrower form, and the three-jointed club of
the antenne; from O. pusillima it may be separated by its reddish
brown elytra, and the bright yellow terminal segments of the hind body ;
it is smaller than O. atomaria, and differs from it, among other things,
in having the legs entirely pale; the sixth segment of hind body is more
developed than in any of the following species in this section. L. } mm.

In cut grass, haystack refuse, &c., rare; Shirley, near Croydon; Edinburgh (?).

©. pusillima, Grav. This species may be separated from all its
allies by its narrow and somewhat linear form, and by having the elytra
shorter in comparison with the thorax ; it is about the size of O. parva,
but has the sixth segment of hind body shorter than in that species; the
apex of hind body is obscure or brownish instead of bright yellow, and
the punctuation of the upper surface is rather less fine; the colour is
variable, being either pitchy black with the apex of hind body reddish, or
with the elytra chestnut brown, or entirely reddish with the head and
part of hind body pitchy. L. $ mm.

174 STAPHYLINIDE, [ Oligota.

In haystack refuse, decaying sea-weed, &c.; common and widely distributed in the
London and Southern districts, and the Midlands; rarer further north; Scotland, rare,
Tweed and Forth districts ; it occasionally occurs with Formica fuliginosa, with which
Dr. Power has taken it at Birdbrook, Essex.

O. atomaria, Er. This species is rather larger and broader than
either of the two preceding ones ; the usual colour is entirely pitch-black,
with the antenne and legs pitchy-brown, and the apex of hind body
obscurely lighter, but it is somewhat variable in this respect, although
the legs and antenne are always darker than in O. ruficornis, and the club
is evidently narrower than in that species ; from O. pusillima, besides
being larger, it may be distinguished by having the thorax more trans-
verse, the elytra longer and broader, and the hind body slightly narrowed
towards apex, and from O. parva by having the apex of hind body much
less broadly and more obscurely lighter, and the sixth segment of hind
body less developed. L. vix 1 mm.

In debris of fern, vegetable refuse, &c. ; local ; Colney Hatch, Charlton, Mickleham,
Lewisham, Dulwich, Tonbridge ; Deal; Littlington, Sussex ; Weymouth; Glanvilles
Wootton; Wicken and Horning Fens; Bewdley ; Tewkesbury ; Northumberland dis-
trict, only recorded from ‘‘ Hetton Hall, near Belford (W. B. Boyd) ;” not recorded
trom any other district north of the Midlands; it appears sometimes to occur with F.
Suliginosa.

O. punctulata, Heer (ruficornis, Sharp, pilosa, Rey). Black, with
the elytra usually reddish brown, and the apex of hind body reddish ;
antenne and legs entirely rufo-testaceous, the former with a rather
abrupt three-jointed club, which distinguishes it from O. inflata; by
the structure of the antenna, and the colour of these and the legs, it
is closely allied to O. pusillima, but it is larger, and especially broader,
with the thorax more transverse, and the elytra longer and broader, one
and a half times the length of the thorax, and the hind body a little
narrowed towards apex; it is also closely allied to O. atomaria, but is
a little larger, and may be distinguished by the bright colour of the antenna
and legs, as well as by the broader club of the former. L. vix 1 mm.

In haystack refuse ; very common in the London district ; Tonbridge ; Hastings ;
Wicken Fen; Kenilworth ; Repton; it is probably much more widely distributed
than is at present supposed, and is most likely mixed with other species in collections
made prior to 1870, in which year Dr. Sharp described it (Ent. Mo. Mag. vi. 282) ;
the species appears to be regarded as synonymous with O. pilosa, which, according to
Mulsant and Rey, is found sometimes in nests of Formica rufa.

©. granaria, Er. (picescens, Rey, Microcera granaria, Muls. et
Rey). Rather broad and convex, deep black, shining, with the hind
body obscurely lighter at its extreme apex ; head rather broad with eyes
somewhat prominent ; antennz short, rather strongly thickened towards
apex, ferruginous, the last four joints forming a club; the seventh is
somewhat larger than the preceding, and viewed in certain positions causes
the club to appear five-jointed ; thorax at base twice as broad as long,
strongly narrowed in front, finely and thickly punctured ; elytra shining

Oligota. | STAPHYLINID#, 175

black like the rest of the upper surface, rather convex, much longer and
much more evidently punctured than thorax ; hind body short, gradually
but plainly narrowed towards apex, finely but distinctly punctured ; legs
ferruginous or pitchy red. L. 1 mm.

Very rare; introduced by Mr. G. R. Waterhouse on the authority of a specimen
taken by himself (but without locality); has also occurred at Scarborough. According
to Mulsant and Rey it is rare in France, and lives in cellars on the black mould (Mucedo
cellaris) that grows on old walls, casks, &e. ; it is found in company with Cryptophagus,
Mycetea hirta, and Orthoperus atomarius ; these species are found together in cellars
in Britain, and probaby the Olzgota will be found with them, if searched for.

The species is intermediate between Microcera, to which genus it is
referred by Mulsant and Rey, and Oligota proper ; the hind body is not
narrowed very perceptibly until the last segments, and, as these are apt to
run one into the other after death, the appearance of dried specimens is
deceptive.

QO. flavicornis, Lac. (Microcera flavicornis, Lac., Somatium
flavicorne, Woll.). Broadest in middle, narrowed in front, and strongly
narrowed behind, convex, with rather long and fine pubescence, and fine
punctuation, shining black, with extreme apex of hind body pitchy ;
antenne clear yellow with abrupt three-jointed club; thorax strongly
transverse, much narrowed in front, very finely and thickly punctured ;
elytra plainly longer and more distinetly punctured than thorax ; hind
body short, conical, gradually and strongly narrowed from base to apex,
with the sculpture distinct and rough; legs reddish-testaceous or ferru-
ginous, with femora sometimes darker. L. vix..1 mm.

In old faggots, dead leaves, moss, &c.; it has, however, been taken near London

chiefly on the trunks and leaves of lime trees; not common. Kennington, Esher,
Mickleham, Norwood, Wanstead (Essex) ; Liverpool district.

This species was originally described by Lacordaire as a Hypocyptus,
to which genus the species of the sub-genus Microcera certainly bear a
striking superficial resemblance.

O. apicata, Er. (abdominalis, Scriba, canthopyga, Kr.). Very like
the preceding, but easily distinguished by the gradual five-jointed club
of the antenne, and by having the two last segments of the hind body
sharply and clearly yellow; the hind body is more shining, and much
less distinctly sculptured; the elytra are often brownish or yellowish-
brown, and the legs are lighter; the antenne are slightly darker at apex,
and not unicolorous as in O. flavicornis. L. vix 1 mm.

In debris of fern, moss, &c. ; rare; Caterham, Mickleham, Cobham, Croydon, Ripley

(Surrey), Bexley ; The Holt, Farnham; New Forest; Devonshire ; Sherwood Forest ;
Scarborough.

The sexual characters of the genus Oligota do not appear to be marked ;
in some species, however, the ventral plate of the seventh segment of
hind body appears to be rounded and prolonged beyond the dorsal plate
in the males,

176 STAPHYLINIDA, [Oligota.

The three concluding genera of the Aleocharine, Myllena, Gymnusa,
and Deinopsis, have many important points in common ; although, there-
fore, they are widely separated by the tarsal system, yet it is certainly
the best course to regard them as somewhat exceptional, and to place them
together at the end of the group; they form the “ Deuxiéme branche” of
Mulsant and Rey’s family Aléochariens, the ‘Gymnusaires,” the first
branch being the “ Dinardaires;” they are chiefly characterized by their
fusiform shape, setiform labial palpi, and the fact that the hind body is
terminated by two more or less prominent styles ; in Myllena the anterior
and intermediate tarsi are four-jointed and the posterior five-jointed, in
Gymnusa all the tarsi are five-jointed, while in Deinopsis, which, accord-
ing to the tarsal system, forms a separate tribe, they are all three-jointed.

MYLLENA, Erichson.

About thirty species are at present contained in this genus ; these are
very widely distributed, occurring in Europe, North, Central, and South
America, Ceylon, Cape Verd Islands, and even in the Sandwich Islands ;
as Dr. Sharp observes, the habits of these creatures, which run swiftly in
muddy places or live amongst damp moss, render it certain that they are
not artificially distributed : the species are exceedingly difficult to distin-
guish, as they very closely resemble one another, and there are no striking
sexual or structural differences; it is ouly by comparison that many of
them can be separated, and it is therefore obvious that it is useless to
attempt to tabulate them satisfactorily ; the first examples of the genus
found in Britain were taken by the Rev. A. Matthews in 1834, who was
struck by finding on a piece of bark removed from a willow tree growing
at the edge of the water near Weston-on-the-Green, Oxfordshire, “a
multitude of small Brachelytrous insects, in a dormant state, each of which
held its abdomen raised perpendicularly from its body, without at any
time altering its position ;” the labial spines then attracted his attention
to the genus, and he discovered five more species which were described
by his father (Entomological Magazine, Jan. 1838) under the generic
name Centroglossa ; Erichson, however, had a little before named the
genus Myllena ; quite recently Mr. Matthews has published an exhaustive
essay on the British species (Cistula Entomologica, Sept. 1883, Part
xxvii.), which he brings up to twelve in number, so that all the European
species hitherto known are found in Britain ; as Mr. Matthews is our
recognized authority on the group, I have followed his essay in the
descriptions following: the differences between the species are in most eases
comparative ; I have therefore not given any tables.

The genus Myllena is chiefly remarkable for the long slender setiform
labial palpi, which are indistinctly two-jointed, the very short anterior
tarsi, and the hind body strongly narrowed behind, which gives the
species the appearance of belonging to the Tachyporine ; the anterior
and intermediate tarsi are four-jointed, and the posterior five-jointed :

Myllena.] STAPHYLINIDA. 127

this character gives it an affinity to the Bolitocharina, and separates it
from Gymnusa and Detnopsis, with which it is usually closely associated.

M. dubia, Grav. (conuroides, Matth., ? valida, Muls. et Rey).
Fuscous black, clothed with a fuscous pubescence, rather coarsely tuber-
culate, widest at the apex of elytra; antenne long and slender; head
acutely attenuated in front, mouth yellow ; thorax widest at base ; elytra
as long and rather wider than the thorax; hind body as long as head,
thorax, and elytra, acutely narrowed and attenuated towards the apex,
penultimate segment edged with white, apical segment pale ; legs and
antenne pitchy-testaceous. L. 3-3) mm.

Marshy places, in moss, flood refuse, &e. ; Lee, Cobham, Strood, Amberley, Norwood,
Tonbridge, Higham, Merton (Surrey), Tilgate; Oxfordshire ; Chat Moss; Coleshill,
near Birmingham ; Northumberland district ; Scotland, local, Solway, ‘weed, Forth,
and ‘Tay districts.

This species differs from the rest of the genus in its larger size, much
broader thorax and elytra, and in the much : greater dilatation of the base
of the thorax,

M. intermedia, Er. (atfenvata, Matth.). This species much
resembles the preceding, but is distinctly smaller and narrower ; the base
of the thorax is less dilated, and the apex of the hind body is more
broadly pale ; the sculpture also is finer ; according to Mulsant and Rey
the elytra are more deeply emarginate at postero-external angles than in
M. dubia, but in named specimens sent me by Mr. Matthews they appear
to fepceent a less emarginate appearance than in the latter species.
L. 2-23 mm.

Marshy places ; common and generally distributed in the South and the Midland
districts ; not recorded from the North of England, but probably occurs in many places ;
Scotland, local, Solway and Tay districts.

Mr. Matthews remarks that this is perhaps the most common species
of the genus.

M. minuta, Gray. (minuta, Matth.). Fuscous black, clothed with
short grey pubescence, finely and closely tuberculate, head much produced
and attenuated in front; mouth yellow ; thorax slightly dilated at the
base; elytra not longer, but rather wider than the thorax, hind body shorter
than head, thorax, and elytra together, obtusely attenuated, apical and
greater part of the penultimate segments rufo-testaceous; legs and antenne
testaceous. L.13-l1{ mm.

In marshy places, sphagnum, &c.; rare; most of the specimens recorded as this
species belong to M. infuscata ; it is recorded as not uncommon in the London district,
and common in the southern parts of Scotland, but probably most of the specimens
must be referred in both cases to the last-mentioned insect, which is exceedingly hard
to distinguish from M. minuta, except by a carerul comparison ; the true M. minuta
has occurred in Oxfordshire, and one or two other localities.

M. minuta differs from the first two species in its minute size, longer
thorax, and shorter and stouter antennz; from JZ. Masoni it may be known
by its broader and longer thorax and elytra, and by its more depressed

VOL. Il. N

78 STAPHYLINID®. [ Myllana.

form; from M. infuscafa it differs by its long and dilated thorax and
long elytra, these parts being in the former insect unusually short and
narrow.

M. Masoni, Matth. Sooty black, clothed with blackish pubescence,
rather finely tuberculate; head rather large, obtusely produced, mouth
concolorous, antennz rather short, sooty black, with the apical joint
acutely pointed; thorax rather long, widest before base, with sides
rounded, and posterior angles nearly right angles; elytra small, rather
narrower and much shorter than thorax, distinctly tuberculate, basal
margins very obliquely truncate towards suture ; hind body scarcely as
long as the rest of the body with the apex obtuse, and not lighter; legs
rather short and robust, sooty black, with the tarsi short and stout. L.
1}-13 mm.

Very rare; taken by Mr. Matthews and his brother at Weston-on-tlie-Green,
Oxfordshire.

This species differs from J/. minuta in its smaller size, more robust
form, short and very obliquely truncate elytra, sooty black colour, dark
pubescence, and short robust pitchy black legs and antenne.

M. gracilicornis, Fairm. (? elongata, Kr., 1 incisa, Rey). Deep
black, clothed with grey pubescence, very finely tuberculate or alutaceous ;
head rather large ; thorax long, widest before base ; elytra rather shorter
and narrower than the thorax; hind body long and much attenuated,
longer than half the entire length of the body, apex concolorous; antenne
deep black, very long and slender; legs long, pitchy black. L. 23-3
mm.

A single specimen of this species (not two, as stated by Mr. Matthews, lc. p. 39)
was taken by myself on the coast a little west of Ventnor, Isleof Wight, under stones

at the foot of a small waterfall in which Dianous was abundant. I have not been
able to find it since.

MM. Fowleri, Matth. Rather broad and depressed, deep black,
clothed with short blackish pubescence, distinctly turberculate ; head
large and broad, rather short, mouth concolorous, antenne rather short,
deep black, eyes rather large and prominent; thorax rather long, longer
and rather broader than the head, distinctly tuberculate, widest before
the base, basal margin very much rounded and margined with the angles
rather obtuse ; elytra very short, much shorter and not wider than thorax,
distinctly tuberculate, emarginate at base near posterior angles; hind
body broad and conic, rather longer than head, thorax, and elytra com-
bined, all the segments black, with the edge of the penultimate segment
conspicuously white ; legs moderately long, pitchy black, with all the tarsi
yellow. L, 23-3 mm.

Very rare; Sherwood Forest, taken by Rev. A. Matthews.

This species differs from all its allies in its purely conical form and
velvety black colour; from MV. gracilicornis it may be known by its much
broader form, and short robust antenne.

Myllena. | , STAPHYLINIDA, 179

M. Kraatzii, Sharp (ylawca, Rye nec Aub’, gracilicornis, HW. R. W.
nec Matth.). Elongate, fuscous black, clothed with short fulvous pubes-
cence, closely and rather finely tubereulate throughout; head moderate,
rather short with the labrum alone rufo-fuscous; thorax rather large,
shining, and very convex, much rounded in front with two erect seta
near each anterior angle, widest before the base, sides and basal margin
slightly rounded and margined, posterior angles rounded ; elytra short,
rather narrower and much shorter than thorax, with two erect sete near
the shoulder, deeply notched within the posterior angles, and obliquely
trnneate towards the suture ; hind body longer than half the entire length
of the body, very bluntly narrowed, each segment furnished with a strong
erect seta near the hinder angles, apical segment rufous, penultimate edged
with white; antenne and palpi piceous more or less pale ; hinder legs
piceous, anterior legs and all the tarsi testaceous ; the sete mentioned
above are more or less common to all the species of the genus, but are
very often rubbed off. L. 5-35 mm.

Marshy places, in sphagnum; Woking, Chobham, Wimbledon Common; Hastings;
Chat Moss; Scarborough ; Scotland, rare, Forth and Tay districts.

This species is very distinct, but has been confounded with others ; it
differs from the next species M/Z. elongata in its shorter and broader form,
much longer and broader thorax and elytra, and darker and shorter legs
and antennee.

M. elongata, Matth. (glauca, Aubé). Very long and narrow,
fuscous, covered with a thick grey silky pubescence, closely and rather
strongly tuberculate ; head rather large, mouth yellow ; thorax moderate,
not dilated posteriorly ; elytra as long and as wide as thorax ; hind body
very long, twice as long as the anterior parts of the boly, obtusely
narrowed, with the apical segment and half the penultimate segment
rufous ; legs long, rufo-testaceous, antenne long, pitchy testaceous. L.

top)
33-4 mm.

The habits of this species differ from those of the other members of the genus; it is
usually found on beds of clayey mud devoid of herbage on the margin of water, often
in company with Bledii and Heteroceri; if the mud is pressed with the foot it will
emerge, run with great swiftness, and then take to flight; it is somewhat widely
distributed: Sheppy ; Tonbridge ; Oxfordshire ; Bewdley, Worcestershire (banks of
Severn); Thornton Reservoir (Leicestershire); Scarborough ; Northumberland district,
Wallington and Wooler; Scotland, Lowlands, banks of rivers, Solway and Forth
districts.

This species differs from its allies in its large size, narrow elongate
and somewhat parallel form, very long hind body, long legs and antenne,
and shining silky pubescence.

M. grzeca, Kr. Elongate, very slender, and much narrowed behind,
rufo-fuscous, with the thorax, elytra, and apical half of each segment of
hind body rufous, clothed with grey pubescence, very finely tuberculate,

n 2

180 STAPHYLINIDA, [Myllena.

or alutaceous , head moderate, thorax rather short, widest before the
base; elytra short, shorter and narrower than the thorax ; hind body
narrow, acutely attenuated, twice as long as the anterior parts of the
body; legs and antenne short and robust, rufo-testaceous. L. 23-3 mm.

Scarborough ; two specimens taken by Mr. Wilkinson, probably on-the sea-coast,

as particles of sea-sand were still adhering to them ; it is foundin Greece, the Caucasus
Mountains, and Corsica.

This species is very distinct by reason of its slender attenuated form
and rufous colour, in which latter point it resembles M. brevicornis,
which is, however, a broader and more robust insect.

M. gracilis, Matth. (for(icornis, Kr.). Long and narrow, fuscous
black, clothed with grey pubescence, closely and strongly tuberculate ;
head large and broad ; thorax small, almost quadrate; elytra longer and
broader than the thorax ; hind body longer than the anterior parts of the
body combined, much attenuated, with the apical segment and the
greater part of the penultimate segment rufous ; legs and antenne rather
short, robust, rufo-piceous; antenne distinctly thickened towards apex,
in which latter point it differs from all its allies. L. 2-23 mm.

In marshy places, flood refuse, &c.; commoner than any of the other smaller species ;

London district, generally distributed; Oxfordshire ; Cheshire; Birmingham and
Midland districts generally ; not recorded from the north of England or Scotland.

M. infuscata, Matth. (v. minima, Kr.). Fuscous, thickly clothed
with grey pubescence, closely and rather strongly tubereulate; head
rather short and broad, mouth yellow, thorax short, slightly dilated at
base; elytra shorter and narrower than thorax, more so in some specimens
than in others; hind body long, obtusely narrowed, half as long again
as the rest of the body with the terminal segments wholly rufous; legs
and antenne moderate, slender, rufo-testaceous, sometimes darker,
L. 15-2 mm.

The specimens with rufo-testaceous antenne and shorter elytra appear
to be the M. minima, Kr., which appears to be only a variety of this
species.

In marshy places; probably not uncommon and generally mistaken for M. minuta,
from which both this species and VW. graecclis may be distinguished by their much
shorter thorax and elytra, the difference being very perceptible, but only determinable
by actva! comparison of specimens; M. infuscata differs trom M. gracilis in its smaller
size, narrow elongate form, short elytra, longer and more slender antenne, and fuscous
colour.

The v. minima has occurred at Merton (Surrey ?) and Wicken Fen.

M. brevicornis, Matth. (! graczlis, Heer, ? rubescens, Rey, ? gran-
dicollis, Kies.). A very distinct species, rufo-testaceous, clothed with
yellowish pubescence, very convex and rather shining, finely and
closely tuberculate or alutaceous ; head large, antenne yellow, rather
short, somewhat thickened towards apex, with the penultimate joints

almost transverse ; thorax rather long, widest at the base; elytra short,

Myllena.] STAPHYLINIDS. 181

about half the length of thorax, very obliquely truncate towards the
suture; hind body rather obtusely narrowed, longer than the anterior
parts of the body combined, sometimes dusky with the apical half of each
segment rufous; legs yellow. L. 25-3 mm.

Marshy places, in moss, &e., also by sweeping, and occasionally in wooded and not
marshy localities; not uncommon; London district, general; Lewes; Glanvilles
Wotton; Isle of Wight; Midland districts, widely distributed ; Langworth Wood,
Lincoln ; Hartlepool ; Northumberland district ; Scotland, widely distributed, Solway,
Tweed, Forth, Clyde, Tay, and Moray districts.

This very distinct species resembles a small Conurus in appearance,
and may at once be distinguished by its rufous colour; the only other
tufescent species is M. greca, which, besides being of a much more
slender and narrower form, is apparently a littoral insect, and, moreover,
is exceedingly rare.

In conclusion it may be useful to quote Mr. Matthews’ comparative
remarks on the four smaller species, and to point out that his measure-
ments are larger than those usually given, as he has as nearly as possible
given the lengths of the insects when alive, and they contract very
much after death.

M. minuta may be known by its longer and broader thorax and
elytra, and long slender antenne.

M. Masoni is the smallest of the known species, and is easily
recognized by its sooty black legs and antenne and very short elytra.

M. infuscata is distinguished by its very short and narrow thorax
and elytra, rather long and slender antenne, and the usually fuscescent
appearance of all parts of its body.

M. gracilis is larger than either of the foregoing, and differs from
all in its robust and shorter antenna, which are distinctly incrassated
towards the apex.

GYMNUSA, Gravenhorst.

According to the tarsal system this genus belongs to the Aleocharina,
all the tarsi being five-jointed; in the structure of the mouth orgaus, how-
ever, and in its general form, it bears a considerable resemblance to
Myllena, although it is a question whether this is not more apparent
than real; the labial palpi are long and projecting, and to a certain
extent setiform, but they are stouter than in Myllena, and are made up
of three joints, the first of these being very long, five or six times as long
as the other two together, and the second and third being very short and
about equal in length; in Myllena they are more slender and only two-
jointed ; the posterior tarsi have the first joint more elongate than in
Myllena; the sexual characters of the genus Gymmnusa are exceedingly
peculiar, and besides this, as pointed out by Mulsant and Rey, the
genus is the only one among the Aleocharine that has a distinct

182 STAPHYLINID, [ Gymnusa.

setigerous pore on each side of the forehead near the eyes, a character
that gives it a connection with some genera of the Staphylinine ; we
possess both the European species,

Form broader, narrowed in front and behind; elytra very

closely punctured. =. 2. . © = . s @ os » « « GO BREVICODIS, Payics
Form narrower, subparallel; elytra rather coarsely pune-
tured . 3 wos wk 6 Us se es es, me es Je, GL AVARTRG A Raees

G. brevicollis, Payk. Broad fusiform, very finely and rather
thickly pubescent, black, moderately shiny ; head much narrower than
thorax, contracted in front; antennew long and slender, black with the
first joint reddish testaceous, joints 4-10 gradually a little less long, but
all distinctly longer than broad ; thorax at base nearly twice as broad as
long, much narrowed in front, as broad at base as elytra, very finely
punctured; elytra short, hardly longer than thorax, the two together
broadly emarginate at apex, finely and thickly and somewhat rugosely
punctured, dull; hind body strongly narrowed to apex finely and thickly
punctured, sixth segment much longer than the preceding; legs black,
with the tarsi reddish testaceous. L. 5-55 mm.

The sexual characters are very hard to describe; the male has the
seventh dorsal segment of hind body rather deeply and angularly emargi-
nate, and the ventral plate is prolonged between the emargination in an
obtuse angle ; between the two plates emerge two spiniform styles arising
from the sexual armature ; in the female the sexual armature is more
produced, and terminates in a central tongue-shaped process, which is
rather long, and is contracted to a point at apex, with a lateral sharp
lobe or tooth-like process on each side.

Marshy places; in sphagnum, &e.; rare; Chobham; Esher; Loughton; Horning

Fen, Norfolk ; Chat Moss; Cheshire ; Manchester (in some numbers); Cannock
Chase; Askham Bog; Scarborough; Scotland, rare, but widely distributed, Solway,

>

Tweed, Forth, Tay, and Moray districts.

G. variegata, Kies. This species is very distinct from the former
by its more parallel form, more shining appearance, and much stronger
punctuation, as well as by the fine yellow pubescence which is scattered
over its swface in more or less distinct patches, and gives to fresh
specimens a variegated appearance ; the antenne have the first jot con-
colorous with the rest, and the penultimate joints a little shorter; the
elytra are shorter, and the hind body more convex; the tarsi also are of
a somewhat darker colour; the sexual characters are also somewhat
different, and not so marked, especially in the female. L. 4—5 mm.

Marshy places; in sphagnum ; local, but occasionally oceurs in numbers; it appears
not to be found in the London district, and the only record I have from the South is
Glanvilles Wootton, rare (taken by Mr. Dale]and Mr. Wollaston at Roundchimneys
Pond, June 5th, 1874); Sutton Park, Birmingham; Cannock Chase ; Chat Moss ;
Derbyshire; Ringing Keld, Scarborough; Manchester; Northumberland district,
rare, banks of Irthing and near Wooler; Scotland, locally common, Lowlands, High-
lands, Tweed, Solway, Forth, Tay, Argyle, and Dee districts.

Gymnusa. | STAPHYLINIDE. 183

DEINOPSINA.

The single European species at present contained in this tribe very
much meemblesa broad and robust Myllena; the tribe is characterized by
having all the tarsi three-jointed ; it has already been discussed in connec-
tion with Myllena and Gymnusa.

DEINOPSIS, Maithiews.

In general appearance, as above stated, the species belonging to this
genus “pear a strong resemblance to Myllwna, but besides the difference
in the number of joints in the tarsi, the labial palpi are much shorter,
and consist of three joints; the form, moreover, is broader, and is inter-
mediate between Myllena and Gymnusa, from which latter genus
Deinopsis is distinguished by the shorter, three-jointed, tarsi, the head
much less narrowed in front, the penultimate joint of the maxillary palpi
being more plainly thickened, the broader and more compressed tibia,
much shorter tarsi, &c.; the genus at present contains twelve species,
four from South America, two from Central America, two from North
America, and one each from Australia, Japan, Ceylon, and Europe.

D. erosa, Steph. (fuscata, Matth., lafticollis, Er.). Rather broad,
fusiform, very finely and thickly pubescent, dull black; head strongly
transverse, eyes rounded, antenna very slender and rather long, obseurely
red or hiownish with the first joint sometimes lighter; joints 4-10
oblong, gradually a little shorter ; thorax very strongly transverse, more
than twice as broad as long at base, much narrowed in front, very finely
and obsoletely punctured or shagreened, fully as broad at base as base of
elytra; elytra a little longer than thorax, very finely and thickly
punctured ; hind body comparatively short, rather strongly and gradually
narrowed behind, very finely shagreened ; ; legs dark with the tarsi
testaceonus or reddish testaceous, and the anterior and intermediate
trochanters and all the knees reddish; sometimes the tibie are entirely
red ; tarsi very short, setiform. L. 3-35 mm.

Male with seventh dorsal segment of hind body slightly emarginate
in middle of apical margin, sixth ventral segment truncate ; female with
seventh dorsal segment deeply cleft in middle of apical margin, sixth
ventral segment slightly bisinuate.

Marshy places; in moss, decaying leaves, flood refuse, &c. ; local but not uncommon
in the London and Southern districts; I know of no locality further north than
Lincoln, where I have taken it sparingly in flood refuse ; Cobham, Caterham, Peckhain,
Lee, Sheerness, Tilgate Forest, Belvedere, Cowley, Horsell, Reigate, Tonbridge; St.
Leonards Forest; Hastings; Portland; ‘Thornton Reservoir, Leicestershire (plentiful,
Dr. Power).

TACHYPORIN &.

This sub-family contains about twenty or twenty-five genera, which
are widely distributed throughout the world, but are more characteristic

184 STAPHYLINIDE, [ Tachyporine.

of the northern and temperate regions than of the tropics ; they form a
natural group, and may be known, as a rule, by their external appear-
ance, their shape being fusiform, with the hind body more or less
strongly narrowed and conical ; the group Tachyporini was first established
by Erichson, and defined by him as being composed of Staphylinide,
‘having the prothoracie stigmata apparent, and the antenne inserted at
the base of the forehead, under a lateral border, above the mandibles, and
below the eyes;” Pandellé (Monograph of the European Tachyporini,
Ann. France. 1869, p. 261) takes exception to this definition, and dis-
tinguishes them by the smooth head, which is not impressed or contracted
behind into a neck, the shape of the thorax, which is more contracted in
front than behind, and is broadest behind middle, the conspicuous
prothoracie stigmata, and the broad epipleure of elytra, which are
sharply bounded by a distinct keel above and below, as weil as by the
large coxe ; to these may be added these further characters of Mulsant
and Rey:—Forehead evidently prolonged before the insertion of antenna ;
temples separated beneath by a wide interval ; tibiz usually spinose; the
maxillary palpi consist of four joints and the labial palpi of three in all
the genera. The group may be divided into two very natural tribes as
follows :—

I. Antenne 10-jointed; all the tarsi 4-jointed; form sub-glo-

bosely triangular, very small © el es) eee, oe, Eel eh EU BOG WaEIINTS
II. Antenne 11-jointed ; all the tarsi 5-jointed ; form more or less
elongate, larger. . . 2 . 2 «© + © © © «© © » » « . TACHYPORINA.

HYPOCYPTINA.

This tribe contains one British genus, Hypocyptus, which is sufficiently
characterized by the number of joints in the antenn and tarsi, as well
as by its shape and minute size; there is one other European genus
contained in the tribe, and Dr. Horn has recently established two or
three others for single North American species.

HYPOCYPTUS, Mannerheim. (Cypha, Steph.)

This genus comprises from twenty to thirty species, which chiefly
occur in the European and North American regions ; a species, however,
has been described from Ceylon, and it is probable that the genus is
very widely distributed, as the minute size of its members renders it very
easy for them to be overlooked: there is hardly any genus that is in
such a state of confusion ; Pandellé in his Monograph of the European
Tachyporini (Ann. Soe. Ent. de France, 1869, p. 281-285) enumerates
eleven species ; in the last European catalogue ten species are mentioned ;
Mulsant and Rey, however, give twelve species as found in France alone ;
several of these are evidently synonymous with other species, and are
regarded as such by Heyden, Reitter, and Weise ; in the British collec-
tions of the genus now before me I believe that there are very probably

Hypocyptus. | STAPHYLINIDZ. 185

one or two undescribed species, but I should be sorry to describe them
without making a much more careful study of the genus than I have
been able to do; the table given below must, therefore, be considered as
more or less provisional ; the species have the antennz ten-jointed, and
all the tarsi four-jointed.

I. Antenne with the seventh joint evidently longer, and
a little thicker than the sixth, joints 8-10 forming a
gradnal club . . . , . H. toneicornis, Payk.
If. Antenne with the seventh ‘joint not longer’ or
thicker than sixth, sometimes shorter.
i, Antenne dark, or dark ferruginous red, with
base sometimes lighter; elytra dark reddish-
brown, black-brown, or black; club gradual.
1. Fuscous; male with the first joint of anterior
tarsi strongly dilated ; antenne reddish or red-
dish brown with base lighters) . H.Levivscupvs, Mann.
2. Black; male with the first joint of anterior tar si
not or scarcely dilated; anteune nearly black . H. ovuLuM, Heer,
ii. Antenne entirely yellow testaceous.
1. Elytra dark.
A. Club rather strongly marked; antenne
shorter ; apex of hind body almost concolorous. H. sEMINULUM, Lr.
B. Club gradual ; antennz longer ; apex of hind
body broadly testaceous . . . . . . . . H.apicaris, Bris.
2, Elytra red or reddish.
A. Size very small; apex of hind body not
sharply testaceous . . H. punctum, Mots.
B. Size larger; apex of hind body broadly ‘and
sharply testaceous . . . . . =. - +. . . H. DIscorDEUs, Er.

H. longicornis, Payk. (acuwminatum, Marsh, rufipes, Steph.,
nigripes, Steph., parvula, Steph., granulum, Grav., globulus, Lac.,
agaricina, Steph.). Very convex, subglobose, shining black, with the
margins of thorax broadly testaceous, and the elytra pitch-black, or
lighter or darker reddish brown, with the margins lighter, pubescence
fine and scanty; head narrower then thorax, smooth, antenne long,
longer in male than in female, lighter or darker pitchy testaceous, seventh
joint evidently longer and thicker than sixth (appearing, in male, to form
part of the club), club gradual, longer and more slender in male than in
female ; thorax very short, strongly narrowed in front, almost as broad
behind as elytra, smooth, posterior angles rather marked; elytra
transverse, one iG a half times as long as thorax, sparingly pubescent,
very finely and sparingly punctured ; hind body retractile, very finely and
sparingly punctured, strongly narrowed behind, apex often pitchy, or
pitchy testaceous ; legs pitchy red or pitchy testaceous. L. 14 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment deeply and angularly emargi-
nate, sixth segment prolonged in an obtuse are over the middle of sev enth,
segment of armature projecting, rugosely punctured.

In haystack refuse, moss, dead leaves, decaying sea-weed, &c.; also by sweeping
and beating ; very common and generally distributed throughout the kingdom.

186 STAPHYLINIDE. | Hypocyptus.

In Dr. Sharp’s collection there are two specimens named by M.
Pandellé ‘ longicornis, var. ;” these are smaller and darker than the usual
type form, with the antennz shorter, and the elytra more closely
punctured ; the colour is a uniform deep shining black with at most the
very extreme edges of thorax and elytra lighter: this variety I propose
to name v. concolor.

H. leviusculus, Mannh. (nec Redt.) (anisotomoides, W. C. 2).
Smaller than the preceding, and distinguished by having the first joint
of the anterior tarsi in male strongly. dilated, and especially by the
seventh joint of the antenne being a little shorter and a very little

thicker than the sixth; the colour is shining pitch-black with the
el margins of thorax narrowly testaceous, and the elytra reddish
brown; antenne rather long and slender, terminated by a gradual three-
jointed club, dark red or brownish with the base lighter; thorax very
finely and sparingly punctured, with the posterior angles rounded ; elytra
strongly transverse, very finely and rather thickly punctured ; hind body
less finely and thic kly punctured than elytra, with apex often brownish
or reddish ; legs pitchy red, with tarsi paler. L. 1 mm.

Male characters much as in the preceding species, except that the first
joint of the anterior tarsi is much more strongly dilated.

In moss, old faggots, vegetable refuse, &c.; rare; Chatham ; Shirley ; Coleshill ;
Sutton Park ; Liverpool; Hartlepool; Northumberland district, Gosforth, Long

Benton, &e.; Scotland, Lowlands, Solway, Forth, Tay, Dee, and Moray districts ;
Tveland, Portmarnock.

I believe that several of these records, however, are made in error;
owing to the fact that H. anisotumoides of Waterhouse’s catalogue is
referred to this species instead of to H. seminulum; H. leviusculus
appears to be moderately common over a creat part of France.

H. ovulum, Heer (nigripes, Heer, pygmaus, Ky, lancifer, Pand.,
leviusculus, Redt., nee Mannh.), A very small species, shining black,
or pitchy black, with the elytra sometimes reddish brown, and the apex
of hind body lighter; head finely and sparingly punctured ; antenne
more or less elongate and slender, terminated by a gradual three-jointed
club, dark red, with the base lighter, sixth and seventh joints about
equal in length; thorax almost impunctate, shining pitch-black, with
the lateral margins very narrowly testaceous or reddish; elytra strongly
transverse, one and one-third times as long as thorax, very finely and
thickly punctured ; hind body finely and sparingly punctured, with the
apex often lighter ; legs dark reddish-brown, often almost black, tibize
and tarsi a little lighter. L. 2 mm.

Male characters much as in the preceding, except that the first joint
of the anterior tarsi is not or scarcely dilated.

In moss, &e.; rare; Mickleham; Croydon ; Withington, Cheshire ; Manchester.

M. Pandellé describes a species H. /ancifer, which comes so close
} >

>

Hypocyptus. | STAPHYLINIDE. 187

apparently to this species that it can hardly be separated ; it appears,
according to his description (l.c, p. 284), to differ in having the posterior
angles rounded, the anterior tarsi of male simple, and the segment of
armature in male lanceolate, whereas in H. ovulum (= nigripes) the
posterior angles are marked or scarcely rounded, the anterior tarsi of
male are slightly dilated, and the segment of armature in male is rounded
behind ; according to Mulsant and Rey, however (Brévipennes, Tachy-
poriens, p. 13), H. lancifer has the posterior angles of thorax almost right
angles, and in this point differs from 77. ovulum, in which they are
rounded oralmost rounded. In Dr. Sharp’s collection there is a specimen
from Duddingstone Loch, Scotland, which has been named by Pandellé
as H. lancifer; this is decidedly larger and darker than ordinary
specimens of 7. ovulum ; the antenne and legs are dark pitchy black,
and the antenne are longer; the posterior angles of thorax in this
specimen are quite rounded off; it also appears to present Mulsant and
Rey’s rather important character of having the sixth and seventh joints
of the antenne somewhat oblong instead of subglobose as in ZZ. ovwlunr ;
as, however, these writers contradict M. Pandellé as regards the shape of
the posterior angles of the thorax, and as there seems to be considerable
confusion at present attaching to the species, it appears to be the best
course, at all events for the present, to regard Hl. lanecifer as at most a
variety of H. ovulum, especially as Dr. Sharp’s specimen is considerably
larger than any specimen of H. ovulum I have seen, whereas M.
Pandellé gives the same lengths for the two species, In the catalogue
of Heyden, Reitter, and Weise H. lancifer is not mentioned even as a
synonym.

H. seminulum, Er. (pulicarius, Er., anisotomoides? W. C.). A
very small, subglobose, species, shining pitch-black with the sides of
thorax more or less narrowly testaceous, clothed with very fine and
rather close ashy pubescence ; antenne reaching to about the middle of the
elytra, entirely yellow testaceous, with a rather sharply defined club ;
thorax very short, almost smooth, or scarcely punctured, posterior angles
scareely rounded, or even almost right angles ; elytra strongly transverse,
about a third longer than thorax ; hind body very finely and sparingly
punctured, with apex lighter; legs testaceous, with the four posterior
femora often dark. L. vix 2 mm.

Male with the sixth and seventh segments of hind body projecting,
seventh ventral segment emarginate at apex, eighth visible ; first joint of
anterior tarsi rather strongly dilated.

In rotten wood, fungi, by sweeping under fir trees, &e.; rare; Croydon, Hamp-
stead ; Scotland, Kecles near Thornhill, Dumfries and Braemar; I have seen speci-
mens from these localities which appear to belong to this species: other localities re-
corded are Esher, Woking, Strood, Folkestone, Salford Priors, Coleshill, and Cannock

Chase ; probably several of these records must be referred to H. punctwm, which, after
all, is very likely nothing but a light variety of H. seminulum,

H. punctum, Mots. (seminulum, Er., var. ?). The smallest species

188 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Hypocyptus.

of the genus; it closely resembles H. seminulum in many points, and may
be merely a smaller and lighter-coloured variety of that species; the
antenne, however, are, perhaps, a little longer in proportion, and have
the sixth and seventh joints a little less short, and their club rather more
elongate ; the posterior angles of the thorax are said to be a little more
rounded, but this is a point that is not to be depended upon in this
genus, as authors appear to differ very widely regarding it in describing
the same species ; the colour is much lighter, the elytra being reddish,
and the sides of thorax and margins of segments of hind body being
testaceous ; the legs also are entirely testaceous. L. } mm.

In vegetable refuse, and also under the same circumstances as the preceding; I
have seen specimens from Riddlesdown, Seaton (Devonshire), Coleshill near Bir-
mingham, and Dabton Loch, Seotland; it appears to be rather widely distributed,

and, as stated above, in all probability several of the localities given for H. seminulum
apply to this insect.

H. apicalis, Brisout (H. pulicarius, var. a, Muls. et Rey). Very
closely allied to H. seminulum, but larger, with shorter and less thick
pubescence, and the last three segments of the hind body testaceous :
according to Brisout this insect comes very near rufipes, Kr. (which
Pandellé (l.c. p. 282) appears to consider only a small var. of longicornis),
is rather larger, of a blacker colour, with longer antenne, and a lighter-
coloured hind body, which is more strongly contracted at apex. L.
1 mm., about.

Taken by Dr. Power at Mickleham : it appears to be a distinct species, and to be
connected rather with H. longicornis than with H. seminulum.

HE. discoideus, Er. (biguttatus, Matth.). The most distinct species
of the genus that we possess; shining pitch-black, with the disc of the
elytra bright reddish-testaceous, the base and sides being more or less
infuscate ; the sides of the thorax are pale, and the apex of hind body
broadly testaceous ; pubescence long, fine, and close, of a greyish yellow
colour; head very finely and sparingly punctured, antenne moderately
long, testaceous, with club more gradual in male than in female ; thorax
very short, very finely and sparingly punctured, with posterior angles
rather strongly rounded ; elytra strongly transverse, one and a third times
as long as thorax, very finely and thickly punctured ; hind body finely
and rather sparingly punctured, retractile, but rather long when drawn
out to its full extent; legs testaceous. L. 1 mm.,, about.

Male with the last segments of hind body projecting, seventh ventral
segment emarginate at apex, eighth apparent; first joint of anterior
tarsi dilated.

In vegetable refuse, &c., in marshy and fenny districts ; very local, but sometimes
very common where it occurs ; Dagenham, Essex ; Hastings; Horning Fen and other
fen districts on the east of England ; the species is rare, but rather widely dis-
tributed, in France.

It is almost impossible to determine with accuracy the closely allied
species of Hypocyptus, unless they are set fresh soon after death ; the hind

_Hypocyptus. | STAPHYLINIDE, 189

body is so strongly retractile that they quite lose their shape, and the
antenne are apt to change colour; it should be remembered that in some
species the antennzw of the male are longer, and have the club of the
antenne less sharply defined than in the female, and that the posterior
angles of thorax are rather hard to see, and appear somewhat different in
different lights; this explains the apparent discrepancy regarding them
found in certain authors’ descriptions of the same species.

TACHYPORINA.

All the European genera contained in this tribe are represented in
Britain, with the exception of Erchomus, Mots. (Coproporus, WKraatz);
only one species of this genus has been found in Europe, but it appears
to be the chief representative of the sub-family in the tropics, where it
appears to take the place of Tachinus, which is essentially a boreal genus ;
the arrangement of the genera of the Tachyporina is not yet settled ; by
some authors Lamprinus and Bryoporus are included under Tachyporus
and Megacronus respectively, whereas others would still further divide
this latter genus and Mycetoporus: our genera may be distinguished as
follows :—

I. Temples not margined at sides; head usually trans-
verse ; seventh dorsal segment of hind body always
more or less divided into lobes in female; intermediate
and posterior tarsi not elongate.
i. Hind body not or scarcely visibly bordered at sides ;
head and thorax pubescent . . . . . . . « . Conosoma, Kraatz
(Conurus, Steph.).
ii. Hind body more or less plainly bordered at sides ;
head and thorax not pubescent.
1. Last joint of maxillary palpi shorter than the
penultimate.
A. Posterior tibie and tarsi slender, not or scarcely
compressed ; fourth joint of tarsi slender, much .
shorter than third; antenne long . . TACHYPORUtS, Grav.
B. Posterior tibie and tarsi robust and com-
pressed; fourth joint of tarsi rather thick,
nearly as long as third; antenue short . . . LaMPprinus, Heer.
2. Last joint of maxillary palpi longer than, or as
long as, the penultimate.
A. Mesosternum carinate ; anterior tarsi simple in

OGIUECXCSai cus pce sue) sel, sual oe CrneEa, Duv.
B. Mesosternum not carinate; anterior tarsi of
male dilated . . yO TacHINTsS, Grav.

Il. Temples margined at sides ; “head ‘longer than, or at

least as long as broad; seventh dorsal segment of hind

body simple and entire in both sexes; intermediate and
posterior tarsi elongate.

i. Last joint of maxillary palpi about equal to the

penultimate or a little longer.
A. Maxillary te short and stout; labial palpi
thick . 5 5 OO ~ « . . . - « Me@acronus, Thoms.

190 STAPHYLINID &. [ Tuchyporina.

B. Maxillary palpi filiform; labial palpi not
thickened.
a. Last joint of maxillary palpi very little nar-
rower at base than apex of penultimate joint. . Bor1rroprus, Steph.
b. Last joint of maxillary palpi plainly narrower
at base than apex of penultimate joint: = |: Bryoports, Kraatz.
. Last joint of maxillary palpi small or very sm: ll,
ates and subulate, distinctly shorter and nar-
rower than the penultimate. . . . . . . .« . Mycrerororus, Mannh.

CONOSOMA, Kraatz. (Conwrus, Stephens.)

This name must be adopted for the genus Conwrus, Stephens, the
latter name having been used in ornithology ; the genus contains about
eighty described species, which are very widely distributed throughout
the world in both the northern and southern hemispheres. There are
six British species, the first two of which in the following table are
much larger than the rest, and are easily distinguished by their slze ;
the species for the most part are found in faggots, rotten stumps, aad
among dead leaves ; they are very rapid in their movements ; the sexual
characters do not vary much in our species, and need not be specified
separately ; in the male the seventh dorsal segment is entire and more
or less rounded at apex, the seventh ventral segment is angularly
emarginate at apex, disclosing the segment of armature ; the anterior tarsi
are more or less strongly dilated ; in the female the seventh dorsal seg-
ment is furnished with four long, more or less sharp, parallel lobes, of
which the two central ones are more slender and slightly shorter, and the
seventh ventral segment is entire, rounded, and ciliate at apex. The
Conuri may be at once separated from the Tachyport by their very strong
pubescence and consequent dull appearance.

The larva of Conurus littoreus is described by Perris (Ann, Franc. 1846 (p. 332
and pl. 9)) under the name of Tachyporus cellaris: it is rather depressed, linear,
smooth and shining, chiefly of a reddish-brown colour, the portions at the sides of
and between the scuta being whitish, and the last segment of abdomen entirely
whitish ; the prothorax is larger than the meso- and meta-thorax, the three together
being trapezoidal ; the abdominal segments, except the last, are almost hexagonal,
contracted in front and behind, so that the intersections are marked; the last
segment is quadrilateral, and is furnished with two long reddish four jointed cerci,
and a long whitish anal appendage which is bilobed at its extremity ;* the legs are
rather long, and terminate ina single claw; the sides of the head ‘and the Jateral
angles of the segments are furnished with reddish hairs. L. 5-6 mm.

This larva lives under bark of dead logs of oak, pine, &e., and feeds on the insects
contained in the fungi that grow under the bark ; it is swift in its movements ; the
pupa is white and smooth (except for a few “ styli motorii” on the vertex, &e.), and
presents no peculiarity.

* The anal appendage in certain larvee is often slightly lobed or furnished
with warty prominences ; this formation enables it to be used for purposes of
progression.

==

ee ee ae ae

Conosoma. | STAPHYLINIDE. 191

I. Base of thorax very slightly emarginate before scu-
tellum, which is always exposed ; elytra dark with
large basal reddish-testaceous spot; length 4-5 mm.. C. trrrorEuM, L.
II. Base of thorax not emarginate, more or less (often
entirely) covering scutellum.
i. Elytra dark or reddish, without definite ppok
1. Length4-5mm........ - . . C. PUBESCENS, Grav.
2. Length 2-2} mm.
A. Upper surfzee entirely dark.
a. Elytra longer than thorax; posterior tarsi
longer than tibia; antenne dark with base
and apex lighter’. = =. C. IMMACULATUM, Steph.
b. Elytra at “suture not longer than thorax;
posterior tarsi hardly as long as tibie;

antenne entirely yellow . . . . C. PEDICULARIUM, Grav.
B. Upper surface chiefly reddish or testaceous,
elytra a little. longer than thorax . . . C. tivipum, Er.

ii. Elytra dark with a large, plainly marked, orange-
red testaceous spot at base; ; length2mm. . . . C. BIPUNCTATUM, Grav.

C. littoreum, L. Broad in front and much narrowed behind, very
thickly pubescent, dull pitchy brown with the posterior angles of thorax
and a large well-defined patch at base of elytra reddish testaceous ; head
sparingly punctured, but very finely, the rest of the upper surface very
finely and thickly punctured ; antenne long and slender, testaceous with
the middle joints often darker ; thorax rather long, narrowed in front,
rather broader at base than elytra, posterior angles somewhat recurved and
rather sharp; elytra half as long again as thorax, a little narrower at apex
than at tase ; hind body strongly contracted at apex, dark with apical
margins of segments slightly reddish ; legs testaceous. L. 4-5 mm.

In faggots, bottoms of woodstacks, under loose bark, in fungi, rotten wood, &c.
not yncommon ; London district, generally ; Southern Counties and Midlands, ideal
distributed ; Yorkshire; Lincoln; Manchester district; Northumberland district,
not uncommon; Scotland, Lowlands, Forth and Solway districts:

C. pubescens, Grav. Of the same size and shape as the preceding,
which it closely resembles; the absence, however, of the well-defined
reddish-testaceous spots at base of elytra will at once distincuish it ; the
colour of the elytra is variable, usually brownish, and reddish on dise ;
sometimes they are concolorous with the rest of the body (v. constans,
Sharp), and occasionally chestnut brown; the scutellum is covered, or
almost covered by the base of thorax; the elytra are shorter, and the
antenne also are shorter, and have the penultimate joints slightly trans-
verse ; the punctuation also of the upper surface is not quite so close.
L. 4-5 mm.

Tn haystack refuse, moss, &ce. ; generally distributed and commoner than the pre-
ceding.

Cc. immaculatum, Steph. (Conurus fusculus, Er.) Pitchy black,
thickly pubescent, but with front parts somewhat shining, apical margins
of segments of hind body distinctly reddish testaceous ; head almost
smooth, antenne rather short, and somewhat thickened, dark or brownish
red with base and apex yellow, penultimate joints rather stronely trans-

192 STAPHYLINID®. [ Conosoma.

verse ; thorax a little broader behind than elytra with posterior angles
recurved and rather sharp ; elytra a little longer than thorax (occasionally,
if the base of the thorax much overlaps the base of elytra, this is not
very evident), together with the latter finely and very thickly punctured ;
hind body strongly narrowed behind, very finely and thickly punctured ;
legs red. L. 25 mm.

In fungi, moss, &e.; occasionally in sandpits; local; London district, general ; The

Holt (Farnham); Hastings; Wicken Fen; Langworth Wood, Lincoln; Manchester
district ; Northumberland district, scarce; not recorded from Scotland.

Cc. pedicularium, Grav. In colour and general appearance much
resembles the preceding, but is considerably smaller, and may be at once
separated by the much shorter and entirely testaceous antenne ; the
elytra also are evidently shorter, beimg not longer and often appearing
shorter than thorax ; the posterior tarsi also are shorter than the tibia,
whereas in the preceding species they are longer. L. 2 mm.

Tn moss, dead leaves, refuse, &e. ; not common ; Amberley, near Arundel ; Tonbridge;

Wicken and other Cambridgeshire Fens; Ireland, Killiney near Dublin; has not
occurred in the Midlands or North of England, or in Scotland.

Cc. lividum, Er. Entirely reddish testaceous, with the thorax more
brightly coloured than the hinder parts, the elytra at sides and near
scutellum, and the base of segments of hind body being sometimes dusky;
in structure it closely resembles the preceding, and by some authors is
considered merely a variety of that species, or vice versi C. pedicularium
is by others considered a variety of C. lividum ; the latter, however, differs
from the former, apart from colour, in being a little more closely pubes-
cent, and in having the elytra comparatively a little longer; the antenn
also are slightly longer, and the relative length of the joints is a‘lttle
different ; it must be allowed, however, that except for the colour, it
would be very difficult to separate the species. L. 2 mm.

In moss, haystack and other refuse, at roots of grass in marshy places, &c. ; common
and generally distributed throughout the kingdom.

Cc. bipunctatum, Grav. This species in size, shape, and general
colour closely resembles C. pedicularium, but is easily distinguished by
each elytron having a very distinct and well-marked orange-red spot at
base ; the elytra, moreover, are furnished at sides and apex with pores
bearing long and distinct sete, a character which separates the species
from all the others; the antenne are short, brownish, with the first four
joints and the apical joint yellow, the penultimate joints being rather
strongly transverse ; the elytra are a third longer than thorax ; the legs
are reddish, with the posterior tarsi as long as, or somewhat longer than,
the tibie. L. 2 mm.

In rotten wood; rare; a single old specimen existed in Mr. G. R. Waterhouse’s
co'lection, until Dr. Power found a colony in an old willow tree in a pit near High-

gate; Mr. J. J. Walker has also taken it at Chatham: there is no other British locality
known at present ; in France the species is widely distributed, but rare,

Tachyporus.| STAPHYLINIDE, 193

TACHYPORUS, Gravenhorst.

The species belonging to this genus are easily distinguished from the
preceding by their much brighter a appearance, which is due to the absence
of pubescence on the head 1 and thorax, and its scantiness on the hinder
parts of the body; the genus comprises some fifty species, which are con-
fined to the northern and temperate portions of the Old and New Worlds,
and are within their range evenly distributed ; they are chiefly found in
moss ; one or two species are exceedingly common, and from their bright
colouring are well known to ordinary observers as well as to entomolo-
gists ; in fact it is hardly possible to gather a handful of moss without
finding in it either 7. hypnorum or T. chrysomelinus; the sexual
characters, although somewhat striking, are very much alike in the several
species, and need not be separately described: in the male the seventh
dorsal segment of hind body is entire, and somewhat rounded at apex,
the seventh ventral segment is strongly emarginate, disclosing the seg-
ment of armature, and the anterior tarsi are plainly dilated ; in the fem: ale
the seventh dorsal segment is furnished with four narrow sharp lobes of
about equal length, the outer pair differing slightly in shape, and the
seventh ventral segment is prolonged, rounded, and ciliate, concealing the
segment of armature ; ; the anterior tarsi in the latter sex are feebly
dilated; the external structural differences of the species throughout
the genus are very slight, and it will be noticed that the distinctions
rest in great measure on size and colour variations ; as a natural con-
sequence there are considerable differences of opinion regarding the
specific value of some of the species that have been described.

The larva of Tachyporus chrysomelinus very much resembles in structure that of
Tachinus rufipes, and is chiefly distinguished by its stouter antenne, and the absence of
warty prominences at the apex of the anal appendage ; it is about quarter the size of
the last-mentioned larva, and is pale, with the head and prothorax yellow, and all the
sete pale; the scuta of the rest of the segments and the first joint of the cerci are
somewhat fuscous.

I. Head and thorax reddish testaceous.
i. Elytra testaceous, with basal half black; hind body
testaceous with sixth and seventh segments black , T. oprusus, Z.
ii. Elytra testaceous, with scutellary region only darker ;
hind body black (reddish in immature specimens),
with sixth segment testaceous . . . . . . . QT. FoRMOsUS, Matth.
II. Head black or pitchy black.
i. Thorax entirely testaceous.
1. Antenne plainly, although not strongly, thickened
towards apex; elytra ‘reddish testaceous or yel-
lowish, not darker at sides.
A. Thorax and elytra testaceous red; size larger ;
antennz testaceous with base lighter than the

MCStic: 1 oe F c) ae) ee) CL ROLUTUS, os
B, Thorax and ely tra atc -coloured ; ; size smaller ;
antenne dusky towards apex . . - . . QT. PALLIDUS, Sharp.

2. Antenne not thickened ; elytra reddish testaceous
or reddish brown, darker at least at sides.
VOL. Il. fo)

194 STAPHYLINIDE. [Tachyporw-.

A. First joint of anterior tarsi as long as, or longer
than, second.
a. Elytra reddish testaceons with sides and
scutellary region darker; size larger. . . . ‘I’. CHRYSOMELINUS, L.
b. Elytra red or red-brown with scutellary region,
base, and sides obscurely darker; sizesmaller. TT. HUMEROSUS, Z7.
B. First joint of anterior tarsi plainly shorter than
second; thorax and elytra reddish testaceous
with disc of thorax often, and scutellary region
and sides of elytra always, plainly darker . . TT. TERSUS, Er.
ii. Thorax black or pitchy black with the sides more or
less broadly testaceous.
1. Form broader and more convex; colour of thorax
and elytra darker; elytra less distinctly seulptmred.
A. Elytra a little broader in front than behind,
bright red with scutellary region and sides
black ; 3 sizelarger. . . T. HYPNORUM, F.
B. Elytra at least as broad behind as in “front,
sometimes a little broader, dusky red or
reddish brown on dise ; size smaller. . . . T. PUSILLUS, Grav
2. Form narrower and more depressed; colour of
thorax and hind body lighter; elytra more dis- -
tinctly sculptured ; sizesmall . . . . T.BRUNNEUS, L.
. Thorax reddish testaceous with the anterior portion
dark ; elytra dark with apice al portion = shi By
testaceous . . . . 5 5 bowen 6 . T. TRANSVERSALIS, Grav.

T. obtusus, L. Testaceous, or reddish testaceous, shining, with
the breast, basal half of elytra, and sixth and seventh segments of bind
body black ; head smooth; antenn long, slightly thickened towards
apex, testaceous or ferruginous with the four basal joints lighter, penulti-
mate joints longer than broad ; thorax smooth, strongly narrowed in front,
with posterior angles blunt and rounded (as in all the other species) ;
elytra quite a third longer than thorax, finely and rather thickly pune-
tured ; hind body finely and thickly punctured at the base of each
segment, and strongly setose especially at apex and sides; the lateral
and apical sete, which are thicker on the hinder parts of the body than
on the front parts, are common to all the species; legs testaceous. LL.
3-35 mm.

In moss, haystack refuse, dead leaves, &c. ; abundant throughout the kingdom.

V. nitidicollis, Steph. In this variety the head, disc of thorax,
and basal part of hind body are more or less piceous, or rufo-piceous, and
the black colour covers the greater portion of the elytra, only a small
portion at apex being light; its general appearance is therefore much
darker, and very different from that of the type : very common in many
parts of Ireland (Armagh, Galway, Westport, Waterford, &c.); Scotland,
Tweed and Forth districts; England and Wales, not common ; recorded
by Stephens from the London district, and it is said to have occurred in
Sherwood Forest ; Mr. Horner has recently taken it at Tonbridge.

T. formosus, Matth. (rufus, Er.). This species resembles the pre

Tachyporus. | STAPHYLINID®. 195

ceding, but the elytra are entirely testaceous with the scutellary region
only darker, and the hind body is dark with the sixth segment only
entirely testaceous ; the antennz are also rather darker towards apex ;
the colour of the hind body will at once distinguish it from immature
light-coloured examples of 7. obtusus, which sometimes are confused with
it; in mature specimens the colour is very bright and clear, but in
specimens that are not quite mature the darker parts of the hind body
are reddish ; the margins of the basal segments are always reddish yellow.
L. 3 mm.

In moss and refuse of reeds and grass; rare; Tonbridge (Horner); Chatham
(Champion and Walker); Haslemere, Aylsham (T. Wood); Oxfordshire, and Chisle-
hurst, Kent (Matthews) ; Luccombe Chine, April 1885 (Sharp, Gorham, and Fowler).

T. solutus, Er. Testaceous red, shining, with the head, breast,
hind body, and a scutellary patch (usually not sharply defined) on
elytra, black ; head and thorax smooth and shining, almost impunctate,
antenne a little longer than head and thorax united, evidently thickened
towards apex, testaceous, with base paler, penultimate joints longer than
broad ; elytra a third longer than thorax, rather finely and thickly
punctured ; hind body thickly and rather distinctly punctured, black,
with margins of basal segments obscurely testaceous; legs testaceous.
L. 3-34 mm.

In moss, dead leaves, &c., occasionally in marshy places ; local ; London district,
not uncommon, Chatham, Darenth Wood, Barnes, Shirley, Caterham, Birch Wood,
Mickleham, Esher, Tonbridge, &e.; Hastings; Glanvilles Wootton; Devonshire ;
Llangollen; Birmingham district; Northumberland district, very rare; Scotland,
not common, Solway, Forth, and Clyde districts ; Ireland, near Dublin, and Waterford
(Power).

T. pallidus, Sharp (7. solufus, var., Cat. Heyden-Reitter- Weise).
This species is somewhat closely related to the preceding, but is con-
siderably smaller, and differs very much in colour, the thorax and elytra
being straw-coloured, and the latter having the black triangular scutel-
lary patch abrupt and well defined ; the margins of the segments of hind
body are more distinctly reddish testaceous, and the antenne are rather
darker towards apex : the absence of a dark lateral margin on elytra will
at once separate it from 7. chrysomelinus and tersus. L. 22-3 mm.

In moss, flood refuse, &c., especially in marshy places in early spring; Lee
Gent), Barnes, Wimbledon ; Horning Fen, Norfolk; Cambridgeshire Fens, Wicken

en, XC.

T. chrysomelinus, L. Very like 7. solutus both in size, colour,
and general appearance ; but distinguished by having the side margins
of the elytra blackish, and the antenne darker towards apex, and not
thickened; the anterior angles of thorax also are less pronounced and
blunter ; sometimes the disc of thorax and elytra is slightly dusky, and
in immature specimens the whole upper surface of the body is testaceous.
L. 3-33 mm.

In moss ; abundant throughout the kingdom,

0 2

196 STAPHYLINIDS. { fachyporus.

T. humerosus, Er. Smaller and rather more convex than the pre-
ceding, and of a generally darker colour; the second and third joints of
the antenne are a little shorter in proportion to the fourth ; the elytra
are more or less obscurely red with the region round scutellum, the base,
and the sides darker, and the thorax also is of a darker red colour; the
posterior tarsi also are a little longer. L. 22 mm.

In moss; generally distributed throughout England, and probably also in Scotland,

although it has only been recorded from the Forth and Solway districts; Lreland,
Armagh,

]&, tersus, Er. About the size of 7. pallidus, but easily distin-
guished from it by the dark lateral margins of elytra; a small rather
broad species, shining testaceous red, w ith the dise of thorax often, and
the scutellary region and sides of elytra always, darker; the head and
thorax are almost smooth ; antennas long as head and thorax united,
scarcely thickened towards apex, brownish red with the three or four
basal joints testaceous; elytra very little longer than thorax finely,
sparingly, and obsoletely punctured ; hind body shining black with
apical margin of segments reddish, finely anid sparingly punctured, more
thickly on “basal segments; legs testaceous. L. 23 mum.

Tn moss, &e.; not uncommon in the London district, &e.; Bewdley Forest ; Seot-
land, local, Solway, Forth, and Clyde districts ; it is probably widely distributed, but
considerable confusion exists as regards the species, which is placed in a separate sec-
tion by Rey (with two or three other species not found in Britain) on the ground that
the anterior tarsi have the first joint evidently shorter than the second, instead of as
long as, or longer than that joint, as in nearly all the other species.

YT. hypnorum, F. Shining black, with the sides of thorax testa-
ceous, and the elytra red with the scutellary region and sides black ;
antenn obscure red, with the four or five first joints testaceous ; legs
testaceous with all the coxee black: the structure and sculpture does not
differ materially from that of 7. ehrysomelinus and the allied species,
except that as a rule the elytra are a little shorter in proportion to the
thorax, and the general form is a little broader in the middle, but in
these points there is a little variation. L. 31-32 mm.

In moss ; very common and generally distributed throughout the kingdom.

V. meridionalis, Fairm. This variety differs from the type in having
the elytra dark on disc: in Dr. Sharp’s collection there is a very curious
form in which the elytra are testaceous red with a dark transverse band
across middle and another along front part of suture, dividing the
elytra into well-defined light portions somewhat as in Lebia crux minor ;
the thorax is occasionally almost entirely rufo-piceous with lighter
margins.

T. pusillus, Grav. Considerably smaller, narrower, and more
parallel-sided than the preceding, which it much resembles in colour,
except that the elytra are more obscurely red; the thorax is only just

Tachyporus. | STAPHYLINIDE. 197

as broad as the base of the elytra, and not slightly broader as in
T. hypnorum and other species, and the apical and basal margins of
elytra are of equal width, or, if anything, the former is the widest ; the
hind body is less strongly narrowed to aes legs testaceous, coxa more
or less dark. L. 22 mm.

In moss, cut grass, dead leaves, &c., especially in marshy places; not uncommon
and generally distributed throughout the kingdom.

T. brunneus, F. A small, narrow, and depressed species, of a red-
dish colour, with the head, dise of thorax, breast, and base of segments
of hind body pitch-black, and the scutellary region and sides of elytra
dusky; head and thorax smooth; antenne about as long as head and
thorax united, reddish with base lghter, slightly thickened towards
apex, with the two penultimate joints as broad as long or slightly trans-
verse; thorax transverse, narrowed in front; elytra longer than thorax,
finely, rather thickly, and somewhat rugosely punctured; hind body
finely and rather thickly punctured, a little more sparingly behind;
legs testaceous. L. 2} mm.

In haystack refuse, hotbeds, moss, &c.; common and generally distributed through-
out the kingdom.

The small size, depressed form, and obscurely reddish appearance of
this species will at once separate it from all the others.

T. transversalis, Gray. A very distinct species; black, or bluish-
black, shining, with the mouth, thorax, except anterior portion, and
apical third or quarter of elytra testaceous; the apical margins of seg-
ments of hind body are also obscurely reddish; head and thorax smooth
or almost smooth; antennuz dusky with base pale; elytra a little longer
than thorax, very finely and rather thickly punctured ; hind body very
finely and somewhat thickly punctured, punctuation obsolete on the
posterior portion of each segment ; legs reddish testaceous. L. 22-3
mm.

In marshy places in moss—often in heathy districts in Sphagnum; also at roots of
grass; local, but abundant where it occurs; Wimbledon, Chobham, Reigate, Merton
(Surrey) ; Shirley Warren, Southamptcn; New Forest; Coleshill and Sutton Park,

Birmingham ; Chat Mossi Searborough ; Noxthumberlard district, rare; Scotland,
very local, Solway and Tay districts ; Treland, recorded from Armagh,

_LAMPRINUS, Heer.

This genus contains some four or five species peculiar to the European
fauna, which closely resemble Yachyporus, and by some authors are
included under that genus; they appear, however, distinct by reason of
their more robust form, shorter and strongly thickened antenne, and by
the stout and more or less compressed posterior tibie and tarsi.

L. saginatus, Grav. Head black, thorax and elytra testaceous-

198 STAPHYLINIDE. [Lamprinus.

red, hind body black, with extreme apical margin of segments reddish;
head and thorax almost impunctate; antenne rather short, strongly and
gradually thickened, and rather strongly compressed towards apex, red-
dish testaceous or ferruginous with the base and apical joint paler,
penultimate joints strongly transverse viewed from the side; thorax
strongly narrowed in front, as broad behind as elytra; elytra transverse,
about as long as thorax, very finely and rather thickly punctured; hind
body strongly setose at sides and apex, finely and rather thickly punc-
tured; legs reddish testaceous with the intermediate and posterior
coxe darker. L.4 mm.

Male with the seventh dorsal segment of hind body entire, rounded
at apex, seventh ventral segment emarginate, disclosing segment of
armature; anterior tarsi feebly dilated; female with seventh’ dorsal seg-
ment furnished with four long rather sharp lobes of about equal length,
seventh ventral segment somewhat rounded and thickly ciliate at apex,
anterior tarsi almost simple.

At roots of grass and in moss in damp places, especially on heaths; it has occurred
in ants’ nests in France; rare; Shirley, Wimbledon, Reigate, Chobham, Mickleham,
Esher, West Wickham; Hastings; Salisbury; Dean Forest ; Eggington, near Repton,
Burton-on-Trent; Scarborough; banks of Irthing, Cumberland ; Northumberland
district, very rare ‘“sea-coast near Whitley ;” Scotland, Solway district, very rare ;
found on two or three occasions in flood refuse on the banks of the Nith and Scar at
Thornhill, Dumfries.

CILEA, Duval. (Leucoparyphus, Kraatz.)

This genus comes very near to Tachyporus, and is chiefly separated
on differences in the relative length of the joints of the maxillary palpi;
only a few species of the genus in its strict sense are known, but these
are widely distributed, occurring in Europe, Madagascar, Caffraria,
Ceylon, and Central America. M. Fauvel has lately described a large
number of species from Australia and New Guinea, but, as he merges
Cilea in Erchomus, it appears doubtful whether they are true members
of our genus, which may be retained as distinct, by reason of the struc-
ture of the palpi, antenna, and tarsi, the less convex elytra, and certain
differences in the skeleton of the underside.

It appears to be doubtful whether the name of Leucoparyphus ought
to have the priority over Cilea or not.

GC. silphoides, L. Smooth and shining, rather broad in front and
strongly narrowed behind, deep black or pitchy black, with the sides of
thorax, the suture, and apex of elytra, and a more or less interrupted
band near margin of the same yellow testaceous; head and thorax
almost impunctate, antennz a little longer than head and thorax united,
hardly thickened, ferruginous brown with base lighter, penultimate
joints not transverse; thorax transverse, narrowed in front, hardly as
broad behind as elytra; elytra transverse, a little longer than thorax,

—>

Cilea.] ; STAPHYLINIDS. 199

very finely and closely punctured ; hind body with short and rather
thick pubescence, strongly setose at sides, finely and thickly punctured ;
legs testaceous with cox more or less dark. L. 3 mm.

The sexual characters are very peculiar, but are hard to describe: in
the male the seventh dorsal segment of hind body is cleft into six lobes,
the intermediate ones being more slender and sharper, and projecting
beyond the others, and the lateral ones being short, blunt, and indistinct,
sixth and seventh ventral segments emarginate and excised, with a
lateral lobe on each side; in the female the seventh dorsal segment is
furnished with six slender lobes more or less spiniform, the intermediate
projecting beyond the others, seventh ventral segment also with six
lobes, the two central ones being somewhat differently shaped from the
corresponding upper lobes.

In hotbeds and dung-heaps ; rather common and generally distributed as far north
as the Forth district of Scotland; Ireland, near Belfast and Dublin.

TACHINUS, Gravenhorst.

This genus contains about seventy species, which are almost entirely
confined to the temperate and northern portions of both the Old and
New Worlds; upwards of half the species are found in Europe, and a
large number occur in North America: Dr. Sharp has lately described
four species from Central America, all, however, from high altitudes, up
to 10,000 feet; one reputed species has also been described from Chili;
they oceur in dung, putrid fungi, dead leaves, moss, at sap, &c.; there
are thirteen or fourteen British species, two or three of which are
extremely common, but some of them are among our rarest insects: in all
probability the rare and curious 7. elongatus is rightly separated and
made a type of a distinct genus by Thomson, as it differs from the rest
in several important particulars; it appears, however, to be retained for
the present in its old position by most authorities. The sexual charac-
ters of the species of Tachinus are very peculiar, but are hard to describe ;
they are fully figured by Mulsant and Rey, Brévipennes, Tachyporiens,
Plate iii; the anterior tarsi are, as a rule, more or less dilated in the
male,

The larva of Tachinus rufipes is described and figured by Schiédte (De Metamor-
phosi Eleutheratorum, vii. p. 553, fig. xix. 1-9): it is long and almost linear,
very slightly narrowed in front and behind, the metathoracic segment being the
widest, and the last segment of abdomen (which is about the breadth of the head) the
narrowest ; the head is somewhat produced before antenne which are short, and is
considerably narrower than the prothorax ; the prothorax is about as broad as long,
nearly as long as the meso- and meta-thorax ; all the segments, with the exception of
the last, are rather strongly rounded both in front and behind, so that the inter-
sections are very evident; the last segment is subquadrate, and bears a short thick
anal appendage terminated by four warty prominences, and on each side of the anal
appendage two long jointed cerci, which are furnished with strong sete; these setx

are also strong and conspicuous on all the segments of the body; the colour of the
larva is white with all the scuta, which are large, fuscous, so that it really seems to

200 STAPHYLINIDE, [Tachinus,

be almost entirely of a fuscous colour ; the antenn, legs, and cerci are yellowish, and
all the sete black.

I. Last joint of maxillary palpi elongate, plainly longer
than penultimate; fourth joint of antennz plainly
shorter than fifth; hind body narrowed from base to
apex (Zachinus. i. sp.).
i. Antenne entirely black, at most base of two or three
basal joints lighter; elytra ferruginous brown, some-
times darker on disc; sides of thorax sometimes
lighter, sometimes concolorous with dise. . . . TT. FLAVIPES, F.
ii. Antenn@ black, or ferruginous red, with base
lighter.
1. Length 63-7 mm.; elytra bright red with
apical margin, and sometimes suture, darker . . T. RUFIPENNIS, Gyll.
2. Length 5-6 mm.; elytra shagreened between
punctures, duller.
A. Elytra ferruginous red, or black with base
more or less reddish testaceous.
a. Sides of thorax rather broadly lighter.
a*, Elytra nearly twice as long as thorax ;
anterior margin of thorax often (but not
always) lighter than disc.
a}. Penultimate joints of antenne longer;
elytra ferruginous red, more or less
infuscate . . . ° . TT. HUMERALIS, Grav,
b+. Penultimate joints of antenne shorter ; ;
elytra always dark with base only
reddish. . . T. Proximus, Kr,
b*. Elytra one and a ‘palf or one and one-third
times as long as thorax.
af. Elytra narrower plainly longer than
broad, with apical margin and a spot at
shoulder reddish yellow . . . . . . T. PALLIPES, Grav.
(frigidus, Er. ?)
bt. Elytra broader, subquadrate, with
apical margin often concolorous with
disc, and a rather large transverse space
at shoulder more or less obscurely reddish
yellow. . . - . T.scapuLanis, Steph.
b. Sides of thorax not, or obscurely lighter.
a*, Antenne entirely ferruginous red with
base lighter ; pe joints about as
long as broad. - . TT. BIPUSTULATUS, F,
b*. Antenne dark with base testaceons ; pe-
nultimate joints plainly longer than broad . TT. ruFipEs, De G@.
B. Elytra black with a large broad bright yellow
band stretching from apex near shoulders to
beyond middle, . . . T. SUBTERRANEUS, ZL.
3. Length 3-4 mm. ; elytra not shagreened between
punctures, more shining.
A. Be ie and thorax, except margins, black.
. Thorax as broad as elytra with mare dis-

reneely lighter. 2 . : T. MARGINELLUS, F.
b. Thorax broader than elytra with margins
obscurely lighter . . . » « « . « I. LATICOLLIS, Grav.

B. Elytra and thorax ferruginous rede 5. Soe aT COLLARIS, Grav,

Tachinus. | STAPHYLINIDE. 201

IJ. Last joint of maxillary palpi oblong, not or hardly
longer than penultimate ; fourth joint of antenne not
shorter than fifth; hind body parallel-sided; colour
entirely deep black; length 7-10 mm. Gee fie
Drymoporus, Thomson) Get . TT. ELona@AtUsS, Gyll.

T. flavipes, F. Black or ce ee shining, with the elytra
ferruginous brown, more or less darker on disc, not very convex, almost
smooth ; head finely and thickly punctured, mouth concolorous, antennee
as long as head and thorax together, entirely black, with base of first
joints often reddish, penultimate joints hardly transverse; thorax
transverse, hardly as broad behind as elytra, very finely and thickly
punctured, entirely black or occasionally with lateral and basal margins
testaceous ; scutellum with fine indistinct punctures ; elytra half as long
again as thorax ; hind body short, with a very long seta on sides of
segments 3-7; legs ferruginous brown or reddish, femora sometimes
darker. L. 5 mm.

Male with the seventh dorsal segment of hind body furnished with
four blunt lobes, the intermediate pair projecting beyond the others,
ventral segment broadly emarginate; female with the seventh dorsal
segment furnished with three lobes of equal length, long, and sharp, the
lateral spiniform, the central one forming a broad plate gradually and
sharply narrowed to apex.

In dung, decaying wood-frass, fungi, &e.; usually in wooded and hilly districts ;
not common; Bishops Wood (G. R. Waterhouse), in the wet sappy sawdust round
the stumps of felled oaks; Hampstead and Croydon (Shepherd); Wimbledon
(Power); Glanvilles Wootton; Devonshire, very rare; Sutton Park, Birmingham ;

Manchester district ; Northumberland district, banks of Irthing, very rare ; Scotland,
“in dung, rare,” Tweed, Solway, Tay, and Dee districts.

T. rufipennis, Gyll. A large and conspicuous species that cannot
be mistaken for any other; shining black with the elytra bricht red,
the apical margin and suture being more or less infuscate ; head finely
and thickly punctured, black, with mouth red, mandibles darker; antenne
as long as head and thorax united, with penultimate joints a little longer
in male than in female ; thorax transverse, considerably narrowed in
front, with sides moderately rounded, very finely punctured ; scutellum
sparingly punctured, pitchy red ; elytra a third as long again as thorax,
rather strongly and thickly punctured; hind body strongly narrowed
behind, almost as strongly punctured as elytra; legs pitehy or brownish
red, with tarsi lighter. L. 64-7 mm.

Seventh dorsal segment of hind body in male with a central lobe
furnished with obtuse short teeth, the lateral being blunter than the
others, in female with four narrow spiniform lobes or projections, of
which the lateral pair are much the longest, seventh ventral segment
in female with large narrow projecting lobes, which are visible from
above.

In dung, vegetable refuse, dead birds, &c.; also occasionally under bark, but this
is very probably accidental; very rare ; North Devon, Barnstaple (Saunders) ; Chiltern

202 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Tachinus.

Hills (Matthews); Kettlewell, Yorkshire (in dead grouse); Scotland, very rare,
‘Tay and Moray districts.

T. humeralis, Grav. Shining black with the margins of thorax,
and the elytra, ferruginous, the latter being often darker on dise; kead
finely and thickly punctured, black with mouth pitchy and palpi reddish ;.
antenne a little longer than head and thorax united, with penultimate
joints plainly longer than broad ; thorax strongly transverse, moderately
rounded at sides, narrowed considerably in front, and slightly before
base, with posterior angles obtuse and rounded, very finely and thickly
punctured ; scutellum pitehy brown or reddish, punctured ; elytra nearly
twice as long as thorax, very finely and thickly punctured; hind body
rather strongly narrowed behind, with a long seta on each side of the
fifth and sixth segments, finely and thickly punctured; legs red. L.
6-63 mm.

Male with the seventh dorsal segment of hind body furnished with
four blunt lobes, the intermediate pair projecting considerably beyond
the others, sixth ventral segment broadly emarginate, seventh strongly
excised and bifid; female with seventh dorsal segment furnished with
three lobes, the intermediate forming a broad plate narrowed to a blunt
point at apex, and the lateral narrow and bluntly spiniform.

In dung, putrid fungi, dead leaves, haystack refuse, &e.; common and generally
distributed.

YT. proximus, Kv. (7. humeralis, var. Er. and auct.). Very like the
preceding, but distinguished by its rather smaller size and slightly
shorter elytra, and by the latter being always dark on disc, even in
immature specimens; the antenne have the penultimate joints a little
shorter; the lobes of the hind body in female are much longer, and the
central one, instead of being short and somewhat blunt, is long and pro-
longed at apex in an elongate point. L. 53-6 mm.

In sheep’s droppings, and also in fungi; as arule in high and northern districts ;
Sutton Park, Birmingham (Blatch); Dunham Park, Manchester (Chappell) ;
Northumberland district ; Scotland, local, Highlands, Clyde, Tay, Dee, and Moray
districts

T. pallipes, Grav. Rather smaller than either of the two preceding,
and darker coloured; black with sides of thorax and apical margin
anda humeral patch on elytra reddish testaceous ; it is distinguished
from the preceding species hy the much shorter elytra; from the suc-
ceeding species it may be separated by having the sides of the thorax
rather broadly testaceous ; it very closely resembles the common 7.
rufipes, but may be distinguished from it, apart from the colour of the
thorax, by its shorter and rather stouter antenne and the more pro-
nounced yellow patch at the shoulders of elytra. L. 5 mm.

Male with seventh dorsal segment of hind body furnished with four
teeth, the intermediate projecting beyond the others which are blunter,
sixth ventral segment emarginate, seventh deeply excised ; female with
seventh dorsal segment with four spiniform projections, the intermediate

Tachinus. | STAPHYLINIDE. 203

ones very sharp and slender, and scarcely projecting beyond the lateral
ones.

In refuse, &c:3 not common; Northumberland district, rare, Gosforth and Bothal,
in fungi; Scotland, local, in vegetable refuse, Solway, Forth, Tay, Dee, and Moray
districts; it has been recorded once or twice from the more southern parts of
England, but it is so closely allied to other commoner species that it is possible there
may have been some mistake; it occurs in France, but is confined to alpine and sub-
alpine regions.

T. frigidus, Er. A single specimen of a Tachinus, taken by Dr.
Sharp at Strathglass, Inverness-shire, was doubtfully referred by him to
the T. frigidus of Evichson and Kraatz; the specimen is a female, and
differs from the female of J. pal/ipes in the seventh dorsal segment of
hind body having three lobes instead of four, and from that of Tv rufipes
in the central lobe being longer and more pronounced ; the testaceous
sides of the thorax also separate it from T. rwfipes : the specimen appears
to be intermediate between these two species, and to form a transition
from one to the other; in the catalogue of Heyden, Reitter, and Weise
T. frigidus is given as a synonym of T. pallipes.

T. scapularis, Steph. (palliolatus, Kr.). Rather broad, shining
black, with the margins of thorax and a broad basal patch at shoulder of
elytra more or less obscurely testaceous or reddish; punctuation very fine
and rather thick ; the species closely resembles 7’. pallipes, but is easily
distinguished by its broader and squarer and considerably shorter elytra,
which have the base more distinctly lighter, and the apex as a rule con-
colorous ; the sexual characters are much the same as in that species, but
the central lobes of the seventh segment of the male are stronger and
sharper, and the sixth segment in both the male and female is more
plainly sinuate ; immature specimens occur, in which the elytra are for
the most part reddish testaceous with the base more or less darkened,
and the apical margin of the segments of the hind body is more or less
testaceous. L.55 mm.

In dung-heaps, earcases, &c.; rare; Mickleham, Shirley, Dulwich, Kingston ;
Devonshire ; Robins Wood, Repton (W. Garneys).

T. bipustulatus, F. Shining black, with the base of elytra more
or less distinctly reddish testaceous, apex often concolorous, margins of
thorax scarcely lighter (except in immature specimens) ; it may be distin-
guished from all the other allied species by its entirely red antenne, which
are lighter at base, and from 7% scapularis and pallipes by having the
penultimate joints of the antennz shorter ; the hind body has the apex of
the segments plainly reddish-testaceous, and is very distinctly, although
finely punctured; in the male the seventh segment of hind body is
furnished with four distinct blunt lobes, the central projecting beyond
the lateral ones, the sixth ventral segment is broadly impressed in middle
and emarginate at apex, and the seventh ventral segment is deeply
excised; in the female the seventh dorsal segment is furnished with

204 STAPHYLINIDE. [Tachinus.

four lobes which are long, sharp, and spiniform, and of about equal
length ; in the male, however, of this, and apparently of other species, the
length of the lobes somewhat varies, and the two central lobes appear
sometimes almost to coalesce, and end in two blunt teeth which do not
project beyond the lateral lobes; the length of the female lobes also is
slightly variable. L. 5 mm.

At the exuding sap of Cossus-infected trees, also under bark; rare; Charlton and
Catford (Kent), Croydon, Putney, Forest Hill, Shirley, Belvedere, Addington, &e. ;
Robins Wood, Repton (W. Garneys) ; Scotland, very doubtful, recorded in Murray’s
catalogue as occurring at “ Raebills, near Edinburgh; Kinross-shire;’ but Dr.
Sharp is of opinion that another species is probably referred to; the habitat of the
insect is peculiar, and will in great measure serve to distinguish it.

T. rufipes, L. Shining black or pitchy black with an obscure
patch near shoulder of elytra, and the apical margin of the same reddish
testaceous ; head very finely and thickly punctured, antenne a little
longer than head and thorax united (longer, more slender, and with the
penultimate joints less short than in T. scapularis and 7. pallipes), joints
5-10 evidently longer than broad ; thorax transverse, narrowed in front,
very finely and thickly punctured, a little broader at “base than elytra,
with sides rather strongly rounded, black, with side margins concolo-
rous or scarcely visibly lighter, basal margin occasionally very narrowly
testaceous ; scutellum black, very finely punctured ; elytra about a third
longer than thorax, very finely and thickly punctured ; hind body rather
short, distinctly punctured, with a long seta at each side of the two last
segments ; legs red. L. 55 mm.

Male with the seventh dorsal segment of hind body furnished with
four lobes, of which the imtermediate pair project beyond the others,
sixth ventral segment broadly impressed in middle and emarginate on
apical border, seventh deeply excised ; female with seventh dorsal seg-
ment of hind body with a large central lobe which is strongly narrowed
and pointed at apex, and usually reaches slightly beyond the lateral lobes,
which are two in number and are strong and spiniform; the seventh
ventral segment is also furnished with blunt lobes (as in some of the
other species), which are visible from above, and must not be confounded
with the dorsal lobes.

Tn dung, moss, &e, ; abundant throughout the kingdom. A variety occurs rather
rarely in which the elytra are entirely ferruginous or dusky brownish-testaceous: I
have taken it near Burton-on-Trent, and Dr. Sharp has found it at Malvern and in

Scotland. The dark shining black thorax with concolorous sides will easily dis-
tinguish this very common species.

T. subterraneus, L. Easily distinguished from all the other
species by its colour, which is shining black with a large, broad, clearly
defined orange or reddish testaceous patch, reaching from apex near
shoulders to beyond middle; the sides.of the thorax and apex of segments
of hind body are often reddish-yellow; head and thorax very finely
punctured ; antenne as long as head and thorax united, dark, with the

Tachinus. | STAPHYLINID &. 205

first four joints pitchy or reddish, penultimate joints not transverse ;
elytra twice as long as thorax, finely and thickly punctured, with the
reticulation between the punctures distinct; hind body rather strongly
punctured, much narrowed behind ; legs dark pitchy red. L. 53-6 mm.

Male with the seventh dorsal segment of hind body with four blunt
lobes, the intermediate ones projecting beyond the others, sixth ventral
segment broadly and rather deeply excavate and emarginate and furnished
on each side with three-toothed lobes, seventh segment deeply excised
with a long recurved lobe on each side, very conspicuous from above,
and unless carefully examined, very likely to be mistaken for lobes pro-
ceeding from the dorsal segment; female with seventh dorsal segment
furnished with four lobes, the central short, the lateral very much longer
and stronger.

In haystack refuse, dung-heaps, &c. ; common and generally distributed throughout
the kingdom.

V. bicolor, Gravy. Resembles the type, but has the sides of thorax
broadly testaceous, and the elytra entirely testaceous with the suture
and apical margin black ; it appears to occur with the ordinary form.

T. marginellus, F. This and the two succeeding species are at
once distinguished from all the others by their much smaller size: 7.
collaris is easily known by the reddish thorax and elytra; 7. marginellus
and Jaticollis closely resemble in miniature 7’. pallipes and rujipes ; T.
marginellus is black, or pitch-black, shining, with the base and sides of
thorax, and the apex of elytra, and a band on the same near side margins
reaching from shoulder to apex, testaceous; the intra-marginal band is
always obscure in mature specimens; the punctuation of the upper surface
is fine and close ; the antenne are rather longer than the head and thorax
united, black with base red lish, penultimate joints not transverse; the
thorax j is not broader than elytra ; the elytra are half as long again as
thorax, finely and thickly punctured, and not shagreened between the
punctures; hind body short, with a long seta on each side of the two last
segments ; legs lighter or darker red. L. 33-4 mm.

“Male with | the. seventh dorsal segment of hind body furnished with
four teeth, the intermediate rather broader and more prolonged than the
lateral ones, sixth ventral segment sharply emarginate with a strong
impression before excision, and with the lobes of the excision truncate,
and pectinate, seventh segment deeply excised, with long, triangular,
sharp, somewhat recurved lobes; female with the seventh dorsal segment
furnished with four spiniform lobes, the intermediate being a little shorter.

In dung, decaying fungi, &e.; common and generally distributed throughout the
kingdom.

T. laticollis, Grav. Very like the preceding, but rather broader,
with the base of thorax a little wider than base of elytra ; the colour of
the sides of thorax, and apex and sides of elytra, is more obscure and less
pronounced ; the ely tra also are a little shorter and more convex; the

206 STAPHYLINID ©. [ Tachinus.

intermediate lobes of the seventh segment of hind body are more slender
and more widely separated in both sexes, and the emargination of the
seventh ventral segment of male is circular instead of being angular.
L. 33-4 mm.

In dung, moss, decaying fungi, &c.; local and not common in England; Purley
Downs, Bishops Wood, Eltham, Wimbledon, Tonbridge; Hastings; Lee Valley,
North Devon (Power); Sutton Park, Birmingham; Manchester; Northumberland
district ; Scotland, common, Solway, ‘weed, Forth, Tay, and Dee districts ; Ireland,
Armagh.

T. collaris, Grav. Pitch-black with the thorax and elytra reddish,
with dise of each often more or less darkened; punctuation fine and
close except of elytra, which is rather strong, although close ; head dark,
with palpi pitchy; antenne a little longer than head and thorax united,
red, sometimes a little darker towards apex, penultimate joints not trans-
verse ; thorax transverse, narrowed in front, a little broader behind than
elytra; elytra subquadrate, not very much longer than thorax ; hind
body short, strongly narrowed behind, black, with apex of segments
pitchy red, without long sete at sides of segments ; legs red or reddish
testaceous. L. 3-3} mm.

Male with the seventh dorsal segment of hind body furnished with four
rather short, blunt teeth, the central pair prolonged beyond the others,
sixth ventral segment angularly emarginate in middle of apical border,
seventh strongly excised, with the lobes of the excision triangular ; female
with the seventh dorsal segment furnished with four long, narrow teeth
of about equal length, seventh ventral segment with blunt teeth or
lobes.

Under stones and old bark, in moss, fungi, &e.; local; rather common in flood
refuse at Repton, Burton-on-Trent, but I know of no locality further south ; Lincoln,

common in flood refuse; York; Manchester; Northumberland district; Scotland,
common in Lowland districts throughout the greater part of the country.

T. elongatus, Gyll. (intricatus, Sahlb., Drymoporus elongatus,
Thoms.). A large and conspicuous species, entirely deep black ; head
and thorax very finely shagreened, and very finely and rather sparingly
punctured, appearing almost smooth ; antenne as long as head and thorax
united, entirely ferruginous, or dusky with base and apex lighter,
penultimate joints as long as broad, or slightly transverse; thorax
narrowed in front, slightly broader at base than elytra; elytra about
a third longer than thorax, rather strongly punctured in irregular rows ;
hind body long, parallel-sided until near apex, with punctuation more
evident at sides than on disc, margins of segments sometimes pitchy ;
legs lighter or darker pitchy red. L. 7-10 mm.

Male with the seventh dorsal segment of hind body furnished with
four blunt teeth, the intermediate pair prolonged beyond the others,
sixth ventral segment broadly emarginate with the lateral lobes some-
what angular, seventh segment deeply excised with the lateral lobes
strong, elongate, and acuminate and curved inwards at apex; seventh

Tachinus. | STAPHYLINID.. 207

dorsal segment in female with four long lobes, the interior pair more
slender and sharper.

In dung, moss, &e.; Sheerness, Shirley, Leith Hill, West Wickham, Reigate,
Addington ; Seal Wood, Staffordshire (J. T. Harris); Lincoln; Northumberland
district, banks of Wooler Water and Irthing, Gibside, &¢.; Scotland, Lowlands
and Highlands, rare, but widely distributed as far north as the Moray district ;
Treland, Chapelizod Glen, near Dublin. Mr. Gorham has lately (June, 1887) taken a
specimen in the New Forest with reddish brown elytra.

MEGACRONUWS, Thomson.

There is considerable confusion with regard to this genus, Bryoporus,
Bolitobius, and Mycetoporus ; Dr. Sharp (Biol. Cent. Am. Staphylinide,
p- 317) considers that the union of Bryoporus with’ the Megacronus
division of Bolitolius, while the other two genera are treated as distinct,
offers a satisfactory solution of the difficulty ; it seems, however, prefer-
able to keep Bryoporus distinct from Megacronus, the maxillary palpi in
the former having the last joint evidently narrower at base than the
apex’ of the penultimate, whereas in the latter they are shorter and
thicker, and have the last joint as broad at base as the apex of
penultimate ; in some points the relation is closer between Bryoporus
and Bolitobius; there are about a dozen known species of JLega-
cronus, Which have much the same distribution as Bolitohius; there are
three British species, and one which is doubtfully indigenous ; they are
large, conspicuous, and brightly coloured insects ; all our species belong
to the sub-genus Bryocharis, Lac., which is distinguished from Mega-
eronus proper by having the first joint of the intermediate and posterior
tibiee spinose, as well as pubescent, beneath.

I, Elytra with three rows of punctures, smooth and
glabrous between the punctures; thorax black.
i. Length 7-8 mm.; last joint of antenna bright
VOUOWeIe MCN) oni fl Wns) vei ssp. MUCINGULATUS, Dann.
ii. Length 6-6} mm.; last joint of antenne ferru-
ginous brown or dusky-yellowish . . . . 2...
II. Elytra strongly punctured, and evidently pubescent.
i. Elytra rather thickly punctured, longer than thorax. M. INctInaNns, Grav.
ii, Elytra sparingly punctured, as long as thorax. . . M. ForMosus, Grav.

M. anauis, Payk,

MM. cingulatus, Mann. Shining black, with the elytra and last two
or three segments of abdomen red, the colouring being very bright ; head
subovate, mouth parts testaceous; antenne black with the base, and at
least the whole apical joint bright yellow, longer than the head and thorax
united ; penultimate joints gradually shorter, the tenth being transverse,
last joint oval and a little longer than the penultimate in female, sub-
cylindrical, and longer than the two preceding in male ; thorax strongly
narrowed in front, with posterior angles very obtuse ; elytra subquadrate,
about a quarter longer than thorax, smooth, with three longitudinal rows
of setigerous punctures set rather far apart, and often not conspicuous ;
hind body long, narrowed gradually from base to apex, covered with

208 STAPHYLINID &. [ Megacronus.

long, sparing, greyish pubescence, strongly and sparingly punctured, with
basal segments and apex of the others smoother; legs reddish testaceous
with coxe blackish. L. 7-8 mm.

Male with the sixth ventral segment with a small, smooth, triangular
impyession, seventh longitudinally furrowed in middle, and angularly
prolonged in centre of apical margin, first three joints of anterior tarsi
strongly dilated.

In moss, dead leaves, &e.; also by sweeping; rare, but rather widely distributed ;
Caterham, Bexley (Kent), Strood, Weybridge, Bishops Wood, Chobham, Dalwich,
Hampstead; The Holt (tarabaca)|: Hastings; Glanvilles Wootton; Barnstaple ;
Sutton Park, Birmingham; Cannock Chase; Buddon Wood (Leicestershire) ;
Repton; Sherwood Forest; Scarborough; Liverpool; Northumberland district,
vare, Gosforth Woods and near Gilsland ; Scotland; rare, Forth, Solway, Tay, and
Clyde districts; Ireland, Rathkurby,

™M. analis, F. (castaneus, Steph.). Resembles the preceding very
closely in form and colour, but is smaller and the red colour is not quite
so bright ; the last joint of the antenne is .usually brownish or dusky
yellow, and is always darker than in M,. cingulatus, and the fourth and
fifth joints are shorter; the punctures are usually more numerous in the
sutural and marginal series of elytra; the three basal segments of the
hind body (which are slightly impressed at base in the preceding species)
are quite even; sometimes it is rather difficult to distinguish certain
examples by the description, but any collector who takes a specimen of
M. cingulatus cannot fail to distinguish it at first sight from J. analis.
L. 6-65 mm. A

Male with sixth ventral segment slightly sinuate in middle of apical
margin, seventh furrowed and. prolonged, first three joints of anterior tarsi
moderately dilated.

In moss, dead leaves, &c. ; common and generally distributed throughout the southern

and midland parts of England, and generally distributed in the north; Scotland, not
common, but widely distributed.

IM. inclinans, Grav. About the size of ordinary examples of J.
cingulatus or slightly smaller, but at once distinguished from either of
the two preceding by its colour, which is testaceous red with the head,
breast, and hind body black, the apex of the latter, as well as the hind
margin of apical segments being reddish ; in form it much resembles the
preceding; the elytra are about a third longer than thorax, with distinct,
but not close, pubescence, and strongly and rather thickly punctured ;
the hind body is strongly and sparingly. punctured ; the antenne and
legs are reddish testaceous, the former being usually dusky in the middle.
L. 63-73 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment narrowly incised at apex ;
anterior tarsi with two joints strongly dilated, intermediate tarsi with
first joint dilated beneath, and curved, intermediate tibie triangularly
thickened towards base with strong terminal spines.

In moss, dead leaves, under faggots, &c.; occasionally in bottoms of haystacks;
rare; Reigate, Coombe Wood, Birch Wood, Bishops Wood (Highgate), Dulwich,

Megacronus. | STAPHYLINID.X. 209

Sevenoaks, Hainault Borest Devonshire; Bewdley Forest; Bretby Wood, near
Repton ; Scarborough ; Eastham, near Liverpool; Drinkwater Park and other localities,
Manchester ; Scotland, very rare, Tweed, Forth, and Tay districts.

M. formosus, Gray. This species differs from the preceding in
being smaller and narrower, and with the elytra somewhat shorter and
less closely punctured; the insect is winged, whereas MV. tvelinans 1s
apterous ; in the male the seventh ventral segment is subtruncate on apical
margin with a small central angular emargination which is partly filled
with membrane. L. 53-6 mm.

Very rare and somewhat doubtful as British; Stephens (III. Mand. v. 168) says,
“Taken near Swansea, and I believe within the metropolitan district,’ and Bold
(Catalogue of Insects of Northumberland and Durham, p. 34) has the record, “ Rare.
One specimen taken in a quarry near Fugar Bar, Mr. J. Hardy, November ;” he
appears, however, to be somewhat doubtful of the species; no other records are known,
and the species does not occur in France or the Netherlands.

BRYOPORUS, [Kaaatz.

Of this genus there are about as many species at present known as in
the preceding, and their distribution is similar; the three British species
are among our rarest indigenous insects.

I. Thorax smooth or almost smooth ; size smaller.
i. Elytra rugosely striate or punctate between the series ;

fourth joint of antenne oblong. . . . B. RUGIPENNIS, Pand.
ii, Elytra smooth between the series ; colour lighter ; - ‘fourth
joint of antenne not longer than ‘broad . . . . . B.castaneEus, Hardy.

II. Thorax very finely and ‘rather thickly punctured ; size
Doro crememed lente el Vetiomicii ie! o) wewten ae) (en 1: Ds CERNUUS,, Grav:

B. rugipennis, Pand. Fusiform, not convex, shining black, with
the thorax and elytra dark red, the formes usually darker on dise, and the
apical margin of the segments of hind body reddish testaceous ; head short

oval, almost smooth, shining black, with mouth parts testi aceous ; antennze
as long as head and thorax united, somewhat thickened towards apex,
dark, with the first two or three joints reddish testaceous, ‘penultimate joints
plainly transverse ; thorax transverse, strongly narrowed in front, with
posterior angles rounded ; elytra evidently longer than thorax, with three
longitudinal series of rather large setigerous punctures on each, the space
between being more or less distinctly rugosely striate or punctate, the
marginal series consisting of 6-8 punctures, and the other two of 4-6;
hind body somewhat oblong, not strongly narrowed behind, very sparingly
pubescent, and rather strongly and diffusely punctured, with apical por-
tion of segments smooth; legs reddish testaceous, with coxe, and
sometimes base of posterior femora. darker. L. 4 mm.

The sexual differences are very slight.

In moss, &c., in mountainous districts ; very rare; Scotland, Tay, Dee, and Mor ay
districts (Braemar, Aviemore, Rannoch (on Grayvel), &e.); on the Continent it has
been found on the Alps, Pyrences, Mount Pilatus (Switzerland), &e.

VOL. Il. : P

210 STAPHYLINIDE [ Bryoporus.

B. castaneus, Hardy and Bold (Hardyi, Crotch). This species
differs from the preceding in its brighter red colour, and shorter and
thicker antenne, of which the fourth joint is evidently shorter and
thicker, and the following are more strongly transverse ; the chief dis-
tinction, however, lies in the fact that the elytra have the spaces between
the series of punctures smooth and not rugosely striate. L. 35 mm.

Tn moss, boleti, &e., in mountainous districts; very rare; Northumberland district,
one specimen taken at Long Benton (Hardy and Bold); neighbourhood of Hartlepool,
several specimens (J. Gardner) ; Scotland, Tweed district, “ Girrick, R. Hislop; ” on
the Continent it occurs in summer on the High Pyrenees.

B. cernuus, Grav. This species is larger than either of the preceding ;
it is of a shining black colour, with the elytra and the apical margins of
the segments of hind body red; head short oval, black, with mouth
organs testaceous ; antenne as long as head and thorax united, feebly
thickened towards apex, dark, with the three first joints testaceous, with
the penultimate joints subquadrate in the male and slightly transverse in
female; thorax narrowed in front, with posterior angles obtuse and
rounded, very finely and thickly, but irregularly, punctured ; elytra a
third longer than thorax, smooth, with three longitudinal series of 5-10
punctures, and two more or less obscure series between them each con-
sisting of 4-6 punctures; hind body clothed witb rather long and sparing
pubescence, strongly and diffusely punctured; legs reddish testaceous,
with posterior cox dark, L. 45 mm.

In moss, &e. ; very rare; recorded by Stephens as “ found near London and in the
New Forest ;” also mentioned by Haliday as from near Belfast. I know of no recent

captures ; it occurs in several parts of France in both forest and mountainous localities ,
under moss, refuse, &e.

BOLITOBIUS, Stephens.

This genus comprises at present about fifty or sixty speeies, which are
chiefly found in the northern and north temperate regions of the northern
hemisphere ; species, however, have been recorded from Central America,
Rio de Janeiro, the Antilles, and Ceylon; there are four British species,
one of which is a very distinct and conspicuous insect, but the other
three are somewhat closely allied, and require a little care to distinguish
them ; they live in fungi, and are, with the exception of B. evoletus, very
common ; this latter species is rather local.

I, Head very long, plainly longer than broad; elytra black with
apical margin and a clearly defined lunulate patch at base,
testaceoust i. be) o> chen ww rel SP ect astulel egmeenats) seh eS Se DUN TPA TES gee ze
(atricapillus, F.).
II. Head hardly longer than broad; elytra testaceous with
darker markings.
i. Penultimate joints of antenne not transverse ; size larger ;
dorsal series of elytra consisting of 8-12 punctures.
1. Base of thorax very finely bordered ; elytra testaceous,
with a patch at scutellum and at apical external
angles black . . . - «++ - +--+. - . B. TRINOTATUS, Er.

Bolitobius. | STAPHYLINID. Ala

2. Base of thorax not bordered; elytra testaceous, with
a patch at apical external angles only black . . . 3B. ExoLetus, Lr.
ii, Penultimate joints of antenna moderately transverse ;
size smaller; dorsal series of elytra consisting of only 3-6
PUDCHORCSIME Nels ee 3 | CU 6 PYGMAUS, J.

B. lunulatus, L. (africapillus, F.). Elongate and fusiform, shin-
ing testaceous red, with the head and chest black, and the elytra and
sixth and seventh ‘segments of the hind body also black except the apical
margin and a large lunulate basal spot on each of the former, and the
apical portion of ‘the sixth segment of hind body, which are light testa-
ceous ; head long, black, with mouth parts testaceous ; antenne about as
long as head and eee united, black, with the first four joints and the
apical joint yellow testaceous, penultimate joints about as broad as long;
thorax impunctate, shining, strongly narrowed in front; elytra a little
longer than thorax, smooth, with three series of large punctures (6-8 in
each) ; hind body with long and sparse pubescence, ‘rather strongly, but
very diffusely punctured, with the basal segments almost smooth ; legs
clear pad eO US, with intermediate and posterior coxe black, lighter at
apex. L. 5-5} mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body smooth in the
centre, rather thickly punctured at sides, female with the same segment
very sparingly and uniformly punctured.

In fungi; common and generally distributed throughout the kingdom.

B. trinotatus, Er. (timaculatus, Lac.). Testaceous, with the head,
breast, scutellary region of elytra and a patch at apical external angles
black, dise of thorax often more or less infuscate ; hind body red lish or
fuscous red, with the base of the fifth segment more or less broadly
darker ; head much shorter than in the preceding species, black with
mouth organs testaceous ; antennze as long as head and thorax united,
brownish, or ferruginous with the four or five basal joints lighter, penul-
timate joints plainly longer than broad ; thorax not so strongly narrowed
in front as in the preceding species, ese finely bordered ; elytra consider-
ably longer than thorax, smooth, with three longitudinal series of large
setigerous punctures on each, consisting of 8-12 punctures ; hind | roy
short, strongly narrowed behind, rather ‘strongly and very spi aringly punc-
tured, basal segments nearly smooth ; legs testaceous. | L. 44-5 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly impressed
longitudinally, with a somewhat obsolete keel before i inipression.

In fungi; common and generally distributed throughout the kingdom.

B. exoletus, Er. (angularis, Steph.). Very like the preceding, but
distinguished by its small size, narrower form, and rather shorter head,
and by the absence of the scutellary dark patch on elytra; the colour
of the hind body is, as a rule, lighter, and the apex is rather sharply
darker; the male has the sixth ventral segment of hind body depressed

and smoother towards apex, the apex being slightly emarginate ; the
P 2

212 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Bolitobius.

colour of the elytra must not be altogether relied on, as specimens of B.
trinotatus occur in which the scutellary patch is obsolete or wanting. L.
33-4 mm,

In fungi; local; London district, not uncommon; Hastings and other southern

localities; Midland counties, generally distributed ; Manchester; Northumberland
district ; Scotland, scarce, Solway, Tweed, Forth, and Dee districts.

B. pygmeus, F. (distigma, Fairm., v. biguttatus, Steph.). Very
like the preceding, but smaller, and distinguished from both it and B.
trinotatus by having the penultimate joints of the antennz transverse,
and by the dorsal series of elytra consisting of only 4-6 punctures; the
colour is somewhat variable, the thorax being usually darker on disc, and
the elytra having the scutellary region, and a larger or smaller patch at
apical-external angles black ; sometimes the scutellary patch is absent,
and sometimes specimens occur in which the elytra are chiefly black with
a small space on each side testaceous ; oecasionally the upper surface is
entirely testaceous with the head and hind body darker ; the hind body
is, as a rule, dark, with the apex of segments lighter. L. 21-3 mm.

Male with the sixth ventral segment smooth in centre, seventh tuber-
culate on middle of base, and longitudinally impressed, with the
impression smooth.

In fungi ; generally distributed and common throughout the kingdom.

MYCETOPORUS, Mannerheim.

The species belonging to this genus are easily distinguished from those
of the preceding genera by the small or very small last joint of the
maxillary palpi, which is much shorter and narrower than the penultimate,
and is slender and subulate ; the species vary very much in size ; for
instance, among the British species there are some which in size and
general appearance resemble ordinary examples of Bryoporus, while others
are not larger than species of Tachyporus, from which, however, they
may be easily distinguished by their much narrower form, and more
strongly and evenly fusiform appearance; there are at present about
fifty described species : these are almost entirely confined to the temperate
and colder regions of the northern hemisphere, and to the Canaries and
other adjacent Atlantic islands ; one species, however, has been described
from the East Indies, and one from Central America ; the latter is found
at a height of from 4000 to 6000 feet ; it is worthy of notice, in passing,
that many of the species of the northern genera of Tachyporine which
are found in Central America occur at very high altitudes ; at one time
they were probably spread over the whole district, but, as the climate
altered, representatives of the genera that were forced to retreat before
the heat sought higher and cooler localities, and have there perpetuated
themselves down to the present time.

Tt seems very probable that the sub-genus Jschnosoma, Thoms. (con-
taining JL splendidus and v. longicornis), will have eventually to be

Mycetoporus. | STAPHYLINIDE.

separated from A/ycetoporus; at present, however, it appears to be

retained under the latter genus by most authorities.

I. Antenne comparatively short; fifth joint of posterior
tarsi longer than fourth; first joint of intermediate
and posterior tarsi nearly equal in length to the
three following united.

i, Third joint of antenne evidently longer than
second ; size larger.

1. Thorax w ithont. accessory punctures at sides of
disc.

A. Upper surface pitechy or pitchy red, with
strong bluish iridescent ages head
darker . .

B. Upper surface shining ‘black or - piteb- black
with bright red ely tr: ‘a, not iridescent . .

2. Thorax with two or three accessory punctures
at sides of disc besides the usual punctures
hear margins.

A. Upper surface of a dull but distinct red colour
with head and hind body darker, with a
slight bluish iridescent reflection on hinder
parts; form larger and broader and more
MARGIN So 85 DO) Mo wol oc

B. Upper surface not iridescent ; form narrower
and more parallel.

a. Antenne with fourth joint subquadrate ;
upper surface entirely pitchy, or brownish
red, sometimes castaneous, with head and
hind body darker. . . . . -

b. Antenne with fourth joint longer than
broad, upper surface black or pitchy -black
with ely tra bright red . .

ii. Third joint of antenne not or scar cely longer than
second ; size smaller; thorax without accessory
punctures,

1. Elytra with an accessory series of at least three
punctures between the sutural and second rows
of punctures.

A. Elytra with accessory series consisting of
three or four panctures; size smaller

B. Elytra with accessory series consisting of
eight or nine punctures. . . c

2. Elytra without accessory series between the
sutural and second rows of punctures.

A. Upper surface black, with humeral angles
and hind margin of elytra testaceous ;
antenne slender . . °

B. Upper surface dark with thorax, elytra, and
sometimes head, bright red; antenne
strongly thickened ..

II. Antenne very long, reaching considerably beyond
base of thorax; fifth joint of intermediate tarsi
not longer than ‘fourth ; ; first joint of intermediate
and posterior tarsi equal in length to the two
following united.

i. Intermediate series of elytra consisting of 5-7

punctures; form narrower ; antenna more slender,

M. Lucipvs, Er.

M. sPLENDENS, Marsh.

M. punctivs, Gyll.

M. Leripus, Grav.

M. toneuxius, Mann.

M. nanus, Er.

M. monticota, Fowler.

M. ancuLanis, Rey,

M. ciavicornis, Steph.

214 STAPHYLINIDE. [ ALycetoporus.

less thickened towards apex ; base of segments of

apne body more thickly punctured .. . . M. SPLENDIDUS, Grav.

. Intermediate series of elytra consisting of 7 12

Y sancteie ; form broader; antenne setae more

thickened towards apex ; base of segments of hind

body more finely and sparingly punctured . . . M. Lonercornis, Kraatz.

M. lucidus, Er. Pitchy red, or pitchy brown, shining, with a strong
bluish iridescent reflection especially on the hinder parts, rather broad in
the middle and narrowed in front and behind; head black or almost black
rather longer than broad, antennz moderately iong, slightly thickened
towards apex, obscurely ferruginous with base lighter, penultimate joimts
transverse ; thorax narrowed in front, almost as broad behind as the elytra,
with some ‘large setigerous pores on margin, two in front being placed at
some distance from the margin; there are, however, no accessory punc-
tures on the sides of dise ; ely tra about a third longer than thorax, with
three longitudinal series of punctures (consisting of 12-15 in each row)
and two accessory series of 7-9 punctures between the sutural and intra-
humeral series ; there is also an extra confused series before the marginal
one, so that each elytron appears to be furnished with six series ; hind
body gradually narrowed behind, rather strongly and sparingly punctured,
with second segment (the first apparent) smooth; legs testaceous, with
posterior cox dark. L. 5-52 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly rounded
at apex, female with the same segment evidently rounded.

Jn moss, dead leaves, &e.; local, and asa rule not common; London district, not
uncommon, Bexley, Maidstone, Shirley, Caterham, Esher, Coombe Wood, West Wick-
ham, Croydon, Hainault, Highgate, &e.; New Forest; Llangollen; Repton, Burton-
on-Trent; Liverpool; Scotland, rare, Tweed, Tay, Dee, and Moray districts.

M. splendens, Marsh (splendidus, Duv. nee Grav., australis, Rey,
confinis, Rey). Shining black or pitchy black, with the elytra bright red,
and the apex of segments of elytra and sometimes side and basal margins
of thorax reddish testaceous ; it is narrower and a little less fusiform
than the preceding species, and has no iridescent reflection ; head slightly
broader than long, antenne dark with base lighter, penultimate joints
strongly transverse ; thorax much as in the preceding except that it is
not so much narrowed in front; the front marginal punctures are situated
nearer the margin ; elytra a little longer than thorax, with three longitu-
dinal series of rather large setigerous punctures, the sutural containing
4.6, the intra-humeral 4-9, and the marginal a larger number of finer
punctures ; there is no accessory stria; hind body rather strongly and
sparingly punctured, with apex of segments and central portion of second
segment smooth ; legs red or reddish testaceous, with the posterior cox
and trochanters often, and femora sometimes, darker. L. 42-5 mm.

Male with the sixth ventral segment of hind body keeled and angularly
prolonged at apex, seventh segment slightly rounded ; female with the
sixth segment scarcely prolonged, seventh evidently rounded,

In moss, dead leaves, Ke., also under refuse ; often found running on pavements, on

Mycetoporus. | STAPHYLINIDE. 215

palings, by sweeping, &c.; local, but sometimes plentiful; London district, not
uncommon and very generally distributed ; Isle of Wight; Devonshire; Repton ;
Wallasey, near Liverpool; Northumberland district, rare ; not recorded from Scot-
land.

M. punctus, Gyl]. In shape and general.appearance much resem-
bling M. lucidus ; it is, however, a little broader, as a rule, in the middle;
the colour is more or less brightly red, with the head and the base of the
segments of hind body more or less broadly dark ; the elytra are some-
times dusky towards apex and at sides; the hinder parts have a distinct
bluish iridescent reflection, which is not, however, so strong as in M.
lucidus ; head about as long as broad, antenne brownish with the base,
and usually the apical joint, lighter, penultimate joints transverse ; thorax
strongly narrowed in front with the usual punctures on margin, and two
distinct accessory ones on sides of disc, placed longitudinally; elytra a
third longer than thorax, with three series of punctures (consisting of
6-7, 8-10, and 10-12 punctures respectively, beginning from the sutural
series), with an accessory series which appears to be very variable between
the first two; hind body rather strongly and sparingly punctured,
smoother on centre of second segment ; legs reddish, with the posterior
eoxe, and sometimes the trochanters and femora, dark. L. 43-5 mm.

The sexual characters do not appear to present any marked peculiarity.

In dead leaves, &c., also by sweeping; rare; Croydon, Leith Hill, Forest Hill,
Wimbledon, Mickleham, Shirley, Reigate, Chobham, Sanderstead, Purley Downs, &c. ;
Repton, Burton-on-Trent ; Sherwood Forest, by sweeping, also out of faggots ; Scotland,
rare, Tweed, Forth, and Clyde districts.

M. lepidus, Grav. (brunneus, Marsh, umeratis, Mots.). Much
narrower, less fusiform, and more parallel-sided than any of the preced-
ing ; very variable in colour, sometimes being entirely pitch-black, at other
times having the elytra of an obscure red colour, and at others entirely
reddish-brown with the elytra lighter ; head abont as long as broad,
antenne dark, or ferruginous testaceous, with base lighter ; fourth joint
subquadrate, penultimate joints transverse; thorax not so strongly
narrowed in front as in some of the other species, with the usual punc-
tures near margin, of which the apical ones are placed near the margin,
and two or three accessory punctures at sides of disc; elytra a third
longer than thorax, with three series of setigerous punctures (consisting
of 6-8, 6-8, and 8-10, respectively), without accessory series, but occasion-
ally with one or two punctures between rows ; hind body rather strongly
and sparingly punctured ; legs lighter or darker testaceous or pitchy red.
L. 32-4 mm. ;

The sexual characters offer no peculiarity, the female only having the
seventh ventral segment of hind body more evidently rounded at apex
than the male.

In moss, flood refuse, &c., and at roots of grass in marshy places; rather common

and widely distributed throughout the country from the southern counties to the
extreme north of Scotland.

216 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Mycetoporus.

M. longulus, Mann. Very like the preceding, of which it is probably
only a constant variety ; in fact by many authorities it is so considered ;
it is shining black or pitchy black with the elytra bright red and the
apex of the segments of hind body and sometimes side and basal margins
of thorax testaceous ; it is larger than M. /ep¢dus, and has the fourth and
fifth joints of the antennz longer; in colour and general appearance it
closely resembles JL. splendens, but it is narrower and more paralled-sided,
and may be at once distinguished by the presence of accessory punctures
on the sides of the disc of thorax. L. 4-42 mm.

In inoss, dead leaves, &c. ; generally distributed in England, but not so common as
the preceding ; London district, not uncommon ; Hastings ; New Forest; Llangollen ;
Midland district, widely distributed ; Lincoln (on pavements) ; Mablethorpe, Lincoln-
shire, under sea-weed and refuse on shore; Scarborough ; Liverpool ; Manchester ;
Northumberland district, rare ; Scotland, not common, Solway, Forth, Tweed, and Dee
districts.

M. nanus, [r. (nec Gray.). A small, fusiform species, somewhat
variable in colour, but as a rule, when fully mature, shining pitchy black
with the apical margin of elytra and the hind margins of the segments of
hind body more or less distinctly lighter; the elytra, however, are often
entirely reddish, and sometimes the thorax, and occasionally examples
occur that are altogether rufo-testaceous ; the head is slightly longer than
broad, narrowed in front ; antenne moderate, dark, with base lighter,
second and third joints of about equal length, penultimate joints trans-
verse ; thorax at least as long as broad, narrowed in front, with marginal
punctures ; elytvaa little longer than thorax with three series of punctures
somewhat variable in number, and an accessory row of three or four
punctures between the sutural series and the following ; hind body rather
finely and sparingly punctured with the apex of segments smooth, and
also the centre of the second segment ; legs pitchy, more or less reddish,
tarsi usually lighter. L. 3 mm.

The sexual differences are much as in the preceding.

In moss, &e, ; local and usually rare ; Chatham, Caterham, Croydon (in which latter
locality it was first discovered in Britain by Dr. Power), Warlingham; Cheshire ;
Liverpool ; Hartlepool (abundant); Northumberland district; Scotland, rare, Forth,
Tey, and Clyde districts,

M. monticola, Fowler. Very like M. nanus, but rather larger and
longer with the antenne distinctly stouter, and more lightly coloured,
and the thorax somewhat more narrowed in front ; the elytra are furnished
with a distinct accessory series of punctures between the sutural and
second rows, which consists of from seven to nine or ten punctures,
instead of three or four as in J. nanus ; the specimens that have been
taken appear to vary in colour from shining pitchy black to bright rufo-
testaceous ; the hind body is a little more coarsely punctured and its
apex is lighter than in the preceding species. L. 3-3} mm.

Rare; taken by Dr. Sharp on the top of Cheviot, and also on a mountain near
Strath-cannich, Inverness-shire.

Mycetoporus. | STAPHYLINID. 217

This species was first introduced as M. tenis, Rey, by Dr. Sharp,
but he afterwards queried it as a new species ; it does not agree with the
description of M. tenuis, as that species appears to be distinctly smaller,
and has the accessory series of pores consisting of a less number than in
M. nanus.

M. angularis, Rey (niger, Baudi, Rey’, Pand.). Rather smaller
than I. nanus, dark pitchy black, shining, with the posterior margins
ef thorax and elytra, and a more or less distinct humeral patch on each
of the latter, testaceous; head rather short ; antenne plainly thickened
towards apex, dark with base testaceous, third joint rather more slender
than, but about as long as second, penultimate joints strongly transverse ;
thorax nearly as long as broad at base, black with hind margin, and
sometimes side and apical margins, less plainly, testaceous, with the usual
marginal punctures, but without accessory punctures on sides of disc ;
elytra a little longer than thorax, with three series of punctures (varying
from eight to ten in each series), but with no accessory row (a point
which will separate dark specimens from doubtful M. nanzs); hind body
finely and sparingly punctured, more thickly on the sides of the first
segments; legs testaceous, sometimes reddish, with the posterior coxe,
and sometimes the posterior femora, darker. L. 22-3 mm.

Sexual differences slight, the female, as in several other species, having
the apex of seventh ventral segment more rounded than it is in the
male.

In moss, dead leaves, &c.; not common; Birch Wood, Chobham, Reigate, Esher,

Wimbledon, Caterham, Forest Hill, Coombe Wood, Weybridge ; Southwold, Suffolk ;
Dover ; Snowdon ; Cheshire ; Scotland, rare, Tweed, Dee, and Moray districts.

M. clavicornis, Steph. (pronus, Ev., brevicornis, Matth.). A very
distinct species which may at once be recognized by its short clavate
antenne as well as by its colour, which is bright reddish testaceous, with
the head more or less dark, and the base of the segments of hind body
more or less broadly pitehy-red or brownish ; the antenne are evidently
shorter than head and thorax united, strongly thickened, brownish, with
base testaceous, third joint a little narrower, but not longer than second,
the following joints gradually thicker, 4-5 rather strongly, 6-7 strongly,
and 8-9 very strongly, transverse ; thorax with the usual marginal pores,
but with no accessory punctures ; elytra about as long as, ora little longer
than, thorax, with three series of setigerous punctures, but without
accessory series; hind body rather strongly and sparingly punctured, with
apex of segments smooth ; legs testaceous red, with posterior cox dark,
L. 22 mm.

In moss, dead leaves, &e.; occasionally by evening sweeping; local; London
district, not uncommon ; Hastings; New Forest; Dean Forest; Bewdley Forest ;
Coleshill, near Birmingham; Sbrewsbury; Repton, Burton-on-Trent (in flood
refuse) ; Manchester; Scotland, rare, Solway, Tweed, and Moray districts.

V. forticornis, Fauv. This variety, regarded by Rey and others as

218 STAPHYLINIDA, | Wycetoporus.

a separate species, is rather larger than the type form, and has the head
entirely testaceous-red (in the type form it is always more or less infus-
cate) ; the fourth and fifth joints of the antenne are also said to be a
little longer, and the hind body is a little less strongly punctured.
L. vix 3 mm.

There is a specimen of what appears to be this variety in Dr. Sharp’s
collection, from Inverness-shire ; the colour of the head, however,
appears to be a misleading character, and even the colour of the elytra
occasionally varies; I have a specimen taken by myself at Repton in
which each elytron has a large dusky spot on disc.

M. splendidus, Gv. Long and slender, somewhat fusiform,
shining reddish testaceous, with the vertex of head, base of elytra, chest,
and hind body, except margins of segments, more or less obscurely dark ;
head longer than broad, antennee long and slender, only slightly
thickened towards apex; reddish, with the first joint testaceous, third
joint evidently longer than second, penultimate joints evidently longer
than broad ; thorax narrowed in front, narrower at base than elytra, with
the usual marginal pores ; elytra about a third longer than thorax, with
three series of setigerous pores on each, the sutural and intra-humeral
consisting of 5-7 punctures, without accessory series ; hind body strongly
pubescent, rather thickly punctured at the base of the segments ; legs
testaceous, with the intermediate and posterior coxee obscure. L, 34-
45 mm.

Male with sixth ventral segment emarginate and ciliate on apical
border, seventh segment deeply excised, with the lobes of the excision
pointed and divaricate.

In moss, haystack refuse, &c.; common and generally distributed in the southern
and central portions of England; rarer further north, and not recorded from the
Northumberland district; Scotland, not common, Solway, Tweed, Forth, lay, and
Dee districts.

M. longicornis, Kr. (splendidus, var. a, Ev.). This species is very
closely allied to the preceding, and is by many authors considered merely
a variety ; it apjears, however, to differ in several rather important
points: it is a little longer, and a little broader in the middle, and there-
fore slightly more fusiform ; the intermediate series of the elytra is
composed of from 7—12 punctures, and the hind body is less pubescent,
and more finely and less closely punctured at the base of the seements;
the antennz also are a little longer and more thickened towards apex ;
the excision of the seventh ventral segment of the male has the lobes
less pronounced and less divaricate, L, 44-5 mm.

In moss, haystack refuse, &e.; rare; Shirley and Purley Downs, West Wickham,

Guildford ; Littlington (Sussex) ; Horning Fen, Norfolk; Repton ; Coleshill, near
Birmingham ; Scotland, rare, Solway and Clyde districts.

HABROCERINZ.

The members of this family are remarkable for the development of the

Habrocerinw. | STAPHYLINIDE. 219

posterior cox, which are large, triangular, and prominent; from the
Trichophyine, which they resemble in having the antenne slender,
capillary, and verticillate-pilose with the first two joints dilated, they are
distinguished by having the sides of the elytra margined, as well as
by the shape of the posteriur cox ; in general form they are very unlike
Trichophya, being more narrowed behind and less depressed, and more
closely allied to Tachyporus, which our single species much resembles in
general contour; only one genus is known.

HABROCERUS, [richson.

This genus contains at present four species, one from Europe, one
from Chili, and two from North America; they live in refuse, dead
leaves, under dry dung, &c.; they are rapid and jerky in their
movements,

The larva of Habrocerus capiliaricornis is described by Rey (Brévi-
pennes, 1883, p. 6): it is elongate, rather convex, slightly enlarged and
rounded behind, almost smooth, of a livid pitchy testaceous colour, and
shining, furnished with long sete; head large, as broad as thorax,
antenne short, pale ; prothorax-subquadrate, somewhat narrowed in front,
with the sides straight ; meso- and meta-thorax transverse, about equal ;
abdomen with the first eight segments short, subequal, the last narrower
and furnished with two jointed cerci, of w hich the first joint is elongate,
and an anal appendage, which is conical and truncate, and not as ‘long
as the first joint of the cerci; legs short, pale. The pupa is pale tes-
taceous or whitish, and presents no marked peculiarity.

M. Rey says that he has found the larva, with the perfect insect, in
company with the larve of Scaphisoma agaricinum in rotten wood
infected with fungoid growth.

H. capillaricornis, Gray. Upper surface entirely black or pitchy
black (dark pitchy red or even testaceous red in more or less immature
specimens), with the extreme margins of segments of hind body reddish ;
convex, shining ; head and thorax smooth ; antenne slender, capillary,
and filiform, a little longer than head and thorax united, darker or
lighter pitchy testaceous, with joints 1-2 dilated, and 4-10 oblong,
somewhat fusiform, of almost equal length or gradually slightly shorter ;
thorax transverse, as broad behind as elytra, moderately contracted in
front, with the anterior_angles obtuse, and the posterior angles broadly
rounded ; ; elytra slightly transverse, about as long as thorax, obsoletely
shagreened, and also sparingly and obsoletely punctured ; hind body
very finely and thickly punctured, with the sides furnished with long
setee (which are also present in less numbers on the front parts); legs
lighter or darker testaceous. L. 22 mm.

Sixth ventral segment of hind body broadly truncate in male, emar-

220 STAPHY LINID.E. { Habrocerus.

ginate or sinuate at apical margin in female; the sexes are confused
by some authors.

In moss, dead Jeaves, under dry cow-dung, &c.; London district, rather common
and generally distributed ; Hastings; New Forest ; Cambridge district ; Repton,
Burton-on-Trent; Scarborough ; the species is scarce in the Midlands, and there is
apparently no record from the more northern counties or from Scotland.

TRICHOPHYINA.

This family consists of only one genus and one species, which was
formerly and is still by many authorities included under the Tachy-
porine, but was removed from them by M. Pandellé, followed by
M. Cl. Rey; it is chiefly remarkable for its antenn, which are long,
slender, capillary, and verticillate-pilose, with the two first joints
strongly dilated; they are inserted under the lateral borders of the
forehead, rather far from the eyes, in an evident cavity ; Rey considers
the family as transitional between the Aleocharine and the Tachyporine,
and as approaching the former in their projecting head, simply pubescent
and not spinose tibiz, and the fact that the elytra are not margined,
while they resemble the latter in the method of the insertion of the
antenne ; from the Habrocerine they are distinguished by having the
posterior coxe transverse instead of triangular and prominent, and by
the absence of margins of elytra.

TRICHOPHYA, Mannerheim.

This genus comprises one species, which is found in England, France,
Central Europe, and Madeira (7. Huttoni, Woll., being identical with
our species) ; it is found in moss, refuse, dead leaves, under stones, and
sometimes under bark.

T. pilicornis, Gyll. Black, somewhat shining, with the elytra
duller, sometimes pitchy, brownish, or even reddish; upper surface
depressed and somewhat parallel-sided ; head rather broad, but narrower
than thorax, subtriangular, very finely and thickly punctured, black
with mouth parts pitchy red; antenne as above described, pitchy red
or dusky, all the joints after the first two slender and elongate; thorax
transverse, about as broad in front as behind with sides rounded,
posterior angles obtuse, thickly but distinctly punctured ; elytra longer
than thorax, very finely and thickly pubescent and punctured ; hind
body almost as broad as elytra, hardly narrowed until just before apex,
very finely and thickly punctured, with apex often reddish ; legs pitchy
red with tarsi lighter. L. 3} mm.

Male with first four joints of anterior tarsi slightly dilated.

In moss, dead lcaves, &e., especially near fir trees; local; Wimbledon, Mickleham,
Forest Hill, Crystal Palace (found in the windows occasionally in numbers, having
flown over probably from Shirley), Shirley (under fir branches in pits), Caterham ;
Horsham ; The Holt (Farnham); Tonbridge; Lincoln; Scarborough; Scotland,
rare, Tay district only.

bo
Lo
rary

Staphylinine. | STAPHYLINIDE,

STAPHYLININZA.

This sub-family contains, as at present constituted, about fifty genera,
which are very widely distributed ; if we include the many sub-genera
that have been formed by different authors, this number will be con-
siderably increased ; the Xantholinine have until comparatively recently
been included under the present sub-family, but they appear to be dis-
tinet, and it has therefore been thought best to follow Thomson and
Mulsant and Rey in separating them on the characters afforded by their
approximate antennz and the presence of an antesternal piece situated
in the emargination of the prosternum, as well as by their more linear
and generally different form.

The Staphylinine contain the most conspicuous members of the
family Staphylinide, the genera Ocypus, Emus, Creophilus, Staphylinus,
and Velleius being especially noticeable ; some of the genera, e.g. Phi-
lonthus, are very numerous as regards species ; on the other hand, two or
three of our British genera, as Velleius, Huryporus, and Aecylophorus,
contain only one indigenous species which, in each case, is very rare.

In the Staphylinine the antenne are situated at the anterior margin
of the front, but differ somewhat in position in the two tribes into which
the sub-family may naturally be divided, viz. the Quediina and Staphy-
linina ; the anterior coxe are large and conical ; the trochanters of the
hind legs are prominent; the tibie, at least the intermediate and
posterior pairs, are spinose ; the antennee are eleven-jointed and the tarsi
five-jointed in all the species belonging to our genera ;* and the hind
body is more or less strongly margined, and is, as a rule, capable of being
raised by the insect into a perpendicular position, or even curled over
towards the head.

The larvee of the sub-family (including those of the Xantholinine) in
appearance and general shape bear a strong analogy to those of the
Carabide ; the latter, however, have six ocelli on each side of the head,
the mandibles toothed, the outer lobe of the maxilla two-jointed, and
the tarsi furnished with two claws, whereas in the Staphylinine there are
only four ocelli on each side, the mandibles are toothless, the outer lobe
of the maxille is not jointed, and the tarsi terminate in single claws ;
the larve of the Dytiscide may be distinguished from those of the
Staphylinine by having six ocelli, and double claws, and by the man-
dibles being perforated, whereas the larvee of the Silphide, which in
some ways are related to them, also possess six ocelli, and have a
distinet labrum, which organ is not visible in the Staphylinine ; in the
Histeride, which together with the two last-mentioned groups have
jointed cerci, the ocelli are entirely wanting (vzde Chapuis et Candéze,
Catalogue des Larves des Coléopterés, pp. 57, 58; LEvichson, Gen. et
Spec. Staph., p. 15, &e.). The scuta of the thoracic segments in the

* The genus Tanyguathus has the tarsi four-jointed.

222 STAPHYLINIDA. [ Staphylinine.

Staphylinine are complete, those of the segments of the hind body
incomplete and divided.

As above mentioned, the sub-family may be divided into two very
natural groups, which however, until quite recently, have been defined
by variable and inconstant characters, and have been separated more on
the ground of external facies than for any other reason; Dr. Sharp,
however (Biol. Cent. Am. Staphylinide, p. 320), has lately pointed out
that there exists a very constant character which defines the groups very
satisfactorily as follows :—

Prosternum connected with the sides of the thorax behind the an-

terior angles which are consequently free . . . . . QUEDIINA.
Prosternum connected with the sides of the thorax at the EntenICE
angles which are not free . . . + . +. « « « «+ - - . SQLAPHYLININA.
QUEDIINA.

In this tribe the antenne are inserted at the anterior point of the
lateral margin of the front ; the eyes are very often large and prominent ;
the thorax is smooth and ol abrous and has very few dorsal punctures,
those that exist being usually situated on the anterior portion ; it is
usually narrowed in front and widened at base, which is at least as broad
as the elytra, and the lateral margin is single and acute; six British
genera belong to the tribe, one of which, Quedionuch us, has been recently .
formed by Dr. Sharp, and is represented i in our fauna by the sub-cortical
species Q. levigatus.

I, Antenne geniculate, first joint as long as the four

succeeding ; palpi with the last two joints thickened . AcyLopnHorus, Nord.
ae Antenne not geniculate.
as palpi with the last joint securiform . . . Evuryrorvs, Er.

chabie palpi with the last joint subulate, very small. Hereroruoprs, Steph.
. Last joint of all the palpi elongate, conical or
fusiform.

1. Antenne strongly serrate. . . . . . . + . VELUEIUS, Mannh.

2. Antenne simple, not serrate.
A. Posterior femora not or not strongly spined,

margins of thorax plainly reflexed . . . . QueEpius, Leach.
B. Posterior femora strongly spined; margins of
thorax not, or very slightly reflexed . . . . QuEDIoNUCHUS, Sharp.

ACYLOPHORUS, Nordmann.

This genus contains more than thirty species, which are widely dis-
tributed in the northern and southern hemispheres ; eight new species
have recently been described from Central America and one from
Australia, and the genus eventually will probably prove to be a very
large one ; our single species is extremely rare, and may at once be
distinguished from our other Quediina by the orange-red colour of the
base of the seventh segment of hind body, which is especially bright
during life.

Acylophorus. | STAPHYLINID&. 223

A. glabricollis, Boisd. (glaberrimus, Herbst., pulcher, Scriba).
Elongate, fusiform, shining black, with a broad ring of an orange-red
colour at base of seventh segment of hind body, which becomes more
yellow after death ; head small, only half as broad as thorax ; antenne
about as long as head and thorax united, evidently thickened towards
apex, black, with the base of first joint, and sometimes of second
reddish, first joint very long, forming a scape, as long as the four
succeeding together, penultimate joints slightly transverse; thorax
strongly narrowed in front, as broad behind as elytra, smooth and
shining, with four setigerous punctures on dise ; elytra about as long as
thorax, with long grey pubescence, strongly and rugosely punctured ;
hind body gradually and rather strongly narrowed to apex, rather
strongly and somewhat rugosely punctured at the base of the front
segments, more finely and sparingly on the apex of these, and the whole
of the last segments; legs black, with the tarsi, and sometimes the
knees, reddish. L. 6-7 mm. ,

Tu very wet places ; found running and flying on the surface of the water among
weeds and submerged grass during the first hot days of spring; on the Continent it
has been obtained by wringing weeds from below the surface of the water; very

rare; has only been found hitherto in this country at Merton, Surrey, and Barnes, by
Dr. Power, and near Richmond by Mr. Rye and Mr. Champion.

The ciliated styles of the seventh and last segments are very long in
this species; in the male the segment of the armature appears to be
strongly and narrowly excised.

EURYPORUS, Erichson.

This genus at present only contains five species, two from Europe, one
from the Canaries, one from North America, and one from Sumatra ;
one species occurs in Britain, but it is very rare; in general appearance
it somewhat resembles a large Quedius tristis or fuliginosus.

E. picipes, Payk. Rather broad, depressed, and parallel, shining
black, with the mouth parts red ; head small, somewhat ovate; antennie
about as long as head and thorax united, black, with the base, and more
or less of the apical joint, testaceous, first joint as long as the two
following, 4-10 gradually shorter, the penultimate joints being hardly
transverse; thorax narrowed in front, a little broader at base than
elytra, with three large setigerous punctures on each side of disc in
front; elytra transverse, evidently shorter than thorax, strongly, rather
thickly, and rugosely punctured ; hind body as broad as elytra, somewhat
rounded at sides and narrowed gradually and slightly from behind
middle to apex, not so thickly, but almost as strongly, punctured
as elytra; legs lighter or darker pitchy red with the tarsi lighter.
L. 8-10 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly but
distinctly sinuate in middle of apical margin, and the last joint of

224. STAPHYLINIDE. [ Euryporus.

maxillary palpi slightly thickened towards apex and obliquely truncate ;
female with the seventh ventral segment rounded, and the last joint of
the maxillary palpi somewhat fusiform and narrowed at apex.

In moss and dead leaves, especially in woods; also occasionally in waterfalls; rare ;
Strood, Kent (taken in some numbers by Mr. Champion and Mr. J. J. Walker from
moss in a wood during early spring); Faversham; Purley Downs; Birch Wood ;
Shatham; Hastings; Glanvilles Wootton; Holm Bush, Brighton; Oxfordshire ;
Barmouth, Wales (W. Garneys) ; Scotland, rare, Lowlands, Solway, Tay, and Moray
districts.

HETEROTHOPS, Stephens.

This genus comprises about thirty species, which are widely distributed ;
only one or two have been recorded from the tropics, but several have
been comparatively recently described from Southern Australia and
Queensland ; a rather large proportion belong to Russia, Northern Asia,
and North America ; only one species is known from South America,
which occurs, like so many of the more northern forms, in Chili ; there
are four British species; three of these occur in haystack refuse, and
general vegetable rubbish, and one is found under decaying sea-weed on
the shore ; they are very rapid in their movements.

I. Elytra with at least apex lighter; antennz dark with
base testaceous,
i, Head subquadrate, or short oval, with posterior
angles marked.
1, Antennw elongate, with penultimate joints
oblong; elytra longer, usually dark with apical
margin light . . . 2 6 . H. Brnorata, Lr.
2. Antenne rather short, with penultimate joints
quadrate or transverse ; elytra shorter, usually
pitchy brown with base darker. . . . . . H. PR#HvVIA, Er.
ii. Head oval oblong, rather elongate, with posterior
angles rounded; thorax and elytra often pitchy
brown, apex, and often margins, of latter lighter . H DISSIMILIS, Grav.
Il. Elytra and antenne unicolorous black . . . . . H.QuapRIPUNCTULA, Gy/ll,

H. binotata, Er. Rather narrow and fusiform, shining pitch-black,
with the apical margin of elytra more or less plainly testaceous, and the
apex of hind body testaceous or pitchy-reddish; head short oval, a little
narrower than thorax ; antenne dark, with base testaceous, rather long
and slender, with penultimate joints not transverse; thorax narrowed in
front, smooth and shining, with two large pores on each side of disc;
elytra somewhat variable in length, rather finely and thickly punctured ;
hind body narrowed behind, finely and thickly punctured on segments
2-6, seventh segment sparingly punctured ; legs testaceous with posterior
coxe darker. L. 45 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body excised narrowly
in a rather sharp angle ; anterior tarsi strongly dilated ; female with the
seventh segment rounded and the anterior tarsi not strongly dilated.

Heterothops. | STAPHYLINID.E. 225

In decaying sea-weed on the shore; local, but often common where it occurs ;
Whitstable, Sheerness, Rochester, Margate, Kingsgate, Southend; Southsea, Wey-
mouth, Isle of Wight, and other southern localities; Swansea; Hunstanton;
Manchester ; Liverpool ; Scotland, local, Clyde and Forth districts.

H. previa, Er. (nigra, Ky., nidicola, Thoms.). This species is rather
smaller than the preceding, and may be distinguished by its shorter
antenne, which have the penultimate joints transverse ; the thorax is
slightly more narrowed in front, and the elytra are rather shorter and,
as a rule, lightly coloured, with the punctuation a little finer and closer;
in the male the anterior tarsi are a little less dilated; the elytra are
variable in colour, being dark with apex lighter, reddish brown with base
lighter, reddish brown with base obscurely darker, or entirely reddish
brown. L. 4 mm.

In dry hotbeds, among dead leaves, and in vegetable refuse generally ; not common ;
Burton-on-Trent (J. Harris); Cambridge (Sharp); Ripon (Waterhouse); Knowle,
near Birmingham (Blatch); Scarborough (Lawson); Manchester ; there is no record,
as far as I know, from any place further north.

H. dissimilis, Grav. (previa, Thoms. nec Er., v. brunneipennis,
Kies., flavolimbata, Mots.). Shining black with apical margin of elytra
testaceous, and the apex and apical margins of the segments of hind body
often reddish testaceous ; sometimes the thorax and elytra are entirely
reddish testaceous, the latter having the apex and margins lighter ; head
rather long and narrow, much narrower than thorax ; antenne long and
slender with penultimate joints not transverse; thorax smooth and
shining with two or three punctures on each side of disc; elytra about
as long as thorax, rather finely and thickly and somewhat rugosely punc-
tured ; hind body finely and thickly punctured in front, more sparingly
behind ; legs testaceous, with the posterior coxze more or less dark. L.
4-45 mm.

Male with seventh ventral segment of hind body angularly excised,
anterior tarsi strongly dilated.

In haystack refuse ; not uncommon and sometimes plentiful; London district,
common; Horning Fen, Norfolk; Cambridge; Worthing; Weymouth; Knowle,
near Birmingham; Manchester; Wallington, Northumberland; not recorded from
Scotland ; Ireland, Portmarnock.

H. quadripunctula, (yll. A small, shining, entirely black species,
with the antenne unicolorous black, and the legs dark, with the knees,
tarsi, and sometimes anterior coxe lighter; the colour will at once
separate it from the other species; it is also rather smaller, and has the
elytra evidently more sparingly punctured, the punctuation being also
relatively stronger ; the séxual characters are much the same as in the
other species. L. 33-3$ mm.

In haystack, flood, and other refuse, also occasionally in nests of Furmica fuliginosa ;
rare; St. Mary Cray (Surrey), Darenth Wood, Forest Hill, Croydon, Tottenham ;
Worthing (Saunders) ; Bewdley Forest (Blatch) ; Manchester (Reston)

VOL. 11 Q

226 STAPHYLINID 2. [ Velleius.

VELLEIUS, Mannerheim.

This genus, which is united by many authors with Quedius, seems to
be abundantly distinct by reason of its short, thick, and strongly serrate
antenne, as well as by its broad and robust form; the single European
species is very rare, and has only oceurred in Britain in the New Forest;
it has been found on the Continent in the nests of the hornet (Vespa
crabro), and is said to prey upon the larvee, but it is not always attached
to these insects.

Vv. dilatatus, F. A large, broad, somewhat depressed species,
shining black, with the elytra duller and clothed with a fine close dark-
grey pubescence; head somewhat round, considerably narrower than
thorax, antenne short and stout, dark with the last jomt ferruginous,
third joint twice as long as second, joints 4-10 prolonged internally and
serrate ; thorax subtransverse, almost semicircular, emarginate in front,
with the anterior angles projecting, evidently broader than elytra,
depressed and explanate at the sides, more or less iridescent, together with
head extremely finely shagreened ; scutellum punctured ; elytra about as
long as thorax, thickly and finely punctured, the punctuation being some-
what rugose ; hind body gradually narrowed towards apex, rather finely
and thickly but distinctly punctured, with a more or less distinct iridescent
reflection; legs black, robust, anterior tarsi dilated. L. 16-25 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly and
feebly sinuate in the middle of apical margin, with a smooth triangular
space before the sinuation ; head broader than in female.

The real habitat of this rare species appears to be somewhat doubtful ; it has only
occurred in this country in the New Forest, where it was taken sparingly by Turner
in rotten wood, and, I believe, at sugar placed on trees to attract moths; on the
Continent, as above mentioned, it has been taken in hornets’ nests, but according to
Mulsant and Rey it has also occurred in several parts of France under ecarcases and
stones; Turner also found the larva, of which there are two or three specimens in Dr,
Power's collection; the head is large, suborbicular, furnished with powerful jaws ;
the prothorax is as long as the meso- and meta-thorax together; the body is gradually
narrowed behind, and the cerci are as long as the anal appendage, and somewhat
longer than the last two segments united.

In size the species varies very considerably, the largest specimens reaching 25 mm.,
and the smallest not exceeding 14 or 15 mm.

QUEDIUS, Leach.

This is one of the largest genera of the Staphylinide, and contains at
present about two hundred species, which are widely distributed over the
ereater part of the world in both hot and cold climates ; Dr. Sharp (l.c.
p- 328), in describing fifteen new species from Central America, says
that we have as yet only three or four species from Tropical South
America, and that Chili possesses numerous very aberrant species. The
European and North American forms, the Australian forms, and the
Tropical and Central American forms appear to fall into three divisions
respectively as follows :—

Quedius. | STAPHYLINIDA, 227

1. Gene with a raised margin ; elytra evenly and regularly punctate and pubescent.

2. Genz without raised margin; elytra evenly and regularly punctate and pubescent,

3. Genz with a raised margin ; elytra polished, with only a few setigerous punctures,
arranged in series, and in addition with a very regular series of conspicuous punc-
tures contiguous with the epipleural margin.

These forms are not absolutely confined to the separate regions ;
examples of all three, for instance, occur in Central America ; our British
forms must be, of course, referred to the first group, but the common Q.
cinctus Im some respects agrees better with the third; Dr. Sharp,
however, informs me that the Tropical American forms are very remark-
able for the great size and convexity of the eyes, which are larger than
in the Raphir us section of Quedius, so that it cannot 1 belong to the same
group, although as regards punctuation, &e., it appears to be allied to them.

The British species are about thirty in number, and differ very much in
general appearance ; certain sections present great difficulties (notably
Q. fulgidus and its allies and varieties), and it is moreover very difticult
to find a satisfactory character on which to establish the main divisions ;
Erichson’s character, “lower marginal projection from thorax of either
horny or parchment-like consistence,” is very unsatisfactory, and the
divisions of Fairmaire and Laboulbéne (Faune Ent. Franc. i. p. 535),
although useful, are very incomplete ; after some consideration I have
adopted Mulsant and Rey’s scheme, which rests on the relative size of
the eyes, and the structure of the labrum ; this is evidently derived from
Thomson (Skand. Col. i. p. 25), and appears to afford the best method
for dividing the genus into natural and workable sub-genera ; at the same
time it must be borne in mind by the student that it is quite possible
for mistakes and confusion to arise without a careful study of the general
descriptions of the individual species.

The larva of Quedius fulgidus is described and figured by Schiédte (ii. p. 115, pl.
x., fig. 17): the head is oblong, subrectangular, nearly as broad as prothorax, which
is very slightly narrowed in front, and is as long as the meso- and meta-thorax together ;
the first abdominal segment is the shortest, and the following become gradually less
transverse, with the sides rather strongly rounded, the seventh and eighth being almost
orbicular ; the ninth segment is very narrow and cylindrical, and bears a very long
anal appendage twice its length, which becomes broader towards apex, and two cerci ;
of these latter the first joint is clavate at apex, and three times as long as the second ;
the antennz are very short, and the legs are uneven, the first pair being the shortest ;
the chief character, however, is found in the set#, which are simple on the head and
thoracic segments, but on the abdominal region and the cerci are distinctly clavate at
apex, hke pins on a pincushion ; this latter character appears also to be found in larve
of other species of Quedius, but Ido not know whether it is at all characteristic of
the genus ; in Ve//eius the sctw are all simple.

The larvae of Q. rujipes and its allies appear to have the body much narrowed and
contracted behind the head, and the abdomen rather widened with sides somewhat
rounded. The pupie of Quedius have the “ styli motorii ” filiform and, in some species
at all events, only present on the anterior margin of the thorax, and the sides of the
seventh and eighth seginents of abdomen.

I, Eyes small, occupying about one-third of the sides of the head ; labrum bilobed.,

Section L, Sub-Gen. Ediquus, Muls. et Rey (p. 228).
Q 2

228 STAPHYLINID &. [Quedius.

II. Eyes moderate, occupying about one-half of the sides of the head ; labrum bilobed.
Section II., Sub-Gen. Quedius, i. sp. (p. 229).
III. Eyes large, occupying two-thirds of the sides of the head, but leaving an evident
space between the base of eye and neck.

i, Labrum entire or almost entire ; shape almost parallel; hind body scarcely nar-
rowed behind.

Section III., Sub-Gen, Microsaurus, Steph. (p. 236),

ii. Labrum more or less bilobed ; shape fusiform; hind body more or less narrowed
behind.

Section IV., Sub-Gen. Sauridus, Muls. et Rey (p. 238).

1V. Eyes very large, occupying almost the whole of the sides of head, leaving hardly
any space between base of eye and neck ; hind body narrowed behind.

Section V., Sub-Gen. Raphirus, Steph. (p. 242).

Section I. (Sub-Gen. Bdiquus, Muls. et Rey.)

This section contains two species only, both of which are rare, one
excessively so; they occur almost exclusively in rotten wood, and are
easily distinguished by their very small eyes.

1. Size large; antenne long, with all the joints longer than

broad, <5 5 ©. s ee le fos) ae these (+), is} Ve) Wes y ee QS BON GICORNTS pase
2. Size small; antenna short, with joints 7-10 strongly
LLANSYETSC see) ecu ameter te <6 + © we ) « 6QNMICRORS Gran.

.

Q. longicornis, Kr. (fulgidus, var. 5, Er.). Pitchy black or
brownish with the sides of thorax move or less obscurely lighter, and the
apex of segments of hind body reddish testaceous, elytra reddish or
reddish brown ; head oval, very finely shagreened, rather dull, with an
obscure impression on forehead, antenne ferruginous, rather long, with
none of the joints transverse ; thorax somewhat narrowed in front, very
tinely shagreened like head, and rather dull, with setigerous pores on
front of disc; scutellum smooth; elytra not longer than thorax, thickly
and somewhat rugosely punctured ; hind body almost parallel-sided,
narrowed at apex, rather strongly punctured, basal segments strongly
impressed longitudinally at base ; legs ferruginous with the posterior,
and sometimes the intermediate, tibiz darker, posterior femora sometimes
darker; posterior tarsi with first joint shghtly shorter than fifth. L,
83-95 mm.

“Male with seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly emarginate
at apex, with an impression before emargination, anterior tarsi strongly
dilated ; female with seventh ventral segment rounded, tarsi less dilated.*

Under bark, in rotten wood, under stones, in flood refuse, &c. ; very rare; Buddon
Wood, Leicestershire, March 1882, under bark (W. G. Blatch); Bretby Wood, nea

* All the species of Quedius lave the anterior tarsi more or less strongly dilated in
both sexes.

Quedius. | STAPHYLINIDE. 229

Burton-on-Trent, one specimen taken by myself under the trunk of a tree lying on
the ground ; Scotland, very rare, Solway district (flood refuse, River Nith, Sept. 30,
1885 (Dr. Sharp; also taken by Mr. Douglas, of Orchardton)) ; recorded also doubt-
fully from the Clyde district.

» microps, Grav. (chrysurus, Kies.). Pitchy brown, with the
head black, and the elytra usually lighter, castaneous, or reddish ecasta-
neous, shining; head moderately large, narrower than thorax ; antenne
short, ferruginous or brownish, with the base lighter, penultimate joints
strongly transverse; thorax about as broad as long, narrowed in front,
slightly broader at base than elytra, with setigerous pores on front of
dise ; scutellum sparingly punctured ; elytra subquadrate, about as long
as thorax, rather tiaely and somewhat rugosely punctured ; hind body
rather strongly punctured, more sparingly towards apex, with the basal
segments hardly impressed, pitchy, with a more or less distinct iridescent
reflection, apex of segments more or less distinctly reddish testaceous; legs
reddish testaceous, with the femora and posterior tibiz sometimes a little
darker in middle. L. 43-5 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly emar-
ginate in middle of apical border, with a smooth triangular space before
emargination.

In rotten wood (oak, ash, &e.); rare; Addington; Esher ; Cobham; Chatham ;
Croydon ; Loughton; New Forest; Nettlecomb, Somerset ; Cambridge; Weston-
super-Mare; Leicestershire ; Hunstanton, The species was first found in Britain by
Dr. Power.

Section II. (Sub.-Gen. Quedius, i. sp.)

I. Thorax with two dorsal series each consisting of
three punctures, one being close to anterior
margin.
i. Elytra with uniform punctuation.
1. Scutellum punctured; hind body ferruginous Q.VENTRALIS, 47.
(truncicola, Fairm.).
2. Scutellum smooth.
A, Size large; upper surface entirely black ;
elytra with margins sharply testaceous . Q. LATERALIS, Grav.
B. Size moderate ; elytra black, reddish, or
pitchy, with margins not sharply lighter.
a, Antenne with base dark, more or less fer-
ruginous towards or at apex, often en-
tirely dark;* legs black or dark pitchy
red.
a*, Hlytra black; antenne moderate
with joints 6-10 slightly transverse . Q.MESOMELINUS, Marsh
(v. fageti, Thoms.).
b*. Elytra red.
at. ‘Thorax with punctures on sides of
dise, besides the usual one or two seti-
gerous punctures close to margin,

* In somewhat immature specimens the antenna are sometimes entirely ferru-
ginous, but the base is never lighter than the apex, and is almost always darker.

230 STAPHYLINIDA. [ Quedius

a}. Hind body at apex, and apex of
segments, reddish; legs more or
less pitchy red; antenne with
joints 6-10 less transverse; size
moderate. . ... . . »~ -Q..FuLGIDUS, F.
(quadripunctatus, Thoms.).
bt. Hind body concolorous black ;
legs black with tarsi entirely red;
antenne with joints 6-10 more
transverse; size smaller. . . . Q.PUNCTICOLLIs, Thoms.
bf. Thorax without punctures on sides
of dise except the usual one or two
setigerous punctures near margin;
sizelarger . . . . . « « «© « Q. BREVICORNIS, Thoms.
b. Antenne dark with base testaceous ; legs
testaceous.
a*, Thorax impressed at sides especially in
male; form broader; antenne stouter ;
elytra usually bright red . . . . . Q. cRuENTUs, Ol.
b*, Thorax not impressed at sides; form
narrower; antennz more slender ;
elytra always pitehy black or brown . Q. XANTHOPUS, Er.
. Antenne and legs entirely reddish tes-
taceous; elytra red with postero-external
angles darker; size smaller . . . . . Q. scritTus, Grav.
ii. Elytra with distinet rows of punctures; inter-
stices almost smooth. . . . . . « » «.: Q.cINcTUS, Payk.
(impressus, Panz.).

ic]

II. Thorax with only one or two dorsal punctures

on each side; elytra red; habitat exclusively in

ants; nests). | is) sys) ie) ed el lout crue anemee GSDREVISseh es

The species belonging to this section vary considerably in general ap-
pearance ; with the exception of the Q. fulgidus group they do not present
any particular difficulty ; this group, however, has long been known as one
of the most difficult in the whole of our Staphylinide, and as one concern-
ing which there is most difference of opinion; Thomson (Skand. Col.
ix. p. 159, et seg.) describes as five separate species five insects which by
other authors have been considered races or varieties of Q. fulgidus, viz.
two with black elytra (Q. temporalis = mesomelinus, Marsh, and
Q. fagett), and three with red elytra (Q. quadripunctatus, Q. brevicornis,
and Q. puncticollis). The original @. fulgidus of Fabricius had red
elytra (his description, Syst, El. ii. 596, is “ ater, nitidus, elytris plan-
tisque testace’s, ano sub-ferrugineo”), and is evidently identical with
Thomson’s guadripunctatus, which has the apex of the hind body and
also the apex of the separate segments more or less reddish ; the best
plan, therefore, seems to be to limit Q. fulgidus to this form, which is the
commonest of those with red elytra ; Q. puncticollis is evidently a dis-
tinct species by reason of its smaller size, entirely black hind body, and
the punctuation of the thorax ; Q. brevicornis is larger and broader than
either of the preceding, with a larger head, and with the penultimate
joints of the antenne very transverse, and without punctures on the
sides of disc of thorax except the one or two usual large setigerous

Quedius. ] STAPHYLINIDE. 231

punctures close to margin. The species with black elytra, @. meso-
melinus and Q. fageti, resemble Q. brevicornis as regards the punctuation
of the thorax, but have the elytra more strongly “punctured than that
species; Q. fageti, however, is so closely allied to Q. mesomelinus, being
only distinguished by its smaller size-and the somewhat less close punctua-
tion of the elytra (a character which is not very marked), that it is best
to consider it as a variety only, especially as intermediate forms appear
to occur. It is quite possible that exception may he taken to this
arrangement of the several forms, but it appears to be the most con-
venient in the presert state of our knowledge; Mulsant and Rey
separate Q. fulgidus (= 4 punctatus) and Q. oechripennis, Mén., and
Q. assecla, Rey (which are both synonymous with Q. puncticollis), on
the punctuation of the sides of the dise of thorax, but in Dr. Sharp’s
collection there is an undoubted specimen of Q. puncticollis with the
punctuation of the thorax according with their description of that in
Q. fulgidus, so that the character cannot be always relied upon.

Q. ventralis, Ar. (truncicola, Fairm.), Somewhat depressed,
shining black, or dark pitchy black with the hind body more or less fer-
ruginous ; head large and subquadrate in male, rounder and smaller in
female, very finely but visibly punctured, antenne rather short, dark with
the apex lighter, penultimate joints slightly transverse ; thorax slightly
narrowed in front, rather broader than. elytra, base and posterior angles
rounded, smooth except for the large punctures ; scutellum punctured ;
elytra slightly longer than thorax, depressed behind near suture, rather
strongly punctured ; hind body narrowed behind, distinctly punctured,
ferruginous with a more or less evident iridescent reflection ; legs dark,
with the last joint of the tarsi and sometimes the entire tarsi reddish.
L. 9-11 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly and
semicircularly sinuate at apex.

In the damp decaying wood mould of hollow trees (elm, lime, oak, &c.), also in
fungi growing on decaying trees; rare; Greenwich, Maidstone, Esher, Lee, Clapham,
Mickleham, Weybridge, Croydon, Hampstead, Bearsted, Tonbridge ; Winchester ; ;
New Forest ; Sherwood Forest.

Q. lateralis, Grav. A large, somewhat depressed species, entirely
shining black, with the reflexed margin of the elytra sharply testaceous ;
head rather large, somewhat transverse, almost smooth ; antenne mode-
rately long, lighter or darker brown with base reddish testaceous, penul-
timate joints longer than broad, last joint acuminate ; thorax narrowed in
front, rather broader behind than elytra, with base and posterior angles
rounded, smooth and shining; scutellum impunctate ; elytra about as
long as thorax, strongly and asperately punctured ; hind body strongly
narrowed behind with sides slightly rounded, strongly and thickly punc-
tured in front, more sparingly behind ; legs pitchy with the knees and
apex of tibiw, and usually the whole tarsi reddish. L. 11-14 mm.

232 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Quedius.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body strongly and
angularly sinuate in the middle of apical margin, with a broad smooth
longitudinal i impression before sinuation, sixth slightly sinuate.

In decaying fungi, dead leaves, old faggots, &ce.; local, but not uncommon;
Loudon district, generally distributed ; Dean Forest ; Sherwood Forest ; Scarborough ;
Northumberland district, rather rare; Scotland, widely distributed, in moss and
decaying fungi; Solway, Tweed, Forth, Clyde, Tay, and Moray districts.

Q- mesomelinus, Marsh (variabilis, var., Gyll., nitidus, var., Grav.,
temporalis, Thoms.). Entirely black or pitch-black, shining; head
more or less ovate narrower than thorax, antenne moderate, reddish
brown with the basal joints darker, penultimate joints slightly trans-
verse if viewed from sides ; thorax narrowed in front, entirely rounded
behind, slightly broader than elytra, with the usual dorsal series of three
punctures, but without extra punctures on sides of dise 3 elytra longer
than thorax, obsoletely furrowed behind near suture, rather strongly and
moderately thickly punctured ; hind body feebly narrowed behind, more
finely punctured than elytra, more or less iridescent ; legs pitchy, or
brownish red, with the tarsi and usually the knees lighter. L. 8-
10 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body feebly, and the
sixth scarcely visibly sinuate, with a small smooth space before the
sinuations,

In rubbish-heaps, haystack refuse, moss, fungi, decaying trees, &c.; sometimes in
cellars; common and generally distributed throughout the kingdom.

V. fageti, Thoms. (Microsaurus fageti, Thoms.). This variety is, as
a rule, of a rather deeper black colour than the type, and is decidedly
smaller; the punctuation of the elytra is a little more sparing, but
deeper, and the furrows near suture are deeper and reach nearly to apex ;
the smooth spaces, also, before the sinuations at the apex of the sixth
and-seventh segments of the hind body in male are larger ; the differences,
however, seem hardly sufficient to allow of its being considered a distinct
species. L. 63-8 mm.

Under bark of decaying trees; not so common as the type, but apparently widely
distributed in England and Scotland, and probably throughout the kingdom,

Q. fulgidus, F. (bicolor, Redt., guadripunctatus, Thoms.). Shining
black with the elytra red, antennz and legs brownish red or pitchy,
apex of hind body and apical margin of segments more or less distinctly
reddish, tarsi lighter than tibie but as a rule not markedly so with the
exception of the last joint; the penultimate joints of the antenne are
only moderately transverse; in general structure and sculpture the
species much resembles Q. mesomelinus ; the thorax, however, has three
or four punctures on the sides of disc arranged in a semicircular series ;
the elytra are said to be not longer than the thorax, and the basal joint
of the posterior tarsi to be almost as long as the apical joint, but neither

—

Quedius. | STAPHYLINIDE. 253

of these points seem to be reliable characters, as they vary somewhat in
different specimens. L. 8-9 mm.

In moss and rubbish and under stones, also about the stumps of trees: according
to Thomson it is not rare in cellars and stables, and in Dr. Sharp’s collection there is
a specimen labelled as having been taken in a cow-house. Sheerness, Dulwich,
Sheppy, Darenth, Ealing, Eltham ; Cambridge ; Buddon Wood ; Sherwood Forest ;
Northumberland district ; Scotland, Solway district, Eccles near ‘Thornhill, &e. ;
Ireland, Rathkurby, near Waterford (Power); it is probably distributed over the
greater part of the kingdom.

: puncticollis, Thoms. (ochripennis, Mén., letus, Fald., assecla,
Rey). Considerably smaller than average specimens of the preceding,
with the elytra more brightly coloured and of a more yellowish red
tinge ; the hind body is unicolorous black and the legs are black with
the tarsi entirely red ; the penultimate joints of the antenne are more
strongly transverse ; as arule there are. two punctures placed obliquely
on each side of the dise of thorax besides the usual one or two setigerous
punctures close to margin, but occasionally there are one or two more as
in the preceding species: it is stated to differ from Q. brevicornis in
having the frontal setigerous puncture situated far in front of the seta of
the temporal angle, instead of their being placed almost in the same
transverse line, and in having both the genal punctures placed above the
elevated line instead of directly init. L. 7-8 mm.

In haystack, flood, and other refuse; also by sweeping, and under bark of trees ;
London district, Mickleham, Croydon, &e.; Kingsgate; Ripon; Sherwood Forest ;
Scotland, Inverness-shire, Isle of Arran, &c.: it is probably very widely distributed,

and apparently does duty in some collections for @. brevicornis ; it is, however, a
much smaller and more brightly coloured species.

Q. brevicornis, Thoms. A large and conspicuous species, with the
head large and subtransverse or subglobose, with very prominent temples
which are not punctured ; the antenne are short with the penultimate
joints very strongly transverse, and the thorax has the sides of disc
without punctures except for the one or two usual setigerous punctures
near margin ; the elytra are coloured as in Q. fulgidus, and are sparingly
and not strongly punctured ; the legs are more or less pitchy red with
the posterior tarsi rather short and stout. L. 10-11 mm.

Under bark or in frass of decaying trees, and apparently under no other conditions ;
rare; first taken in Britain at Mickleham by Dr. Power; Weybridge ; Birdbrook,
Essex, in a Cossus-infested tree; Kingsgate; New Forest ; ’ Ireland, near Waterford

(Power): it has not yet occurred in Scotland; it appears to be extremely rare in
France.

Besides the five forms allied to Q. fulgidus that have been just
described, there’ appear to be two others, Q. nigrocerule us, Rey, and
Q. variabilis, Heer, which are referred as varieties in the catalogue of
Heyden, Reitter, and Weise to Q. guadripunctatus and Q. pune ticollis
respectively as they agree with them in the punctuation of the thorax, &e. ;
neither of them has apparently occurred in Britain, but should either of

234 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Quedius.

them be found a revision of the table above given will be necessary, as
they both of them have dark elytra; Q. variabilis is common in Franee,
and may perhaps be mixed in collections with Q. mesomelinus; there
seem to be so many variations in the punctuation of the sides of the dise
of thorax, and so much confusion has arisen from its having been adopted
as always constant, whereas in certain eases it is plainly variable, in the
same form, that it would perhaps be the best plan to disregard it altogether,
in which case Q. variabilis and Q. nigroceruleus, if not distinct, might
be united with the Q. mesomelinus group instead of with the species
with red elytra; it must, however, be admitted in conclusion that the
colour is not always dependable, for a specimen of Q. fulgidus has been
recorded by Herr Fuss (v. Ent. Ann, 1869, 29) which has one elytron red
and the other dark.

Q. cruentus, Ol. Shining black with the elytra and apex of hind
body and also the margins of the segments reddish testaceous; head trans-
verse or suborbicular in male, oval in female; antenne somewhat thickened
towards apex, blackish brown with the three first joints red, penultimate
joints evidently transverse, last joint obliquely acuminate at apex ; thorax
narrowed in front and rounded behind; scutellum smooth or almost
smooth, shining ; elytra about as long as thorax, rather diffusely punctured;
hind body narrowed from middle to apex rather thickly punctured in
front, more sparingly behind, black, with the apex of sixth and the
whole of the seventh segment brightly, and the intersections of the others
more or less obscurely, testaceous ; legs testaceous with the posterior coxee
usually dark. L. 7-9 mm.

Male with the seventh segment distinctly, and the sixth very feebly,
sinuate in middle of apical margin, the former with a small smooth space
before sinuation.

Under bark and in rotten wood of various trees; also in decaying straw and refuse,
among dead leaves, under stones, and sometimes by beating; local; London district,
rather common; Hastings; New Forest; Gloucester; Shrewsbury; Birmingham
district ; Tamworth; Repton; York; Manchester district ; Northumberland district,
“Long Benton; very rare;” it has not occurred in Scotland.

A variety occurs in which the elytra are pitchy black with the suture
only lighter.

Q. xanthopus, Er. Pitch-black or pitch-brown, shining, with the
apex of the hind body and the apical margin of segments more or less
distinctly testaceous or reddish testaceous; head short oval, antennze
moderately long and slender, brownish or brownish red with the first
three or four joints lighter ; thorax suborbicular, not or scarcely broader
than elytra, with the sides, asa rule, obscurely lighter ; scutellum smooth
and shining ; elytra a little longer than thorax, rather strongly furrowed
behind near suture, not thickly but somewhat strongly punctured ; hind
body rather more finely and thickly punctured than elytra, more sparingly

Quedius. ] STAPHYLINIDS. 235

towards apex, and almost smooth in middle of basal segment ; legs tes-
taceous. L. 7-8 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly and very
feebly sinuate in the middle of apical margin with a large smooth trian-
gular space before the sinuation ; anterior tarsi more strongly dilated than
in female.

Under bark of dead trees ; Scotland, Highlands, rare, Tay, Dec, and Moray districts
(Braemar, Rannoch, &c.); New Forest; Mr. Blatch and Mr. Horner have taken it in
Sherwood Forest ; according to Mulsant and Rey it is found in France in lichens,
moss, dead leaves, fungi, and old faggots, as well as in decaying trees.

From the dark variety of Q. eruentus the species is distinguished by
its narrower form, longer antenne, and by having only the margin of the
seventh segment of hind body testaceous ; it somewhat resembles small
immature specimens of Q. mesomelinus, hut may at once be known by the
light base of antennz and lighter legs, as well as by its narrower form
and by not having the thorax impressed at the sides.

Q. scitus, Gravy. A small and very distinct species which cannot
well be confounded with any other; black, shining, with the elytra
(except postero-external angles) and the apex of segments of hind body
reddish testaceous ; sometimes the elytra are entirely red, and occasionally
the whole of the insect is reddish with the head and base of segments of
hind body darker ; head moderately large, narrower than thorax ; antenne
rather long, entirely reddish testaceous, penultimate joints slightly trans-
verse ; thorax a little broader behind than elytra; elytra distinctly
longer than thorax, somewhat diffusely and rather strongly punctured ;
hind body plainly narrowed towards apex, more finely and _ thickly
punctured than elytra towards base, more sparingly behind ; legs reddish
testaceous. L. 6 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body as in the preceding
species.

Under bark and in the damp wood mould of various trees; rare; Chatham,
Cobham, Croydon, Richmond Park, Tonbridge (J. J. Walker, Champion, and Horner) ;
Birdbrook and Loughton, Essex (Power); Ripon (Waterhouse) ; Sherwood Forest
(Blatch and Horner); I have taken it in an old oak stump at Ulting, Essex, in company
with Q. fageti, Paromalus, Abreus, &e.

Q. cinctus, Payk. (impressus, Panz., marginellus, Marsh). Some-
what depressed, shining- black or pitchy black with the suture, apical
margin and reflexed side margins of elytra reddish testaceous ; head
rather large, not much narrower than thorax ; eyes black, variegated with
grey ; antenne moderately long with penultimate joints distinctly trans-
verse, entirely dark; thorax narrowed in front, rounded at base, not
broader than elytra; scutellum smooth, shining ; elytra about as long or
slightly longer than thorax, very finely punctured, with three series of
of from 7-8 pores besides the marginal series, one near suture, the second
with the anterior punctures often wanting, and the third just before

236 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Quedius.

shoulders ; hind body narrowed behind, more or less iridescent, rather
finely and not closely, but distinctly, punctured ; legs black, with the
tarsi and knees usually hghter. L. 6-8 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body much more
thickly punctured than the preceding, broadly and evidently sinuate in
the middle of apical margin with a smooth space before the sinuation,
sixth ventral segment very slightly sinuate with a nerrow smooth space
before sinuation reaching the apex of the preceding segment.

In haystack refuse, dung-heaps, moss, &c.; also running on roads and pathways in
early spring ; common and generally distributed throughout the kingdom.

Q- brevis, Er. Somewhat oblong and parallel-sided, rather short
and broad, shining pitchy black with the thorax often lighter, and the
elytra, apex of hind body and apical margin of segments reddish testa-
ceous ; head somewhat transverse, rather large, antennee moderate, entirely
red, with the penultimate joints transverse, “the tenth being a little longer
than the preceding ; thorax a little broader than elytra, narrowed i in front,
rounded behind, with the posterior angles very obtuse, with the usual
series of three punctures on front of dise wanting, and replaced by one
or two only ; scutellum smooth or almost smooth ; elytra transverse about
as long as, or almost shorter than, thorax, sparingly and rather strongly
punctured ; hind body rather short, somewhat narrowed behind, more
or less iridescent, rather finely, but distinctly, punctured ; legs reddish
testaceous. L. 5-5 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly and
angularly emarginate in middle of apical margin, with a smooth triangular
space before the emargination, sixth segment slightly sinuate.

In the nests of Formica rufa, and rarely of Formica fuliginosa; local; Chatham,
Plumstead, Erith, Hampstead, Bishops Wood, &e.; Glanvilles W ootton 5 Guestling,
near Hastings; Parkhurst Forest, Isle of Wight ; *Bew dley Forest ; Buddon Wood,

Leicestershire ; Tamworth ; Scarborough ; apparently rare further north ; Scotland,
very local, Dee district only (Braemar and Aviemore).

Section III. (Sub-Gen. Microsaurus, Steph )

This subgenus comprises only three species, all of which are rather
common, and are very easily distinguished from each other by the punc-
tuation of the scutellum and of the forehead between eyes. Q. molochinus
usually has the elytra reddish, and the variety with black elytra is un-
common and comparatively rarely met with; the close punctuation of
the elytra will at once separate them from the species belonging to the
preceding group.

I. Scutellum'smooth « . 2 2 2. si *y)% im 2 ee, OQURULIGINGSUS; IGians
IT. Seutellum punctured.
i. Elytra always black; forehead with several punctures
be tween eyes. . 6 6 ae . Q. TRistTIs, Grav.

ii. Elytra usually reddish, orreddish! brown ; forchead not
puietured between eyes 5) © 2 2 a ae Sos Oy aronocHinps Grave

Quedius. | STAPHYLINIDA, 237

Q. fuliginosus, Grav. (tistis, Gyll. nec Gray., Er., Thoms., &c.).
Entirely black, shining ; head large nearly as broad as thorax, suborbi-
cular or short oval with several large punctures, arranged transversely,
between eyes ; antennz moderately long, ferruginous, w ith the first joint
sometimes lighter, penultimate joints not transverse ; thorax narrowed
in front, as broad or rather broader behind than elytra, with base and
posterior angles rounded, and with two series of three punctures in each
on front of centre of disc ; scutellum smooth and shining, impunctate ;
elytra hardly as long as thorax, finely, thickly, and asperately punctured,
rather dull; hind body long, s somewhat parallel-sided, feebly narrowed
behind, rather finely and not quite as thickly punctured as elytra ; legs
black, with the tarsi and knees reddish. L. 9-11 mm.

Male with the seventh and sixth segments of the hind body strongly
and feebly sinuate in middle of apical margin respectively, with a smooth
triangular space before the sinuations.

At roots of grass, in moss, dead leaves, vegetable refuse, old faggots, &e. ; widely
distributed throughout England and Wales, but not so common in the southern districts

and Midlands as the following species; rarer further north ; Scotland, Lowlands, Solway
and Forth districts ; Ireland, near Armagh.

Q. tristis, Grav. (/rontalis, Er.). Extremely like the preceding,
but at once distinguished yy having the scutellum distinetly punctured ;
the elytra, too, are slightly longer, and the hind body i is more iridescent
and more closely punctured behind: Mulsant and Rey’s distinction, that
the forehead has six punctures transversely arranged between eyes (be sides
the juxta-ocular punctures), instead of four as in Q. fristis, is not to be
depended upon, as some specimens have three on one side and two only on
the other. L. 9-11 mm.

In moss, dead leaves, refuse, &¢e.; very common in the Midlands and southern
districts of England; apparently not found hitherto in the northern counties of
England, and rare in Scotland (Solway district)*; Ireland, Dublin, Armagh, Water-
ford, and probably common.

Q- molochinus, Grav. This species is closely allied to both the
preceding, and does not need a separate description ; as a rule it is easily
distinguished by its reddish or reddish brown elytra, but apart from this
character it may be at once distinguished from Q. fuliginosus by its
punctured scutellum, and from Q. ¢ristis by its shorter elytra, rather
narrower form, and by having no punctures between the eyes except the
ordinary juxta-ocular punctures ; the elytra are very variable in colour,
being black, brownish, reddish brown, or sometimes even reddish testa-
ceous ; in the male the fifth and sometimes the fourth ventral segments
of hind body are furnished at apex with smooth spaces, as well as the
sixth and seventh, the latter two being more or less strongly emarginate.
L. 9-11 mm.

* Tt is recorded in Murray’s catalogue as common” in Scotland, but this appears
to be in error.

238 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Quedius.

At roots of grass, in moss, under stones, &c., in damp and marshy places ; common
and generally distributed throughout the greater part of the kingdom; the black variety
has occurred at Southend, Rusper near Horsham, and other places.

In Dr. Sharp’s collection there is a variety with the elytra considerably
longer than in the type and rather more brightly coloured ; it has occurred
at Strood, Deal, and Lymington,

Section IV. (Sub-Gen. Sauridus, Muls. et Rey.)

The species belonging to this section are most of them moderate-sized
dark pitchy brown insects ; Q. picipes, however, in size and colour some-
what resembles Q. molochinus, from which it may be distinguished by its
more brightly coloured elytra and lighter legs; Q. nigriceps is easily
known by its general colour ; the three species Q. fumatus (= peltatus),
maurorufus, and umbrinus are often confused, but may be separated with-
out much difficulty by the sculpture of the elytra ; Q. scintillans is the
smallest species, and is usually classed with Q. boops and Q. auricomus
at the end of the genus ; apart, however, from the size of the eyes and
other differences of sculpture, pubescence, &e., it may at once be known
by the two large pores set transversely between the eyes at some distance
from the Juxta-ocular punctures. The section may be divided as follows:—

I. First joint of posterior tarsi elongate, evidently longer
than the last; antenne with all the joints longer
than broad ; species larger with red or reddish elytra.

i, Mhorax blacks: elytnasredss e.useutmmemncm nc me ate
ii. Thorax with sides broadly red, or entirely red; elytra
pitchy brown with sides lighter, brownish red, or red. Q. NIGRICEPS, Kr.

Il. First joint of posterior tarsi at most very slightly longer
than last, and usually only as long or even shorter;
species as a rule smaller * with the whole upper surface
pitch-black or pitch-brown, the elytra being sometimes
lighter.

i, Forehead with no large punctures between eyes except
the usual two near border of eyes ; antennz more or
less elongate.
1. Elytra dull with the intervals of the punctures
shagreened ; shape more fusiform; thorax broader
and more rounded at base, more narrowed in front Q. FUMATUS, Sleph.
2. Elytra shining with the intervals of the punctures
smooth ; shape less fusiform and more parallel ;
thorax less narrowed in front.
A. Elytra tinely and more or less thickly punctured Q. MAURORUFUS, Grav.
b. Elytra more or less strongly and coarsely pune-
tured.
a. Thorax and elytra pitchy black or brownish,
concolorousicm ei ue ene as 5 foie
b. Thorax with sides often obscurely reddish ;
elytra with margins and a humeral patch
yellowish'red.- S-=. 5 7. 0 « =) -) » Q) SULURADIS) aes

Q. prcorpEs, Mann.

Q. UMBRINUS, Er.

* Q. picipes is a larger species than any of the others; large specimens of Q. peltalus,
however, often equal the smaller specimens >! 202 /vs:0 5

Quedius.] STAPHYLINIDE. 239

ii. Forehead with two large setigerous punctures placed
transversely between eyes besides the juxta-ocular
punctures; antenne rather short . . . . . . Q. SCINTILLANS, Grav,

Q: picipes, Mann. (gracilicornis, Heer, variicolor, Nord.). Black,
shining, with the elytra bright red, and the hind body strongly iridescent ;
head rather large, almost as broad as thorax ; eyes only slightly project-
ing; antenne rather long, entirely red with the base often lighter, with
all the joints longer than broad ; thorax narrowed in front, about as broad
as elytra, with two dorsal series of punctures in front of dise consisting
of three in each about equally distant ; scutellum smooth and shining ;
elytra hardly as long as thorax, thickly, finely, and somewhat rugosely
punctured ; hind body strongly narrowed behind, rather finely and thickly
punctured towards base, a little less thickly behind, with rather long and
not very close pubescence; legs reddish testaceous, L. 8-10 mm.

Male with the sixth and seventh segments of hind body feebly sinuate
in middle of apical margins, with a smooth space (longitudinal in seventh
segment) before each sinuation.

In moss, dead leaves, fungi, &c.; sometimes in decayed wood and on the branches of
trees; rather common and generally distributed throughout the south of England and

the midland counties ; it appears to become rarer further north, and is not common in
Scotland, Solway, Tweed, Forth, and Clyde districts,

Q. nigriceps, Kr. (rujficollis, Steph. precox, Fauv.). Head blacks
thorax black or pitchy with the sides more or less broadly red, sometimes
entirely red, elytra pitchy brown with the sides often lighter, or entirely
reddish-brown or reddish, hind body pitchy, strongly iridescent, with
the apex of the segments more or less broadly reddish; head nearly as
broad as thorax, antenne rather long and slender, ferruginous with the
base lighter, with all the joints longer than broad; thorax narrowed in
front, hardly as broad as elytra, with two series of punctures on each side
of front of disc consisting of three in each ; scutellum smooth and shin-
ing ; elytra about as long as thorax finely, thickly, and somewhat rugosely
punctured ; hind body gradually and rather strongly narrowed to apex,
finely and thickly punctured towards base, more sparingly behind ; legs
red with the posterior cox darker, L. 63-8 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body plainly sinuate
in middle of apical margin, with a small smooth impression before the
sinuation; anterior tarsi more strongly dilated than in female.

In dead leaves ; local, but widely distributed in England, and in Scotland as far
north as the Moray district ; it is not uncommon in the London district, but, as a rule,
occurs very sparingly, and is rarer in the north; according to Mulsant and Rey it

occurs chiefly in fallen pine needles and is sometimes taken by beating pines; it also
has been taken in ants’ nests; it appears to be a rare species in France.

Q. fumatus, Steph. (peltatus, Er., precow, Heer nec Fauy.). Strongly
fusiform, much narrowed behind, shining black or pitchy, with the
elytra brownish, almost dull, hind body more or less iridescent ; head
considerably narrower than thorax, antenne rather long and slender,

240 STAPHYLINID A, [ Quedius.

pitchy red with the basal joints sometimes marked with black, penulti-
mate joints evidently longer than broad ; thorax rather broader at base
than elytra, suborbicular, strongly narrowed in front with the ordinary
two dorsal series of three punctures on front of disc ; scutellum smooth ;
elytra about as long as or a little longer than thorax, rather finely and
thickly punctured with the intervals of the punctures shagreened, giving
them a dull appearance ; hind body narrower than elytra, strongly and
gradually narrowed from base to apex, rather finely and not very closely
punctured ; legs reddish or pitchy red with the coxze and posterior femora
often darker. L. 6-65 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body rather deeply and
angularly excised with a smooth oblong triangular space before the
excision, sixth slightly sinuate with a small smooth space before sinuation ;
anterior tarsi more strongly dilated than in female.

In dead leaves; also under bark and in the trunks of old trees ; somewhat local, but not
uncommon, and widely distributed, in England; recorded by Bold as frequent in the
Northumberland district ; Dr. Sharp says that it is local in Scotland, among decaying
beech leaves, Solway and Forth districts only. :

. maurorufus, Grav. (acuwminatus, Fairm., modestus, Thoms.,
precox, Lac., Nord., Fairm., nec Heer et Fauv.). Less fusiform and more
parallel-sided than the preceding, shining pitch-brown with the head and
often the elytra darker; head narrower than thorax ; antenne rather
shorter and thicker than in Q. fumatus, brownish or ferruginous with the
first joint reddish testaceous, penultimate joints about as long as broad
the thorax is not broader than elytra and not strongly narrowed in front,
and the elytra are shining, thickly and somewhat rugosely punctured,
but with the interstices smooth and not shagreened ; the hind body is
moderately strongly narrowed behind, rather finely and thickly punctured
towards base, somewhat less thickly towards apex, more or less iridescent;
legs reddish testaceous. L. 6-65 mm.

Sometimes the whole upper surface is pitchy red with the head black,
or reddish testaceous with the head, dise of thorax, and base of segments
of hind body darker; the sides of the elytra are usually lighter than the
disc, and sometimes the suture is reddish.

Male characters much as in the preceding species, except that the
seventh ventral segment is not so strongly excised and more sinuate,

In dead Jeaves, at roots of grass, &e., in marshy places ; widely distributed and not
uncommon throughout England ; Scotland, not common, Solway, Tweed, and Forth
districts; Bold also records it from Tain, Ross-shire.

Q. umbrinus, Er. (maurorufus, Gyll., Mann., Nord., nee Gray.). Of
about the same size and shape as the preceding, pitchy black, shining,
with the elytra brownish and the sides lighter; in examples from
northern localities the whole upper surface is unicolorous pitchy black ; it
may be distinguished from both the preceding species by the much
coarser punctuation of the elytra and by its rather shorter and thicker
antenne, of which the penultimate joints are evidently, although not

FC —— ee. ee

Quedius. | STAPHYLINID . 241

strongly, transverse ; the sexual characters are much the same. L. 6-6}
mim.

In moss, under stones, &e., and also in rotten wood, especially in damp places ; not
common in England; Highgate; Birdbrook (Essex); Sydenham; Ilfracombe; Dudley;
Bristol; Shewsbury; Repton; Manchester district; Northumberland district, rare,
in woods; Scotland, common, Solway, Forth, Tay, Dee, Sutherland, and probably all
the other districts; Ireland, Killarney. ;

This species appears to be chiefly found in wooded and hilly or moun-

tainous districts.

Q: suturalis, Kies. (marginalis, Thoms., humeralis, Steph.). Pitchy-
brown, shining, sometimes altogether or in part slightly reddish, with the
head black, and the suture, posterior margin, and a longer or shorter
humeral patch on elytra yellowish or reddish testaceous, as well as the apex
of segments of hind body ; sometimes the elytra are almost entirely testa-
-eeous ; head rounded, narrower than thorax, antenne rather long and
slender, lighter or darker reddish-testaceous, with the base usually lighter,
penultimate joints not transverse, about as long as broad ; thorax narrowed
in front, hardly as broad at base as elytra, with the usual series of three
punctures on front of disc; elytra about as long as, or slightly longer
than thorax, distinctly, rather thickly, and somewhat rugosely punctured
(the punctuation differing somewhat in different specimens); hind body
gradually and strongly narrowed behind, rather finely and not very closely
punctured, except at the base of the -first segments; legs testaceous.
L. 6 mm.

In moss, dead leaves, &e.; local; London district, not uncommon; Chatham,
Enfield, Lee, Eltham, Blackheath, Croydon, Putney, Mickleham, Loughton, Carshal-
ton, Sanderstead ; Dorking ; Whitstable; Margate; Hastings; Littlington, Sussex ;
Repton; Leamington ; Manchester district (Whatcote, Bowden, &c.); Northumber-
land district, rare ; Scotland, Lowlands, rare, Clyde and Forth districts.

Q. scintillans, Grav. (fuscipes, W. C.). A small species, which
might for some reasons be more advantageously classed with the next
section, and is in some respects intermediate; the eyes, however, are
decidedly less in size and less prominent than in Raphirus ; shining
black bronze, with the elytra lighter, and the hind body duller; head
narrower than thorax, rounded, with two large punctures between eyes
besides the juxta-ocular punctures; antenne short and rather thick,
pitchy-red or brownish with the first joint lighter, penultimate joints
transverse ; thorax about as broad as elytra, together with head very
shining, sometimes obscurely greenish-bronze ; scutellum smooth and
shining, occasionally with two or three punctures ; elytra a little longer
than thorax, not closely and somewhat coarsely punctured ; hind body
rather strongly narrowed behind, finely and thickly punctured and rather
dull, thickly pubescent, and more or less iridescent, with the apical
margin of the hinder segments more or less obscurely brownish ; legs
testaceous with the coxe and often the tibiz, and base of femora, darker
L. 5. mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body feebly and

VOL. 1. R

242 STAPHYLINID2. [ Quedius

angularly sinuate in middle of apical margin, with a narrow oblong
smooth space (almost furrowed) before the sinuation.

In haystack and other vegetable refuse, dead leaves, &c. ; also under bark in damp
places; local, and much commoner in the south than the north; London district, not
uncommon; Strood, Croydon, Mickleham, Putney, Reigate, Cowley, West Wickham,
Maidstone, Bearsted; Wicken Fen; Littlington; Winchester; Hastings; Hove,
Brighton; Needwood Forest, Staffordshire; Knowle, near Birmingham (flying to
light, W. G. Blatch) ; Atherstone; Northumberland district, very rare; Scotland, .
rare, Solway, Tweed, Forth, and Tay districts.

Section V. (Sub-Gen. Raphirus, Stephens.)

The species belonging to this section are characterized by their very
large and prominent eyes ; six of them are found in Britain; of these Q.
auricomus is very distinct; some of the others, however, present con-
siderable difficulties, and require careful study ; we appear to possess one
or two of the varieties, which, on the Continent, are regarded as distinct
species.

I. Scutellum smooth ; hind body with very distinct golden
pubescence; size small (habitat in moss in waterfalls
and running streams). . . .. .

II. Seutellum punctured and pubescent.

i. Head smaller, subovate or slightly orbicular, dis-
tinctly narrower than thorax at base; thorax evi-
dently narrowed in front.
1. Elytra dark; hind body dark, unicolorous with
very thick and fine uniform pubescence.
A. Size larger; elytra dull, scarcely, if at all,
mane 6G iG igo oo 6 ab oe
B. Size smaller; elytra more shiny, evidently
somewhat metallic . . . . . . + « « -
2. Elytra rather bright bronze, often yellowish ; hind
body clothed with somewhat variegated grey pubes-
cence, which often appears to be arranged more or
lessinines “=| 2) 5% 3 5. 2. ee. QUSEMImNEUSh Scent.
ii. Head larger, subtransverse, almost, if not quite as
broad/as thorax at base; thorax scarcely at all nar-
rowed in front.
1. Thorax red or pitchy red; size larger. . . . . Q. FULVICOLLIS, Steph.
2. Thorax dark; sizesmaller. . . . . . . . . Q. BooPs, Grav.

Q. aurtcomus, Kies.

Q. RUFIPES, Grav.

Q. aTreNvATUS, Gyll.

The males in this section have the seventh ventral segment of hind
body broadly, angularly, and rather deeply emarginate at apex, with
a rather long triangular smooth space (sometimes almost furrowed) before
the emargination; the sixth segment is almost always simple; the
anterior tarsi are considerably more strongly dilated in the male than in
the female.

Q@- auricomus, Kies. (tomentosomaculatus, Cor.). Moderately
narrowed in front and behind, but more parallel-sided than any of the
allied species, shining black bronze, with the elytra often lighter, hind

Quedius.] STAPHYLINID. 243

body with patches of long golden pubescence on each side of the seg-
ments, presenting the appearance of interrupted lines stretching along
each side of the whole hind-body; head large, eyes very large and
prominent ; antenne entirely testaceous, short, very slightly thickened,
with the penultimate joints about as long as broad ; thorax narrowed in
front, almost broader at base than elytra, with the usual two dorsal series
of three punctures in front; scutellum smooth and shining ; elytra about
as long as thorax, with the suture raised, especially behind, rather
strongly and not thickly punctured; hind body rather long, finely and
rather thickly punctured, and much duller than the front parts ; under
surface with golden pubescence ; legs testaceous. L. 4-5 mm.

This species appears to occur only in damp moss wetted by running
water, especially in waterfalls ; very local, but often taken in numbers
where it occurs ; not recorded from the London district or the south of
England : Barmouth, Llangollen, and other localities in Wales ; Matlock ;
Northumberland district, banks of Irthing, very rare ; Scotland, local,
Solway, Tweed, Clyde, and Tay districts.

Q. rufipes, Grav. (semiobscurus, Marsh, nec Er.). Rather strongly
narrowed in front and behind, head and thorax shining black, elytra
and hind body dark, duller than the front parts, the latter with thick
uniform greyish pubescence ; head subovate, evidently narrower than
thorax at base; antenne moderately long and rather slender, entirely
testaceous or reddish testaceous, with the penultimate joints as long as
broad in female, slightly longer in male ; thorax as broad, or apparently
a little broader than elytra, strongly narrowed in front, with the usual two
dorsal series of three punctures in each on front of disc ; scutellum pubes-
cent, thickly and finely punctured, dull; elytra about as long as thorax,
finely and closely pubescent, and very finely punctured or shagreened ;
hind body gradually and strongly narrowed behind, very finely and
thickly punctured, more or less iridescent ; legs reddish testaceous, with
the posterior cox darkened. L. 6-7 mm.

In moss, dead leaves, haystack refuse, &e.; widely distributed and rather common
in the south of England, London district, and Midlands; rarer further north ; North-
umberland district, sea-coast near Hartley and South Shields, not common; Scotland,
Lowlands, Solway and Forth districts only ; Ireland, near Dublin and Waterford.

Q. attenuatus, Gyll. Considerably smaller than the preceding
species, which it very closely resembles in form and general appearance ;
black or dark pitchy black, with the elytra slightly but evidently
metallic,* hind body rather dull and clothed with a uniform dull greyish
pubescence ; head suborbicular, evidently narrower than thorax at base ;
antenne entirely testaceous, a little more thickened than in the preceding
species, with the penultimate joints subtransverse ; thorax as in Q.
rufipes ; elytra slightly shorter, more shining, more metallic, and a little

* In continental specimens the elytra appear sometimes to be entirely brownish

red or even red, =

R 2

244 STAPHYLINIDA. [ Quedius.

more distinctly sculptured ; hind body strongly narrowed behind, very
finely and thickly punctured; legs testaceous, posterior coxe darker.
L. 5-6 mm.

In moss, flood refuse, dead leaves, &e.; generally in marshy places; local; London
district, not uncommon, Croydon, Gravesend, Wimbledon, Barnes, Egham, Tonbridge,
&e.; Hastings; Tewkesbury; Coleshill and Knowle, near Birmingham ; Repton ;
Scarborough; Manchester; Northumberland district, not uncommon; Scotland,
Lowlands, common, Solway, Forth, and Tay districts.

V. pictipennis, Heer (nee Scriba). Somewhat less fusiform than
the type, almost subparallel, with the head larger and the hind body less
narrowed behind ; head more transverse, and almost as broad as thorax
at base; thorax less narrowed in front with the anterior angles usually
pitehy red ; elytra shorter and slightly less finely punctured ; hind body
rather duller and less iridescent ; posterior tarsi a little shorter.

In Dr. Sharp’s collection there is a long series of this variety, all from
Scotland; it is considered by Mulsant and Rey and others to be
a separate species ; as, however, these authors say of it “ Elle ressemble
infiniment a Vattenwafus,” and as Q. attenwatus seems to present several
shades of gradation of colour and length of elytra, it appears best to leave
it for the present as at most a constant variety.

Q. semizneus, Steph. (semzobseurus, Ev. nec Marsh, proximus,
Kx.). Very closely allied to the two preceding species, but distinguished
by its light-coloured elytra which are bright bronze or yellowish, and
especially by the pubescence of the hind body which is greyish, very
thick and close, and often presents the appearance of being arranged in
lines or patches; at the base of segments 2-4 there are two or three
impressed dark velvety patches which are sometimes rather obscurely
marked; it is smaller than Q. rujipes, with the antenne a little shorter ;
the sculpture of the elytra and hind body is very fine, evidently finer
than in Q. attenuatus, and resembling that of Q. rufipes. L. 5-6 mm.

In moss, haystack refuse, &e., often under stones: it is often found by the sea at
the roots of long grass or rushes not far from the shore; London district, rather com-
mon, Lee, Barnes, Dulwich, Wimbledon, Gravesend ; Lowestoft; Hunstanton; Deal;
Kingsgate; Shipley, near Horsham; Hastings; Weymouth; Swansea ; Birmingham
district; Cannock Chase; Shrewsbury ; Needwood Forest ; Liverpool ; Manchester ;
Northumberland district, chiefly on the sea-coast, not uncommon; Scotland, local,
Lowlands, Solway district ; Ireland, near Waterford.

Q: fulvicollis, Steph. Of about the same size as the preceding,
sometimes a little smaller ; head large, almost as broad as thorax at base,
black, shining; antenne entirely testaceous, moderately long, with
penultimate joints longer than broad in male, about as long as broad in
female; thorax reddish testaceous, pitchy red or pitchy brown, not so
much narrowed in front as in the two preceding species; scutellum
punctured and pubescent ; elytra about as long as thorax, brownish or
reddish-brown, usually slightly metallic, finely and rugosely punctured,
the punctuation being intermediate between that of Q. aftenwatus and

Quedius. | STAPHYLINIDS®. 245

Q. semicencus ; hind body gradually and rather strongly narrowed behind,
more or less iridescent, very thickly and finely punctured and pubescent,
the pubescence being uniform ; legs testaceous, with femora and posterior
tibie usually, in part at least, darker. L. 5-6 mm.

In moss, vegetable refuse, flood rubbish, &c,: a northern species ; rare in England ;
Constantine, near Preston Marsh, Lancashire; Northumberland district, in woods ;
Scotland lecal and not common, although rather widely distributed ; in damp moss,
Lowlands and Highlands, Solway, Tweed, Forth, Clyde, Tay, and Moray districts ;
recorded by the late Mr. W. Garneys from Repton, near Burton-on-Trent, but it is
possible he mistook for it a variety of Q. attenwatus, which is common in that locality ;
the species is easily distinguished by its somewhat stout form, large head, and usually
red thorax,

Q. boops, Grav. The smallest of all the British species of the
genus ; shining black, with the elytra often brownish ; elytra and hind
body clothed with rather scanty greyish pubescence ; head very large with
eyes very large and prominent, about as broad as thorax at base ; antennze
entirely testaceous, scarcely thickened towards apex, with penultimate
joints longer than broad in male, about as long as broad in female ; thorax
searcely narrowed in front ; scutellum sparingly punctured and pubescent ;
elytra about as long as thorax, moderately strongly and somewhat
rugosely punctured, shining pitchy black or pitchy brown; hind body
more or less strongly narrowed behind, scarcely iridescent, finely and
thickly punctured, more sparingly on centre and at apex of each segment ;
legs testaceous, with the posterior cox, and sometimes the posterior
femora and intermediate and posterior tibix, darker. L. 443 mm.

In haystack and other vegetable refuse, in moss, at roots of grass in marshy places,
under stones, &c.; common and generally distributed throughout the kingdom,

QUEDIONUCHUS, Sharp.

This genus has been formed by Dr. Sharp (Biologia Cent. Am.
Staphylinidey, p. 336) to include several Central American species, some
undescribed Japanese forms, and our well-known Quedius levigatus ;
one of its chief characters lies in the strongly spined posterior femora ;
in some of the exotic species these spines are abnormally long; Dr.
Sharp says that ‘the genus is of interest by the fact that it is the
nearest approach made by the Quediina to the genus Philonthus ; indeed
in the form of the head, neck, and eyes, the obliterated margin of the
gene, and the less developed and less infolded side margins of the pro-
thorax, it approaches very closely to some of the Staphylinina. Its nearest
allies in the genus Quedius are Q. impressus and Q. capucinus. All the
species of Quedionuchus are sub-cortical in their habits ; and all of them
have the usual diffuse punctuation of the wing cases absent, the surface
being smooth (except at the lateral margins) and bearing only a few serial
setigerous punctures.”

Q. levigatus, Gyll. (levipennis, Duf., longipennis, Mann.). De-
pressed, somewhat parallel, shining black, with the elytra more or less

246 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Quedionuchus.

castaneous ; head transverse orbicular, antenne rather short, brownish
with the three first joints red, joints 5-10 strongly transverse ; thorax
slightly transverse scarcely narrowed in front, with two oblique series
in front, consisting of three punctures each, the hind ones approximate,
and the others diverging from these ; elytra longer than thorax, a little
longer than broad, depressed near suture, quite impunctate, or furnished
with two obsolete series of four punctures in each, one near suture, and
the other near middle of disc ; hind body somewhat parallel, finely and
sparingly punctured, more sparingly behind, shining black, somewhat
iridescent, with the greater part of seventh segment, and the apical
margin of the preceding ones more or less broadly, testaceous; legs
reddish testaceous, posterior femora strongly spined beneath. L. 7-8 mm.

Male with the sixth and seventh ventral segments of hind body
slightly sinuate at apex, with a smooth triangular space before sinuation ;
anterior tarsi very strongly dilated.

Under bark of decaying Scotch fir; Scotland, Highlands, not uncommon, Tay,
Argyle, Dee, and Moray districts.

STAPHYLININA.

Dr. Sharp (l.c. p. 370) defines this group as having the “ superior line
of the prothorax deflexed to the under surface at the front angle ;
inferior line not continued on to the front aspect of the thorax, and
usually united with the superior line behind the prosternum.” The
antenne are inserted on the anterior margin of the front, inside the base
of the mandibles, but distant from each other; the head is usually large,
especially in the male; the thorax is, as a rule, square or oblong, very
seldom much narrowed in front, often thickly punctured, sometimes,
however, punctured after a definite plan, as in Philonthus; the lateral
margin appears to be double ; the legs, as a rule, are rather short, ana
the tarsi are very often dilated, especially in the males; our genera may
be distinguished as follows :—

I. Maxillary palpi with fourth joint shorter than third.
i. Mesosternum not carinate ; thorax transverse ; inter-
mediate cox plainly distant.
1. Intermediate and posterior tarsi not dilated ; head

and thorax glabrous. . . Creopui.us, Mannh.
2. Intermediate and posterior tar Si ‘somewhat dilated ;
head and thorax densely pubescent. . . . Emus, Curtis.

. Mesosternum carinate longitudinally ; thorax sub-

quadrate ; intermediate cox moderately separated Leisrorropuvs, Perty.

II. Maxillary palpi with fourth joint equal to, or longer

than, third.*
i. Ligula emarginate; metasternum terminating be-

tween the posterior coxe in a slightly projecting

emarginate or reflexed lobe.
1. Intermediate coxal cavities separated by mesoster-

num ; hind body comparatively short . . . . STapHyLinus, Linné.

* S. cesareus and S. erythropterus appear to be exceptions; the character is not
altogether a satisfactory one, but will in most cases be found practically useful.

Staphylinina. ] STAPHYLINIDE, 24

N

2. Intermediate coxal cavities ee contiguous ; hind
body very long. . . . Ocrrvs, Er.
ii. Ligula entire; metasternum | terminating Retween
the posterior coxe in a strongly projecting and
deeply incised lobe.
1. First joint of posterior tarsi as long as or longer
than fifth joint.
A. Last joint of maxillary palpi slender and acute. Purtontaus, Curtis,
B. Last joint of maxillary palpi flattened, elongate-
oval, more convex on the inner side. Carius, Steph.
2. First joint of posterior tarsi shorter than fifth
joint, joints 1-4 decreasing gradually in length . Acronrus, Fuuvel.

CREOPHILUS, Mannerheim.

In the Munich catalogue and Duvivier’s supplement to the same
sixteen species are enumerated as belonging to this genus ; some of
these, however, are varieties of other species, and, according to Dr.
Sharp, the genus consists of eight or nine species, six of which are con-
fined to the Antipodes and New Guinea, a seventh is found in South
America, and the eighth is widely distributed in both the eastern and
western hemispheres ; this latter is our common species C. mawillosus,
which appears to have become somewhat modified as it has spread more
widely over the world; Fauvel unites Creophilus with Emus, but Dr.
Sharp points out (Biol. Cent. Am. Staphylinide, p. 370) that this is
wrong, as there are important differences in the thorax, which are corro-
borated by other minor distinctions.

Cc. maxillosus, L. A large, robust species, head and thorax black
very shining, elytra black with a broad band of thick grey pubescence,
third, fourth, and fifth ventral segments of hind body completely
covered with long and thick greyish-white pubescence, which is more
or less scattered over the upper surface, being more distinct at the sides
of the fourth and fifth segments ; head variable, sometimes very large,
considerably broader than thorax and very transverse in male, with the
mandibles much developed, in female more orbicular and narrower than
thorax ; antenne black, short, clavate, with joints 7-10 very strongly
transverse ; thorax transverse, with disc quite impunctate, considerably
narrowed behind; scutellum black; elytra transverse, a little longer
than thorax, finely and thickly punctured with four or five large seti-
gerous punctures on each ; hind body somewhat rounded at sides, thickly
and rugosely punctured ; legs black. LL. 16-19 mm.

Male with seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply and sharply
excised in middle of apical margin.

In dead animals, birds, fish, &c., and offal generally ; common throughcut the
kingdom.

The var. ciliaris, Steph., has the scutellum, apex of elytra, and
margins of segments and apex of hind body clothed with golden

248 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Creophilus.

pubescence ; it has usually been regarded as confined to the north, where
it has oceurred rarely in the Tweed, Clyde, and Argyle districts of
Scotland, but I have a record from Mr. Champion of its occurrence at
Deal.

EMUS, Curtis.

This genus contains three or four species, one occurring in New
Guinea and another in Sumatra ; our single species is extremely rare in
Britain, and may be at once known by the peculiar appearance caused by
the dense yellow and black pile with which it is clothed, which gives it
rather the appearance of a large humble bee, especially when flying.

E. hirtus, L. A large and stout species, densely and rugosely
punctured, clothed with thick pilose pubescence, rather dull velvety
black, with the under side somewhat violaceous, the head, the greater
part of thorax, the three last dorsal segments of hind body, and the
sides of the fourth and greater part of fifth ventral segments clothed
with very thick golden pile ; the apical portion of the elytra is variegated
with ashy pubescence; head variable in size ; antenne black, rather
strongly thickened but not clavate, with joints 6-10 strongly transverse ;
thorax transverse narrowed behind, thickly and rugosely punctured with
the central line raised, and not glabrous as in Creophilus ; elytra scarcely
as long as thorax; hind body feebly rounded at sides; legs black,
pubescent. L. 18-24 mm.

Male with head much larger than in female, and with seventh ventral
segment of hind body strongly sinuate in middle of apical margin ;
posterior trochanters with a strong curved hook, posterior tibie a little
sinuate before apex.

In or about fresh cow-dung; sometimes on the wing; very rare; Sheerness
(Haward); Chatham (Chaney) ; New Forest (G. Lewis): in the latter locality it
appears to be found at intervals, and probably occurs there every year in small

numbers. Curtis records it from the New Forest, Parley Heath, Beachamweill
(Norfolk), Guildford, Coombe Wood (Surrey), and Devonshire.

LEISTOTROPHUS, Perty.

This genus comprises about fourteen species, which are widely dis-
tributed, some of them occurring in North America, India, Brazil, Japan,
Java, &e.; there are two British species; a specimen of the North
American L. cingulatus was taken by the Rev. H. Matthews in North
Devon in 1874, but this was evidently an importation, as is remarked
by the Rev. A. Matthews, who records it im Ent. Mo. Mag. xiv. 38.

1. Palpi and legs (except base of femora) red; size larger . . L. NeEBULOsus, F.
2. Palpi and legs black; sizesmaller . . . . . . . . . DL. Murinus, L.

L. nebulosus, F. Black, thickly punctured throughout, some-

what metallic, upper surface clothed entirely witha thick greyish-brown

Leistotrophus. | STAPHYLINIDE. 249

or brownish pubescence, variegated with dark patches, so that the upper
surface appears brown; head about as broad as thorax, transverse,
antenne with basal joints red, darker towards apex, penultimate joints
moderately transverse ; thorax about as broad as long, sinuately con-
tracted behind, anterior angles prominent ; scutellum velvety black with
central line and anterior angles light ; elytra a little longer and evidently
broader than thorax; hind body- narrowed behind with two longi-
tudinal rows of large dark patches, presenting the appearance of cavities,
which become obsolete or confused on the hinder segments ; under side
with silvery pubescence on chest and at base of each segment of hind
body ; legs reddish testaceous, with the cox, trochanters, and base of
femora black. LL. 13-18 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body angularly excised
with the apex of angle membranous.

In carcases, dung, putrid fungi, &c.; often on the wing, especially on hot days in
autumn; not uncommon, and widely distributed throughout the London, Southern,

and Midland districts ; not common in the North of England or in Scotland, although
it occurs in various localities.

ZL. murinus, L. Much smaller than the preceding, and rather more
parallel-sided ; it is easily distinguished by the black legs and palpi, and
by the fact that the apex of the hind body has on its upper surface two
bands of silvery pubescence, similar to that which is seen on the under
surface in both species ; the male characters of the hind body are much
the same as in L. nedulosus. L. 10-12 mm.

In carcases, dung, &c.; often on the wing; commoner in some districts than the
preceding, but in others not found so frequently ; London district, common ; Deal ;
Hastings ; New Forest; Granvilles Wootton (abundant) ; Devonshire ; Swansea ;
Knowle, near Birmingham; Cannock Chase; Repton, Burton-on-Trent; Liverpool
(rare) ; Northumberland district. “ of very rare occurrence” (Bold) ; Scotland,
common, Solway, Tweed, Forth, and Sutherland districts.

STAPHYLINUS, Linné.

There seems considerable difference of opinion as to the division of
this genus; some authorities include Ocypus and all its sub-genera
(Tasgius, &c.), while others (Thomson, Mulsant and Rey, &e.) divide
it into three or four sub-genera; our six species, according to these
latter, are to be referred to three genera, Trichoderma (to include
S. pubescens), Staphylinus, containing S. erythropterus and cesareus, and
Platydracus comprising the other three: the first of these sub-genera
does not appear to have much weight, but it is likely that the other two
may have to be separated as distinct genera, in which case, as Dr. Sharp
remarks, it will be better to apply Linné’s name of Staphylinus to the
insects placed by Thomson under Platydracus, as they are much more
numerous ; Platydracus is separated from Staphylinus chiefly on the
form of the head, which is always enlarged behind and narrowed in
front, instead of being subquadrangular, and somewhat transverse, with

250 STAPHYLINIDA, [Staphylinus.

the angles rounded, and the sides parallel; in its widest sense the genus
comprises upwards of two hundred species, which are widely distributed
over the continental regions of the Old and New Worlds ; there are only
two European representatives of the genus Staphylinus as constituted by
Thomson, both of which are British.

I. Upper surface clothed with thick brown, somewhat varie-
gated, pubescence; chest and under side of hind reas
covered with bright silvery white pubescence . . S. PUBESCENS, De G.
II. Upper surface of head, thorax, and elytra cyaneous ;
under surface of hind body dark, with thin greyish
pubescence. S. FULVIPES, Scop.
IlI. Upper surface black, elytra red ; under surface of hind
body with yellowish’ pubescence at base of segments
only.
1% Head trapezoidal, narrowed in front ; size smaller.
1. Antenne red, at least at base ; head and thorax black,
not metallic . . 5 Re, ae ele 12) 6 ns) SUSTERCORARTUR SOL:
Antenne entirely pitchy ; head and thorax bronzed. S. LATEBRICOLA, Grav.
ania subquadrangular, transverse, with angles rounded.
“ie Thorax unicolorous black; scutellum covered with
yellow pubescence . . . S.ERYTHROPTERUS, L.
2. Thorax black with a narrow ‘posterior border and
two patches near anterior angles of yellow pubes-
cence ; scutellum black, except at front angles . . S. CESAREUS, Ceder,

S. pubescens, De G. (Trichoderma pubescens, Thoms.). Very like
Leistotrophus nebulosus in size and general colouring, black, with the upper
surface clothed with a somewhat variegated greyish-brown pubescence,
under surface, especially of hind body, with thick close silvery pubescence ;
head bronzed, punctuation somewhat rugose, coarser on head and thorax
than on the elytra and hind body ; head about as broad as thorax, an-
tenne dark, variegated with testaceous, fourth joint subglobose, 6-10
transverse ; thorax subquadrate, somewhat narrowed behind, where it is
distinctly narrower than elytra ; scutellum bronze with two large velvety
black patches ; elytra a little longer than thorax; hind body with a
more or less distinct longitudinal band of yellowish pubescence running
down the centre of upper surface ; legs dark, femora with a rather broad
testaceous ring Just before apex. L. 11-13 mm.

Male with seventh ventral segment of hind body circularly sinuate
in middle of apical margin with a triangular smooth space before
sinuation.

In careases, hotbeds, &c.; local; London district, not common, Blackheath, Forest
Hill, Belvedere ; Hastings ; Suanvoats Sutton Park, Birmingham ; Repton ; commoner
further North; York; Scarborough; Liverpool, common on Wallasey sand-
hills; Manchester; Hartlepool; Northumberland district; Scotland, common, Low-

lands, Solway, Tweed, Forth, Clyde, Tay, and Moray districts ; Ireland, near Belfast,
Dublin (common), and Armagh.

S. fulvipes, Scop. (Plafydracus fulvipes, Thoms.). A very distinct

species, which may at once be known by the cyaneous colour of the head,
thorax, and elytra, and the transverse bands of silvery-yellow pubescence

Staphylinus. | STAPHYLINIDE. 251

at the base of the sixth and seventh segments of hind body ; head
hardly as broad as thorax, narrowed in front, thickly, and rather strongly
punctured ; antennz longer and more slender than in our other species
of the sub-genus Platydracus, dark, with the first two or three, and the
last one or two, joints red, penultimate joints slightly transverse ; thorax
subquadrate, with anterior angles almost right angles and posterior angles
rounded, thickly and rather strongly punctured ; elytra about as long as
thorax, finely, thickly, and somewhat rugosely punctured ; hind body
dull black, except for the bands of pubescence before referred to, finely
punctured ; legs red, with coxe dark. L. 12-14 mm.

Male with seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly and angularly
emarginate in middle of apical margin, with the lateral lobes broadly
truncate.

In moss, and at roots of grass, generally in chalky places ; rare ; Folkestone; New

Forest ; Scotland, very rare, Dee and Clyde districts: Mr. G. Lewis has taken it in
larger numbers than any other collector, at any rate, of late years.

S. stercorarius, Ol. (Platydracus stercorarius, Thoms.). Black,
with the elytra red, and the hind body above and below furnished with
bands of silvery pubescence ; head and thorax thickly and rather strongly
punctured, the former as broad as thorax, slightly narrowed in front, the
latter subquadrate, with anterior angles almost right angles, and posterior
angles rounded, with a more or less obsolete smooth central line;
antennz ferruginous, or dark, with the three or four basal joints red,
joints 7-10 strongly transverse; elytra about as long as thorax, rather
finely punctured ; hind body finely punctured, black, with a patch of
silvery pubescence on each side of the basal segments, and two dentate
bands of the same on the fifth and sixth segments, chest and segments
of hind body at base with pubescence of the same character ; legs red,
with coxe dark. L. 12-13 mm.

Male with seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly sinuate with
a smooth space before sinuation.

In carcases, dung, dung-heaps, &e., but mostly found on the wing or running in
pathways ; not common, but very widely distributed; Sheerness, Whitstable, Black-
heath, Caterham, Putney, Addington; Deal; Hastings; Glanvilles Wootton ; Isle of
Wight ; Bournemouth ; Croyd, near Barnstaple, Devon; Swansea ; Bristol ; Repton ;
Matlock ; Hykeham, near Lincoln ; Lincoln ; Liverpool ; Holy Island ; South Shields (a

fine series taken by Mr. Bold “ in nest of a Myrmica’’) ; Scotland, local, Lowlands,
Solway, Clyde, Tweed, Forth, Tay, Moray, and ‘Sutherland districts.

S. latebricola, Grav. (7 upicola, Kies., Platydracus latebricola,
Thoms.). Very like the preceding in size, shape, and general appear-
ance, but easily distinguished by having the head and thorax distinctly
bronzed, and the antennze entirely pitchy black ; the head and thorax
are somewhat more coarsely punctured, and the pubescence of the hind
body is less silvery, and somewhat yellowish, and also more sparing on
the apical segments ; the ventral segments have each of them a band of
pubescence more or less marked at base ; legs red, with all the coxas,

252 STAPHYLINIDS. [ Staphylinus.

and anterior trochanters, black; the male has the seventh ventral
segment of hind body angularly emarginate and not sinuate. ~ L. 12—
13 mm.

In moss, under stones, &c., sometimes in company with Formica rufa; rare;
Faversham, Caterham, Woking, Box Hill, Reigate; Hastings; New Forest (in moss
at root of tree, and in sphagnum, May, 1886); Plymouth (C. G. Bignell); Llan-
gollen; Bewdley Forest ; Sutton Park, Birmingham ; Northumberland district, very
rare, ‘‘Twizell and Hetton Hall, Belford;’ Scotland, very rare, Tweed, Tay, and
Sutherland districts.

S. erythropterus, L. Dull black, with the elytra red, the front
of the head, and the scutellum, clothed with golden pubescence, and the
tifth, sixth, and seventh segments, and sometimes the second furnished
with a patch of the same on each side ; the apical ventral segments have
also a band at base; head a little broader than thorax, thickly and
rugosely punctured ; antenne red, with intermediate joints more or less
obscure, sometimes only the two or three basal joints and the apical one
being red, penultimate joints slightly transverse ; thorax subquadrate, a
little longer than broad, somewhat narrowed behind, where it is evidently
narrower than elytra, anterior angles almost right angles, but blunt,
posterior angles rounded, thickly and rugosely punctured, with an obsolete
central raised line ; elytra hardly as long as thorax, finely, thickly, and
rugosely punctured ; hind body more finely punctured than elytra, with
sides somewhat rounded; legs red, with coxe dark. L. 13-16 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment rather strongly, sixth very
feebly, sinuate on apical margin.

Under stones, in moss, &c.; local; apparently commoner in Scotland and Ireland
than in England; not recorded from the London district ; New Forest (in sphagnum,
May, 1886); Glanvilles Wootton; Devon; Swansea; Sutton Park ; Cannock Chase ;
Repton; York; Searborough; Manchester; Northumberland district; Scotland,
Lowlands, common, Solway, Clyde, Tweed, Forth, Tay, Dee, Moray, and Sutherland
districts; Ireland, Belfast, Dublin, Teelin Bay Donegal, Armagh (common), &e.

S. czesareus, Ceder. Very like the preceding, but larger and easily
distinguished by the dark seutellum, the patches of golden pubescence
on the anterior angles of thorax and the hind border of the same, and
the fact that each segment of the hind body, both dorsal and ventral,
has a patch of pubescence of the same colour and character on either
side, which is often obsolete on the apical segments, and is more pro-
nounced on the basal ones ; the thorax also is more square, and broader
and more paralled-sided than in S. erythropterus; the sexual characters
appear to be identical. L. 14-20 mm, -

Under stones, clods of earth, &c., often on pathways and on the wing; not un-
common; commoner in the south than in the north, and apparently abundant in
Ireland in some localities; London district, generally distributed ; Hastings; Isle of
Wight; Swanage; Instow, North Devon; Exeter; Birmingham district, but
apparently rare in the Midlands; Liverpool (rare, J. W. Ellis); Manchester (general,
at roots of trees, J. Chappell); Northumberland district (not of frequent occurrence,
Bold); Scotland, local, Lowlands, Solway, Forth, Tay, and Argyle districts ; Ireland,
Dublin, Armagh, Belfast, &e.

bo
oe)

Ocypus. | STAPHYLINIDA.

OCYPUS, Erichson.

This genus comprises some of the largest and finest of the Staphy-
linide ; it contains, at present, about eighty species, which are chiefly
found in Europe and the parts of Africa and Asia adjacent ; several,
however, occur in Ceylon, Cuba, the Canary Islands, &c.: the differences
between Ocypus and Staphylinus are very slight, and by some authors
they are united ; the genus, however, is so well known that it is better
to keep it separate if possible ; there are ten British species, which may
be distinguished as follows :—

I. Mandibles strong, with a tooth on the middle of
oe internal margin.
. Last joint of labial palpi oblong-ovate, truncate
or subtruncate at apex ; last joint “of mi axillary palpi
somewhat fusiform or cylindrical in both sexes.
1, Anterior tibiae more or less spinose on their
external margin; head as broad as, or broader
than, thorax; upper surface black or cyaneous;
legs dark. (Sub-Gen. Goerius, Steph.)
A. Upper surface black.
a. Elytra as long as thorax; upper surface
quite dull, epouely finely punctured ;
size very large. - » - « QO. OLENS, Aili.
b. Elytra shorter than, thorax; head and
thorax somewhat shining with “punctuation
close, but distinct; size moderate. . . . O.stMiuts, F.
B. Upper surface cyaneous . . O. cyaneEus, Payk.
2. Anterior tibie simply pubescent 0 on “their” ex-
ternal margin; head narrower than, or at most
only as broad as, thorax.
A. Legs red; upper surface black . . . . . O. BRUNNIPES, F,
B. Legs black or pitechy.
a. Head and thorax black bronze, very shiny,
the latter diffusely punctured; hind body
without longitudinal lines of pubescence. . O, FUSCATUS, Grav.
b. Head, thorax, and elytra rather light
bronze, the thorax very finely punctured ;
hind body with longitudinal lines of grey
pubescence . . O, cupReEus, Rossi.
. Last joint of labial palpi s somew hat securiform in
both sexes, of the maxillary palpi in male only.
(Sub-Gen. Tasgius, Steph. )
1. Legs red; elytra blackish-blue; head and
thorax thickly punctured . , . . O.PEDATOR, Grav.
2. Legs black; upper surface entirely black ; head
and thorax not closely punctured, very shiny . O. ATER, Grav.
II. Mandibles rather slender, not toothed on their
internal margin. (Sub- -Gen. Anodus, Nord.)
i. Legs black ; “head and thorax somewhat shining,
finely, but distinctly punctured, with smooth cen-
_ tral line evident . . O. mMorIoO, Grav.
i. Legs red; head and horas ‘dull, Very finely aaGl
ae punctured, with smooth central line often
scarcely traceable. . . . . . . + « + + ~ O. Compressus, Marsh.

254 STAPHYLINIDA, [ Ocypus.

The larva of Ocypus olens has been described by several authors ; it is
Jarge and rapacious, with the head broader than thorax, slightly narrowed
before neck ; the mandibles are very large and powerful; antenne short ;
prothorax trapezoidal, somewhat broader at base than long, longer than
either the meso- or meta-thorax ; hind body with the second segment
the broadest, and from thence gradually narrowed; the ninth segment is
the narrowest, and is furnished with an anal appendage of about twice
its length, and two cerci of which the second joint is much shorter than
the first ; the legs are rather short; the colour of the larva is pale
yellowish, with the head black or reddish black, the scutum of the pro-
thorax castaneous, usually with pale markings, the scuta of the meso-
and meta-thorax pale ferruginous, with darker markings, or darker with
light markings, and the seuta of the hind body paler with minute dark
specks.

The larva of Creophilus maillosus is distinguished from that of
Ocypus olens by its orbicular head which is not broader than the thorax
and is bistriate on the vertex, and by the cerei having the second joint
not much shorter than first ; the clypeus also is armed with seven teeth
(instead of nine as in the latter species), and the several pairs of legs are
more even in length; the pupa is rather long and has a row of setiform
“styli motori” on the anterior margin of prothorax, but no others
except one at each side of the seventh and eighth abdominal segments:
in several of the pupe of the Staphylinina lateral “styli motorii” are
present on all the segments of the abdomen, but none are ever present on
the dise.

©. olens, Mill. (Goerius olens, Steph.). Very large, broad, and
robust, winged, entirely dull black, with dark pubescence, the whole
upper surface extremely closely, finely, and somewhat rugosely, punc-
tured; head transverse, subrectangular, as broad as, or broader than, thorax;
antenne moderate, black with apical joints lighter, the penultimate joint
much shorter than the preceding, but scarcely transverse, the last joint
short, obliquely emarginate; thorax subquadrate, with sides slightly
rounded, almost parallel; elytra about as long as thorax; hind body
with sides somewhat rounded, a little narrowed towards base. L. 20-
28 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body feebly, and the
sixth segment very slightly, sinuate on their apical margins.

Under stones, clods of earth, vegetable refuse, &e.; very common and generally
distributed throughout the kingdom ; it is one of the beetles that are best known to
people who are nct entomologists, as it is often seen running on pathways, and some-
times even in houses in summer; when alarmed it opens its jaws and erects its hind
body and assumes a menacing attitude, and it has the power of inflicting a somewhat
sharp bite with its powerful mandibles: it is popularly known as the ‘ Cock Tail”
or ‘ Devil’s Coach Horse,” the latter name, I believe, having its origin in an old
medieval legend concerning the insect.

O. similis, F. (nitens, Schrank, abbreviatipennis, Aubé, decurtatus

Ocypus. | STAPHYLINIDE. 255

Muls. et Rey). Much smaller than the preceding, apterous, black,
elytra and hind body dull, head and thorax more shining ; head sub-
quadrate, a little transverse, as broad as, or a little broader than, thorax,
thickly, but distinctly, punctured ; antennz moderate, black, with apical
joint or joints more or less obscurely lighter, penultimate joints not
transverse; thorax subquadrate, as broad as elytra, thickly and distinctly
punctured with a fine, narrow, smooth, and somewhat raised longitudinal
central line ; elytra transverse, evidently shorter than thorax, dull black,
finely, thickly, and somewhat rugosely punctured ; hind body dull with
fine and somewhat asperate punctuation ; legs black. L. 13-18 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body strongly and
angularly excised, the sixth slightly sinuate, in middle of apical margins ;
last joint of maxillary palpi thick, as broad as apex of penultimate joint
in male, more slender and narrower in female.

At roots of trees, under stones, in moss, &c.; local; Reigate, Hampstead, Caterham,
Kingsgate, Birchington near Ramsgate, St. Peter’s (Kent), Tonbridge; Folkestone ;
St. Leonards; Shoreham; Brighton; Colchester; Northumberland district, rare,
near Newcastle; somewhat common near Lanercost (Bold); Ireland, near Dubiin,
local; it has not been recorded from Scotland : it is rather strange that there are no
records from districts between the south-eastern and the northern counties; the
species must probably occur in intervening localities.

O. similis rather closely resembles large specimens of O. morio, but
apart from the toothed mandibles (a character not always visible in set
specimens) it may be distinguished from the latter species by its rather
longer and less transverse head, and evidently shorter elytra.

O. cyaneus, Payk. (ophthalmicus, Scop.). Intermediate in size
between the two preceding species, winged, under surface shining black,
upper surface of head, thorax, and elytra rather brightly cyaneous, the
latter being duller than the other parts ; the upper side of hind body is
dull black ; head subquadrate, about as broad as thorax, together with
the latter thickly but distinctly punctured ; antennz rather long, black
with apex often lighter, penultimate joints not transverse, the last joint
short, obliquely emarginate (this latter character is more or less evident
in all the species) ; thorax subquadrate with central raised line more or
less obsolete ; elytra about as long as thorax, finely, very thickly, and
tugosely punctured ; hind body finely and somewhat asperately punc-
tured ; legs black. L. 16-20 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body distinctly and
broadly, the sixth hardly, sinuate on apical margins.

Under stones, logs of wood, &c.; very rare; Folkestone; Colchester (Harwood) ;
Norwich ; Sherwood Forest (Rev. H. Matthews); Newark-on-Trent ; in this latter

locality several specimens have been taken by Mr. Hadfield of Newark; the species
is common in France.

OQ. brunnipes, F. Apterous, head and thorax shining black, elytra
and hind body dull black ; head somewhat orbicular, with angles rounded,
rather broader than long, about as broad as thorax, sparingly punctured

256 STAPHYLINIDE. [Ocypus.

in front, thickly behind; antenne rather long, dark, with the base
reddish, and the last two or three joints testaceous, penultimate joints not
transverse ; thorax subquadrate, thickly, but very distinctly punctured,
with a fine smooth longitudinal central line ; elytra transverse, evidently
shorter than thorax, finely, very thickly, and rugosely punctured ; hind
body thickly and somewhat asperately punctured ; legs red with cox
darker. L. 12-15 mm.

Male with seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly sinuate in
middle of apical margin ; last joint of maxillary palpi as thick as the
penultimate and truncate in male, narrower and subtruncate in female.

In moss, flood refuse, &c.; rather local, but widely distributed, and not uncommon;
London district, not uncommon; New Forest; Hastings; Glanvilles Wootton ;
Soham, Cambridge; Midland districts, very generally distributed ; Yorkshire; Liver-
pool; Northumberland district ; Scotland, local, Lowlands, Solway, Tweed, Forth,
Clyde, Tay, and Dee districts; Ireland, near Belfast, and Galway, &e.

O. fuscatus, Grav. A very distinct species, which is easily distin-
guished from all the others by its black-bronze appearance and the
peculiar sculpture of the thorax ; winged, head and thorax very shining
black bronze, elytra black, dull, with a slight bronze reflection, hind body
black ; head somewhat orbicular, a little narrower than thorax, sparingly
punctured on disc, more thickly at sides, very thickly behind eyes ;
antenne black, with apex sometimes lighter, penultimate joints not trans-
verse ; thorax subquadrate, with a double punctuation, consisting of small
and very fine punctures, and larger ones irregularly scattered over the
whole surface, except on a broad smooth longitudinal central space ;
elytra very finely, thickly, and subrugosely punctured ; hind body very
thickly, finely, and somewhat asperately punctured ; legs black, with the
tarsi, and sometimes the tibia, pitchy red. L. 12-15 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly sinuate
in middle of apical margin.

In dry dung, moss, under stones, &c. ; also in fungi on elms, &e. ; scarce, but very
widely distributed ; London district, rare, Putney, Hammersmith, Walton-on-Thames,
Tonbridge, Margate; Hastings; New Forest (in some numbers); Lincoln ; Liver-
pool district ; Clifton, near Manchester; flood refuse, Ouse, Yorkshire; Northumber-

land district, occurs sparingly in several localities; Scotland, scarce, Lowlands, Solway,
Tweed, Forth, and Tay districts.

O. cupreus, Rossi (@neocephalus, De G.). Winged, head and thorax
shining bright bronze, elytra of the same colour, but rather duller, hind
body more obscurely bronze ; head and thorax very closely punctured, the
former somewhat orbieular, narrower than thorax, the iatter somewhat
oblong with a smooth longitudinal central space, on each side of which,
among the fine punctures, is a row of some seven or eight large punctures ;
antenne red with the middle jomts sometimes darker, or fuscous with
red base, penultimate joints about as long as broad, the tenth slightly
transverse ; elytra as long as thorax, together with hind body very closely
and thickly punctured ; hind body gradually narrower behind with five

Ocypus. | STAPHYLINIDA. 257

longitudinal rows of greyish pubescence, of which the dorsal line is the
most conspicuous ; the segments are also furnished with large, well-
marked, setigerous pores ; legs black with the tibic and tarsi pitchy red.
L. 10-14 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body very slightly
sinuate in middle of apical margin, with a smooth angular space before
sinuation.

Under stones, in moss, &c.; common and generally distributed throughout the
kingdom.

©. pedator, Grav. (Zusgius rufipes, Curt.). A large, but not broad,
elongate species, winged, black, rather shining, elytra with a distinct
bluish tinge ; head suborbicular, not quite as broad as thorax, rather
strongly and thickly punctured with the interstices furnished with smaller
punctures, hinder part rugose ; antennz red, often darker in middle, with
penultimate joints not transv erse ; thorax ‘subquadrate, punctured like
dise of head ; elytra about as long as, orrather shorter than, thorax, very
thickly and rugosely punctured ; hind body long, parallel- sided, narrowed
before apex, finely, thickly, and asperately punctured ; legs lighter or darker
red, with the cox, and rarely the femora, pitch-bl: ck. L. 18-24 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly sinuate
in middk& of apical border ; last joint of maxillary palpi thick and some-
what securiform in male, normal and somew hat narrowed at apex in
female.

Under stones, clods of earth, moss, &e. ; rare; Dulwich; Southend; Folkestone ;
Brighton ; recorded by Curtis and Stephens from Dover (1831), and Spitchwick,
Devon.

O. ater, Grav. (Tasgius ater, Thoms.). Rather smaller than the
preceding, winged, elongate, and parallel-sided, shining black, with the
elytra and hind body duller ; head and thorax sparingly and rather
strongly punctured, more thickly towards sides, the former more trans-
verse than in the preceding species, and the latter with sides straighter ;
antenne black with apex more or less obscurely reddish or reddish with
base darker, penultimate joints not transverse ; elytra slightly longer
than thorax, thickly and rugosely but distinctly punctured ; hind body
long, thickly and somewhat asperately punctured ; legs black or pitch-
black, with the tarsi and sometimes the tibia lighter. L. 13-17 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly and
distinctly sinuate in middle of apical margin ; last jot of maxillary palpi
rather thick and somewhat securiform in male, cylindrical in female.

Under stones, clods of earth, &c.; usually in muddy places on or near the coast,
where it is not uncommon in some loealities; it is very rare inland; Gravesend, Sheer-
ness, Whitstable, Greenwich, &e.; Wimbledon (Rye); Hastings; Eastbourne ;
Glanvilles Wootton (Dale) ; Exmouth; Westward Ho! on the burrows (common);
Llangollen ; Bristol ; Isle of Man; Liverpool ; Northumberland district, Tynemouth,
Hartley, The Wansbeck near Seaton (in profusion); Scotland, rare, Forth district ;
Jreland, Galway, Rathmullen, Kilkeel, &,.

VOL. 1. S

258 STAPHYLINIDA. [ Ocypus.

This species is easily distinguished from the other black species by its
more linear and parallel form, and jet-black, shining, sparingly punctured
head and thorax.

O. morio, Grav. (edentulus, Block, Anodus morio, Nord.). A very
variable species as regards size, some specimens being twice as large as
others, black, head and thorax moderately shiny, elytra and hind body
dull ; head rather transverse with angles rounded, rather broader than
thorax, thickly and rather strongly punctured; antenne black, lighter
towards apex, with last joint sometimes testaceous, penultimate joints
considerably longer than broad; thorax somewhat longer than broad,
slightly narrowed behind, thickly and somewhat strongly punctured, with
a smooth, fine, somewhat raised central line, effaced in front ; elytra
about as long as thorax very thickly and rugosely punctured ; hind body
finely, very thickly, and asperately punctured ; legs black with the tibie-
and sometimes the tarsi dark pitchy red. L. 11-18 mm.

Male with seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly sinuate in
middle of apical margin, with a small smooth space before sinuation,

Under stones, moss, &c.; common and generally distributed throughout the
kingdom.

The only species that this could be confused with is O. s¢mitis, from
which, apart from the more slender and toothless mandibles, it differs in
its shorter and more transverse head and longer elytra, the latter being
as long as thorax, instead of evidently shorter as in the latter species.

©. compressus, Marsh (fulvipes, Mots., Anodus compressus, Thoms.).
This species is at once distinguished from all the others by its extremely
fine punctuation and dull appearance, and the fact that the legs are entirely
red, with the exception of the coxse which are pitchy ; the shape is much
the same as that of O. morto, and it resembles that species in having no
tooth on the internal margin of the mandibles; the elytra, however, are
a little shorter in proportion to the thorax; the whole upper surface
appears sometimes to have a slightly bluish or purplish reflection, which
is apparently due to the effect caused by the extremely fine punctuation ;
the central smooth space of the thorax is often almost, if not quite, obso-
lete ; the male characters are much as in the preceding. L. 13-15 mm.

Under stones, in moss, &c.; never common, but widely distributed ; Lewisham,
Forest Hill, Addington, Weybridge, Purley Downs, Mickleham, Wimbledon, Epping,
Tilgate, Belvedere (in Cossus burrow) ; Colchester; Hunstanton ; Eastbourne; New
Forest; Exeter; Westward Ho!; Isle of Man; Liverpool; Scotland, Isle of Arran ;
one specimen taken by myself in August 1879; there is, however, no other record from
Scotland, nor is it recorded from the northern counties of England, so it is evidently
very rare in the north.

PHILONTHUS, Curtis.

This very large and almost universally distributed genus comprises at
present upwards of six hundred species, some of which are found in widely
separated regions, having been probably carried by commerce from one

Philonthus. | STAPHYLINIDE, 259

place to another ; the genera Hesperus, Cafius, and Actobius are now con-
sidered distinct, having been separated off for several reasons, the chief
pethaps being that they have the longer lateral seta of the thorax distant
from the margin, instead of being situated close to or upon it: Dr. Sharp
remarks that this character is very important, “ because the seta, remain-
ing as a fixed point at the outer side of the thorax, serves as a mark to
indicate whether the lateral raised margin is deflexed to the underside of
the thorax or not.” ;

The species may be divided into sections according to the number of
punctures in the two dorsal series of the thorax, as follows :—

I. Dorsal series of punctures on thorax wanting, or consisting of one puncture only
near anterior margin (p. 259).

II. Dorsal series of thorax each consisting of four punctures (p. 261).

IIT. Dorsal series of thorax each consisting of five punctures (p. 269).

IV. Dorsal series of thorax each consisting of six punctures (p. 276).

V. Dorsal series of thorax consisting of more than six punctures, more or less irregular
(p. 280).

In very many cases one of the punctures is close to the anterior margin,
and is situated at some little distance from the rest of the series; at first
sight, therefore, the series appear to consist of one puncture less than is
really the case ; in fact for convenience sake it is almost better to regard
Sections IT., IIL, and IV., as possessing series made up of three, four, and
five punctures respectively, these series being usually very plain on the
dise of the thorax, and being situated in a straight line, whereas the
puncture near margin is sometimes a little out of the straight line; a
comparison of one or two specimens will at once remove any difficulty
or confusion.

The species of Philonthus are found in dung and all kinds of decaying
matter, both animal and vegetable ; one or two occur under bark.

The larva of Philonthus nitidus is described and figured by Schiédte (l.c. Part ii.
p- 109, fig. ix. 6): the head is subquadrate, broader than prothorax ; the rest of the
body, omitting the head, is slightly fusiform, being at its broadest about middle; the
prothorax is trapezoidal, narrowed in front, nearly as long as the meso- and meta-thorax
together; the first abdominal segment is very short, the second is the broadest, and
from this the segments get gradually narrower; the ninth bears an anal appendage
and two cerei which are rather long, and have the second joint very slender and not
much shorter than the first ; the antennz are very short, and the legs are uneven, the
first pair being the shortest. The larva is yellowish, with the head and the scuta of
the front parts castaneous, and those of the hinder parts lighter, slightly fuscous; the
larva is usually found in dung.

The larvae of Philonthus eneus and decorus and others differ very slightly from that
of P. nitidus ; the pupe resemble those of Creophilus in having the “styli motorii”
setiform, but in the Philonthi they are found at the sides of all the abdominal segments
as well as on the anterior margin of the thorax.

Section I.
Dorsal rows of punctures on thorax wanting, or represented by one
puncture only near anterior margin.

J. Head and thorax black bronze ; anterior tibiae somewhat
curved ; head very large in male, somewhat quadrate. DP. SPLENDENS, F’,
s 2

260 STAPHYLINIDA. [ Philonthus.

II. Head and thorax greenish bronze; anterior tibia
straight or almost straight.
i, Head somewhat quadrate, transverse, at least as broad
as the thorax in male; elytra less thickly punctured P. INTERMEDIUS, Boisd.
ii. Head somewhat ovate, less broad in both sexes than
the thorax ; elytra more thickly punctured . . . P. LAmINatus, Creutz.

P. splendens, F. Shining black, somewhat depressed, sparinaly
pubescent, with the elytra brassy with a more or less distinct greenish
reflection ; head and thorax shining black-br nze, the former subquadrate,
transverse, large, as broad as thorax in female, broaderin male ; antennze
black, moderately long, with penultimate joints transverse ; thorax with-
out dorsal punctures; scutellum large, rather thickly punctured ; elytra
about as long as thorax, rather strongly and asperately punctured ; hind
body rather finely and closely punctured throughout; legs black, tarsi
pitchy, anterior tibiae somewhat curved. L. 12-14 mm.

Male with head distinctly broader than thorax, and seventh ventral
segment of hind body very deeply and sharply excised, the sixth being
also much less deeply, but distinctly emarginate ; the anterior tarsi are
feebly dilated in the male, very slightly in female.

In dung ; generally distributed in England and Wales, but not, as a rule, abundant ;
more local further north; Scotland, Solway district only; Ireland, near Belfast,
Dublin, and Waterford.

P. intermedius, Boisd. This species, as its name implies, is inter-
mediate between P. splendens and P. laminatus; its head is shaped asin
the former, but is rather smaller, and in colour it resembles the latter,
except that the elytra are less distinctly green ; the punctuation, moreover,
of the elytra is finer than in P. splendens, but distinctly less fine and
dense than in P. /aminatus ; the hind body is rather finely but not thickly
punctured ; legs black, anterior tibie straight. L. 93-103 mm.

Male with seventh ventral segment deeply sinuate or emarginate on
apical margin, fifth segment prolonged in a broad plate which almost
covers the sixth segment; anterior tarsi rather strongly dilated in male,
moderately in female.

In dung, moss, &e. ; local; London district, rather common, Chatham, Sheerness,
Greenwich, Walton, Forest Hill, &.; Hastings; Bewdley Forest; Repton; York;
Liverpool ; Manchester ; Northumberland and Durham districts, very rare ; Hartlepool
(Hardy); Scotland, rare, Forth district only; Ireland, near Waterford (Power).

P. laminatus, Creutz, Shining black with the head and thorax
greenish bronze, and the elytra green, sometimes with a slightly bluish
tint ; it may be distinguished at once from the two preceding species by
the much closer punctuation of the elytra; the head in both sexes is
somewhat ovate and distinctly narrower than the thorax, and the latter
is distinctly narrowed in front, which is not the case in either of the two
preceding; the antenne are a little longer and more slender than in P.
intermedius, and have the penultimate joints a little less transverse, and
the anterior tarsi are less dilated; the sexual characters do not differ :
materially from those of the lastementioned species. L. 83-9} mm,

In dung, &c.; common and generally distributed throughout the kingdom,

Philonthus.) STAPHYLINID&.

Section II.

Dorsal series of thorax each consisting of four punctures.

I. First joint of posterior tarsi plainly longer than the
last, about equal to the three following united.

i. Head transverse, somewhat quadrate, at least as
broad as thorax in male; thorax not or scarcely
narrowed in front.

1. Elytra thickly punctured.
A. Penultimate joints of antennz transverse.
a. Hind body thickly punctured ; anterior tarsi
of male rene dilated ; elytra bronze,
brassy . .

b. Hind body more or less sparingly punctured ;

anterior tarsi almost simple in both sexes.

a*, Klytra blackish bronze ; antenna plainly
thickened towards apex with penultimate
joints very strongly transverse

b*. Elytra brassy bronze; antenne slightly
thickened towards apex with a eas
joints moderately transverse . . .

B. Penultimate joints of antennz not transverse
2. Elytra sparingly punctured, greenish or bluish
bronze ; anterior tarsi dilated in both sexes.
ii. Head ovate, rather long, much narrower than
elytra; thorax narrowed in front.
1. Legs dark.
A. Fifth ventral segment of hind body in male
prolonged over sixth ; upper surface of front
parts very shiny. .
B. Fifth ventral segment of hind body it in male
not prolonged.

a. Upper surface of a more or less dull bronze
colour, with hind body darker . .

b. Upper surface black with elytra blackish or
greenish bronze.

a*, First joint of antenne testaceous beneath

b*. First joint of antenne unicolorous.

at. Elytra very thickly punctured ; size larger
and broader ; Mesh rete of antenna
transverse . .

b+. Elytra less thickly ‘punctured ; 3 "size smaller
and narrower; penultimate joints of an-
tenne not transverse. Cel ie 140

2. Legs testaceous or reddish testaceous.
A. Thorax with lateral margins broadly testa-
GIN 5 o. 6 oe og 0 Do Oveet
B. Thorax unicolorous.

a, Antenne dark, with base testaceous ; elytra
shorter than thorax, reddish testaceous or
brick-red . . :

b. Antenne entirely dark ; ; “elytra as long as
thorax, pitchy- black.

II. First joint of posterior tarsi not or hardly longer
than the last, not as long as the three following
united,

P. mNEvs, Rossi.
P. Proximus, Av.
(succicola, Thoms.).
P,. aDDENDUS, Sharp.

P. cakBoNARIUS, Gyll.

P. arratus, Grav.

P. scuTatus, Er.

P. DECORUS, Grav.

P. poritus, F.

P. tucens, Man,

P. vaRivus, Gyll,

P. MARGINATUS, F.

P, LEPIDUS, Grav.

P. ALBIPES, Grav,

262 STAPHYLINID. [Philonthus.

i. Anterior tarsi of male dilated ; ee yellow-brown,
femora darker . . . Beet . P. UMBRATILIS, Grav,
. Anterior tarsi simple in both § sexes.
a. Thorax black ; elytra more or less plainly metal-
lic.
A. Elytra closely punctured.
a. Size larger ; apex of ventral segments of hind
body teddish aes g Beis . P.cEPHALOTES, Grav.
b. Size smaller ; hind body ‘anieolorous black . P. NIGRIVENTRIS, ZYhoms.
B. Elytra rather sparingly punctured; forehead
with a plain central depression . . . P. FIMETARIUS, Grav.
C. Elytra very coarsely and sparingly punctured ;
forehead without distinct central depres-
sion . » + . . P. sorpiIpus, Grav.
2. Thorax and ely tra ‘itchy brown, sometimes
reddish, not metallic ; elytra thickly punctured ;
antenne, legs, and epee of segments of hind
body reddish. . oe we eyes Pe. SRUSOUS Grane

P. zneus, Rossi. Shining black, with the elytra brassy ; head large,
transverse, subquadrate, broader than thorax in male, narrower in female;
antennz black, moderately long, with penultimate joints strongly trans-
verse, black, with the basal joints sometimes lighter; thorax not con-
tracted in front ; elytra about as long as thorax, rather finely, thickly,
and asperately punctured ; hind body finely and thickly punetured ; legs
black, tarsi, especially the anterior ones, sometimes pitchy red, the latter
strongly dilated in male. L. 9-12 mm.

Male with sixth ventral segment of hind body moderately, seventh
segment strongly and deeply, excised on apical margin, the excision being
furnished behind with a narrow membranous border.

In dung, fungi, moss, &c.; common and generally distributed throughout the
kingdom,

In some specimens (perhaps immature) the legs and base of the antennze
are reddish, and the elytra are sometimes tinged with the same colour.
In Dr. Power’s collection there is a specimen of this sort from Ealing,
and another has been referred to me by Mr, Billups.

P. proximus, Kv. (succicola, Thoms., carbonarius, Er. and old col-
lections nec Gyll.), Very like the preceding, but may at once be distin-
guished by the dark greenish or blackish metallic elytra, and by the less
close punctuation of the hind body ; in the male the seventh ventral
segment of the latter is very deeply and sharply emarginate, with the
sides and apex of the emargination furnished with a rather broad tem-
branous border, which is narrower in P. ceneus ; the sixth segment is
broadly sinuate. L. 93-12 mm.

In putrid fungi, cut grass, and vegetable refuse generally ; local and not common
in the south, abundant in the north. London district, rather generally distributed but
not common; Hastings; Swansea; Wicken Fen; Cannock Chase; Repton; Liver-
pool; Northumberland district; Scotland, abundant, Lowlands and Highlands;
Treland, near Waterford.

Philonthus. | STAPHYLINIDZ. 263

PB. addendus, Sharp. Shining black, with the elytra bronze, brassy
or with a more or less pronounced greenish reflection ; head with the
temples more punctured than in the preceding, as broad as thorax in
male, plainly narrower in female; antenne with the penultimate joints
transverse, but not so strongly as in either of the two preceding species ;
the thorax also is slightly shorter and less visibly impressed at the sides;
the elytra are more brassy than in P. provimus, and, together with fle
hind body, are punctured much as in that species ; the male has the
seventh ventral segment less deeply emarginate and the membranous
space behind the emargination broader, and the sixth ventral segment
shows very little trace of the sinuation which is very evident in the
allied species. L. 10 mm.

In cut grass, dead leaves, &c.; rare ; Coombe Wood, Surrey (Rye); New Forest
(Power); Hastings (Butler) ; Repton, Burton-on-Trent (W. Garneys) ; Knowle, Sher-
wood Forest, and Wicken Fen (W. G. Blatch); Northumberland district (Bold) ;
Scotland, very local, Solway, Forth, and Tay districts; Ireland, Killarney.

P. carbonarius, Gyll. (nec Er., tenuicornis, Muls. et Rey, punc-
tiventris, Jans. Ent. Ann. 1863, 82, mec Kraatz). Shining black, with
the elytra coloured as in P. prowimus (succicola, Thoms.), which is the
old carbonarius of Dr. Power’s and other collections; from all the pre-
ceding species, however, it is easily distinguished by having the antenna
rather longer, with the penultimate joints not, or scarcely, transverse ; the
elytra are rather finely and thickly punctured, and the punctuation of
the hind body is somewhat diffuse, but in these points it does not differ
materially from the two preceding species ; in the male the emargination
of the seventh ventral segment of hind bodyis less deep, and there is hardly
any smooth membranous space behind, and the sixth segment is quite
entire; the head in both sexes is also smaller. L. 93-1] mm.

In decaying vegetable matter, fungi, cut grass, haystack refuse, under moss, &e. ;
local ; London district, not uncommon; Hastings; Repton; Tewkesbury; Birming-
ham district; Shropshire; Liverpool: Manchester; Northumberland district, rare ;
Scotland, local, not common, Solway and Forth districts.

Mulsant and Rey abolish Gyllenhal’s carbonarius, on the ground that
the insect described by him (Ins. Suee. 11., 319, 35) is not identical with
this species ; the name, however, is retained by Heyden, Reitter, and

Weise.

P. temporalis, Rey = punctiventris, Kraatz nec Jans., an insect
which has given rise to some confusion, appears not to be a British insect
at all; it is rather closely allied to P. tenwicornis, Rey, but differs in its
more coarsely punctured head and generally broader and more thick-set
form, &c.

P. atratus, Grav. Somewhat narrower than the average specimens
of the four preceding species, shining black, with the elytra black bronze
with a bluish or greenish reflection ; head somewhat orbicular, more sub-
quadrate in male than in female ; antenne long with penultimate joints

264: STAPHYLINIDA. [Philonthus.

longer than broad; thorax very shining, scarcely narrowed in front ;
elytra about as long as thorax, sparingly punctured ; hind body rather
finely and sparingly punctured ; legs pitch-black, anterior tarsi dilated in
both sexes. L. 7-8 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply and
angularly excised, the excision being furnished with a membranous
border behind.

Under stones and moss in damp places; Notting Hilland Hampstead (Power) ; also
recorded from Devonshire; it appears to be a rare species in France as well as in Eng-
land; the smaller size and less closely punctured elytra will at once distinguish it from
all the preceding species of Section IT.

P. seutatus, Er. Shining black, with the bead and thorax very
shining, slightly greenish- bronze, and the elytra bronze with a slight but
more pronounced greenish reflection, which, however, is occasionally
almost absent ; head subovate, narrower than thorax, antenne black,
rather long onl scarcely thickened towards apex, with the penultimate
joints not, or hardly, transverse ; thorax a little narrowed in front, very
tinely and sparingly punctured, with the usual two dorsal rows of four
punctures ; elytra a little longer than thorax, finely, thickly, and some-
what asperately punctured ; hind body finely and thickly punctured ;
legs pitchy, with tarsi aud. sometimes tibize lghter; anterior tarsi slightly
dilated. L. 9-11 mm.

Male with the fifth ventral segment of hind body prolonged in a broad
plate which covers the sixth segment.

In moss; rare; a northern species; Northumberland and Cumberland (Bold);
Scotland, very local, Tweed, Forth, Tay, and Moray districts ; Paisley (Morris Young) ;
Tain, Ross-shire (Bold), &e.

PR. decorus, Gray. This species is readily distinguished by its dull
bronze appearance ; the head and thorax have a slightly greenish reflec-
tion, the elytra are dull bronze, and the hind body is black with greyish-
brown pubescence, the margins of the ventral segments being pitchy
red ; head subovate narrower than thorax, antenne rather long with the
penultimate joints longer than broad ; thorax longer than broad, a little
narrowed in front ; ely tra about as long as thorax, very finely and thickly
sculptured ; hind body finely and rather thickly punctured ; legs pitch-
black, with the tibise, and sometimes tarsi, reddish, anterior tarsi simple
in both sexes. L. 11-12 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body strongly and very
sharply excised, with the excision furnished behind with a broad mem-
branous border, sixth segment slightly sinuate.

In moss, eut grass, &e.; local; Loudon district, not common, Darenth Wood,
Richmond Park, Coombe Wood, Shirley near Croydon, Highgate ; Tonbridge ; Hast-
ings; Devonshire ; Sutton Park, Birmingham; Dudley ; Needwood Forest ; Repton ;
Snowdon district ; Manchester ; Liverpool ; York ; Northumberland district; Scotland,
common, Solway, Clyde, Forth, Dee, Moray, and Shetland districts ; it appears to be

a common species from the midland districts northward; Ireland, near Belfast, and
Bray, co. Wicklow.

Phalonthus.] STAPHYLINIDZE, 265

P. politus, F. Black, somewhat shining, with the head, thorax,
and elytra obscurely metallic, with a slightly greenish reflection ; head
ovate, rather small, antenne rather long, black, with the first joint testa-
ceous except on the upper surface (this character will at once distinguish the
species), penultimate joints longer than broad ; thorax slightly narrowed
in front ; elytra a little longer than thorax, tinely, very thickly, and some-
what asperately punctured; hind body finely and thickly punctured ;
legs black, anterior tarsi rather strongly dilated in male, scarcely dilated
in female. L. 10-11 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body rather deeply and
angularly excised.

In moss, &e. ; common and generally distributed throughout the whole kingdom.

P. lucens, Er. Rather broad and stout, black, shining, with the
head, thorax, and elytra more or less obscurely greenish ; head ovate,
vather small, antennee moderately long, with the penultimate joints
slightly transverse ; thorax narrowed in front, about as broad as long
near base ; elytra almost black, with very slight greenish reflection, finely,
very thickly, and somewhat asperately punctured ; hind body less closely
punctured than elytra; legs pitch-black, with tarsi sometimes lighter,
anterior tarsi almost simple in male, simple in female. L. 9-10 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body moderately and
angularly excised.

This species is easily distinguished from the preceding by its shorter
and broader form, and by the entirely black first Joint of the anteune.

In moss, under stones, &c.; very rare; Exmouth, Devon; Malvern Hills, one
specimen taken by myself on the summit of the Worcestershire Beacon ; Strensall,
York; Northumberland district, banks of Irthing; Scotland, very rare, Solway and
Clyde districts.

P. varius, Gyll. Much smaller than any of the preceding species,
somewhat fusiform, shining black, with the elytra bronze with a more or
less distinct greenish reflection ; head small, ovate ; antenn rather long,
with penultimate joints not transverse ; thorax narrowed in front, about
as broad at base as elytra; elytra as long as thorax, finely and rather
thickly punctured, but not as much so as in the preceding species ; hind
body narrowed behind, finely and rather thickly punctured, the base of
the segments being a little more closely punctured than apex ; legs black
with the anterior tarsi sometimes less dark ; these last are strongly dilated
in male, slightly in female. L. 6-7 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body rather strongly
emarginate, the emargination being furnished with a membranous border.

In dung, moss, vegetable refuse, &e. ; common and generally distributed throughout
the kingdom ; perhaps the commonest species of the genus.

V. bimaculatus, Grav. (nitidicollis, Boisd.). In this variety the elytra
are entirely red or dark only at base; it is somewhat rare, but widely

266 STAPHYLINIDS. [ Philonthua,

distributed ; Cowley near London, Portsmouth (without type form),
York, &c.; it has occurred as far north as the Shetland Islands.

P. marginatus, F. Rather clongate and narrow; upper surface
black with the sides of thorax broadly testaceous, and the elytra slightly
metallic with greenish reflection; under surface black with the prosternum
entirely, and the margins of ventral segments, testaceous ; head oval,
rather small, antenne rather long, with penultimate joints not transverse
about as long as broad, black with the first joint testaceous beneath ;
thorax narrowed in front, not as broad behind as elytra; elytra a little
longer than thorax, finely, thickly, and somewhat asperately punctured ;
hind body rather sparingly punctured, narrowed behind ; legs testaceous
with the posterior coxe and trochanters, and all the knees, darker; anterior
tarsi dilated in both sexes, more strongly so in male. L. 7-9 mm,

Male with the seventh ventral segment moderately emarginate, with a
narrow triangular smooth space at apex of emargination.

In dung, moss, haystack refuse, &e.; common and generally distributed through-
out the kingdom,

P. lepidus, Grav. Apterous, shining black, with the elytra brick-
red or reddish testaceous ; head oval, much narrower than thorax, antennee
rather long with penultimate joints about as long as broad, brownish
black, with the two first joints reddish testaceous; thorax very shiny,
narrowed in front; elytra strongly transverse, very short, much shorter
than thorax, finely, thickly, and somewhat asperately punctured ; hind
body thickly punctured ; legs reddish testaceous, with the posterior coxa
a little darker, anterior tarsi rather strongly dilated in male, almost simple
in female. L. 6 mm,

Male with the seventh ventral segment rather strongly sinuate, with a
smooth triangular space in front of the sinuation.

At roots of grass in sandy places, generally on the coast; very local; Deal, rather
plentiful (J. J. Walker and Dr. Power); Lancaster, river refuse (A. Reston).

Tn the type form of this species (P. gilvipes, Er.) the elytra are green-
ish bronze ; we do not appear to have this form in britain.

P. albipes, Grav. A small and somewhat narrow species, some-
what fusiform, shining black, with the elytra pitch-black (occasionally
with greenish reflection); head oval, narrower than thorax, antenne
moderately long, with the penultimate joints feebly transverse; thorax
narrowed in front, about as broad at base as base of elytra; elytra as long
as, or a little longer than, thorax, rather finely, thickly, and somewhat
asperately punctured ; hind body finely and rather thickly punctured,
with the punctuation rather closer towards the base of the four first seg-
ments ; legs testaceous, anterior tarsi of male slightly dilated, of female
simple. L. 45 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly sinuate
in centre of apical margin.

Philonthus. | STAPHYLINIDZ. 267

In moss, manure heaps, dead leaves, flood refuse, under stones, &c. ; not conmon ;
Sheerness, Maidstone, Caterham, Esher, Dulwich, Tilgate Forest, Birdbrook (Essex),
Abbey Wood, Tonbridge; Hastings; Devonshire; Yardley, Knowle, and Edgbaston,
near Birmingham; Repton; Northumberland district, local and rare ;. Scotland,
scarce, Tweed, Forth, and Solway districts.

P. umbratilis, Gray. (subhfuscus, Gyll.). Rather parallel-sided,
shining black, with the elytra bronze-black ; head orbicular or slightly
subquadrate, about as broad as thorax in male, narrower in female ;
antenne long, dark with base lighter, penultimate joints longer than
broad ; thorax at base a little narrower than elytra, with sides almost
straight ; elytra slightly longer than thorax, finely, thickly, and some-
what asperately punctured ; hind body finely and thickly punctured,
seventh segment less thickly ; legs lighter or darker testaceous, with the
femora, especially the posterior ones, darker, anterior tarsi strongly dilated
in male, less strongly in female. L. 6 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply and
sharply excised, with the excision furnished with rather broad membra-
nous border behind, sixth segment broadly emarginate.

In moss, &c. ; occasionally at sap; local and not common; London district, rare,
Whitstable, Maidstone, Eltham, Wimbledon, Esher, Tonbridge, Colney Hatch, Merton
(Surrey); Guestling, near Hastings; Leicestershire ; Repton ; Edgbaston; Knowle ;
Stretford, Manchester (banks of Mersey); Liverpool; Northumberland district,
widely spread, but not common ; Scotland, Lowlands, scarce, Solway, Tweed, Forth,
and Tay districts.

This species somewhat resembles the succeeding ones, but may he
distinguished (apart from the dilated tarsi of the male) by the finely
punctured elytra and the lighter colour of the legs; in the latter point
it resembles P. jimetarius, which may at once be separated from it by its
smaller and differently shaped head, with large central depression, and
more coarsely punctured elytra,

P. cephalotes, Grav. Somewhat parallel-sided, shining black, with
the elytra bronze; head transverse, subquadrate, varying in size, but
sometimes broader than thorax in male; in the female it is narrower;
antenne moderately long, pitch-black, with apex often lighter, with
the penultimate joints about as broad as long, or a little longer than
broad (this, as in many other species, depends on the view taken of them,
whether from above, or from the side) ; thorax a little narrower at base
than elytra, with sides almost straight ; elytra slightly longer than thorax,
rather strongly punctured, more so than in P. wmbratilis, but evidently
less than in P. sordidus ; hind body finely and rather thickly punctured,
with the seventh segment less closely punctured, apex of ventral segments
reddish; legs pitch-brown with the tarsi lighter, anterior tarsi simple in
both sexes. L. 6-7 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body rather deeply and
angularly excised, the sixth subemarginate,

268 STAPHYLINIDE, ([ Philonthus.

In haystack refuse, manure heaps, dead leaves, &e.; somewhat local, but not uncom-
mon; London district, generally distributed ; Hastings ; Devonshire and south coast
generally ; Midlands, common ; Liverpool, Manchester, and Northumberland districts ;
Scotland, rather common, and found as far north as the Shetlands.

P. nigriventris, Thoms. This species is of the build and size of
P. sordidus, from which it is at once distinguished by the close punctua-
tion of the elytra ; it is also closely allied to P. cephalotes, but is smaller
and blacker, with darker legs; the elytra are more closely and deeply
punctured than in the latter species, and the hind body is entirely black
underneath instead of having the apex of the ventral segments more or
less distinctly reddish. L. 6 mm.

In dead birds and animals, cut grass, &e.; rare; Chat Moss (Chappell) ; North-

umberland district, banks of Irthing (Bold); Scotland, very local, Solway, Tay, and
Dee districts (Dumfries (Sharp), Bulmuto, Fiteshire (Power), &e.).

P. fimetarius, Gray. This species may be easily distinguished from
its allies by its smaller and longer head, which is furnished on the fore-
head with a broad and distinct but shallow impression ; antenne black,
with the extreme base of the first joints often pitchy red, penultimate
joints hardly or not transverse ; thorax distinctly narrower than elytra ;
elytra plainly longer than thorax, shining bronze, sometimes greenish,
distinctly and moderately strongly punctured, but less so than in P.
sordidus ; hind body finely and rather thickly punctured, less thickly
behind ; legs pitchy testaceous, with the cox, especially the posterior
ones, darker, anterior tarsi simple in both sexes. L. 6 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly sinuate,
the sinuation being often filled with membrane.

In dung-heaps, haystack refuse, &c.; common and generally distributed through-
out the kingdom.

P. sordidus, Grav. Shining black with the elytra more or less
obscurely bronze, the antennze black with the insertion of the first joints
sometimes reddish, and the legs blackish or pitch-brown with the tarsi,
and sometimes the tibia, lighter ; it may be distinguished from all its
allies by the very coarse and deep punctuation of the elytra, the‘punctures
on which are often entirely separate, and never run so much into each
other as in the other species; it may also be distinguished from P.
jimetarius by its broader and more parallel form, larger and more sub-
quadrate head, and the absence, as a rule, of the central impression on the
forehead ; when present, it is much smaller and indistinct; the anterior
tarsi are simple in both sexes. L. 6 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body plainly emargi-
nate, the emargination bordered behind with a narrow membrane, sixth
segment slightly emarginate.

In dung, haystack refuse, &e.; common and generally distributed throughout the
pea it is, like P. @neus, found in very various and widely separated regions of
the world,

Philonthus. | STAPHYLINIDE. 269

P. fuscus, Grav. About the size and shape of P. cephalotes ;
shining pitchy-black, with the thorax pitchy black, pitchy red, or reddish
with the front part darker, and the elytra pitchy brown or reddish, not
metallic ; it may be distinguished, apart from its colour, by the shorter
and stouter antenne of which the penultimate joints are evidently
transverse ; the head is rather large, subquadrate, or suborbicular; the
thorax is slightly narrower than the elytra; the elytra are a little
longer than the thorax, finely and thickly punctured ; the hind body is
more finely and thickly punctured than the elytra, pitch-black, with the
apex and the apical margins of segments reddish ; legs reddish, with the
posterior coxe darker, anterior tarsi simple in both sexes. L. 6-7 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body plainly sinuate at
apex, with a smooth triangular space at apex of sinuation.

Very rare; at the exuding frass of Cossus-infected trees, also in birds’ nests; in
France it is occasionally found in hornets’ nests. Addington Park and Shirley, near
Croydon, and Merton (Surrey) (Power); Glanvilles Wootton, Dorset, a few specimens
taken by Mr. C. W. Dale and Mr. Wollaston from a stock-dove’s nest inside a hollow
apple tree, Sept. 22nd, 1871.

Section IIT.
Dorsal series of thorax each consisting of five punctures.

1. First joint of posterior tarsi much longer, or evidently
longer, than the last, about equal to the three
following united.
i. Head rather large, especially in male, orbicular, or
slightly subquadrate ; last joint of maxillary palpi
not more narrowed in front than behind.
1. Elytra unicolorous, bronze, black, or red (in one
variety).
A. Anterior tibiz rather strongly spinose on
exterior margin.
a Elytra dark “greenish bronze . » « . » P, EBENINUS, Grav.
b. Elytra deep black. . . » « « .P. CORVINUS, Er:
B. Anterior tibiz not, or hardly, ‘spinose.
a, Antenne ratherlong, with joints 8-10 not,
or scarcely, transverse; size larger . . P. FUMIGATUS, Er,
b. Antennz: moderate, with joints 7-10 evi-
dently transverse; size smaller . . . . P. DEBILIS, Grav.
2. Elytra black with a sutural patch, and a more or
less extended spot near’ shoulder, red; anterior
cox entirely yellow testaceous . . . P. SANGUINOLENTUS, Grav.
ii. Head small, subovate ; last joint of maxillary palpi
more narrowed towards apex than at base.
1, Elytra black, with a larger or smaller red spot on
each at apex near suture ; anterior cox entirely
Garksaremesiis) sch teccein ce eculs) feo Meleieh sata) CRUBNTATUS: «Gael:
(dipustulatus, Panz.).
2. Elytra black or brownish; anterior coxe entirely,
and under side of first joint of antenna (very
often), testaceovs. . . - P. Lonercornis, Steph.
3. Elytra black with a more or less distinct reddish
band (sometimes absent), running obliquely

270 STAPHYLINIDA. [ Philonthus,

from the shoulder; anterior cox testaceous,

except on the outer surface. . . . . . . VP. vartans, Payk.
4. Elytra black, with extreme apex obscurely fer-
ruginous; anterior cox entirely dark . . . P. AGILIs, Grav.

Il. First joint of posterior tarsi as long as or scarcely
longer than the last, evidently shorter than the three
sfetlowing united.
. Elytra shorter than thorax . . 0 . P. VERNALIS, Grav.
ee longer than or at least as long as thorax.
. Length exceeding 5 mm.; thorax at base as
broad as or only ¢ a little less broad than long.
a. Antenne rather short anda little thickened,
with penultimate joints slightly trans-
verse; head larger.
a*, Anterior tarsi simple in both sexes ; elytra
unicolorous pitch-black or brownish; an-
tenn dark with base testaceous . . . P. VENTRALIS, Grav.
b*. Anterior tarsi strongly dilated in male;
elytra dark, with the margins, suture, and
sometimes apical border pdect nS an-
tenne reddish brown . . P. DISCOIDEUS, Grav.
b. Antenne long, with penultimate | joints
plainly longer than broad ; head smaller,
somewhat ovate ; elytra unicolorous, black
bronze, or red with base darker. . . P. QUISQUILIARIUS, Gyll,
B. Length not exceeding 5 mm.; thorax half as
long again as broad.
a. Elytra pitch-black or pitch-brown ; thorax

pitch-black . . . P. SPLENDIDULUS, Grav.
b. Elytra obscurely testaceous; thorax pitchy-
gil Guana iG Ais ao Geo Thur ie ia

P. ebeninus, Gray. Shining black, with the elytra dark greenish
bronze ; head subquadrate in male, orbicular in female ; antennze some-
what long, black, with penultimate joints scarcely transverse ; thorax a
little narrower behind than elytra, with sides almost straight ; elytra
about as long as thorax, rather strongly, and somewhat asperately, punc-
tured ; hind body thickly punctured towards base, less thickly behind ;
legs black or pitch-black, with the tarsi often lighter, anterior tibie
strongly spinose on their exterior margin, anterior tarsi strongly dilated
in male, moderately in female. L. 63-8 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply and sharply
excised, and furnished with a membranous border behind the excision.

In haystack refuse, dung-heaps, &c.; rather common and generally distributed
throughout the country ; it probably occurs in Ireland, but apparently has not yet
been taken there.

V. corruscus, Grav. This variety has the elytra bright red, and is
somewhat larger and stouter than the average type-form ; the species,
however, is very variable in size, and in Dr. Power’s collection there is
a very large specimen of the ordinary form measuring nearly 11 mm. in
length; the variety is very rare, and is not found in Scotland or the

Philonthus.] STAPHYLINIDZ, 271

north of England; it has oceurred at the Holt, near Farnham, Reigate,
near Colchester, and in a few other localities.
A variety also occurs with the legs testaceous (P. ochropus, Grav.).

P. corvinus, Er. Very like the preceding, but easily distinguished
by the deep black elytra, and the thicker and finer punctuation of the
hind body ; the head is slightly longer, and the thorax a little shorter ;
the elytra are rather more closely punctured ; the antenne and legs are
black, the anterior tibie are rather strongly spinose on their exterior
margin, and the anterior tarsi are strongly dilated in male, slightly in
female. L. 7 mm.

In dead leaves, decaying fungi, &c.; rare; Mickleham and Merton, Surrey ;
Liverpool, West Derby; Scotland, Lowlands, in marshes, rare, Solway, Forth, and
Moray districts.

P. fumigatus, Er. (émmundus, Gyll., gagates, Muls. et Rey).
Shining black, sometimes a little pitchy, with the antenne black or
pitchy-black, and the mouth, tibiz, and tarsi pitchy-red; it much
resembles the preceding species, but the legs are lighter, the elytra are
rather less closely punctured, and the hind body is evidently more
closely and thickly punctured ; from P. ebeninus it differs by its some-
what more closely punctured elytra, and much more thickly and finely
punctured hind body ; the elytra also are quite black, pitchy-black, or
very slightly metallic, whereas in P. ebeninus they are distinctly greenish-
bronze ; the fact that the anterior tibize are without spines on their
exterior margin will at once distinguish it from both species; the
anterior tarsi are very strongly dilated in male, especially the first two
joints, and moderately strongly dilated in female; in the male the
seventh ventral segment of hind body is strongly and sharply excised,
with the excision furnished at the sides with a narrow membranous
border, and the sixth segment is shghtly emarginate. L. 65-7 mm.

Wet places; in moss, at roots of grass, and occasionally in damp haystack refuse ;
local and as a rule rather rare, but in some localities it occurs rather numerously ;
Hampstead, Chatham, Sevenoaks, Darenth, Lee, Wimbledon, Caterham, Croydon,
Dagenham, Tonbridge, &e.; Littlington, Sussex; Manchester; Liverpool, West
Derby ; Northumberland district, banks of streams, common; Scotland, local, Low-
lands and sea-coast, Solway, Tay, and Clyde districts.

P. debilis, Gray. A small species; shining black with the elytra
often less dark ; head about as broad as thorax in male, narrower in
female, antenne dark, with the first joint pitch-brown or pitchy red,
penultimate joints transverse ; thorax slightly narrower than elytra, with
sides almost straight ; elytra scarcely longer than thorax, rather finely,
thickly, and somewhat asperately punctured; hind body finely and
closely punctured, seventh segment much less closely punctured ; legs
pitchy red, or reddish testaceous, with the tarsi lighter and the posterior
eoxe dusky; anterior tarsi strongly dilated in male, moderately in
female ; in slightly immature specimens, which often occur, the elytra

272 STAPHYLINIDA. [Philonthus.

are brown, and the base of the antenna, apex of hind body, and the
intersections of the ventral segments of the latter are more or less
brightly pitchy red. L. 5 mm.

In haystack refuse, dung-heaps, dead leaves, &c.; rather common and widely
distributed throughout England; Scotland, Solway, ‘weed, Forth, and Clyde
districts.

This species may be distinguished from small specimens of the variety
of P. ebeninus with light legs by the distinctly finer punctuation of the
elytra.

P. sanguinolentus, Grav. Front parts shining black, hind body
dull black, elytra with a common sutural patch and a more ‘or less dis-
tinct patch at each shoulder, red ; head subquadrate, about as broad as
thorax in male, narrower in female, antenne black with the insertion of
the first joints pitchy red, penultimate joints not transverse ; thorax
about as broad as elytra; elytra about as long as thorax, distinctly,
thickly, and asperately punctured ; hind body very finely and thickly
punctured, almost shagreened ; legs dark with the tibiz and tarsi some-
times brownish, and the anterior coxe testaceous, anterior tarsi rather
strongly dilated in both sexes. L. 7-7} mm.

Male with seventh segment of hind body very deeply and sharply
excised, with the excision furnished behind with a membranous border,
sixth segment very feebly emarginate.

In dung, haystack refuse, &e.; somewhat local, but widely distributed; London
district, common; Isle of Wicht ; Exeter ; Swansea; Barmouth ; Wieken Fen ;
Yardley and Knowle, near Birmingham ; ; Repton; Manchester and Liverpool dis-

tricts ; Northumberland district, rare; Scotland, Solway and Tweed districts only ;
Ireland, near Belfast and Dublin.

P. cruentatus, Gmel. (bipustulatus, Panz. nee Woll.). Black with
a larger or smaller red patch on each elytron towards apex, near suture ;
besides the difference in colour, it may be distinguished from the pre-
ceeding by the following characters : in general form it is somewhat
narrower and more fusiform ; the head is smaJler and more ovate; the
hind body is less closely punctured and more shining; the anterior tibiae
are strongly spinose on their exterior margin, whereas in P. sanguinolentus
they are at most feebly spinose ; the legs also are blacker, and the
anterior cox are dark, concolorous with the rest of the front legs,
L. 7-73 mm.

Male with the seventh segment of hind body deeply excised, the
excision being in great measure filled with membrane.

In dung, moss, haystack refuse, &c.; often found on the coast; common and
generally distributed in the Southern, London, and Midland districts ; less common

further north; not recorded from the Northumberland district, and very local in
Scotland, Solway and Forth districts; Ireland, near Belfast.

In Dr. Power's collection there is a very curious variety which has the
extreme apex of each elytron rather broadly reddish testaceous, the colour

Philonthus. | STAPHYLINID®. 273

reaching the apex, with no black space intervening, as is invariably the
rule in the ordinary form.

P. longicornis, Steph. (scybalarius, Nord.). Shining black ; head
ovate, rather small, antenne long and slender, with the penultimate
joints longer than broad, pitch-black with the under side of the first
joint very often testaceous ; it is, however, sometimes black or entirely tes-
taceous ; thorax about as broad behind as elytra, narrowed in front; elytra
scarcely longer than thorax, distinctly, thickly, and asperately punctured ;
hind body finely and thickly punctured, with the seventh segment less
punctured and more shining ; legs pitch-black with the anterior cox
entirely testaceous ; anterior tibiz strongly spinose on their exterior
margin ; anterior tarsi strongly dilated in male, slightly dilated in female,
L. 7-8 mm.

Male with the seventh segment of hind body plainly and angularly
sinuate with a long smooth triangular space before the sinuation.

In moss, dung, haystack refuse, &c.; not uncommon in the London district and

the south ; apparently less common in the Midlands and the north ; Scotland, Solway
and Clyde districts.

P. varians, Payk. Somewhat narrowed in front and behind,
shining black, with a more or less obscure reddish band or reflection
stretching obliquely from shoulder ; this is sometimes absent ; head oval,
small ; antenne rather long with the penultimate joints not transverse,
black, with the insertion of the second joint often pitchy red; thorax
narrowed in front ; elytra a little longer than thorax, finely, thickly, and
asperately punctured ; hind body finely and thickly punctured, a little
less closely towards apex ; legs pitch-black with the anterior cox tes-
taceous except outer margin, anterior tibize spinose, more so in female
than in male, anterior tarsi strongly dilated (especially secoud joint) in
male, feebly dilated in female. L. 53-6} mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply and
sharply excised, with the sides of the excision narrowly bordered with
membrane.

In dung, haystack refuse, moss, &e.; often on the coast; common and generally
distributed throughout the kingdom.

The variety with quite black elytra may be distinguished from
P. longicornis by its narrower and less parallel form, more “closely pune-
tured elytra, and dark outer edge of anterior coxee.

P. agilis, Grav. Rather a narrow species, slightly fusiform,
‘shining black, with the apical border of the elytra very obscurely ferru.
ginous ; this, however, is often hardly perceptible, and sometimes there
is a reddish reflection on the disc of elytra ; asin P. varians the anterior
coxe are more or less testaceous beneath; it comes exceedinuly
close to this latter insect, and might be taken for a rather small and
narrow varicty of it; it differs, however, in several particulars, and may

VOL. Il. T

274 STAPHYLINIDE. [| Philonthus.

be distinguished by its somewhat shorter antenne, of which the penulti-
mate joints are shorter, and by having segments 4-6 of hind body more
sparingly punctured ; the three first joints of the anterior tarsi of male
are more evenly dilated, and the tarsi in the female are almost simple ;
as a rule the punctuation of the elytra is a little less fine and thick, and
that of the hind body a little stronger than in P. varéans, but both
the species appear to vary somewhat in this respect. L. 5-55 mm.

In moss, dung, haystack and flood refuse, old faggots, &e.; not uncommon in some
localities, and very probably overlooked in many others; Whitstable, Ezham, Walton-
on-Thames, Tottenham, Caterham, Staines, Mickleham, Merton (Surrey) ; Tonbridge ;

Walton-on-Naze; Barmouth; Repton; Stretford and Dunham Park, Manchester ;
Scotland, in dung, very rare, Solway district.

P. vernalis, Grav. (Gabrius vernalis, Thoms.). Shining pitch-
black, with the elytra often, and thorax sometimes, lighter, hind body
more dull than the fore parts; head oblong oval, long, a little narrower
than thorax, antenn black with base testaceous, sometimes testaceous,
with middle part darker, penultimate joints hardly transverse ; thorax
longer than broad, slightly narrowed in front ; elytra shorter than thorax,
especially at suture, rather strongly punctured ; hind body thickly and
finely punctured, slightly iridescent (as in some of the similarly coloured
Quedii), with fine and rather close grey pubescence; legs testaceous,
anterior tarsi simple in both sexes. L. 5-5} mm.

Male with seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply and sharply
excised, with the lateral lobes prolonged and somewhat membranous.

In marshy places, under stones, dead leaves, &c.; rare; Higham and Strood, Kent
(J. J. Walker); Deal, and Lytham (Lancashire), (Power); Hunstanton (Blateh) ;
Liverpool and Manchester districts; Scotland, Lowlands, extremely local, Forth
district.

P. ventralis, Grav. Shining pitch-black with the elytra and
thorax sometimes slightly lighter, and the posterior margins of the
ventral segments of hind body reddish testaceous ; head somewhat
orbicular, antenne black with the first joint reddish testaceous, penulti-
mate joints slightly transverse ; thorax slightly longer than broad at base,
with sides almost parallel in the male, and slightly contracted in the
female; elytra about as Jong as thorax, rather strongly, thickly, and
somewhat asperately punctured ; hind body rather thickly punctured on
the basal segments, more sparingly behind ; legs testaceous, with the
posterior femora darker, anterior tarsi almost simple in male, simple in
female, anterior tibiew distinetly spinose on their exterior margin. L. 42—

3 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body scarcely sinuate °
in middle of apical margin, with a triangular smooth space before the
sinuation.

Damp places, in vegetable refuse, &ec., also in dry dung-heaps; local ; London
district, not uncommon, Sheerness, Lee, Walton-on-Thames, Shirley, Mickleham,
Ealing, Tonbridge ; Dover; Hastings; The Holt, Farnham ; Devon ; Whitsand Bay

Philonthus. | STAPHYLINID.E. 275

(Plymouth), &c.; Birmingham district ; Repton ; Sherwood Forest; Lincoln; Chat
Moss; Northumberland district ; Scotland, Lowlands, Forth district only.

P. discoideus, Gray. Shining black, with the elytra more or less
pitchy black, with suture, margins, and sometimes apical border tes-
taceous ; the antenna, legs, and the apex of the ventral segments of hind
body are reddish testaceous ; closely allied to the preceding, but rather
smaller, with the antenne somewhat shorter and wunicolorous; the
anterior tarsi, also, are strongly dilated in the male; varieties occur in
which the margins only of the elytra are testaceous, and occasionally the
elytra are entirely, or almost entirely, light-coloured. L. 43-5 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly sinuate,
with a narrow smooth space before the sinuation.

In dung-heaps, hotbeds, haystack refuse, &c.; rather common and generally dis-
tributed throughout the kingdom,

P. quisquiliarius, Gyll. Shining black, with the elytra often
tinged with a greenish reflection; head somewhat, orbicular, a little
narrower than thorax, antenne long and slender, black, with the basal
joint (at least on under side) testaceous, penultimate joints longer than
broad ; thorax at’ base nearly as broad as long, scarcely narrowed in
front; elytra a little longer than thorax, finely, but rather deeply and
closely punctured ; hind body finely and rather thickly punctured, less
closely behind ; legs brownish-testaceous, more or less pitchy, anterior
tibia more or less spinose on their external border (more so in female
than male), anterior tarsi of male strongly dilated, of female almost
simple. L. 53-63 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body moderately and
angularly sinuate on its apical margin, with a smooth, triangular space
before sinuation, sixth segment feebly emarginate.

Wet places, running on mud, or in refuse on the borders of streams ; somewhat
local, and confined chiefly to the London district and the south of England; in the
former it is not uncommon, Lee, Chatham, Faversham, Penge, Walton-on-Thames,
Barnes, Merton, Dagenham, Tonbridge; Bishopstoke; Exmouth, Devon; Soham,
Cambridgeshire ; it has been recorded from the Manchester district, but this may have
been in error, as it does not appear to occur in the Midlands, and I can find no record
further north than Cambridgeshire.

The ». dimidiatus (P. dimidiatus, Er.) has the elytra bright red, with
the base only black: it has occurred at Notting Hill, Dulwich, Putney,
Maidstone, Littlington (Sussex), Exeter, &e.; I have also received it
from Armagh, Ireland, where it was taken by Rev. W. F. Johnson.

P. splendidulus, Grav. (Gabrius splendidulus, Thoms.). Narrow
and linear, shining pitch-black, with the apex of hind body, and the
apical margins of the several segments reddish ; head subovate, long,
nearly as broad as thorax, antenne rather short, reddish testaceous with
the first three joints lighter, joints 4-5 about as long as broad, 6-10 trans-
verse; thorax considerably longer than broad, slightly narrowed towards

rt 2

276 STAPHYLINIDA, [ Philonthus.

base, where it is a little narrower than elytra; scutellum almost im-
punctate ; elytra about as long as thorax, distinctly and rather sparingly
punctured ; hind body finely punctured ; legs testaceous. L. 43-42 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly sinuate
at apex.

Under bark; also in moss and dead leaves in or upon old decayed trees, often in
company with ants; not common, except in one or two localities; London district,
rare ; Loughton (Essex); Tonbridge; Hainault Forest ; New Forest; Dean Forest ;
Sherwood Forest (abundant under oak-bark (Blatch)); Scotland, very rare, Tay
district, Rannoch,

P. thermarum, Aubé. The smallest British species of the genus ;
narrow and sublinear ; head shining black, thorax piteh-brown or reddish-
brown, elytra obscurely testaceous, often a little darker towards base,
hind body black with the apex, and occasionally (in somewhat immature
specimens) the apical margin of the segments, especially the ventral ones,
reddish testaceous ; head oblong, longer than broad, somewhat rectangu-
lar, with sides almost straight, antennz rather short, with joints 6-10
very slightly transverse, or about as long as broad ; thorax considerably
longer than broad, a little less broad at base than elytra; elytra a little
longer than thorax, somewhat widened behind, rather strongly and spar-
ingly punctured ; hind body finely punctured; legs pale testaceous,
anterior tarsi very slightly dilated in male, simple in female. L. 3-34
mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body rather broadly
and deeply sinuate at apex.

In dung-heaps, hotbeds, &c. ; local ; Westerham (Kent), Dulwich, Ealing, Eltham,
Birdbrook (Essex), West Ham, Croydon, Farnham, &. ; Hastings district ; Edgbaston
and Knowle, near Birmingham ; Repton, Burton-on-Trent ; Northumberland district,
Long Benton, rare; not recorded from Scotland.

Section IV.

Dorsal series of thorax each consisting of six punctures,

J, Antenne slender, not, or scarcely, thickened towards
apex ; last joint of maxillary palpi much longer than the
_ preceding.
i. Elytra black, pitchy, or slightly bronze.
1. Length 63-7 mm.
AY Wegs black) es). ees en anes elas) ke NUGRIMAS Bord.
B. Legs testaceous . . . . . + « © - » - P. FUMARIUS, Grav.
2. Length 33-53 mm.
A, Elytra and hind body closely and finely punc-
tured.
a, Form broader, somewhat fusiform ; thorax more
or less narrowed in front; second and third
joints of antennz of about equal length . . P. MIcaNs, Grav.
b. Form narrower, subparallel; thorax slightly
narrowed behind; third joint of antenne
much longer than "second Rey =< eee) EPA SUDO Serurs

Philonthus.) STAPHYLINIDA, 277

B, Elytra coarsely punctured, hind body moderately
thickly and finely punctured.
a. Size smaller; colour darker; legs pitch-black . P. NIGRITULUS, Grav.

b, Size larger; colour lighter ; oe lighter or
darker testaceous. . . . 7 o's » . &. tRossuLuS, Nord.
ii. Elytra bright red. . . P. FULVIPES, ff,
II. Antenne stout, rather strongly ‘thickened tow ards apex ; 5
last joint of maxillary palpi about as long as the preced-
ing; upper surface, antenne, and legs “black ; ; length
P= DMMINS MT SM cls, | Gye Velie Ne) ode tay oss «oles, PULLUS,WVord:

P. nigrita, Nord. Entirely black, shining; head oval, narrower
than thorax, antenne black, long and slender, with the penultimate joints
longer than broad.; thorax slightly narrowed in front, scarcely oblong,
almost as broad at base as base of elytra ; elytra slightly longer than
thorax, finely, thickly, and somewhat asperately punctured ; hind body
narrowed gradually towards apex, with sides somewhat rounded, rather
finely and thickly punctured, more sparingly behind ; legs black, with
the tarsi, and sometimes the knees, pitchy red, anterior tarsi strongly
dilated in male, moderately in female. L. 63-7 mm.

Male with the seventh segment of hind body deeply and sharply
excised, the excision behind being partly filled with membrane,

In marshy places; at roots of grass, in sphagnum, &e.; not common; Eltham,
Wimbledon, Esher, Chobham, Waddon (Surrey), Cowley, Merton Marsh; Hastings ;
New Forest; Cannock Chase; Coleshill, near Birmingham; Withington, near Man-
chester; Scotland, scarce, Solway, Forth, and Tay districts.

P. fumarius, Grav. Black, shining, with the elytra slightly bronzed;
head oval, narrower than thorax; antennz rather long, with the penulti-
mate joints longer than broad, black with the first joint, and sometimes
the last, lighter; thorax somewhat narrowed in front, almost as broad at
base as base of elytra ; elytra as long as thorax, finely, thickly, and some-
what asperately punctured; hind body narrowed behind, finely and rather
thickly punctured on the basal segments, less thickly on the apex of
fourth, and the whole of the others; legs reddish-testaceous or reddish
with the coxe dark, anterior tarsi rather strongly dilated in male, almost
simple in female. L. 63-7 mm.

Male with the seventh segment of hind body rather deeply and angu-
larly sinuate, with a triangular smooth space before the sinuation.

Marshy places, in moss, flood refuse, &c. ; also on the coast in sea-weed, &e. ; local ;
London district, not uncommon; Lee, Walton-on-Thames, Eltham, Strood; Folke-

stone; Brighton; Eastbourne ; Sandown, Isle of Wight ; Soham, Cambridgeshire ;
York: not recorded from the extreme north of England or Scotland.

P. micans, Grav.. Black, with the elytra slightly bronzed, and the
apex of hind body, and often the intersections of the ventral segments,
reddish-testaceous ; head oval, plainly narrower than thorax, antenne
rather long, black, with the first joint, and sometimes the last, brownish-
testaceous or reddish-brown, penultimate joints longer than broad ; thorax
more or less narrowed in front, a little narrower at base than elytra ;

278 STAPHYLINID. [Philonthus.

elytra rather longer than thorax, somewhat widened behind, finely,
thickly, and somewhat asperately punctured ; hind body very finely and
thickly punctured; legs testaceous or reddish testaceous, with the pos-
terior cox dark, anterior tarsi rather strongly dilated in male, almost
simple in female. L. 5-5} mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body plainly and
angularly sinuate in middle of apical margin, with a smooth space before
the sinuation.

Marshy places; at roots of grass, in moss, flood refuse, &e. ; local ; London district,
not uncommon; Wimbledon, Lee, Penge, Walton-on-Thames, Birch Wood, Tonbridge,
&e. ; Hastings; Worthing; Dorset; Soham and Wicken Fen ; Coleshill and Knowle,
near Birmingham ; Bewdley Forest ; Cheshire; Manchester district ; Northumberland
district, rare; Scotland, in marshes, very local, Solway and Forth districts.

P. astutus, Er. (Gabrius astutus, Muls. et Rey). Black, with the
elytra sometimes castaneous or reddish (in somewhat immature specimens),
apex of hind body usually lighter; head large, subovate or subquadrate,
as broad, or almost as broad as thorax, antennz rather long, dark, with
the first joint pitchy brown or reddish, penultimate joints about as long
as broad; thorax longer than broad with sides subparallel, slightly
narrowed behind; elytra rather longer than thorax finely and thickly
punctured; hind body very finely and thickly punctured throughout ;
legs reddish testaceous with the posterior femora sometimes darker, an-
terior tarsi simple in both sexes. L. 5-5} mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body feebly and
narrowly sinuate in middle of apical margin, with a long, triangular,
smooth space before the sinuation.

Very rare: M, Fauvel sent me a specimen labelled ‘‘ Ireland,” taken by M. Javet
some years ago, and one or two specimens have been taken by Mr. A. C. Horner near
Sandgate.

This species resembles P. trossulus in build, but is larger, and has the
elytra much more closely and finely punctured.

P. nigritulus, Grav. (Gabrius nigritulus, Muls. et Rey). A small
species; shining black; head subovate or slightly subquadrate, nearly as
broad as thorax, antennee black with the basal joints sometimes lighter
underneath, penultimate joints slightly transverse ; thorax longer than
broad, parallel-sided, evidently narrower than elytra; elytra usually a
little longer than thorax, but variable in this respect, rather coarsely and
not closely punctured ; hind body moderately finely and thickly punc-
tured with the seventh segment smoother; legs pitchy black or dark
pitchy-brown, anterior tarsi simple in both sexes. L. 3} mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body very slightly
sinuate in middle of apical margin, with a triangular smooth space before
the sinuation.

In dung-heaps, fungi, dead leaves, &e.; not common; the only specimens I have

seen were taken by Dr. Power at Horsell and Mickleham, and by Mr. Brewer on or
near Snowdon.

Philonthus.] STAPHYLINIDS. 279

P. trossulus, Nord. (Gabrius trossulus, Muls. et Rey). Very like
the preceding, but considerably larger, with the legs yellowish testaceous,
sometimes slightly pitchy ; the elytra are said to be a little shorter in
proportion to the thorax, but in a large series the proportionate length of
thorax and elytra varies so much that this character is quite worthless ;
in some specimens the elytra are pitch-brown or even reddish; there is
great confusion between this species and the preceding, and they are
considered by some authors to be varieties of one species; P. niyritulus,
however, as described above has a very distinct appearance ; in most of
our collections P. trossulus does duty for both species. L. 44 mm.

In moss, vegetable refuse, dung heaps, &c.; common and generally distributed
throughout the kingdom,

P. fulvipes, F. Somewhat fusiform, black, with the elytra bright
red; head oval, less broad than thorax, antenne dark, with the three
first joints more or less brightly testaceous, penultimate joints about as
long as broad ; thorax, very shining, somewhat narrowed in front, a little
narrower at base than elytra; elytra about as long as thorax, finely and
rather thickly punctured; hind body narrowed behind and feebly
rounded at sides, with fine grey pubescence, finely and rather thickly
punctured ; legs reddish testaceous, with the coxe darker, anterior tarsi
strongly dilated in male, almost simple in female. L. 5-53 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body plainly and angu-
larly sinuate, with a large smooth triangular space before sinuation, sixth
segment often slightly emarginate.

Marshy places, in moss, flood refuse, &c.; not common; Dulwich, Walton-on-
Thames, Faygate, Mickleham, Merton, Cowley; Barnstaple, Devon; Tewkesbury ;

Bewdley Forest; Burton; Church Stretton; Lancaster; Northumberland district,
rare; Scotland, rare, Tweed and Solway districts.

The six species, P. vernalis, splendidulus, thermarum, astutus, nigritu-
dus, and trossulus are placed by Mulsant and Rey in the sub-genus Gabrius,
which is distinguished from Philonthus by having the last joint of the
labial palpi subulate and evidently narrower than the preceding; the
anterior tarsi are simple, or almost simple, in both sexes, and the first
joint of the posterior tarsi is about equal in length to the last, and as long
as the two following united.

P. pullus, Nord. (Rabigus pullus, Muls. et Rey). Shining black,
with the elytra and hind body strongly pubescent, and so duller, the
former very slightly metallic; head subovate, not much narrower than
thorax in front, antenne rather long and stout, entirely black, plainly
thickened towards apex, with joints 6-7 about as long as broad, 8-10
transverse ; thorax longer than broad, narrower than elytra ; elytra as
long as thorax, rather finely and thickly punctured ; hind body narrowed
behind, with sides slightly rounded, finely and rather thickly, but dis-
tinetly, punctured; legs pitch-black, posterior tarsi almost as long as the

280 STAPHYLINIDE. [Philonthus,

tibia, with the first joint evidently longer than the last, anterior tarsi
strongly dilated in male, slightly in female. L. 43-5 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body plainly and angu-
larly sinuate in middle of apical margin, with a triangular smooth space
before the sinuation.

In vegetable refuse, &e ; very rare; Portsea (Dr. Power), one specimen taken many
years ago; Withington, Cheshire (Chappell).

This species is placed by Mulsant and Rey in their genus Rabigus,
which is distinguished from Philonthus by the fact that the last joint of
the maxillary palpi is exactly conical, and about as long as the preced-
ing ; in all the species of Philonthus and Gabrius the last joint is longer
than the preceding and more or less fusiform; there are fourteen
European species that belong to the sub-genus Gabrius and three to
Rabigus.

Srorron V.

Dorsal series of thorax consisting of more than six punctures ; more or
less nregular.
1. Anterior tibiae straight; thorax with two rather irregular

dorsal series consisting of about twelve or more punctures,

often doubled, and the sides also irregularly and thickly punc-

tured . eke = ie ete hp PUNCIUS GH Cer
2. Anterior tibiz slightly curved ; thorax with two irregular

dorsal series consisting of about eight pang and the sides

also punctured . . . : A 7 © 0) o) LE PURDUE OTE.

P. punctus, Grav. (multipunctatus, Mann.). Shining black; head sub-
quadrate, rather strongly and moderately thickly punctured at the sides, an-
tenn black, with the insertion of the first joints sometimes reddish, scarcely
thickened towards apex, penultimate joints not transverse ; thorax sub-
quadrate, very slightly narrowed in front, with a smooth space in centre
bounded by two irregular rows of rather large punctures (about twelve in
number), some of which are usually double; the sides also are rather thickly
covered with punctures of the same character; elytra deep black, some-
times obscurely metallic, rather thickly and strongly punctured; hind
body moderately strongly, and not thickly punctured ; legs black, with
the tarsi sometimes pitchy red, anterior tarsi rather strongly dilated in
male, feebly dilated in female. L. 9-10 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body plainly sinuate
in middle of apical margin, with a small smooth space before the sinua-
tion, sixth often slightly emarginate.

Muddy places near the coast; rare; Sheerness and Gravesend (Dr. Power and

others); Slapton Ley, Devon (taken by Mr, Wollaston in some numbers, and recently
by Mr. Bridgman, of Burton-on-Trent).

P. puella, Nord. ( parumpunctatus, Er.). Smaller than the preced-
ing, shining black with the elytra somewhat metallic ; head very large in
male, transverse, and subrectangular, and often broader than thorax,

Philonthus.] STAPHYLINID.Z. 281

somewhat orbicular and narrower than thorax in female, antenne
black, evidently thickened towards apex, with the penultimate joints
transverse; thorax subquadrate, searcely narrowed in front, with two
irregular series of about eight strong punctures, and the sides with
scattered punctures of the same character; sometimes the series are
broken up and the punctures are almost entirely scattered and separate ;
the number of punctures on each side rarely exceeds twelve or fifteen ;
elytra about as long as thorax, rather strongly, thickly, and somewhat
asperately or rugosely punctured ; hind body rather strongly punctured,
a little less closely behind; legs black, occasionally dark pitchy-brown,
with the tarsi often brownish, anterior tarsi simple in both sexes, L.
7-8 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body plainly and an-
gularly sinuate in middle of apical margin.

In cut grass, dung, dead birds, &e. ; local; London district, rare; Chobham, Graves-
end, Coombe Wood; New Forest; Sidmouth; Dean Forest (rather common); Cheshire ;

Cannock Chase; Birmingham district ; Sherwood Forest; Repton; Northumberland
district ; Scotland, Solway, Forth, Tay, and Dee districts ; Ireland, Armagh, &e.

CAFIUS, Stephens.

- The species belonging to this genus have, as a rule, a very charac-
teristic appearance, and bear some relation in form to the Xantholinine ;
they inhabit the sea-coast or the margins of tidal rivers; besides the
character presented by the longer lateral seta of the thorax alluded to
above (p. 259), they are separated from Philonthus proper by having the
last joint of the maxillary palpi flattened, oval, and elongate, and almost
securiform ; from Actobcus they may be distinguished by having the first
joint of the posterior tarsi longer than the last joint, whereas in that
genus the last joint is about equal to the first; there are four British
species which may be separated as follows :—
I. Elytra coarsely punctured. . - . . + « « - . C.cCICATRICOSUS, Er.
a Elytra finely punctured.
. Thorax with two series consisting of three large
punctures on dise, and a fourth near margin.
1. Elytra unicolorons ; hind body without longi-
tudinal lines of grey pubescence . . . CO. Fuctcona, Curtis.
2. Elytra with lateral margins testaceous ; hind
body with distinct lines of greyish pubescence. . C. XANTHOLOMA, Grav.
ii. Thorax thickly punctured with pak a neg
space incentresmooth . . . . . . C. SERICEUS, Holme.

C. cicatricosus, Er. Elongate, eon somewhat parallel-
sided, pitch-black, with the hind body pitchy red above and ferruginous
beneath ; the elytra are rather lighter coloured, as a rule, than the head
and thorax; head very large, somewhat variable, but always broader
than thorax, subquadrate, with large round or oblong impressions or
cicatrices on dise ; antenne ferruginous with first joint dark, penultimate
joints slightly transverse ; ‘thorax longer than broad, distinctly narrowed

282 STAPHYLINIDE. { Cafius:

behind, where it is evidently less broad than elytra, with one or two
large punctures near anterior margin, a large circular impression on disc,
and one or tio smaller ones behind, which are often wanting ; elytra
rather thickly and coarsely punctured, about as long as thorax; hind
body long, finely and thickly punctured ; legs black or brownish with
the tibia and tarsi more or less ferruginous, anterior tarsi more or less
dilated in both sexes. L. 10-13 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body rather strongly
sinuate at apex, sixth segment feebly sinuate.

On the sea-coast, under stones and sea-weed ; very local; Southsea and Ports-
mouth (H. Moncreaff, J. J. Walker, &c.); Shoreham; Worthing (E. Saunders) ;
it occurs more plentifully between June and October; according to Mulsant and Rey
it sometimes digs a burrow for itself in the damp mud,

C. fucicola, Curtis. Elongate, linear, somewhat parallel-sided,
pitchy black ; head large, variable in size, but at least as broad as, and
usually broader than, thorax, subquadrate, with large coarse punctures,
especially behind eyes; antenne dark, with the insertion of the first
joints, and the last joint (as a rule), ferruginous, penultimate joints
slightly transverse; thorax longer than broad, distinctly narrowed
behind, where it is narrower than elytra, with two series of three large
punctures on disc; elytra a little longer than thorax, finely and thickly
punctured; hind body distinctly, and rather thickly, punctured ; legs
ferruginous, with the apex of femora and tibize sometimes darker ;
anterior tarsi moderately dilated in male, less dilated in female. L. 9-
10 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral sezment of hind body rather deeply
and triangularly emarginate at apex, sixth segment more broadly and
less deeply emarginate.

On the sea-coast, in decaying sea-weed ; very local ; London district, rare, Sheerness ;
Littlehampton ; Isle of Wight, Ventnor, &c., not uncommon in early spring; Rotting-
dean, Brighton; Portland; Falmouth; Devonshire; Wales; Douglas, Isle of Man ;
Northumberland district, Marsden, rare; Scotland, Forth district, Dalmeny ;

Murray’s locality has lately been confirmed by Mr. Logan of Colinton (Ent. Monthly
Mag., xxiii. 161) ; Ireland, Killiney, near Dublin (Power).

Cc. xantholoma, Grav. Dull black or pitchy black, with the
margins of the elytra testaceous; it much resembles the preceding
species, but, besides the difference of colour it may be distinguished by
the evidently finer punctuation of the elytra, which are plainly longer in
proportion to the thorax, and especially by the longitudinal lines of grey
pubescence on the hind body, which are formed by tufts of hairs
arranged on each side of the apex of each segment; the antenne are
dark, and the legs are more or less pitchy, but variable in colour, being
sometimes almost entirely testaceous; the sixth and seventh ventral
segments of male are sinuate, the latter rather strongly with a longi-
tudinal smooth line before sinuation. L. 6-9 mm.

In decaying sea-weed ; abundant on the coast throughout the kingdom,

Cofius.] STAPHYLINIDS. 283

The var. variolosus, Sharp, is a highly developed form of the male
with the head much enlarged and more strongly punctured, and the
thorax widened in front to admit the wider neck ; the underside also of
the hind body is more sparingly and coarsely punctured.

Isle of Wight, Ventnor, &¢.; Falmouth; Berwick-upon-Tweed ; Scotland, Forth
district, &e.; Ireland, Bray, county Wicklow.

C. sericeus, Holme (pruinosus, Er., Remus sericeus, Holme, nec
Thoms., Pseudidus sericeus, Muls. et Rey). Elongate, linear, dull
black or brownish, clothed with thick and fine greyish pubescence ; head
rather large, about as broad as thorax, thickly and strongly punctured
with a longitudinal smooth space on forehead ; antenne obscure with
apex lighter, penultimate joints scarcely transverse ; thorax longer than
broad, with sides almost straight and parallel, finely and thickly, but
distinctly punctured, with a smooth longitudinal space in centre some-
what raised behind ; elytra plainly longer than thorax, dull, very finely
and thickly punctured ; hind body very finely and thickly punctured,
seventh segment less closely punctured and more shining; legs more or
less pitchy, usually dark, with the knees and tarsi somewhat pitchy tes-
taceous, anterior tarsi moderately dilated in both sexes. L. 4$-5 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment angularly excised, and the
sixth segment slightly sinuate in middle of apical margin.

On the sea-coast in decaying sea-weed ; local, but rather common in the south of
England ; Whitstable, Sheerness, Bognor, Margate, Kingsgate, Broadstairs ; Little-
hampton; Southsea; Portsmouth; Isle of Wight, Ventnor, Ryde, &e., rather
common on the wing in early spring, settling on the rocks and stones in the sun;
Falmouth; Dawlish; Liverpool; Lancaster; Scotland, very local, taken by Pro-
fessor McNab near Ayr; Ireland, Malahide, near Dublin.

ACTOBIUS, Fauvel.

This sub-genus contains a number of small species which differ from
Philonthus and Cafius in characters before mentioned, and from all the
species properly belonging to these genera in having the terminal joint
of the maxillary palpi conical; it is, however, very acute and longer
than the penultimate joint, and in this differs from the same joint in the
sub-genus Rabigus (P. pullus, &c.), in which it is conical, but is almost
shorter than the penultimate ; all our species have the whole of the surface
of the thorax more or less closely punctured with a smooth central longi-
tudinal narrow space. The first two species A. cénerascens and signati-
cornis, are considered by Mulsant and Rey to form one of his great
divisions of the Staphylinine, under the name of Remates, and to be of
equivalent value to the Staphylinates and the Philonthates; the chief
character on which they form this division is the triangularly dilated
second joint of the antenne ; there are also certain differences in the
meta- and meso-sternum, but it hardly seems a logical course to form a

284 STAPHYLINIDE. [Actolius.

large division on them, and, in fact, most authors do not even separate
the two species as a genus.
I. Second joint of antenne triangularly dilated, plainly
thicker than the following,
. Head finely punctured at sides; antenna dark
lve the first joint reddish testaceous. . . A. CINERASCENS, Grav.
. Head strongly and not thickly punctured | at
Raiders antennas with apex and usually base tes-
taceous By oe A. SIGNATICORNIS, Muls.
IJ, Second joint of antenne not triangularly dilated,
not thicker than the following.
. Antenne entirely testaceous, “with the penultimate
_ joints evidently transverse. . . A, VILLOsULUS, Steph.
. Antenne dark, with base more or less testaceous,
aes penultimate joints hardly or feebly trans-
verse.
1. Elytra pitch-black with apex only reddish; *
impressions at base of Piguet 2-4 of hind body
= ey punctured . . A, PROCERULUS, Grav.
2. Elytra brick-red with base more or less broadly
~ darker ; ; impressions at base of segments 2-4 of
hind body rather strongly punctured , . . . A. PROLIXUS, Er.

A. cinerascens, Grav. (Remus cinerascens, Thoms., nee Holme)
Elongate, sublinear, pitch-black, head and thorax shining, elytra and
hind body finely and thickly pubescent and dull; head subquadrate, as
broad as thorax, finely and very thickly punctured, with a narrow
smooth longitudinal space in centre, antennz rather slender, with penul-
timate joints not transverse, and second joint dilated, dark, with the first
joint, and sometimes the apex, reddish testaceous; thorax somewhat
longer than broad, rather strongly and closely punctured, with a smooth
central longitudinal space ; almost parallel-sided ; elytra and hind body
very finely and thickly punctured, the former evidently longer than
thorax ; legs ferruginous or reddish testaceous, anterior tarsi rather
strongly dilated in male, moderately in female. L. 4mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body somewhat
angularly sinuate in middle of apical margin.

Marshy places, in flood refuse, moss, especially sphagnum, &e.; rather common in
the south; London district, generally distributed; Hastings, New Forest, Devon-
shire, &c.; Birmingham district; Scotland, Lowlands, Solway, Forth, Tay, and

Moray districts; the species must occur in the north of England, but is evidently less
common than in the south.

A. signaticornis, Rey (rivularis, Kies.). This species resembles
the preceding, but may very easily be distinguished from it by the
following characters: the general appearance is more shining; the head
and thorax are more strongly and less closely punctured ; the antenne
are dark with the apical joint yellow, or, in slightly immature specimens
the central portion only is dark, and the base and apex are yellow-tes-
taceous; the scutellum and elytra are evidently less closely punctured
and much more shining, and the latter are somewhat shorter in pro-

Actobius.] STAPHYLINIDE. 285

portion; the male characters are much the same as in the preceding.
L. 4 mm.

Marshy places; at roots of grass; alsorunning on the mud; rare; Strood, Barnes,
Chobham, Putney, Shirley, Reigate, Merton, Sanderstead, Cowley; Folkestone ;
Luccombe Chine, Isle of Wight; Lymington; Liverpool ; Scotland, very rare, Solway
district. .

The next three species belong to the sub-genus B/sniuvs, Thoms.,
which is said to be distinguished from Remus by not having the second
joint of the antennie dilated, and from Cafius and Philonthus by having
the first joint of the hind tarsi subequal to the fifth,* and joints 1-4
decreasing gradually in length; the species of Bisnius differ very much
in general appearance from the ordinary Philonthi, and somewhat
resemble the smaller species of Lathrobium.

A. villosulus, Steph. (Bisnius elongatulus, Thoms.). Elongate, linear,
shining black, with the elytra pitch-black, lighter at apex; head sub-
quadrate, a little broader than thorax, strongly and rather thickly pune-
tured on the sides, more sparingly on dise, antennz rather short, entirely
testaceous, with the penultimate joints evidently transverse ; thorax
longer than broad, hardly narrowed behind, narrower at base than elytra,
rather strongly and thickly punctured, with a smooth central space;
elytra a little longer than thorax, depressed, finely and rather thickly
punctured, black, or shining pitch-brown with the apex sometimes
reddish ; hind body finely and rather thickly punctured, with segments
2-4 impressed at base, the impressions being almost smooth, sixth
segment often less dark, and always smoother and more shining; legs
testaceous, anterior tarsi moderately dilated in both sexes. L. 33-
4 mm. :

Male with the seventh ventral segment slightly sinuate in middle of
apical margin with a smooth, triangular space before the sinuation.

Marshy places, in moss, flood refuse, &e.; rare; Putney, Wandsworth, Shirley,
Cowley, Mickleham, Colney Hatch; Bewdley; Withington, Cheshire; Stretford,
near Manchester, on the wing; Scotland, very rare, ‘south of Scotland and Kinross-
shire, A. Murray.”

A. procerulus, Gray. (Bisnius procerulus, Thoms., semipunctatus,
Fairm., lathrobioides, Baudi.). Of the same shape and colour as the
preceding, black, with the elytra black or pitch-brown, lighter at apex ;
the antenne are longer, with the penultimate joints only slightly trans-
verse, blackish, with the base testaceous; the punctuation of the head
and thorax is rather closer than in P. villosulus, and that of the elytra is
rather stronger ; the colour of the legs also is much darker ; the male
characters are much the same as in the other two species. L. 35-4 mm.

In cut grass, flood refuse, &c., generally in marshy places; local ; London district,
not uncommon, Whitstable, Lee, Mickleham, Peckham, Shirley, Cowley, Sevenoaks,

* The character of the relative length of the joints of the posterior tarsi in this
group, which is much used by authors, is not a very satisfactory one in many cases,

286 STAPHYLINID&. [Actobsus.

Charlton, Colney Hatch ; Isle of Wight ; Repton, Burton-on-Trent; Lincoln; Stret-
ford, near Manchester, on the wing ; Northumberland district, rare, near Wooler, and
sea-banks north of Whitley ; Scotland, rare, Solway, Tweed, and Tay districts.

A. prolixus, Er. ( pubipennis, Kol., Bisnius prolizus, Muls. et Rey).
Very closely allied to the preceding, but rather more elongate, and
more brightly coloured; the head, moreover, is a little broader and
very slightly narrowed behind; the thorax is a little narrower, and
therefore appears to be slightly longer ; the fourth and fifth joints of the
antenne are rather longer and more oblong; the elytra vary somewhat
in colour, but are, as a rule, brick-red, or reddish testaceous, with the
base more or less broadly dark; the hind body has segments 2—4 trans-
versely impressed as in the two preceding, but the impressions in A.
villosulus and A. procerulus are scarcely visibly punctured, whereas in this
species they are evidently and rather strongly punctured ; this is one of
the best distinguishing characters, as the colour varies, and some speci-
mens have only the extreme apex of elytra red ; the legs are reddish
testaceous, lighter than in the preceding species. L. 35-4 mm.

In muddy places, under stones, also running in the sun on the mud in dried-up water-
courses; very local, and not common; Notting Hill, St. John’s Wood, Colney Hatch ;
Scotland, Solway district only.

XANTHOLININZA.

Tn this sub-family which, as stated above (p. 221), has been until com-
paratively recently included under the Staphylininx, the antenne are
inserted near the middle of the anterior margin of the front, and are
approximate at base; the head is usually as large, or almost as large, as
thorax and is constricted behind into a short and narrow neck; .the
antenne are often strongly geniculate; the thorax is long and more or
less rectangular and often furnished with rows of punctures; the general
form is linear and elongate ; in our genera when the antenne are strongly
geniculate the elytra are imbricate, that is to say, one overlaps the other
like tiles on a roof. The sub-family contains at present about twenty
genera, some of which, however, are further divided by different authors.

The larve of the Xantholinine are chiefly characterized by their large rectangular,
suboblong heads and linear form ; that of X. tricolor is described by Mulsant and Rey,
Brévipennes Xantholiniens, p. 60; it is shining reddish testaceous in colour with the
abdomen pale, with the head a third broader than thorax, rather longer than broad ;
the elypeus is furnished with four teeth in front; antennze short ; prothorax rather
long and narrow, semicylindrical, as long as the meso- and meta-thorax together ;
abdomen long, longer than the rest of the body, rather deeply furrowed longitudinally
on the first eight segments, which are almost smooth on disc, but wrinkled at apex, and
rough at sides; last segment trapeziform, narrower behind, with an anal appendage,
and two cerci, of which the second joint is narrower and a little shorter than the first ;
legs short.

The larvee of X. punctulatus, linearis, &e., described by Bouché, Erichson, Mulsant
and Rey, &c., do not differ much from the above except in size, colour, and the rela-
tive length of thorax and of the joints of the cerci; in all the species the body appears
to be strangulate behind the head, owing to the large size of the latter.

Xantholinine. | STAPHYLINIDA. 287

I. ponte strongly errictints ; suture of elytra imbricated.
i. Maxillary palpi with last joint about as long as ea
mate.

1, Lateral marginal line of thorax prolonged nearly to an-
terior angles without touching the internal border of

reflexed margin . . XANTHOLINUS, Serv.
2. Lateral marginal line of thorax bent underneath and
joining the border of reflexed margin some distance

before anterior angles . . . . Nupostvus, Thoms.
i. Maxillary palpi with ‘last joint very short, narrow, and
subulate . . . » . LEPTACINUS, Er.

i Antenne feebly geniculate ; suture of elytra simple.
. Elytra with sutural stria well marked ; Dota tibia
simply ciliate. . Baprorinvs, Kraatz.
i. Elytra with sutural stria obsolete ; posterior tibize spinose Orutus, Steph.

XANTHOLINUS, Serville.

From this genus, as constituted below, the sub-genus Nudobius has
been removed, as in many respects it differs very considerably from
Xantholinus in structure, and its habitat is very different from that of the
creat majority of the true Xantholini; the sub-genus Hulissus = Gaurop-
terus, containing in our fauna the single species XY. fulgidus, seems hardly
sufficiently distinct to justify its separation; the genus Xantholinus is a
very extensive one and contains at present upwards of two hundred species,
which are distributed over almost every quarter of the world; there are
ten British species, which may be distinguished as follows :—

I. Thorax without dorsal series of punctures; forehead
with two deep strie; elytra bright red (sub-gen.

Eulissus, Mannh.) . . - «© « » XX, FULGIDUS, F.
II. Thorax with dorsal series of punctures.
ee bright red. 8 X. GLABRATUS, Grav.

. Elytra black, pitehy Browit or broczet
arr Head strongly and coarsely punctured ; temples
bordered at sides.
A. Antenne and legs black ; dorsal series of thorax
consisting of four or five PUnC Ears head sub-
quadrate . . X. PUNCTULATUS, Payk.
B. Antenne and legs lighter or ‘darker pitchy red y
or reddish festaceous’; dorsal series of thorax
consisting of eight or nine punctures; head oblong
C, Antennz and legs lighter or darker pitchy red,
or reddish testaceous ; dorsal series of thorax
consisting of four or five punctures ; head some-
what subquadrate, intermediate in shape be-
tween the two preceding species.
2. Head less strongly and much more diffusely pune-
tured; temples not bordered at sides.
A. Elytra red, thorax black; size rather small L&

‘ai

. OCHRACEUS, Gy/l.

“

. ATRATUS, Heer.

mm.) . 5. ens X. @LaBER, Word.
B. Elytra and thorax testaceous red.
a. Head oblong-ovate; length6-6} mm. . . . X, DISTANS, Kr.

b. Head oblong ; length 9-10 mm... . «, - X. TRICOLOR, &
C. Elytra bronze or black.

283 STAPHYLINIDE [| Xantholinus.

a, Elytra shorter; dorsal series of thorax consist-
ing of some twelve or sixteen punctures ;
thorax evidently more closely punctured at
Sides’ seta). fal tol or tad ON EDDNE ARTS OLS
b, Elytra longer; dorsal series of thorax consist-
ing of some ten or twelve punctures; thorax
less closely punctured at sides . . . . . X. LONGIVENTRIS, Heer.

X. fulgidus, F. (Zulissus (Gyrohypnus) fulyidus, Mannh., Gauro-
pterus fulgidus, Thoms.). Elongate, very narrow, shining black, with
the elytra brilliant red ; head oblong, rectangular, parallel-sided, a little
broader than thorax, with large, coarse, oblong punctures, which on the
sides form continuous lines; the forehead is broad, with two long deep
strie ; antenne short, plainly thickened, pitchy brown, with first joint
black, and apex often lighter, penultimate joints strongly transverse ;
thorax oblong, widest in front, evidently narrowed behind, where it is
narrower than elytra, with a deep furrowed stria on each side near
margin, formed of confluent punctures, disc smooth ; scutellum black
with large, scattered punctures ; elytra scarcely as long as thorax, with
two rows of shallow punctures, one near suture, and one on disc, and
scattered punctures between; hind body long, finely and sparingly
punctured ; legs pitch-black or black, with the tarsi, trochanters, and
knees lighter. L. 9-10 mm.

Male with the seventh segment of hind body subtruncate at apex, seg-
ment of armature distinct, sinuate at apex.

Tn hotbeds, rubbish heaps, and vegetable refuse generally ; somewhat widely distri-
buted in England, but, as a rule, it occurs very sparingly and cannot be considered
by any means common; Wandsworth, Clapham, West Ham, Dulwich, Belvedere,
Ealing, Mickleham, Tonbridge, Birdbrook (Essex); Kingsgate; Littlington (Sussex) ;
Devonshire, Exeter, &c.; Wicken Fen; Repton; Lincoln; Northumberland and
Durham district, banks of Tyne, Derwent, and South Shields.

X. glabratus, Grav. (Xantholinus (Megalinus) glabratus, Muls. et
Rey). Elongate, parallel-sided, rather robust, shining black, with the
elytra bright red; head large, suboblong, distinctly narrowed in front,
broader behind than thorax, very finely punctured, and furnished,
especially towards the sides, with large coarse pores ; forehead with four
deep convergent striz, of which the inner ones are most distinct ; antenne
short, brownish red, with the first joint black, joints 4-10 strongly
transverse ; thorax oblong, plainly narrowed behind, where it is narrower
than elytra, with two dorsal and two lateral series of large punctures ;
elytra about as long as thorax, sparingly punctured, the punctures being
sometimes arranged in irregular rows; hind body finely and sparingly
punctured ; legs black or pitehy brown, with the tibiz often less dark,
and the tarsi reddish. L. 10-14 mm.

Male with the seventh segment of hind body subtruncate at apex,
segment of armature more or less projecting, and strongly sinuate on its
ventral surface ; in the female this segment is also strongly emarginate
beneath,

Xantholinus. | STAPHYLINID ®, 289

In dung, haystack refuse, decaying sea-weed, under stones, &e.; common and
generally distributed throughout the kingdom, but more abundant in the south than
in the north; in Scotland it has been recor ded only from the Solway, Cly¢ e, and Shet-
land districts, but probably occurs in the intervening ones ; it is common in Ireland.

_X. punctulatus, Payk. (sub-gen. Gyrohypnus, Steph.). Shining
black, with the elytra slightly metallic, sometimes pitchy ; head subquad-
rate, broader behind than thorax, very strongly and subrugosely punctured,
with an almost smooth central space, forehead with four furrows; thorax
oblong, very slightly narrowed behind, with two dorsal series of four or
five punctures, and two lateral of eight or nine finer ones ; elytra a little
longer than thorax, rather strongly and not thickly punctured, the punc-
tures being arranged in rows towards the sides; hind body finely and
rather thickly punetured; legs black or pitch- black, with the tarsi always
lighter. L. 6-64 mm.

"Male with the seventh segment of hind body truncate, segment of arma-
ture imbricate in middle and often split and gaping open; in 1 the female the
segment of armature is furnished behind with an additional small crescent-
shaped segment.

In haystack refuse, moss, cut grass, &e.; common throughout the kingdom,

X. ochraceus, (Gyll. (sub-gen. Gyrohypnus, Steph.). This species
very closely resembles the preceding, but is a little smaller and narrower,
and, as a rule, of a distinctly lighter colour, the legs being pitchy red or
reddish testaceous, and the elytra being occasional y dark pitchy red,
or somewhat testaceous ; sometimes, how ever, dark specimens closely
resemble X. punctulatus in colour; the head is more oblong and parallel-
sided than in the latter species, and is more thickly and rugosely pune-
tured on the sides, with the punctures more oblong; the thorax is a little
more narrowed behind, and the dorsal series is composed of a larger
number of punctures; the elytra are a little more finely punctured, and
not quite so lougin proportion, but these characters appear to vary in
different specimens. L. 6 mm.

In haystack refuse, cut grass, moss, &c.; local, but widely distributed; London
district, south and midland districts, not uncommon ; somewhat rarer further north ;
Scotland, only recorded from the Solway and Moray districts, but I have a specimen
which, I believe, comes from one of the intervening localities. Ireland, near Belfast.

X. atratus (sub-gen. Gyrohypnus, Steph.). This species is closely
related to the two preceding, and is, in the shape of the head, and one or
two other points, intermediate between them; from Y. punctulatus it
differs in not having the head at all widened towards base (this character,
however, is not always very obvious in X. punetulatus), and in having
the dorsal series of thorax composed of somewhat finer punctures ; in
colour, size, and shape it much resembles AX. ochraceus from which it
may be distinguished by its less oblong head, and by having the dorsal
series composed of a smaller number of punctures ; the legs are pitchy
red and the elytra are usually darker than in average X. ochraceus, but
this is by no means a reliable character, L. 6 mm.

VOL. Il. U

290 STAPHYLINID EH. [ Xantholinus.

In nests of Formica rufa; local; Plumstead, Chatham, Esher; Guestling, near
Hastings; Kidderminster ; Bewdley Forest; Buddon Wood, Leicestershire; Liver-
pool.

%. glaber, Nord. Shining black, with the elytra red or reddish-
testaceous ; head suboval or shghtly subquadrate, longer and narrower in
female than in male, almost smooth, except for the usual frontal furrows;
antenne short, pitehy red, with the first joint darker, and the last usually
testaceous, joints 4-10 strongly transverse ; thorax oblong, hardly nar-
rowed behind, with two dorsal series consisting of eight or nine punctures,
and two lateral series consisting of seven or eight somewhat finer punc-
tures ; elytra scarcely longer than thorax, with three somewhat irregular
series of shallow punctures; hind body finely and sparingly punctured ;
legs reddish with the coxe, and sometimes the posterior femora, darker.
L. 6 mm.

In the damp wood mould beneath the bark of trees, often in company with ants ;
rare; Westerham, Kent; Richmond Park, Surrey (Champion); Grantchester, near
Cambridge (Power).

%. tricolor, F. A rather large and conspicuous species which
cannot well be confounded with any other; head shining black, thorax
and elytra bright testaceous red, hind body piteh-black with the apex of
hinder segments usually reddish; head oblong, slightly narrowed in
front, diffusely punctured, antenn short, reddish, with apical joint
usually lighter, joints 4-10 strongly transverse ; thorax oblong plainly
narrowed behind, with two dorsal series composed of twelve to fourteen
punctures, and two confused lateral series ; elytra almost square, dis-
tinctly shorter than thorax, rather strongly punctured; hind body finely
punctured ; legs reddish testaceous. L. 9-103 mm.

Male with seventh segment of hind body subtruncate at apex, segment
of armature projecting, subsinuate and ciliate at apex, female with seg-
ment of armature apparently furnished with a small extra segment at
apex.

In vegetable refuse, decaying sea-weed, &e.; it occurs both inland and on the
coast; London district, not uncommon; Deal; Folkestone; Hastings; Portland
Island; Isle of Wight; Devonshire; Scilly Islands; Wicken Fen; Hunstanton;
Weston-super-Mare ; Tewkesbury ; Gloucester ; Liverpool ; Northumberland district ;
Scotland, Highlands, rare; Tay and Dee districts ; it appears to be much commoner
in the south than further north.

%. distans, Kr. Allied to X. tricolor but smaller, with the colour
of the head and hind body more pitchy, and of the thorax usually
darker ; the head is less oblong, and the punctures of the dorsal series of
thorax are finer and do not exceed ten or twelve; the thorax also is
shorter in proportion ; the species very closely resembles light specimens
of X. linearis, with which it appears to be often confounded ; it appears
only to differ structurally from that species in having a smaller number
of punctures in the dorsal series of thorax. (in which, however, it agrees
with X. longiventris which is often considered a variety of X. linearis),

Xantholinus. | STAPHYLINIDE. 291

and in its somewhat shorter and rather more strongly punctured elytra.
L. 6} mm.

Very rare; Scotland, Highlands, Tay and Dee districts; Rannoch (Rye), Loch
Callater, Braemar (Champion); it is found on the Continent under bark, moss, and
dead leaves in wooded and mountainous districts only ; it appears to be rather an
unsatisfactory species, and has by some writers been considered a variety only of
X. tricolor, (in Mr. Rye’s collection there is a specimen with the thoracie punctua-
tion of this latter species, which, apart from size, is the chief character in which it is
said to differ from it,) whereas others appear unable to separate it from X. linearis ;
except as regards general shape, no two species could be more unlike than the two
species just mentioned.

%. linearis, OJ]. Narrow and elongate, shining black or bronze-
black with the elytra pitchy brown; occasionally the thorax and elytra
are quite light, almost pitchy red or reddish testaceous ; head oblong,
subparallel, sparingly punctured, antennz short, obscurely red, with the
first and last joints usually lighter, or with the first joint "evidently
darker, joints 4-10 strongly “transverse ; ; thorax oblong, somewhat
narrowed behind, with two dorsal series consisting of twelve to sixteen
punctures, the two lateral series being confused ; elytra a little varying
in length, about as long as, or shorter than, thorax, rather finely and
sometimes even moderately strongly punctured, but with the punctuation
not thick; hind body very finely and sparingly punctured; legs red
with the tarsi a little lighter. L. 6 mm.

Male with the seventh segment of hind body subtruncate, segment of
armature somewhat sinuate at apex, female with the latter segment
apparently consisting of two segments.

In hotbeds and vegetable refuse generally ; abundant throughout the kingdom.

%. longiventris, Heer. Very closely related to the preceding, of
which it is by many writers considered a variety ; it is, however, as a
rule larger and darker, amd may be distinguished by the smaller number
of punctures in the dorsal series of thorax (ten to twelve), and by the
longer elytra which are more delicately and sparingly punctured; as,
however, intermediate forms appear to occur, it appears probable that
the species can hardly be kept separate from XX. linearis. L. 7 mm.

In haystack refuse, moss, &e.; widely distributed, but not so common as the
preceding, especially in the north ; Scotland, Solway, and Forth districts only.

NUDOBIUVS, Thomson.

This genus contains a few species which live exclusively under bark,
and are very slow in their movements; they are separated from Yantho-
linus by having the lateral marginal line of the thorax bent underneath
and joining the border of the reflexed margin some distance before the
anterior angles; this causes the large lateral seta of the thorax to be
situated at some distance from the margin, instead of upon it, a character
that has been shown before (v. Philonthus, p. 259) to be of considerable

4

to

92 STAPHYLINIDE. [Nudobius.

importance ; the forehead, moreover, has only two furrows; there is
only one British species which occurs exclusively in Scotland under fir-
bark and is very rare.

The larva of Xantholinus (Nudobius) lentus is described and figured by Schiddte
(ii. p. 111, fig. x. 1); it calls for no special remark (being long and very linear,
with the head and thorax simply subquadrate), except for the anal appendage, which
is furnished with four strong wart-like prominences, and the very short cerci, of which
the last joint is very slender and of about the same length as the first; the pupa is
rather long and is characterized by the total absence of ‘‘styli motorii;” the larva
is found under bark of pine and fir and devours the larve of various wood-feeding
beetles; the warty prominences at the end of the anal appendage, if strongly
magnified, are seen to be furnished with minute hooks and are used partly as organs
of progression, partly for enabling the insect to retain its hold in any position.

N: lentus, Er. Somewhat depressed, shining black, with the
elytra bright testaceous red; head large, rectangular, rather broader
than thorax, with large scattered punctures, and the interstices very
finely punctured ; antenne short, red, with the last joint often lighter,
jomts 4-10 strongly transverse ; ‘nome oblong, narrowed behind, with two
dorsal series consisting of about eight fine punctures, and two later ral series
of six to seven less fine punctures somewhat irregularly placed ; elytra
longer than broad, about the length of thorax, with shallow and diffuse
punctuation on dise, which becomes more or less arranged in rows at
sides ; hind body finely and sparingly punctured ; legs reddish testaceous.
L. 64-75 mn.

Under bark of Scotch fir; very rare; Scotland, Dee, and Moray districts (Braemar,
Aviemore, &.).

LEPTACINUWS, Erichson.

About thirty species are comprised in this genus which is widely
distributed in both the Old and New World; the species are dis-
tinguished from Xantholinus by the short narrow and subulate last joint
of the maxillary palpi.

I. Dorsal series of thorax consisting of five large

punctures; length 5-6 mm.; elytra dark, or with

apex and reflexed margins only lighter. . L. Parumpunctatus, Gyll,
II. Dorsal series of thorax consisting of 12- 14

fine punctures; length 43-5 mm. ; “elytra with

apical half almost always lighter, the colour being,

as a rule, rather sharply defined. . . L. BATYcHRUS, Gy/ll.
Ill. Dorsal series of thorax consisting of fe 10 fine

punctures; length not exceeding 4 mm.

Elytra black ; habitat in hotbeds, &.. . . . L. LINEARIS, Grav.
i Kiytra with apical half testaceous ; habitat in
ants? nests 3 « 2. « s » «1s « © © «= is FORMICETORUM, Maerks

L. parumpunctatus, Gyll. Elongate, linear, somewhat de-
pressed, shining black, with the apical angles of the elytra, and often a
considerable portion of reflexed margin, pale testaceous or reddish ; head
somewhat narrowed in front, as broad behind as thorax, strongly and

Leptacinus. } STAPHYLINIDE. 298

sparingly punctured at the sides, forehead very large, strongly furrowed,
the lateral furrows prolonged ; antennew short, obscurely red with the
first joint lighter, joints 4-10 transverse ; thorax oblong, narrowed
behind, with two dorsal series consisting of five large punctures, of
which the two anterior ones are often placed at some distance from the
others; the lateral series are also composed of five punctures ; elytra as
long as thorax, with three somewhat indistinct rows of punctures ; hind
body finely and sparingly punctured; legs red with the tarsi lighter,
L. 5-6 mm.

Male with the seventh segment of hind body broadly emarginate at
apex, segment of armature somewhat projecting, split longitudinally, and
sometimes gaping open.

In haystack refuse, stables, dung-heaps, &c. ; local; Lee, Darenth Wood, Sheerness,
Chatham, Forest Hill, Esher, Birdbrook, Ealing, Tonbridge; Kingsgate ; Devonshire ;
Birmingham district; Repton, Burton-on-Trent; Northumberland district, not

common; Scotland, not common, Tweed, Dee, and Moray districts; Ireland, near
Dublin.

L. batychrus, Gyll. Smaller and narrower than the preceding;
the head is a little more oblong and is less strongly, but more thickly,
punctured on the sides; the large number of fine punctures (12-
14) in the dorsal series of the thorax will, however, at once dis-
tincuish it; the apical half of the elytra is usually testaceous (although
sometimes specimens occur in which they are unicolorous), and the
elytra are more finely punctured; the hind body is a little more dis-
tinctly punctured especially at the sides. L. 43-5 mm.

In dung-heaps, haystack refuse, and vegetable refuse generally; local, and dis-
tributed much as the preceding; London district, not uncommon; Glanvilles
Wootton ; Devonshire; Markfield, Leicester; Cromer; Knowle, near Birmingham ;
Repton; Liverpool; Northumberland district, not common; Scotland, not common,
Dee and Moray districts; Iveland, near Dublin.

L. linearis, Grav. This species so closely resembles the preceding
in structure that it is by many authorities considered as merely a variety ;
it is, however, considerably smaller; the head is less oblong, a little
less thickly punctured on the sides, with the central smooth space a
little larger; the antenne, as a rule, are darker; the dorsal series of
thorax are composed of fewer punctures; the elytra are almost always
entirely dark, sometimes a little lighter at their apical angle; the male
characters are also different, the seventh ventral segment of hind body
being less emarginate. L. 4 mm.

In hotbeds, vegetable refuse, &c. ; common and widely distributed throughout the
greater part of England; Scotland, not common, Tweed and Solway districts.

L. formicetorum, Maerk. A very small, linear species ; easily
distinguished from the preceding by having the elytra to a greater or
less degree testaceous, the colours being rather bright and usually well
defined ; the antenne have the third joint subglobose, evidently shorter
than the second, whereas in L. linearis they are about equal ; the head

294 STAPHYLINIDE. - [Leptacinus.

also is less thickly punctured on the sides; in somewhat immature
specimens the elytra are almost entirely testaceous, and the thorax is
reddish brown. L. 3 mm.

In nests of Formica rufa; local, but not uncommon; Plumstead, Chatham, Erith,
Esher, Dulwich, Margate, Tilgate Forest; Hastings; Parkhurst Forest, Isle of
Wight; Llangollen; Tamworth ; Bewdley; Buddon Wood, Leicestershire; York ;
Keswick ; Scotland, Tay and Moray districts,

BAPTOLINUS, Kraatz.

This genus comprises some half-dozen species which are widely dis-
tributed; together with Othius they form a group which is easily
distinguished from the other genera of Xantholinine above described
by havi ing the suture of the ely tra simple ; in the other genera the elytra
are imbricate, that is, they overlap one another at the suture ; the species
live under bark or in wet decaying wood.

B. alternans, Grav. («finis, Payk.). Bright reddish testaceous
with the head, the elytra, except shoulders, and the greater part of the
fifth and sixth segments of hind body, black ; head somewhat orbicular a
little broader, or about as broad as, thorax; smooth, with a few large
punctures, antenne short and rather stout, entirely red, penultimate
joints strongly transverse ; thorax oblong, almost parallel-sided, with two
rather large punctures on disc; elytra as long as thorax, scarcely punc-
tured, with sutural stria well marked ; hind body almost smooth on
disc, sparingly punctured towards sides; legs reddish testaceous.
L. 6-65 mm.

Under loose bark and in rotten wood of various trees; rather common and widely
distributed throughout the country; not recorded from Ireland, but is probably
common in many localities.

OTHIUS, Stephens.

This genus contains at present about thirty species which are widely
distributed, representatives occurring in Chili, Japan, Morocco, the
Australian region, &c.; there are four British species, of which the first
is, owing to its size, very different in appearance from the other three ;
the two last are very closely allied and are sometimes hard to
distinguish.

I, Third joint of antennm distinctly longer than
second; length 9-llmm.. . . . ©. FULVIPENNIs,
II, Third joint of antennae not, or scarcely, longer
than second ; length 44-5 mm.
i, Elytra longer than thorax; upper surface
shining black or pitech-black . . . . . . . O. LmHyvruscuLus, Steph.
ii. Elytra shorter than thorax.

1. Head narrower than thorax; thorax reddish
testaceous . . . - . + QO. MELANOCEPHALUS, Grav.

2, Head as broad as thorax ; thorax brownish . O. MYRMECOPHILUS, Lies.

Othius.] STAPHYLINID. 295

O. fulvipennis, F. Shining black, with the elytra bright red, and
the apex of hind body reddish ; the head and thorax are often more or
less pitchy, and the apex of the segments of hind body, especially the
ventral ones, reddish brown ; head oval-oblong as broad as thorax, rather
large; forehead broad with two rather indistinct furrows in front ; an-
tenne entirely red, with the penultimate joints not strongly transverse ;
thorax oblong, subparallel, smooth, with two or three large punctures on
each side of dise ; elytra rather shorter than thorax, sparingly punctured,
the punctures being rather large and shallow ; hind body finely and rather
thickly punctured at sides, more sparingly on disc and towards apex ;
legs red. L. 9-11 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body truncate or
scarcely emarginate, with a smooth space before apex, segment of arma-
ture projecting and deeply emarginate.

In moss, dead leaves, &c.; common and generally distributed throughont the country
as far as the northern counties, where it is more local; Scotland, rather scarce, but

widely distributed, being found in the Shetland Islands, and occurring in most localities ;
Treland, Dublin, Galway, Armagh, &e.

O. leviusculus, Steph. (punctipennis, Lac.). Very much smaller
than the preceding, black or pitch-black, very shining, with the elytra
often lighter; head rather long, oblong-ovate, a little narrower than
thorax, forehead with two furrows in front; antenne reddish with the
base darker, penultimate joints not strongly transverse ; thorax oblong,
smooth, and shining ; elytra a little longer than thorax, diffusely and
moderately strongly punctured, black or pitch-black, with apical margin
and sometimes suture lighter; hind body very finely and sparingly
punctured, a little less so towards sides ; legs testaceous, femora more or
less pitchy. L. 5 mm.

- Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body prolonged slightly
less than the dorsal segment, feebly sinuate or truncate, with a very slight
depression before the sinuation.

In moss, dead leaves, haystack refuse, &e. ; also by sweeping ; often in sandpits; local ;
London district, not uncommon; Hastings and southern counties; Barmouth; Midland
districts, Tamworth, Repton, Knowle, Sherwood Forest, &c.; Manchester ; Northum-

berland district, rare; Scotland, Lowlands, scarce, Solway, Tweed, Forth, Clyde, Tay,
and Dee districts ; Ireland, Dublin and near Waterford.

O. melanocephalus, Gray. Shining pitch-brown, with the head
black, and the thorax and apex of hind body testaceous red ; occasionally
the disc of thorax is more or less obscurely darker; head rather long,
oval-oblong, with two longitudinal furrows in front, antenne testaceous
red with the penultimate joints evidently transverse; thorax oblong,
smooth ; elytra shorter than thorax, sparingly and rather strongly punc-
tured ; hind body very finely punctured, more sparingly behind ; legs
pale or reddish-testaceous. L. 5 mm.

Sexual characters much as in the preceding species, presenting no
marked peculiarity.

296 STAPHYLINIDE. { Othius.

In moss, dead leaves, &e.; not uncommon; often confounded with the next species,
and considered by some authorities to be confined to the north, our southern specimens
being all referred by them to O. myrmecophilus : I have, however, undoubted examples
from Malvern and Yorkshire ; in Scotland the species is common as far north as Shet-
land, and it is recorded from Dublin, Waterford, Galway, and Armagh in Ireland.

QO. myrmecophilus, Kies. Very closely allied to the preceding,
and chiefly distinguished from it by the shape of the head which is
evidently shorter, less oblong, and broader, being about as broad as the
thorax, instead of somewhat narrower as in O. melanocephalus ; the
colour is considerably darker, and the thorax is pitchy brown rather than
red, but this is somewhat variable ; the thorax also is slightly more
parallel-sided. L. 5 mm.

In moss, dead leaves, &e., sometimes, as its name implies, in company with ants
(Ff. fuliginosa, &e.), but this is by no means always the case, and, in fact, appears to
be rather the exception than the rule; Mr. J. Chappell records it from Manchester in
bees’ nests ; it is widely distributed throughout the kingdom, occurring as far north
as the Shetland Islands.

PZDERIN &.

This sub-family, as at present constituted, contains about sixty genera;
it is divided into two groups, Latrobiaires and Pédéraires, by Mulsant and
Rey on the formation of the penultimate joint of the tarsi, but this does
not seem more than a generic character at the most, and in some cases,
e.g. Stenus, is regarded merely as specific. In the Pederine the anterior
and posterior coxee are conical and prominent ; the mandibles are long
and slender ; the last joint of the maxillary palpi is usually acute; the
thorax is usually bordered at the sides, but not always, and is very vari-
able in form ; the hind body is bordered; the head is rather large in
most cases, and is always contracted into a more or less narrow neck ;
the species are narrower and linear and have, as a rule, a very distinct
appearance ; some of them, e.g. those belonging to the genus Pederus,
are very brightly coloured. The Eveesthetine are not here included under
the Peederine, as they are by many authors ; the reasons for their separa-
tion as a sub-family will be found given in the remarks on the group.

I. Penultimate joint of tarsi simple without any membranous
appendage beneath.
i, Antenne strongly geniculate, first joint forming a long
Oi eo OM OA Solon ool oo mh on o 6 Orbamjuate a GTi,
ii. Antenne not or only slightly geniculate.
I, Anterior femora and tarsi very strongly dilated.
A. Last joint of posterior tarsi about as long as the
four preceding together ; body very flat . . . ACHENIUM, Curt.
B. Last joint of posterior tarsi not as long as the
three preceding together; body a little convex. LatTHRoBIUM, Grav.
2. Anterior femora and tarsi not at all or comparatively
slightly diated.
A. Thorax slightly contracted in front, subquadrate.
a. Prosternum prolonged to form a process resting
on the front of the mesosternum. . . . . MEDON, Steph.

Puwderine. | STAPHYLINIDS, 297

b. Prosternum only slightly developed. above the

front coxe . Lirnocuaris, Lac.
B. Thorax strongly contracted i in front, more or less
orbicular.
a. Posterior tarsi nearly as long as tibiae, joints
14 decreasing gradually in length . . . Sriticus, Latr.
b. Posterior tarsi short, ae 1, nex ay ae in
length . 5 . . Scopzus, #r.

a Penultimate joint of tarsi ‘pilobed.
. Penultimate joint of tarsi without membrane beneath ;

species large . . PEDERUS, F.
. Penultimate. joint of tar si W ith pale membra une beneath; 5
Speciesemall) fs (5) 2. |2 « «6 « SUNIUS, Steph.

LATHROBIUM, Gravenhorst.

This is a large and almost cosmopolitan genus containing at present
between 150 and 200 species; these are chiefly confined to temperate
and cold regions; twenty-five species, however, are known from the
Amazon valley; they differ very much in size and general appearance,
but the attempts to break the genus up into sub-genera have not hitherto
been very satisfactory ; they occur in moss, under stones, in vegetable
refuse, at roots of grass, &c.; the sexual characters are very peculiar, the
males of many species being furnished on the middle of the seventh
ventral segment with two longitudinal tufts or crests of dark, erect, pubes-
cence, enclosing between them a larger or smaller smooth space ; the
projecting lobes of the segment of armature also present important
differences, but these are hard to describe, and the student of the group
is referred to Mulsant and Rey, Brévipennes, Pédériens, 1878, Plate IT.,
where the male characters of most of our species are figured. "There are
fifteen British species which may be distinguished by the following charac-
ters ; it must, however, be remembered that the table here given is a
purely artificial one ; a more strictly scientific arrangement is given by
Mulsant and Rey (l.c. p. 30, &c.), but it is one that will only cause great
confusion to most workers ; many species of the genus present two dis-
tinct forms ; in one of these the insect is winged and has longer elytra ;
in the other it is apterous or has more or less rudimentary wings, and the
elytra are shorter and more sparingly punctured,

I. Head usually narrower than, at most as broad as, or
very slightly broader than, thorax.
. Elytra confusedly punctured.
1. Elytra red with base more or less broadly black,
sometimes entirely red with baseslightly fuscous,
A. Antenne with joints moderately stout ; length
63-9 mm.

a. Head diffusely punctured on disc, more
thickly at sides ; antenne rather long;
size larger.

a.* Head subtriangular, rather short, a little
broader behind than near eyes; red
colour of elytra bright.

bo
©
ie)

STAPHYLINIDE.

a.t Form broader; punctuation of head
and thorax coarser; coxe pitehy ;
elytra with black and red colour
rather sharply defined . . . . .

b.f Form narrower ; punctuation of head
and thorax finer; coxa red; elytra
with black and red colour not ‘sharply
defined) usca ey es ° S oli

b.* Head longer, somewhat ante. not
broader behind ; elytra dirty testaceous

red, darker at base... . C

b. Head strongly, thickly, and evenly pune-
tured throughout; red and black colour

of elytra very sharply defined ; antennze

short; sizesmaller. . . . a0 8

B. Antenne filiform, very long, with joints
slender and elongate; red and black colour
of elytra sharply defined ; length 5-54 mm.
2. Upper surface unicolorous black.
A. Legs testaceous.
a. Length 8 mm.; elytra very variable in

length eo 0
b. Length 3-4 mm. ; elytra distintly shorter
than thorax... SEeroenne

B. Legs pitch-black or dark pitchy red.

a. Elytra more or less distinctly shorter than
thorax, or of about the same length (in
the winged forms).

a.* Palpi with apical joint black . . . .

b.* Palpi entirely red.
a.f Head slightly narrower than thorax ;
form less linear; third joint of an-
tennze longer than second . . .
b.t Head as broad as thorax; form very
narrow, linear, and parallel ; second
and third joints of antenna about
Gopelbon Ge 6) a 6 oo 16 B os 0
b. Elytra considerably longer than thorax. .
3. Upper surface unicolorous black with a more or
less distinct yellow spot at apical angle of each
elytron (rarely absent) ; legs testaceous ; elytra
variable inlength. . . :
4, Elytra and thorax veddish qostaceoust the former
very finely and confusedly Puy deel
shorter than thorax . . ce
. Elytra very strongly punctured in rows, usually
testaceous red, darker at base; thorax black, or
more often pitchy Tedaamcuare .
Il. Head very distinctly broader ‘chant thorax';) elytra
punctured in more or less irregular rows, bright red
with base black, the colour being sharply defined .

[Lathrobium.

L. ELONGATUM, L.

L. BOREALE, Hoch.

L, FULVIPENNE, Grav.

L. RUFIPENNE, Gy/ll.

L. ancustatuM, Lac.

L. BRUNNIPES, P.

L. LonGuLuM, Grav.

L. ATRIPALPE, Seriba.

L. PuNCTATUM, Zett.

L. FILIFORME, Grav.
L. QuapkatuM, Payk.

L. TERMINATUM, Grav.
L. paLLipum, Word.
L. MULTIPUNOTUM, Grav.

L. ANGUSTICOLLE, Lac.

L. elongatum, L. Elongate, parallel-sided, scantily, but evidently,
pubescent, shining black, with the elytra bright red, black at base, the
colour being usually sharply defined ; head narrowed before eyes, strongly
punctured, sparingly on disc, thickly at sides, under-surface of temples

Lathrobium.] STAPHYLINID®. 299

strongly and rather thickly punctured; antenne rather stout, hardly as long
as head and thorax united, lighter or darker red, with joints 4-10 oblong,
nearly equal in length; thorax considerably longer than broad, parallel-
sided, narrower than elytra, strongly and rather thickly punctured with
a narrow smooth central line ; elytra a little longer than thorax, rather
strongly but not deeply punctured ; hind body convex, with the front
segments slightly impressed transversely at base, finely and thickly punc-
tured; legs rather stout, reddish-testaceous, with the coxe darker. L.
73-8 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body furnished with
two longitudinal crests or tufts of raised hairs, separated by a space free
from pubescence which is rugose and impressed and strongly and angularly
excised on its apical margin; the third to the fifth segments are slightly
impressed in centre.

In flood refuse, moss, &e., in marshy places ; widely distributed throughout England
and Wales; Scotland, common in marshes, in Lowland districts; Ireland, Belfast,
Dublin, Armagh, &e.

L. boreale, Hoch. (elongatum, Gyll., nec Linné., geminum, Kr.).
This species is very closely allied to the preceding andin most collections
is mixed with it ; it is a little narrower, and the general punctuation is
rather finer; the coxe are red, and the red and black colour of the
elytra is not sharply defined ; occasionally the elytra are entirely of
a bright red colour; the under-surface of the sides of the front of
head is sparingly punctured instead of being thickly punctured as in
the preceding species, and the punctuation of the upper surface of
the sides of head is more evidently finer than that of thorax; in the
male the longitudinal crests on the seventh ventral segment of hind body
are shorter and the apical margin of the space between them is not excised
but only slightly sinuate. L. 73-8 mm.

In moss, flood refuse, &c.; widely distributed throughout England and Wales;
Scotland, only recorded from the Solway district; Ireland, Bantry, Valentia, West-
port, Galway, Rathmullan, &e.

L. fulvipenne, Grav. This species is easily distinguished from
either of the preceding by its longer, narrower, and more linear form, and
the dirty testaceous red colour of the elytra which are usually obscurely
darker at base; the head is rather narrower behind and more ovate; in
the male there are no raised crests on the seventh ventral segment of hind
body, but the sixth and seventh segments are furnished with obsolete im-
pressions, and the seventh has the apical margin broadly and obtusely
emarginate; in the type form the elytra are about as long as the thorax,
but a variety commonly occurs in which they are plainly shorter, more
strongly and less thickly punctured, and of a reddish brown colour which
becomes hardly darker at base; this latter form is almost, if not quite,
apterous, whereas the type form is winged. L. 73-8} mm.

In moss, flood refuse, &e. ; often under loose bark at the roots of trees ; common and
widely distributed throughout the kingdom.

3809 STAPHYLINID&. [ Lathrobium.

L. rufipenne, Gyll. (punctulatum, Mann.). Shining black, elytra
bright red with the base sharply black ; considerably smaller than any
of the preceding species ; head strongly, thickly, and evenly punctured ;
antenne rather short and stout, shorter than head and thorax united,
with joints 4-10 submoniliform and of about equal length, not trans-
verse, last joint oval, acuminate at apex ; thorax oblong, paralled-sided,
narrower than elytra, rather strongly punctured with a smooth central line ;
elytra a little longer than thorax, often depressed near suture, evidently
more finely and thickly punctured than thorax; hind body parallel-
sided, suddenly narrowed at apex, finely and very thickly punctured ;
legs red with coxe darker. L. 6 mm.

Male with the sixth and seventh ventral segments of hind body slightly
impressed in centre, seventh segment narrowly emarginate in middle of
apical border, with a small tuft of hair at each side of the emargination.

On the borders of pools and ditches, on or near the mud; very rare ; Horning Fen
and other fen localities; Coleshill, Sutton Park, Knowle, Bewdley Forest, and Can-

nock Chase (W. G. Blatch) ; Barton Moss, Manchester, in sphaguum (A. Reston) ;
Stretford, Manchester, and Staly Brushes, Cheshire (J. Chappell).

ZL: angustatum, Lac. Shining black with the elytra bright red
with base sharply black; a rather small, narrow species, easily distin-
guished from its allies by its long, slender antenne, of which all the
joints are much longer than broad ; head subovate, a little narrower than
thorax, rather finely and thickly punctured; thorax longer than broad,
with sides slightly rounded, rather strongly and thiekly punctured with
a smooth central line ; elytra rather broader, and a little longer, than
thorax, strongly and rather thickly punctured; hind body with the
basal segments strongly impressed at base, very finely and thickly punce-
tured ; legs reddish-testaceous with the base of coxe darker. L. 54-55
mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly aareowyed
on its central line with apical margin narrowly emarginate.

Marshy places—in moss, débris of reeds, &e.; rare; Strood and Higham, Kent
(Champion and Walker in some numbers); Gravesend; Folkestone; Gumley,
Market Harborough (Matthews) ; Luccombe Chine, Isle of Wight, April 1885
(Sharp, Gorham, and Fowler).

L. brunnipes, F. (punctatum, Fauvel., nec Zett. var.). Entirely
black, shining, rather broad proportionally; head short oval hardly
narrower than thorax, rather strongly and more or less thickly punc-
tured ; palpi red; antennz darker or lighter red, as long as head and
thorax united, with penultimate joints longer than broad; thorax
oblong, subparallel, or slightly narrowed behind, rather strongly pune-
tured with a narrow smooth central line ; elytra variable both as regards
length and punctuation ; hind body finely and thickly punctured, evi-
dently pubescent, parallel-sided and sharply narrowed at apex ; legs
reddish testaceous with the coxe pitchy. Legs 8-8} mm.

Lathrobium.] STAPHYLINIDE, 301

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly and
strongly impressed, and deeply and angularly excised on its apical
border.

In moss, dead leaves, &c.; common and generally distributed throughout the
kingdom.

There are two distinct forms of this insect, one fully winged with the
elytra longer than thorax, and the other apterous or with rudimentary
wings, with the elytra shorter than thorax; in the latter form the
elytra are more finely and sparingly punctured than in the former,

L. longulum, Gray. <A very small, narrow, linear species, shining
black or pitchy black with the mouth parts red; head oval-oblong, a
little broader than thorax, rather strongly and sparingly punctured ;
antennz red, rather stout, as long as head and thorax united, joints
4-10 submoniliform, penultimate joints slightly longer than broad ;
thorax much longer than broad, parallel-sided, rather strongly and
thickly punctured, with a smooth central line ; elytra distinctly shorter
than thorax, rather finely, and more or less thickly, punctured ; hind
body elongate, very finely and thickly punctured, less thickly towards
apex, very finely and rather closely pubescent ; legs red. L. 3-4 mm.

Male with seventh ventral segment of hind body obsoletely furrowed
on central line, apical margin bisinuate.

Marshy places; in moss, flood refuse, &c. ; sometimes in haystack refuse, sand-pits,
&e.; London district, generally distributed; Glanvilles Wootton; Portsmouth ;
Repton; Stratford; Lincoln; Northumberland district, rare; Scotland, scarce,
Solway, Tweed, Forth, and Argyle districts.

&. punctatum, Zett. (fovwlum, Steph.). Entirely black with the
mouth parts red; head somewhat rounded, about as broad as thorax,
rather strongly and sparingly punctured, very sparingly on disc ; antenne
reddish or ferruginous, about as long as head and thorax united, joints
4-10 oblong, gradually a little shorter ; thorax oblong, parallel-sided,
almost as broad as elytra, rather strongly but more or less sparingly
punctured with a narrow smooth longitudinal space in centre; elytra
shorter than thorax, rather strongly and thickly punetured ; hind body
parallel-sided, suddenly narrowed at apex, very finely and thickly punc-
tured, dull, with fine and close greyish pubescence; legs lighter or
darker pitchy red. L. 6 mm.

Male with sixth and seventh ventral segments of hind body impressed,
and the latter deeply emarginate on apical margin.

Marshy places; in dead leaves, moss, flood refuse, &c.; local, and as a rule rare ;
London district, not uncommon, Lee, Darenth Wood, Walton-on-Thames, Wimbledon,
Barnes, Dagenham, Tonbridge; Glanvilles Wootton, Dorset ; Scotland, very rare,
“Shingle near Preston Bridge, Tweed district,” R. Hislop ; it is possible the species
may be overlooked as it probably occurs in many other localities ; it is very like a
small L. brunnipes of the brachypterous type, but the head and thorax are more
sparingly punctured, and the legs are darker.

L. atripalpe, Scriba. Very like the preceding, but rather narrower

302 STAPHYLINIDA, [ Lathrobium.

and more cylindrieal ; the head and thorax are rather shorter and
broader, and the general punctuation of head, thorax, and elytra is
closer and more regular; the general colour is a deeper black, and the
apical joint of the palpi is black instead of clear red ; the seventh
ventral segment of the hind body of male is also more deeply emarginate.
L. 6 mm.

Very rare; Scotland, Solway and Forth districts, a few specimens taken by Dr.
Sharp; the species is very distinct from L. punctatum, but it is apparently not quite
certain whether it is really the LZ. atripalpe of Scriba.

L. filiforme, Grav. (‘mpresswm, Heer.). Shining black with the
mouth parts red, antenne red, legs pitchy red; very like ZL. punctatum,
but smaller and narrower and a little less depressed; the head is more
oval, and more finely and thickly punctured; the thorax is narrower and
more oblong, much longer than broad ; the legs are darker, and the hind
body more shining; in the male the sixth and seventh ventral segments
of the hind body are very narrowly impressed, and the latter is angularly
excised on apical margin instead of being circularly emarginate as in
L. punctatum ; as in other species there are two forms, one with longer
elytra and winged, the other with shorter elytra and apterous. L. 5
mm.

Marshy places, in moss, flood refuse, &e.; rare; Walton-on-Thames; Hammer-
smith and Notting Hill (formerly); Amberley ; Scotland, Forth district, but perhaps
in error (Sharp, Scottish Naturalist, vol. iii. no. xvii. p. 38) ; Ireland, near Water-
ford (Power), .

L. quadratum, Payk. Black, head and thorax very shining, elytra
less shining, hind body almost dull with rather thick and fine greyish
pubescence ; head suborbicular, finely and thickly punctured at sides,
sparingly on dise ; antennz long and slender, dark pitchy red, with all
the joints elongate; thorax oblong, plainly narrower than elytra, finely
and thickly punctured at sides, more strongly and sparingly on disc, with
a narrow smooth central line; elytra plainly longer than thorax,
depressed longitudinally near suture, finely, thickly, and somewhat
rugosely punctured; hind body very finely and thickly punctured,
gradually narrowed from middle to apex; legs pitchy, with tarsi, and
usually knees, lighter. L. 6 mm.

Male with the seventh dorsal segment broadly rounded on apical
border, seventh ventral segment rather deeply and angularly excised,
female with seventh ventral segment truncate and ciliate.

Marshy places ; at roots of grass, in moss, flood refuse, &e.; not common; Darenth
Wood; Walton-on-Thames ; Hammersmith and Notting Hill (formerly); Kingsbury ;
Shipley, near Horsham; Soham, Cambridgeshire; Oxfordshire; Coleshill, near Bir-
mingham; Liverpool; Northumberland district; Scotland, rare, Solway district ;
Ireland, near Belfast and Armagh,

L. terminatum, Gray. Shining black, with a more or less distinet
testaceous spot at the postero-external angle of each elytron; head sub-

Lathrolium.] STAPHYLINIDA. 303

orbicular, finely and thickly punctured, rather more sparingly on disc ;
antennz long and slender, brownish, with base testaceous, with all the
joints elongate ; ; thorax oblong, a little narrower than elytra, rather
strongly punctured, more thickly at sides, with a more or less indistinct
smooth central line ; elytra variable, longer than, or as long as, thorax ;
hind body very finely and thickly punctured ; legs testaceous or reddish
testaceous, with the coxe darker. L. 53-6 mm.

Seventh dorsal segment of hind body rounded in male, strongly and
sharply produced in female, seventh ventral segment strongly and
angularly excised in male, sinuate on each side and produced in female,
the produced part being truncate and ciliate.

Marshy places ; in moss, at roots of grass, &e.; common and generally distributed
in the South and Midlands; rarer further north ; in Scotland, however, it is common
in sphagnum in the Solway, Forth, and Tay districts; there is no record, apparently,
of its capture in England further north than Cheshire and Yorkshire, but it almost

certainly occurs in the northern counties.

The variety in which the yellow spots at apex of elytra are wanting is
rarer than the type ; it usually has the legs somewhat darker ; it occurs
in the Isle of Wight and other localities ; it is not named and may be
called v. ¢mmaculatum.

Erichson and other authors unite ZL. terminatum with L. quadratum,
but they are quite distinct in form, colour of legs, sexual differences, &e.

L. pallidum, Nord. (Jansoni, Crotch). Rather narrow and linear,
testaceous red, front parts lighter and shining, hind body darker and dull;
head subtriangular, as broad as thorax, rather finely and very diffusely
punctured ; antennz testaceous red, long and not very slender, joints
4-10 gradually shorter, the penultimate being only slightly longer than
broad ; thorax oblong, almost as broad as elytra, more thickly punctured
than head, with a distinct smooth longitudinal central line ; elytra vari-
able much shorter than, or nearly as long as, thorax, rather finely and
thickly punctured ; hind body with close pubescence, very thickly and
finely punctured ; legs reddish-testaceous. L. 42-53 mm.

‘Male with the ‘third to the sixth ventral seoments impressed i in middle,
seventh furrowed and angularly excised in middle of apical margin, fhe
sides of the excision being produced in the form of two sharp teeth, and
the apical margin on each side of these being sinuate.

In moss, flood refuse, &c.; local and usually very rare; West Wickham; Totten-
ham ; Amberley ; Shipley, near Horsham (Gorham, in numbers) ; Lowestoft ; Isle of
Wight.

L. Jansoni is a darker form of this species with longer elytra ; as before
pointed out the variation of the elytra is very usual in this genus.

L. multipunctum, Grav. (v. pyrenaicum, Fairm., v. striatopuncta-
tum, Kies.). Narrow and linear, colour very variable, entirely pitch-
black, or black or pitchy brown with the elytra red, or entirely brownish
red with the hind body, except apex, darker; head subovate, a little

304 STAPHYLINIDA, [ Lathrobium.

broader than thorax, strongly and thickly punctured, with a smooth
space on centre of disc; antenne red, shorter than in the preceding
species, with joints 4-10 gradually a little shorter, penultimate joints
not strongly oblong; thorax long, parallel-sided, strongly and coarsely
punctured, with a smooth central line ; elytra somewhat variable, usually
as long as, or a little longer than, thorax, strongly and deeply punctured
in regular rows ; hind body with basal segments deeply impressed longi-
tudinally, finely and thickly punctured ; legs testaceous. L. 6-63 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body impressed and
very deeply and narrowly emarginate, sixth segment impressed, with two
tubercles at base of impression.

In flood refuse, moss, dead leaves, &c.; in marshy places; also under stones on
sides of hills, at roots of grass and plants near the sea-shore, &e.; local, but not
uncommon ; London district, widely distributed ; Hastings; New Forest; Hythe;
Malvern Hills (common under stones in spring) ; Midland districts, common ; North
Wales ; Bridlington, Yorkshire; Liverpool; Northumberland district, rare ; Scotland,
rare, Tweed, Solway, and Argyle districts ; Ireland, near Dublin ; it is much rarer in
the North than in the Midlands and Southern districts.

L. angusticolle, Lac. (longicorne, Redtb., carinatum, Bold). A
very distinct and elegantly shaped species, shining black, with the elytra
bright red with base sharply black ; head somewhat orbiculan, large, distinctly
broader than thorax, rather deeply and closely punctured ; antenne long
and slender, dark pitchy red, longer than head and thorax united, with
all the joints elongate ; thorax long, much narrower than elytra, rather
thickly punctured, with a plain, smooth, somewhat raised longitudinal
space in centre; elytra evidently longer than thorax, rather strongly
punctured in somewhat irregular rows which are more distinct towards base ;
hind body very finely and thickly punctured, clothed with fine greyish
pubescence ; legs black, tarsi red. L. 7 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment broadly impressed in middle,
with the impression rugose in front and smooth behind and bounded on
each side by a longitudinal crest or tuft of black hairs, apical border
sinuate.

In flood refuse, &e.; rare; Oernant, near Llangollen, one specimen under a stone
(Chappell) ; Northumberland district, rare, Devil’s Water and Irthing (Bold); Scot-
land, Tweed, Forth, and Solway districts (Sharp, Allen Harker, &c.) ; Ireland, banks
of Dodder near Firhouse, Dublin (McNab). ‘The species has been obtained some-
what freely by Dr. Sharp in flood refuse ; the refuse must be examined almost as soon
as it has been thrown up, as the insect appears to leave it almost immediately.

ACHENIUM, Curtis.

This genus comprises about twenty-five species which are chiefly con-
fined to Europe and the adjacent regions ; three or four species oceur in
Madeira and the Canary Islands, and one is recorded from the East
Indies ; in many respects they resemble Lathrobiwm, but are easily dis-
tinguished by their exceedingly flat, depressed form; to judge by their

Achenium. } STAPHYLINIDE. 305

appearance they would be considered bark insects, but, although they
occasionally are found under bark, yet as a rule they occur in moss,
flood refuse, under stones, at roots of grass, &c.; there are only two
British species.

1. Elytra bright testaceous red with at least basal third

sharply black; apex of hind body concolorous or almost

SOM MCMC EMG MPa crue cf isvuisl sl «ol secus « Ae DEPRESSUM, (Guan;
2. Elytra dirty reddish or brownish red with the base often

obscurely darker; apex of hind body broadly testaceous . A. HUMILE, Nie.

A. depressum, Grav. Very flat, parallel-sided, shining black,
elytra bright testaceous red with the base sharply black ; head as broad
as thorax, narrowed in front, sparingly punctured ; antenne rather long
with all the joints oblong, last joint acuminate ; thorax longer than broad
widest in front and narrowed to base where it is narrower than elytra,
sparingly punctured, with two double dorsal series of fine punctures,
separated by a rather broad smooth interval ; elytra about as long as
thorax, finely and not closely punctured, the punctuation being some-
times in obsolete rows near base; hind body widened behind or sub-
parallel, black with the apex usually concolorous, finely, thickly, and
distinctly punctured ; legs red, tarsi lighter, L. 7 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly emargi-
nate in a somewhat obtuse angle at apex, sixth slightly sinuate.

In moss, flocd refuse, &c., usually in damp places ; local; London district, generally
distributed; Bognor; Hastings; Isle of Wight; Southsea; Harwich; Hythe ;
Shipley, near Horsham ; Glanvilles Wootton ; not recorded, however, except from the
London district and the south.

A. humile, Nic. Smaller than the preceding and even more depressed ;
it may at once be distinguished by the colour of the elytra which are of
a dirty reddish tint with the base sometimes obscurely darker, and by
the apex of the hind body being broadly testaceous; the two dorsal
series of the thorax are composed as a rule of single rows of punctures,
and the punctures are not placed so closely together ; the sexual characters
do not differ materially. L. 6-6} mm.

In moss, flood refuse, Ke. ; more widely distributed than the preceding, but gene-
rally considered less common; London district, not common, Chatham, Sheerness,
Reigate, Lee, Walton-on-Thames, Kingston, Tonbridge, Cowley, Rainham, Dagev-
ham, &c.; Shipley, near Horsham (in numbers); Hythe; Harwich; Holm Bush,
Brighton; Hastings; Stratford; Gumley, Market Harborough; Salford Priors ;
Barnwood, near Gloucester (under bark of old stump); Repton, near Burton-on-
Trent ; I know of no locality further north.

CRYPTOBIUM, Mannerheim.

This genus was originally established for the single European species
C. glaberrimum ; it now contains about 160 species, of which about sixty
have lately been described by Dr. Sharp from Central America; the
other species are widely distributed in North and South America,

VOL. Il. x

306 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Cryptobium.

Australia, &c.; the sexual characters are often very peculiar ; the large
number of species which Mr. Champion captured in Central America
were taken by him chiefly on the sandy banks of rivers and streams,
especially in the dry season, but some occurred in dark places in the
forests and others in the more open country ; the species may be distin-
guished by the very long first joint of the antenne, which gives them
the appearance of being strongly geniculate.

Cc. glaberrimum, Herbst. (fracticorne, Payk., brevipenne, Muls.).
Rather narrow and linear, shining black ; head oblong, rather long,
slightly narrower than thorax, more strongly and sparingly punctured on
disc than at sides; antennz lighter or darker pitchy-red, shorter than
head and thorax united, joints 4-10 gradually shorter, the penultimate
being hardly oblong, the first joint very long, equal to the four following
united and forming a long scape, so that the antenne appear strongly
geniculate ; thorax longer than broad, narrower than elytra, moderately
punctured, with two distinct series of punctures on disc, separated by a
smooth space; elytra variable less long or a little shorter than thorax,
occasionally considerably shorter in which case the wings are either rudi-
mentary or wanting, punctuation rather strong and more or less dense ;
hind body very finely and thickly punctured, finely and closely pubes-
cent ; legs testaceous, tibize often a little darker, coxse reddish brown.
L. 43-5 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply and
narrowly incised, sixth impressed longitudinally, slightly emarginate at
apex.

Marshy places in moss, especially sphagnum, at roots of grass, &c.; not uncommon ;
London district, general ; New Forest; Portsmouth; Repton ; Coleshill; Bewdley ;
Cannock Chase; Oxfordshire; Manchester district ; Chat Moss; Scotland, common
in the south, Tweed, Forth, and Solway districts; Ireland, Armagh, Galway, &c.: it
probably occurs in the north of England,

STILICUS, Latreille. (Rugilus, Curtis.)

This genus comprises about forty or fifty species, which are very widely
distributed throughout the world ; ten are found in Europe, and the rest
are found in Central Asia, Ceylon, Japan, North and South America
(Columbia, Brazil, Chili, &c.), South Africa, Australia and New Guinea,
&c.; the species are remarkable for their large heads which are often
broader than the elytra, and the exceedingly narrow neck by which
they are attached to the thorax, the thorax being strongly narrowed and
brought to a point in front ; some of them have very much the appear-
ance of large ants; there are seven British species, one or two of which
are very distinct, but some require care in their determination; the
characters depending on the smooth central line of thorax (whether entire
or abbreviated, &c.) are somewhat deceptive, as also are those depending
on the colour of the legs, these being lighter in immature specimens ; the

Stilicus:] STAPHYLINIDE. 307

relative breadth of the head in comparison with the elytra (on which
Mulsant and Rey lay great stress) is not always a very distinct character ;
the table below given is formed on a combination of these distinctions, but
should not be depended upon in all cases without reference to the more
detailed descriptions ; the species are rapid in their movements, as might
be expected from their long legs ; they occur in moss, cut grass, and other
vegetable refuse, old bottoms of woodstacks, decaying faggots, hotbeds,
&e.

I. Thorax red . . Pune de aspera ie) SA EBAGINIS Waray:
If. Thorax black, concolorous.
i. Legs (except cox) unicolorous testaceous or reddish, not
darker at knees.
1. Head evidently transverse, broader than elytra ; elytra
finely and diffusely punctured, at all events behind.
A. Size large; head scarcely narrowed behind; legs

darkred . . . . S. RUFIPES, Germ.
B. Size-smaller ; head strongly ni narrowed behind ; legs
testaceous or reddish testaceous. . S. onBICULATUS, Er.
2. Head almost orbicular, about as broad as ely tra; ;
elytra rather strongly and thickly punctured. . . S. srmiuis, Er.

i. Legs testaceous, with at least intermediate and posterior
knees darker.
1. Elytra plainly longer than thorax, with apex con-
colorous, finely and rather on and distinetly
punctured; size larger. 7 «a s) « 0s SSUBTILIS, Er.
2. Elytra only slightly longer eva HOF AX,
A. Thorax with central ‘smooth line broad and at most
channelled behind; elytra with apex very narrowly,
but distinctly, testaceous, finely and diffusely
punctured; intermediate and posterior tibie
usually (but not always) dark . . . S. AFFINIS, Er.
B. Thorax with central’smooth line narrow and finely
channelled throughout ; elytra with apex almost
or quite concolorous, closely and abroney pune-
tured; knees only darker . . . . . . . §. GENICULATUS, Er.

S. fragilis, Grav. (scutellatus, Mots.). Black, not very shining,
with the thorax red ; head suborbicular, rather strongly narrowed behind,
much broader than thorax, about as broad as elytra, finely, thickly, and
rather rugosely punctured; antenne rather short, slightly thickened
towards apex, with the penultimate joints about as broad as long, dark
red, with apex lighter ; thorax oval, convex, longer than broad, rather
finely, thickly, and rugosely punctured, with a narrow smooth longitudi-
nal line in middle ; elytra a little longer and much broader than thorax,
black with the posterior angles testaceous, rather finely, thickly, and

roughly punctured ; hind body with sides somewhat rounded, rather
thickly pubescent, very finely and thickly punctured ; legs long, ferru-
ginous, more or less pitchy, variable. L. 6 mm.

Male with the fifth ventral segment of hind body furnished in the
middle of its posterior margin with an oblong tubercle surrounded with
a semicircle of cilia, sixth with a large deep excavation, of which the

x 2

308 STAPHYLINIDE. [Stilicus.

sides are raised and project at apex, seventh angularly, but not deeply,
emarginate.

In the damp bottoms of woodstacks, also in haystack refuse ; very local, and usually
considered rare, but it has occasionally been taken in abundance; Darenth Wood,
Strood, Croydon, Forest Hill, Maidstone, Ealing, Chatham, Bearsted, Tonbridge, Cro-
hamhurst, Godalming, Dorking ; Reigate (Linnell), in numbers at bottoms of hay-
stacks, &e.; Aspall Wood, Suffolk, taken in abundance by the late Mr. Garneys in
faggots placed in adry ditch or watercourse to afford a road for the passage of waggous ;
Glanvilles Wootton, cucumber frame (Dale and Wollaston),

S. rufipes, Germ. One of our largest species ; black, rather shining,
head and thorax dull ; head plainly transverse, scarcely narrowed behind,
broader than elytra ; antenne rather short and robust, ferruginous, with
apex sometimes lighter, penultimate joints somewhat transverse ; thorax
much narrower than head and elytra, rather strongly, very thickly, and
rugosely punctured, with a narrow smooth central longitudinal line
which is effaced in front, and often obsolete behind; elytra somewhat
variable in length more or less evidently longer than thorax, finely and
rather sparingly punctured, more sparingly behind, pitch-black, with apex
often gradually lighter; hind body finely and thickly pubescent, and
very finely and thickly punctured, apex pitchy ; legs red, cox sometimes
a little darker. L. 51-5$ mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply and angu-
larly excised, sixth impressed and broadly sinuate.

In moss, haystack refuse, hotbeds, &e, ; common and generally distributed through-
out the Midlands and districts south of Yorkshire; rarer further north ; Northumber-
land and Durham district, rare, banks of Derwent and Tyne, and South Shields ;
Scotland, rare, Solway district only; Ireland, Dublin, Galway, Armagh, and probably
generally distributed.

This species most closely resembles S. subtilis, but may be distinguished
by its much broader and shorter head and unicolorous red legs.

S. orbiculatus, Er, (nec Payk., Erichsoni, Fauv.). One of the
smaller species, black, rather shining, with head and thorax duller; head
plainly transverse, strongly narrowed behind, rather strongly, very
thickly, and rugosely punctured ; antenne short and somewhat stout, red-
dish testaceous, penultimate joints subtransverse ; thorax rather strongly,
very thickly, and rugosely punctured, with a distinct smooth central line
which is usually channelled for almost all its length; elytra scarcely
longer than thorax, rather finely and sparingly punctured, apex usually
more or less testaceous ; hind body very finely and thickly punctured ;
legs (including cox) testaceous or reddish testaceous. L. 33 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly emargi-
nate in an angle, sixth broadly emarginate.

In damp haystack refuse, sides of hotbeds, moss, at roots of grass, &e. ; local, but not
uncommon in many localities; Richmond, Reigate, Barnes, Wimbledon, Esher, Lee,

Tonbridge, Bearsted, Maidstone; Hastings ; Glanvilles Wootton; New Forest ; Coles-
hill; Knowle ; Bewdley ; Repton ; Needwood Forest ; Sherwood Forest ; York ; Man-

Stilicus. ] STAPHYLINIDE. 309

chester; Northumberland district ; Scotland, local, Lowlands, Solway, Tweed, and
Forth districts ; Ireland, Dublin, Armagh, &e.

S. similis, Er. Intermediate in size between the two preceding ;
head somewhat orbicular plainly narrowed behind, almost as broad as
elytra, very thickly and somewhat rugosely punctured ; antenne short,
entirely red, with penultimate joints plainly transverse ; thorax rather
finely, very thickly, and rugosely punctured, with a distinct smooth
central line reaching from apex to base, channelled throughout almost its
entire length ; elytra a little longer than thorax, rather strongly, deeply,
and thickly punctured, with apical margin usually more or less testaceous;
hind body rather more strongly rounded at sides and dilated behind than
in some of the allied species, very finely and thickly punctured ; legs
testaceous or reddish-testaceous with the cox pitchy black, L. 5 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body rather sharply,
but not deeply, excised, sixth furnished with a broad semicireular depres-
sion, the edges of which are raised behind and project on each side in a
small tooth.

In moss, cut grass, &e., also sometimes under stones; often in dry and chalky
localities ; very local; Mickleham, Box Hill, Reigate ; Kidderminster ; Shirley Warren,
Southampton; Exeter; Ireland, uear Waterford (Power).

S. subtilis, Er. This is the largest British species with the excep-
tion of S. fragilis ; it is on the average a little longer than S. rujipes,
from which it may be easily distinguished by its much longer and
evidently narrower and more orbicular head, and by having the thorax
narrower and more gradually brought to a point in front; the legs also
are lighter coloured and the knees (at all events the intermediate and
posterior ones) distinctly infuscate ; this point will also distinguish it
from S. s¢milis ; it is much larger than S. geniculatus and S. affinis, and
has the elytra evidently longer in proportion to thorax; the smooth
central line of thorax is somewhat variable as in some of the other species,
L. 53-6 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body rather broadly
emarginate at apex.

In moss, dead leaves, decaying vegetable matter, damp twigs, &e., usually in chalky

places ; very local; Chatham, Caterham, Reigate, Sanderstead, Warlingham, Godal-
ming, Tonbridge, Birdbrook ; Riddlesdown ; Bognor; Hastings.

S. affinis, Er. (fuscipes, Er., orbiculatus, Payk. et Fauvel, nec Er.).
Shining black, head and thorax duller; head somewhat transversely
orbicular, a little variable, about as broad as elytra, very thickly and
rugosely punctured ; antennz short, pitchy red, with penultimate joints
subtransverse ; thorax rather strongly, very thickly, and rugosely punc-
tured with central smooth line rather broad, and at most channelled
behind ; elytra a little longer than thorax, finely and rather sparingly
punctured ; hind body very finely and thickly punctured ; legs testaceous,
with the coxe pitchy brown or red, the knees, tibia, and sometimes the

2

310 STAPHYLINID&, [ Stilicus.

tarsi more or less infuscate, intermediate and posterior tibic often almost
entirely black. L. 44 mm.

Male with the sixth ventral segment of hind body slightly and broadly
emarginate at apex, sometimes depressed in middle, seventh more deeply
and narrowly emarginate in a rounded angle.

In damp haystack refuse, hotbeds and vegetable rubbish generally, also in moss, at
roots of grass, &e. ; very common and generally distributed in England ; rarer further

north ; Scotland, not common, Solway, Tweed, and Forth districts; Ireland, Dublin,
Armagh, Waterford, Galway, and probably generally distributed.

S. geniculatus, Er. (similis, var. b, Heer), This species is of
about the same size as the preceding, but may be distinguished by the
elytra being strongly and closely punctured, and the narrower central
line of thorax, which is channelled for all, or the greater part of, its
length ; the apex of the elytra is usually concolorous or almost concolo-
rous, whereas in S. affinis it is more or less distinctly testaceous ; asa rule
it may be easily distinguished by having the knees only of the inter-
mediate and posterior legs dusky, but as this is a somewhat variable
character in S. affinds, the other differences must always be taken into con-
sideration; the male characters are peculiar and closely resemble those of
S. similis; in fact this species bears a strong affinity to this latter insect,
but it is a little smaller as a rule, and has the elytra rather more closely
punctured ; the colour of the knees will, as a rule, at once separate it, as
in S. similis the legs are entirely testaceous, with the exception of the
coxe. L. 45-42 mm.

Tn moss on chalky hill-sides, at roots of grass in marshy places, in haystack refuse,
&e.; local; London district, Kent and Surrey, &e., very generally distributed, Chat-
ham, Lee, Maidstone, Barnes, Putney, Wimbledon, Walton, Egham, Box Hill,
Caterham, Croydon, Shirley, Staines, Hammersmith, Tonbridge, Bearsted, Cowley :
I know of no record outside the London counties except Galway, Ireland, where it has

been taken by Mr. J. J. Walker. Mulsant and Rey mention it as being very rare in
France.

SCOPEHWUS, Erichson.

This genus comprises about sixty species, which are very widely dis-
tributed over the greater part of the world, representatives occurring in
Japan, Ceylon, Chili, the Amazon district, Australia, &c. ; some of these
are very closely allied to one another and can scarcely be separated with-
out reference to the cedeagus or the chitinous portion of the male genital
organs, which in this and other genera often affords important characters;
there are about a dozen European species, of which we possess three or
four as British ; they are very small, narrow, and linear, and occur in
moss, under stones, in vegetable refuse, &c. ; all our species are rare and
are seldom met with.

I. Head longer, suboval; antennee elongate; elytra finely
punctured, smooth and shiny . . . . . . . . . SS. EricHsont, Kol.

Scopeus. | STAPHYLINID. 311

II. Head shorter, more or less subquadrate ; antenne short ;
elytra more coarsely punctured, more or less dull.
i. Head dull, about as closely punctured as elytra, and not
less finely ; 3 sizesmaller . . S. RuBIDUS, Rey.
. Head shiny, much more finely punctured than elytra;
size larger.
1. Intermediate tibiw slightly dilated and rounded or
almost rounded at apex; head less finely punctured S. suLCICOLLIS, Steph.
2. Intermediate tibia rather strongly dilated, aud very
obliquely cut off at oer ; head more finely pune-
Lured erat comme er 6 4 tela eo.) 9 \COGNATUS,: ey.

s. Ericheonl: Kol. (facie aan apicalis, Rey). Linear, elon-
gate, rather depressed, pitchy-red, with the head and tana body, except
apex, usually darker, and the elytra lighter; head somewhat ovate,
scarcely broader than thorax, forehead very broad, widely impressed in
front ; antennz testaceous, long and slender, almost as long as head and
thorax united, with the first joint.long, rather broad, and somewhat
cylindrical, and joints 8-10 a little longer than broad ; thorax evidently
longer than broad, obliquely narrowed in front, and with posterior angles
strongly rounded, together with head exceedingly finely punctured,
furnished at base with two distinct impressions separated by a narrow
raised longitudinal keel; elytra longer than broad, about a quarter longer
than thorax, depressed, extremely finely and thickly punctured, smooth
and rather shining ; hind body rather strongly margined, a little widened
behind, very finely shagreened ; legs reddish testaceous. L. 3-34 mm.

Male with the fifth and sixth ventral segments of hind body ‘slightly
impressed in middle, sixth slightly sinuate on apical margin, seventh
longitudinally impressed, with the apex broadly emarginate, “the emargi-
nation being furnished with a tooth in centre.

On the banks of streams, in flood refuse, &e.; rare; North Wales; Slapton Ley,
Devonshire ; Scotland, rare, riparial, Solway district, Dumfries.

S. levigatus, Gyll., has been often given as a synonym of S. Lrichsonz,
but apart from other differences, in the shape of the head, &c., the male
characters are quite different, the emargination of the seventh segment
being deeper and terminating on each side in two strong teeth; it is
possible that we possess both species.

S. rubidus, Rey (suhcylindricus, Scriba, Ryei, Woll.). Smaller and
narrower than S. sw/cicoll’s, and usually of a paler colour ; it may at once
be distinguished from our other species by the dull, opaque appearance
of its head and thorax which arises from the closer punctuation; the
segments of the hind body are less divided inter se, and the legs are
thinner and less developed, the tarsi being evidently shorter ; in the male
the seventh ventral segment of hind body is foveolate on its disc, and
deeply and rather broadly emarginate at apex. L. 23 mm.

This species has only occurred in one British locality, Slapton Ley, Devonshire, where
it was taken sparingly by Mr. Wollaston in May 1869 and 1872 under stones in dr y places

312 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Scopeus.

close to the sea; it appears to occur rarely in France on the banks of rivers and
streams.

S. sulcicollis, Steph. (minutus, Ev., pusillus, Kies., debilis, Rey).
This species is easily distinguished from S. Erichsont, which it resembles
in general appearance, by its subquadrate head which is somewhat
widened behind, much shorter antenne of which the penultimate joints
are feebly transverse, and more oval thorax ; the almost smooth and shin-
ing head and thorax and much duller and more coarsely punctured elytra
are, however, perhaps, the best distinctive character; in the male the
sixth ventral segment of hind body is very obsoletely bisinuate on apical
margin, and the seventh is rather deeply and somewhat angularly emar-
ginate; in the female the seventh ventral segment is produced in a
rounded angle. LL. 22-3 mm.

In moss, vegetable refuse, &c. ; also on the banks of streams, under stones in fields
and gardens and in other localities; rare; Shirley (Surrey), Lee, Reigate, Darenth,
Mickleham, Colney Hatch, Tonbridge; Southend ; St. Peter’s, Kent; Hastings;
Isle of Wight ; Kemp Town, Brighton; Oxfordshire.

S. cognatus, Rey. Very closely allied to the preceding, but with
the head more sparingly punctured, and the intermediate tibize more
dilated ; in the male the seventh ventral segment of hind body is rather
broadly emarginate in a rounded angle, and the emargination is sur-
rounded by an impression which makes its edges appear raised. L.
23-3 mm.

I feel rather doubtful of this species, but a specimen taken by Mr. E.
Saunders at Ventnor, Isle of Wight, and which he separated as distinct
from S. suleicollis, has been returned to me by M. Fauvel as this insect ;
the specimen, unfortunately, is a female, so that the sexual characters are
not apparent; the apex, however, of the seventh ventral segment is much
more sharply produced than in the corresponding sex of S. sulcteollis.
M. Fauvel also was kind enough to send me another specimen taken at
Wingham near Sandwich, but I cannot distinguish this from ordinary
specimens of S. swlcicoll’s. The three last species belong to the genus
Polyodontus of Solier,

MEDON, Stephens.

This genus, as now constituted, comprises by far the greater portion
of the old genus Lithocharis ; in fact only one representative of the
latter genus appears to occur in Europe; the characters separating the
two genera have not until recently been satisfactorily determined, but
Dr. Sharp in his work on the Staphylinidee of Central America (Biol.Cent.
Am. vol. i., part 2., p. 549) has lately pointed out that in Lithocharis the
process of the prosternum above the front coxe is but slightly developed,
whereas in Medon the prosternum is prolonged to form a process resting
on the front of the mesosternum; with regard to this Dr. Sharp makes

Medon:) STAPHYLINID&. 313

the following remarks :—‘ This character appears to me of primary im-
portance in the classification of the genera hitherto associated under the
name of Lithocharis, and to it I would add the structure of the labrum,
the width of the neck, the dilatation of the front tarsi, the relative pro-
portions of the joints of the hind tarsus, and the structure of the fourth
joint of the latter organ ; by so doing a series of very natural genera is
obtained, while on the other hand if this be not attended to, it will be
found impossible to separate Lithocharis from the genera near Lathro-
bium at the one extremity, and those near Swnius at the other.” The
united genera contain upwards of 150 species from all parts of the world,
the great majority of which belong to Medon; there are eleven in-
digenous species, some of which are among the rarest of our Staphylinide,
one or two indeed being unique or almost unique as British ; they occur
chiefly at the bottoms of haystacks, in moss, dead leaves, &e. ; several of
them are very closely allied, and require great care in their deter-
mination, the distinctions being chiefly comparative.

I. Temples almost meeting beneath, or separated by
a very narrow interval; upper surface more or less
brown or pitechy, or pitechy black with red elytra.
(Medon, i. sp.)
i. Length 6 mm.; head Sena aaa tarsi as
ue as the tibie . . M. CASTANEUS, Grav.
i. Length not exceeding 5 mm., usué ually less ; head
Be bacadrate posterior tarsi distinctly shorter
than tibie.
1. Upper surface black or pitchy black, with
elytra bright red; head coarsely punctured ;
thorax with central smooth line distinct . . M. Pocorer, Peyr.
(maritimus, Aubé).
2. Upper surface more or less castaneous or
pitchy, sometimes in part ferruginous.
A. Thorax without apparent central cooeh
line, evenly punctured throughout. . . M. piLutus, Er.
B. Thorax with central smooth line more or
less distinct.
a. Head and thorax pitchy black, with a
very distinct smooth central line on each. M. Picrus, Kr.
b. Head pitchy, thorax and elytra reddish
castaneous, with smooth central line
obsolete on the former and more or less
distinct on the latter.
a*. Elytra about as long as thorax, pyne-
tuation of head distinct and rather deep. M. BRUNNEUS, Er.
b*. Elytra distinctly longer than thorax ;
punctuation of head confused and finer, M. FuscuLus, Mann.
ce. Head black or blackish, extremely finely
punctured ; form narrower and more
slender.
a*, Thorax broader in proportion to
elytra; central smooth line of thorax
more or less distinct throughout ; apex
of mesosternum with a short keel . . M. RIPICOLA, Kr.
b*, Thorax narrower in proportion to

314 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Medon.

elytra; central smooth line of thorax
only distinct behind; apex of meso-
sternum without keel . . . . . . M. APICALIs, Kr.

II. Temples separated beneath by a moderate in-

terval; thorax in our species bright testaceous red.

(Sub-Gen. Hypomedon, Muls. et Rey.) .

i. Head shagreened between the punctures ; *
elytra evidently longer than thorax . ‘

ii. Head smooth between the punctures; elytra
about as long as or apparently a little shorter
than thorax §s:. 2. 5 3. 9: «3 . % = M. MEDANOCEPHALUS, em

III. Temples separated beneath by a broad interval.

Upper surface entirely dull black or pitehy black,

extremely finely and closely punctured ; thorax

without trace of central smooth line. (Sub-Gen,.

Pseudomedon, Muls. et Rey.) . nee

M. PRoPINQuus, Bris.

M. ossoxtetus, Nord.

M. castaneus, Grav. (Ruddii, Steph., procerus, Per.). Elongate,
somewhat depressed, castaneous, or reddish castaneous, with the elytra
and apex of hind body ferruginous, clothed with fine greyish pubescence
which is closer on the hind body ; head oblong, a little longer than
broad, rather strongly, thickly, and somewhat rugosely punctured, with
a slight smooth central line ; antennz rather long, a little shorter than
head and thorax united, scarcely thickened, with the penultimate joints
oblong, ferruginous red; thorax about as long as broad, with apical and
basal margins almost straight, narrowed behind, rather strongly, thickly,
and rugosely punctured, with a narrow smooth longitudinal central line ;
elytra plainly longer than thorax, finely, very thickly, and somewhat
rugosely punctured ; hind body subparallel, narrowed at apex, very
finely and thickly punctured ; legs ferruginous red, posterior tarsi very
long and slender, with the first four joints elongate. L. 5$-6 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment excised at apex in a sharp
angle, sixth somewhat sinuate at sides, and broadly emarginate in middle
of apical margin.

Sandy places in moss, under stones, &e.; very rare; New Forest (Rudd) ;
Wimbledon; Esher (E. Saunders) ; Deal (C. G. Hall, from whom I received a single
specimen among some other beetles sent me for names) ; it appears to be a very rare
species on the Continent.

M. pocofer, Peyr. (maritimus, Aubé). A somewhat depressed,
and proportionally broad, species ; shining pitch-black with the elytra
bright red (the scutellary region being more or less dark), and the apex
of hind body pitchy red; head broad, somewhat transverse, rather
strongly and thickly punctured, with obsolete smooth central line ;
antenne moderate, reddish testaceous, with penultimate joints scarcely
transverse ; thorax about as long as broad, plainly narrowed behind,
rather strongly and thickly punctured, with broad and distinct smooth
central line; elytra evidently longer than thorax, strongly and thickly

* This character requires a compound microscope to show it properly, but it is
exceedingly reliable; its use has been already pointed out in the genus Laccobius
(ante, Vol. I. p. 228).

Medon. | STAPHYLINID A. 315

punctured ; hind body subparallel, somewhat narrowed just before apex,
finely and thickly punctured, clothed with greyish pubescence; legs
rather stout, red, posterior tarsi evidently shorter than tibiae, L. 43—-
5 mm.

Male with seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply emarginate
in an obtuse angle, sixth rather broadly and deeply emarginate.

A marine species, only found among shingle or under sea-weed just above or some-
what below high-water mark; very local and usually rare ; Isle of Wight and the
coast of the mainland opposite ; Shoreham, Worthing, &e.; also recorded by Bold as
rare on the coast near South Shields. I have taken the insect in considerable
numbers in spring near Ventnor : it is very rapid in its movements, and, as it usually
occurs in shingle under large stones, is very hard to secure, as the instant the
stones are disturbed it dives into the shingle; the shingle under the stone must
therefore be carefully searched to the bottom, or the stone must be suddenly thrown
over and the shingle immediately thrown over a sheet ; in this way specimens may be
secured when all other means have failed.

M. dilutus, Er. This species is closely allied to M. fusculus and
M. brunneus, but is distinctly broader and flatter, and may be dis-
tinguished from them by having the third joint of the antenn distinctly
longer than the second (instead of about equal to it or a little longer as
in those species), and the punctuation of the head and thorax exceedingly
fine and close, and especially by the absence of an apparent central
smooth line on thorax; the elytra are very thickly and finely and some-
what rugosely’ punctured. L. 4 mm.

A single specimen only is known as British; this was taken on the
banks of the Cairn, Solway district, Scotland, by Dr. Sharp ; according
to Mulsant and Rey it is very rare in France, and occurs under bark and
in moss on trees.

M. piceus, Kr. This very distinct species may be at once known
by its colour, which is dark pitchy, with the elytra slightly lighter; the
antenne and legs are ferruginous, and the former have the six basal joints
darker than the remainder; sometimes the two or three apical joints
only are lighter ; the insect is of about the same build as M. brunneus,
but is a little smaller, and may be distinguished from it, apart from the
above-mentioned characters, by the plain longitudinal central line on the
head, which latter is more finely and closely punctured, the more slender
antenne, more obsoletely punctured thorax, and proportionally longer
elytra. L. 33 mm.

In the male the seventh ventral segment of hind body is angularly
emarginate at apex, but the sixth is almost simple; in this point the
species differs from several of its allies.

Under dead leaves in woods, in autumn; very rare; Bexley Wood, Kent (Cham-
pion) ; Darenth Wood (T. Blackburn, one specimen).

M. brunneus, Er. Rather parallel, and somewhat proportionally
robust, head, and hind body (except apex) more or less pitchy, thorax
and elytra reddish castaneous ; sometimes the whole surface is almost

316 STAPHYLINIDE. { Medon.

unicolorous reddish-castaneous ; head a little wider than thorax, sub-
quadrate, strongly and thickly punctured ; antenne short, reddish,
penultimate joints slightly transverse ; thorax subtransverse, or a little
longer than broad, slightly narrowed behind, strongly and thickly
punetured, with central line obsolete in front, but distinct in middle ;
elytra about as long as thorax, and more confusedly punctured ; hind
body rounded at sides and narrowed behind, very finely and thickly
punctured ; legs reddish testaceous. L. 3}-4 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply sinuate at
apex, sixth broadly and slightly emarginate in middle of apical margin,
with the sides of emargination produced at apex.

In moss, dead leaves, &c.; local, but not uncommon in some localities ; Birch
Wood, Chatham, Cobham, Caterham, Mickleham, Sanderstead, Box Hill, Faygate,
Highgate, Bishops Wood; Bognor; Hastings; Isle of Wight, Parkhurst Forest, &e. ;
Barmouth; Dudley ; Bewdley ; Oxfordshire.

M. fusculus, Mann. (rufus, Rey). Extremely like the preceding
in size, general appearance, and colour; it may, however, be easily dis-
tinguished by having the elytra considerably longer than thorax, and
also by the much closer and more confused punctuation of the head; the
thorax also is more closely punctured ; the antennz are slightly longer ;
in the male the sixth ventral segment of hind body is more deeply
emarginate, and the sides of the emargination are produced at apex on
each side in the form of a black tooth. L. 4 mm.

In moss, vegetable refuse, dead leaves, &c.; local; Westerham, Dulwich, Forest
Hill, Caterham, Shirley, Mickleham, Bearsted, Purley, Birdbrook, Tonbridge ;
Hastings ; Eastbourne ; Brighton ; recorded by Bold from South Shields, rare ; with
this exception there is no record that I can find from any place further north than the
London district.

M. ripicola, Kr. This species may be known by its colour and
general appearance ; head blackish, thickly and finely punctured, rather
dull; thorax reddish castaneous, very shining, finely and thickly punc-
tured, with the smooth central line more or less distinct throughout,
sides scarcely narrowed behind; elytra brownish-red, darker and duller
than thorax, and nearly half as long again, very thickly and finely
punctured ; hind body darker and duller than elytra ; antenne and legs
reddish yellow ; from WM. fusculus and a fortiort from M. brunneus it
differs by its longer elytra and much finer punctuation; it is also
narrower and more slender; in the male the seventh ventral segment of
hind body is deeply sinuate at apex, and the sixth is very broadly
emarginate, the emargination itself being again slightly emarginate in
centre of margin. L. 4 mm.

Five specimens were taken by Mr. Douglas, on May 19th, 1861, under
sea-weed on the shore near Southampton ; I know of no other recorded
capture ; according to Mulsant and Rey the species is common through-
out France in moss, vegetable refuse, under stones, &c., especially in
damp localities.

Medon.| STAPHYLINIDE. 317

M™. apicalis, Kr. (scricellus, Fairm.). Reddish-castancous, rather
dull, with the head black or blackish, and the apex of elytra, at all
events at posterior angles, dark; it comes very near to M. ripicola, but
may be distinguished (apart from the colour of the elytra, which is not
always to be relied upon) by having the thorax narrower in proportion
to the elytra, and the fact that the central smooth line of the former is
only distinct behind ; the antennze are somewhat shorter and have the
joints more moniliform ; the hind body is usually darker, but this is
variable ; the mesosternum where it comes to a point at apex is not
keeled in this species, whereas in M. ripicola it is furnished with a small
but distinct keel, and in the male the sixth ventral segment of hind
body, instead of being deeply emarginate as in the last-mentioned species,
is only very shallowly bisinuate. L. 33 mm.

In moss, dead leaves, haystack refuse, &c.; very rare; Reigate (E. Saunders) ;
Erith.

M. propinquus, Bris. (vicinus, Bris., letus, Thoms.). Somewhat
linear and elongate, with the head black, the thorax testaceous red, the
elytra pitchy red, often brownish, and the hind body dull black, with
apex more or less reddish ; head subquadrate, parallel-sided, about as
broad as thorax, rather thickly punctured at sides, disc nearly smooth,
the whole surface between the punctures very plainly shagreened (if
viewed under a high magnifying power); antennz short, with penulti-
mate joints subtransverse, red, or pitchy red, with base and often apex
lighter ; thorax subquadrate, or scarcely longer than broad, with sides
parallel, finely and rather thickly punctured with a distinct smooth
longitudinal central line ; elytra evidently longer than thorax, finely,
thickly, and somewhat asperately punctured ; hind body very finely and
thickly punctured ; legs lighter or darker testaceous. L. 3 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly and
somewhat angularly emarginate at apex, sixth segment simple.

In moss, haystack refuse, &c. ; common and generally distributed throughout the
southern and midland districts of England ; not recorded, however, from further north
than Liverpool, or from Scotland; Ireland, Galway. This species is, however, so

often coufused with the following that the localities cannot altogether be depended
upon.

IM. melanocephalus, F. (nec Er. ?) (bicolor, Ol., tvar.). Very
closely allied to the preceding, but easily distinguished by the shorter
elytra, which are about the length of the thorax (and often appear even
somewhat shorter), and are slightly dilated belind; the most reliable
character, however, is found in the fact that the head is quite smooth
and not shagreened between the punctures; in the male the sixth
ventral segment of the hind body is shghtly but plainly emarginate in
middle of apical margin, and has a smooth longitudinal impression before
the emargination, whereas in the male of WM. propinquus this segment is
quite simple. L. 3 mm.

318 STAPHYLINID&, [ Medon.

In moss, haystack refuse, &c. ; common and generally distributed throughout the
southern and midland districts of England; rarer further north ; Northumberland
district, banks of streams, not common; Scotland, Lowlands, rare, Solway district
only ; Ireland, near Belfast, Waterford, &e.

We also appear to possess as British the closely allied species M. bi-
color, Ol.; the differences, however, between this and the preceding are
so slight that it would hardly seem to be more than a variety; it is
proportionally broader than MW. melanocephalus, and a little more thickly
punctured, and the head is a little less parallel ; these differences, how-
ever, are extremely slight ; the elytra are very slightly longer, and the
head and thorax are evidently more thickly punctured at the sides.
This species, or variety, appears to be rather uncommon on the Continent ;
it occurs under stones and moss in company with ants; there are
specimens in Dr. Power’s collection, from the London district, which
seem to agree with descriptions of this insect, and it may be somewhat
widely distributed in the midland and southern districts.

IM. obsoletus, Nord. Entirely dull black, or pitchy black, clothed
with very fine, short, and close greyish pubescence, the whole upper
surface very finely and thickly punctured ; head subquadrate, much nar-
rowed in front of eyes; antenne long, as long as head and thorax
united, penultimate joints about as long as broad, brownish red with
basal joint and often apical joints clear red ; thorax subquadrate, scarcely
narrowed behind, without trace of central smooth line ; elytra evidently
longer and much duller than thorax; hind body very dull, very
finely punctured or shagreened ; legs pitchy red, with tarsi lighter.
L. 32 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body feebly and rather
broadly sinuate at apex, sixth segment simple; anterior tarsi very
strongly dilated in an oblong ; in the female the anterior tarsi are only
slightly dilated.

In haystack refuse, &c.; often in hotbeds ; rare; Norwood, Notting Hill, Haling,
Mickleham, Chobham, Shiere, Tonbridge; The Holt, Farnham; Harwich; Herne
Bay; Glanvilles Wootton; Littlington, Sussex; Oxfordshire; Burton-on-Trent ;
South Shields, Durham, very rare, in May (Bold) ; Scotland, Solway district only,
very rare. This species is found rarely in France in damp moss in marshes,

: LITHOCHARIS, Lacordaire.

This genus, as at present limited, is, according to Dr. Sharp, charac-
terized by the small development of the supra-coxal process of the
prosternum, by the undilated front tarsi, and by the four basal joints of
the hind tarsi decreasing gradually in length, the fourth joint being
simple in structure, and interposed in the normal manner between the
third and fifth; it is represented in the warmer regions of Asiaand Africa,
and Dr. Sharp has lately described three or four species from Central

Lithocharis. | STAPHYLINID&. 319

America; the single European species, which is very common, has been
distributed by commerce, so that it is nearly cosmopolitan.

The larva of Lithocharis ochracea is described by Mulsant and Rey, Brévipennes,
Pédériens, p. 177: it is slightly convex, sparingly clothed with seta, elongate, with
the sides slightly enlarged and rounded behind, of a shining livid red colour, with
the abdomen paler; head large, subquadrate, almost longer than broad, a little
broader than thorax; antennze short; thorax oblong, a little narrowed in front,
smooth on dise, and marked on each site with two shallow oblique impressions, about
as long as the meso- and meta-thorax together ; abdomen with the first seven seg-
ments short nearly equal, the eighth, narrower, and the ninth narrow bearing two
cerci and an anal appendage ; legs short.

This larva, according to Mulsant aud Rey, has the head somewhat resembling tbat
of the larve of the Xantholinin, but it is less linear and has the abdomen shorter
and more rounded at the sides: it is found in hotbeds and dung-heaps.

L. ochracea, Grav. (brunniceps, Fairm.), Ferruginous or brownish-
yellow with the head black ; head somewhat triangular, about as broad
as thorax, very finely and "thickly punctured ; antenne testaceous or
reddish, rather robust, moderately long, with penultimate joints sub-
transverse ; thorax subquadrate, a little longer than broad, narrower
than elytra, parallel-sided, very finely and thickly punctured, arith a fine
smooth longitudinal central line; elytra about a third longer than thorax,
very finely, thickly, and somewhat asperately punctured ; hind body
narrowed towards apex, finely shagreened; legs testaceous. L. 31—
4 mm.

Male characters very peculiar, the seventh ventral segment being
deeply emarginate and having the sides of the emargination produced at
apex in the form of two very long lobes, sixth segment feebly and
broadly emarginate with a tuft of dark cilia on each side of the
emargination.

In haystack refuse, dung-heaps, hotbeds, &e.; common and generally distributed
throughout England ; less common further north ; ; Scotland, not common, but widely

distributed, Tweed, Forth, Dee, and Moray districts ; Ireland, Dublin and Armagh,
and probably generally distributed.

SUNIUWS, Stephens.

This genus is distinguished from all the other Peederinz with five-
jointed tarsi, except Paderus, by having the penultimate joint of the
tarsi bilobed ; from Paderus it differs in the much larger size of the
species, and the fact that the penultimate joint of the tarsi is furnished
with membrane beneath; the genus comprises more than 150 species,
which are very widely distributed over nearly the whole surface of the
globe ; there are only about sixteen European species, of which four are
British.

I, Elytra about as long as thorax or very little longer.
i, Elytra dull, rather broadly testaceous at apex, less

coarsely punctured ; hind body very long . . . . S. FILIFORMIS, Lafr.
ii. Elytra shining, very narrowly testaceous at apex,

320 STAPHYLINID.E. [Sunius.

more coarsely punctured; hind body moderately
Iifio Go oot o Go oO dg eo 6 Un 9 0 Sh Uh Jr,
II. Elytra distinctly longer than thorax, with apex more

or less broadly testaceous,
i. Head evidently longer than broad; elytra with

apical testaceous border broad reaching from side to

iio Ga dp oo 6.6 8 obs 6 5 oo Shaan, Zin,
ii. Head subquadrate, about as long as broad; elytra

with apical testaceous border usually margined with

black nearly to apex, sometimes taking the form of a

doubleispoty 5 3, 5] «so run oS ANGUSTATUS BE cyics

S. filiformis, Latr. (procerus, Grav., exfensus, Mannh.). Very
elongate, narrow, and linear, dull black, with the three last segments of
hind body shining, apex of elytra broadly testaceous; head slightly
longer than broad, rather finely and very thickly punctured; antennz
testaceous, slender, with the third jomt longer than second, and joints
4-10 oblong ; thorax somewhat cordiform, with sides strongly narrowed
behind, rather finely, very thickly and rugosely punctured; elytra
narrow, longer than broad, slightly longer than thorax, rugosely and very
thickly punctured; hind body very long, rather finely and thickly
punctured on the first three segments, less closely on the rest; legs
testaceous, with posterior coxe dark. L. 43 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body narrowly and
very sharply excised at apex, sixth very feebly sinuate.

In moss, at roots of grass, &c., generally in chalky or sandy places near the coast ;

rare; Kemp Town, Brighton, in some numbers (Power); Whitsand Bay, Plymouth
(J. J. Walker) ; Forest Hill and Burntash Lane (Power); Tewkesbury (Blatch).

S. intermedius, Er. (¢mmaculatus, Steph.). This species is easily
distinguished from the other British species by having the elytra to all
intents and purposes entirely black, the apical margin being so narrowly
testaceous that it is often hardly apparent ; the elytra, moreover, are
more coarsely punctured than in any of the other species; in this
character, however, there appears to be some variation ; in the male the
sixth ventral segment of hind body is obsoletely impressed longitudinally
in centre, and broadly sinuate at apex, and the seventh has a sharp
angular emargination. L. 33-3} mm.

In haystack refuse; also in moss, flood refuse, &e., in marshy places; local, but
sometimes very abundant where it occurs ; Lee, Sheerness, Toubridge ; Harwich ; Sand-
wich; Holm Bush, Brighton; Isle of Wight, Luccombe Chine, &c.; Llangollen ;
Tewkesbury.

S. diversus, Aubé (puichellus, Heer, fasciatus, Mots.). In
general shape much the same as 8, jiliformis, except that the hind body
is not soelongate ; head longer than broad, hardly as broad as thorax,
head and thorax very thickly and rugosely punctured; elytra evidently
longer than thorax rather strongly and thickly punctured; hind body a
little dilated behind middle, rather finely, thickly, and somewhat

Sunius. | STAPHYLINIDA. 321

roughly punctured; legs testaceous, with the posterior cox dark.
L. 3-33 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply emar-
ginate in an angle at apex.

In vegetable refuse, dung-heaps, &c.; often unaccompanied by the succeeding
species, trom which when alive it has a different facies; apparently local, but often
confused with S. angusfatus; Rusper, Lee, Esher, Cowfold, Forest Hill; Newnhain-
on-Severn ; Lincoln; Knowle ; Tewkesbury.

In the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London for the
7th of March, 1870, Mr. Gorham introduced a species as S. neglectus ;
this species is apparently the true S. angustatus of Paykull, and the
insect which he understood by S. angustatus is the S. diversus of Aubé ;
considerable confusion has existed with regard to these species, and in
some books the descriptions are reversed and applied to the wrong insect
in each case.

S. angustatus, Paykull. This very distinct species may be easily
known from the preceding by its subquadrate and evidently broader
head, which is a little broader than the thorax ; its general form is
thicker, less slender, and less linear; the apical testaceous border of
elytra is generally more or less broadly bordered with black on each side
almost to apex, and often takes the form of a common or double spot ;
the colour both of this and the preceding species is somewhat variable,
and occasionally the entire body is ferruginous or reddish testaceous,
with the head and part of the hind body darker, or entirely reddish.
L. 3-3} mm.

In moss, haystack refuse, &e ; common throughout the greater part of Hugland ;
rarer further north, and not recorded from the Northumberland district ; Scotland,
not common, Tweed, Solway, Forth, and Tay districts; Ireland, near Dublin and
Waterford, and probably common,

PEDERUS, Fabricius.

This genus contains more than a hundred species, which are very widely
distributed over the world, more especially in hot and tropical climates ;
only about a dozen occur in Europe, of which four are found in Britain ;
these are very conspicuous insects, being moderately large, of a bright
red or reddish testaceous colour, with the head and apex of hind body
black and the elytra more or less brightly metallic blue or greenish ;
many of them are so closely allied that they can only be distinguished
by the structure of the cedeagus; the brachypterous forms, according
to Mr. Champion, are arboreal in their habits : a detailed description
of each of our species is unnecessary; in the male the sixth ventral
segment of hind body is simple or almost simple, and the seventh is
broadly and deeply emarginate, the emargination being rounded at apex,
and slightly differing in shape in the various species; they occur in

VOL. Il. Y

322 STAPHYLINIDA. [ Pederus.

moss, under stones, at roots of grass, &c., in damp and marshy places ;
only one species, as might perhaps be expected, is found in Scotland,
and this only very locally in the extreme south.
I. Mandibles black ; tibize testaceous ; elytra about as long

as thorax; species apterous . . .. .. . . . . P. LITTORALIS, Grav.
Il. Mandibles testaceous; elytra longer than thorax;

species winged.
i. Tibi more or less testaceous, at most partially

fuscous.
1. Size larger ; thorax broader in proportion to asa ;

elytra not much longer than thorax . . . P. Rrparius, L.
2. Size smaller; thorax narrower in proportion | to

elytra; elytra half as long again as thorax . . . P. FuscIPEs, Curt.
. All the tibia black; elytra “not much longer than
aes ; So we we wel eh ae te ln Be, (CATT GATES aS

P. littoralis, Grav. (gregarius, Scop., vulgaris, Mill, & cephalotes,
Mots.). Of a brilliant red colour, with the elytra metallic blue, and the
head and sixth and seventh segments of hind body black ; head rather
large, subtransverse and broader than thorax in male, somewhat orbicular
and narrower in female, rather strongly and sparingly punctured with
the centre of disc smooth ; antennz rather long, testaceous, with more
or less of the apical joints fuscous, sometimes infuscate with base testa-
ceous, penultimate joints longer than broad; thorax convex, somewhat
globose, almost as broad as long in front, strongly narrowed behind, where
it is narrower than the base of the elytra, with two series of fine punc-
tures on disc and the sides diffusely punctured; scutellum dark red ;
elytra about as long as thorax, rather strongly and not closely punctured,
punctuation somewhat variable ; hind body subparallel, narrowed sharply
at apex, finely and rather sparingly punctured, rather strongly pubescent ;
legs reddish testaceous, with the apex of femora broadly, and the pos-
terior coxe, black. L. 7 mm.

In moss, at roots of grass, under stones, &c.; common and generally distributed in Eng-
land from the north-midland counties southwards ; rarer further north and not recorded
from the Northumberland and Durham district; it has been stated to occur near
Edinburgh, but Dr. Sharp (Scot. Nat. vol. iii., p. 835) considers that the record was
probably erroneous; it has not been recorded as yet from Treland, but most likely
occurs in the south at all events; the insect is exceedingly common in the south of
England, and by its striking appearance often attracts the notice of the casual observer.

P. riparius, L. (longicollis, Gaut.). About the same length as the pre- -
ceding, but a little narrower ; it may be easily distinguished by the shape of
the thorax, which is considerably narrower and less convex, and is con-
siderably longer than broad at its widest part; the elytra are longer, and
the insect is winged; the mandibles and the posterior coxe are reddish
testaceous and not black as in P. littvralis, and the mesosternum also is
red, and has the apical process less prolonged and less evidently keeled ;
the tibia, especially the posterior ones, are often a little fuscous ; the
colour of the elytra is variable, being bluish, violet, and sometimes greenish ;
all the species, however, vary more or less in this respect. L. 7 mm.

Pederus. | STAPHYLINIDA, 323

Marshy places, usually on or near the banks of rivers ; at roots of grass, in moss, Xe. ;
local ; Snodland (Kent), Weybridge, Walton-on-Thames, Chobham, Dagenham, Amber-
ley, Sunbury; Henley ; Hastings; Glanvilles Wootton; Winchester; Portishead ;
Swansea; Oxfordshire ; Wicken Fen and fen districts generally ; York ; not recorded
from the extreme north of England, or from Scotland or Ireland.

P. fuscipes, Curt. (/ongipennis, Er.). Considerably smaller, and of
a generally more delicate appearance than the preceding, with the thorax
more parallel-sided, less narrowed behind, and taken as a whole evidently
narrower in proportion to the elytra; the scutellum is usually darker ;
the elytra are distinctly longer in proportion to the thorax, and are a
little more thickly punctured ; the tibie are a little darker at their base,
and in fact are seldom entirely testaceous, and occasionally quite dark,
at all events the intermediate and posterior pairs. L. 6 mm.

Marshy places, at roots of grass and plants, in moss, flood refuse, &c.; local, but
sometimes abundant where it occurs; Snodland (Kent), in profusion (J. J. Walker) ;
Hastings; Eastbourne; Isle of Wight, Luecombe Chine, &e.; New Forest ; Slapton
Ley, Devon; Falmouth; St. Mary, Scilly Islands; Bala, North Wales (by beating) ;
in profusion on and about an old wall between Dolgellp and Barmouth (J. T. Harris) ;
Scotland, very local, Solway district, “taken inabundance by W. Lennox at Caerlave-
rock ” (Sharp, Scot. Nat. iii., p. 35); Ireland, Murrough of Wicklow.

P. caligatus, Er. This species may be easily distinguished from
the preceding by its entirely black tibie ; apart from this it may be
known from the two preceding species, which it resembles in general
form, by its rather shorter elytra, which are more strongly and less closely
punctured ; the thorax is less narrow and less parallel than in P. fuscipes,
and the penultimate joints of the antenne are a little shorter; from P.
littoralis it may be at once known by its dark tibie, testaceous mandibles,
and the different shape of the thorax, as well as by its smaller size and
shorter and less robust form. L. 6 mm.

Marshy places, at roots of grass, and especially in sphagnum ; very local, but some-
times common where it occurs; Esher; Wimbledon; New Forest (taken in rather
scanty numbers in sphagnum near Lyndhurst on May Ist, 1886, by Dr. Sharp, Mr.
Gorham, and myself).

In Stephens’ Illustrations, vol. v., p. 281, two species are mentioned, viz.
Pederus ruficollis, F., and Pederus sanguinicollis, Steph., which are remarkable
for having the hind body entirely black or bluish black; these two species form the
sub-genus Pederidus of Rey, which is separated by that author from Pederus on the
ground that the base of the hind body beneath is raised in a slight avd blunt keel, and
that the mesosternal process is not keeled, whereas in P@ederus the keel at base of hind
body is conspicuous and sharp, and the mesosternal process is always more or less
keeled ; P. ruficollis is mentioned by Stephens as having been taken near Barmouth
and Swansea, and on other parts of the Welsh coast, and as having been found in plenty
at the first-mentioned place, and P. sanguinicollis is first described by him on specimens
from Devonshire, and is mentioned as occurring in Glamorganshire; they are given as
distinct species in Waterhouse’s catalogue, but have long been omitted from our lists,
and I know nothing of their history as British. P. ruficollis (with which P. longi-
cornis, Aubé = sanguinicollis, Stepb., is united by Rey and other authors) appears to
be a common species in France.*

* The name of the family pADERIN# has by an oversight been omitted on page 6,
line 24, a*. Posterior coxa conical.
ve

324. STAPHYLINIDA, [ Evesthetine.

EVASTHETIN &.

This group is usually classed with the Stenine, but is very distinct by
reason of the posterior coxee being contiguous, and the different mode of
the insertion of the antenne, as well as by the structure of the trophi;
in some points it is allied with the broader forms of Swnzus, and in others
it bears a relation to Yrogophlwus ; if placed anywhere it must come
under the Pederine, but from this group it is distinguished by the
totally different structure of the front coxa, and by having the antenne
inserted inside the base of the mandibles and terminated by an evident
club, whereas in the Pederine the antenne are inserted outside the base
of the mandibles and are not clubbed; in the latter group, moreover,
the tarsi are always five-jointed, whereas in the Evesthetine they are
composed of either three or four joints ; the latter character alone is not
perhaps sufficient to warrant their separation, but it may be taken into
consideration to a certain extent; the group contains five European
genera, Leptotyphlus, Mayetia, Octavius, Edaphus, and Evesthetus, of
which the last only occurs in Britain.

EVESTHETUwS, Gravenhorst.

This genus comprises about six or seven species, which are found in
Europe, Central Asia, and North America; one has lately been described
from Japan; they are very small and rather robust insects, and very
inconspicuous, and so closely resemble one another that several of the
described species have been sunk as synonymous with others; they live
under stones and in moss in damp places, and often occur in numbers in
vegetable refuse at the sides of ponds, &c.; they are very slow in their
movements ; we possess all the European species, if we go by the cata-
logue of Heyden, Reitter, and Weise, in which LZ. bipunctatus and one or
two others are sunk as synonyms; the species of the genus have all the
tarsi four-jointed.

I. Head, thorax, and elytra rugosely punctured, dull;
sutural stria not or scarcely marked. . . . . . E. SCABER, Grav.
II. Thorax and elytra not rugosely punctured, rather
shining ; sutural stria plainly marked.
i, Elytra evidently more finely punctured than thorax ;

thorax more closely punctured, with basal furrows
longer and deeper . . . . E. RUFICAPILLUS, Lac.

ii. Elytra scarcely more finely punctured than thorax ;

thorax less closely punctured, with basal furrows
shorter and shallower. . . . . . . . . . EH, LEyIuscuLus, Mannh,

E. scaber, Thoms. Oblong, parallel-sided, broad in proportion to
its length, reddish-black, with the head usually lighter, dull, hind body
rather more shining; head transverse, somewhat triangular, as broad as
thorax, together with thorax and elytra rather strongly, thickly, and
rugosely punctured ; antenne hardly longer than the head, with a three-
jointed club, red, with the club darker ; thorax rather transverse, and some-
what cordiform, broad in front, and strongly narrowed behind, with two

Evesthetus.] STAPHYLINIDA, 325

strong straight, subparallel, longitudinal furrows on the posterior part of the
disc; elytra transverse, a little shorter than thorax, slightly widened
behind, with the sutural stria scarcely marked ; hind body rather short
and thick, almost as broad as the base of elytra, very finely and thickly
punctured, less finely at the base of the front segments, which are im-
pressed ; legs entirely red. L. 12-2 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body rather sharply
and deeply, sixth less sharply but distinctly, emarginate, fifth furnished
in centre of apex with two small projecting tubercles.

Marshy places, at roots of grass, in flood refuse, haystack refuse, &c.; local, but
common sometimes where it occurs ; Chatham, Lee, Sheerness, Wimbledon, Wey-
bridge, Caterham, Reigate, Shirley, Rainham, Red Hill, &e. ; Hastings ; Devonshire ;
Holm Bash, Brighton (taken by Dr. Power with Zebia crux-minor, &c.); Wicken
Fen; Sutton Park, Birmingham; Scotland, Lowlands, rare, Forth and Solway
districts.

E. ruficapillus, Lac. Smaller and slightly narrower than the pre-
ceding, and apparently, asa rule, of a somewhat more reddish colour ; it is
easily distinguished by the fact that the punctuation of the thorax and elytra
is not rugose, that of the latter being much finer and a little less close than
that of the former; the thoracic furrows are broader and deeper and
a little less parallel, and the sutural stria of the elytra, although fine, is
well marked ; sometimes the thorax, and occasionally the whole upper
surface is entirely light red or reddish ; in the male the seventh ventral
segment of hind body is deeply emarginate, the sixth is channelled on
its central line, and the fifth is furnished with two tubercles as in the
preceding species. L. 13-1$ mm.

Marshy places, at roots of grass, &e.; locally abundant; Lee, Strood, Snodland,
Barnes, Weybridge, Wimbledon, &e. ; Coleshill, near Birmingham, in great abundance
in vegetable refuse on the side of a pond ; Sutton Park ; Needwood Forest ; York;
Scotland, Lowlands, very local, Solway district.

E. leviusculus, Mannh. (ruficapillus, Thoms., nec Lac.), Rather
shorter, broader, and slightly thicker than the two preceding ; the head
is more shining and less rugose than in #. ruficapillus; the thorax is a
little less widened in front and has the longitudinal furrows evidently
shorter, narrower, and less deep; the elytra are less finely punctured, the
punctuation being almost as strong as that of the thorax ; the antenne
are also longer and the club is more slender, but this character is not very
evident ; in the male the tubercles on the fifth ventral segment of the
hind body appear to be wanting. L. 14 mm.

Marshy places, at roots of grass, &e.; local, but not uncommon where it occurs;
probably often confounded with the preceding species. Wimbledon, Barnes, Merton ;
Coleshill, near Birmingham; Isle of Man (Hugh Stowell) ; Scotland, Lowlands,
local, Solway, Tweed, and ‘lay districts.

All these three speciesare probably widely distributed, and are most likely
very often overlooked owing to their small inconspicuous appearance and
sluggish movements ; the two last species are very often confounded,
and some of the localities given for the one may possibly apply to the
other.

326 STAPHYLINIDA. [Stenine..

STENIN &.

The members of this sub-family are very distinct by reason of their
large prominent eyes, which give the head asort of hammer-shaped form,
and the long slender antenne, which are cleven-jointed, and are termi-
nated by a more or less distinctly formed club, and have their insertion
quite exposed ; all the coxe are small, and the posterior pair are widely
separated by a bilobed process of the metasternum; two British genera
are contained in the sub-family, Dianous and Stenus; the genus
Eveesthetus which has sometimes been included in it is now more cor-
rectly referred to a separate sub-family; there are about a dozen genera
altogether in the group; the curious genus Megualops is now placed by
Dr. Sharp near the Evesthetine.

Our two genera may be distinguished as follows :—

I. Eyes separated from neck by a distinct interval ; hind body

terminated by two setiform styles . . . . . . Dravyovs, Curtis.
II. Eyes not separated from neck by a distinct inter val ; hind body
terminated by two very short, almost imperceptible, styles . . Srenvs, Latr.

DIANOUS, Cutis.

Only two species of this genus are known; one is found in Central
and Northern Europe, and occurs also near Lake Superior, and the other
is distributed over a considerable portion of North America ; the species
are subaquatic in their habits.

D. coerulescens, Gyll. Of a deep blue-black colour, which is very
bright in life, with a round yellow spot on each elytron; upper surface
shining, with short and not very evident greyish pubescence ; head rather
finely and thickly punctured, antenne about as long as head and thorax
together, black, with apex sometimes lighter, last three joints forming a
very indistinct club ; thorax somewhat cylindrical, more strongly pune-
tured than head ; elytra longer than thorax, depressed near suture, rather
thickly and somewhat strongly punctured; hind body narrower than
elytra, finely and thickly punctured, with segments 2-4 strongly, and
5 feebly impressed longitudinally at base; legs black, very slightly
bluish, tarsi with fourth joint bilobed. L. 5-5} mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body emarginate at
apex, leaving the segment of the armature partially exposed.

In moss in or by the side of swiftly running streams, especially in waterfalls; often
found in company with Stenus Guynemeri and Quedius auricomus; local, but not
uncommon; Hastings; Isle of Wight (abundant in a waterfall on the beach near
Ventnor) ; Devonshire, Ilfracombe, Barnstaple, and other localities ; Llangollen, Bar-
mouth, and other Welsh localities, especially in mountainous districts; Cheshire ;
Bewdley Forest ; Dove Dale; Yorkshire; Northumberland, rare, Ouseburn Dene,
Wallington, Wooler; Scotland, widely distributed, Solway, Tweed, Forth, Tay, Dee,
and Clyde districts ; it probably occurs in Ireland, but I can find no record.

Stenus. } STAPHYLINIDE. 327

STENUS, Latreille.

This genus comprises upwards of three hundred and fifty species ; of
these aboutone hundred and thirty are found in Europe; the rest are widely
distributed over the surface of the globe ; a considerable number occur in
North America, and a certain number are found in Central Asia, Ceylon,
Japan, Brazil and Chili, Tahiti, the Australian region, Eastern Africa
and Madagascar, &c.; as a rule they prefer wet situations, but some are
found in dry sandy or chalky districts; they fall naturally under two
great sections, viz. those that have the penultimate joint of the tarsi simple,
and those in which it is bilobed; the species belonging to the latter
section are chiefly attached to plants, to which the tarsal lobes apparently
enable them to cling; in all the Steni the ligula, paraglosse, and labial
palpi are very slightly jointed with the mentum, and at death are some-
times protruded at the end of the long gullet, forminga kind of proboscis;
this is not the case with Dianous, in which the ligula is said not to be
productile, whereas in Stenus it is, though wrongly, said to be productile,
There are about sixty British species of Stenus, which may for conve-
nience sake be divided into several sections or divisions, depending on the
formation of the tarsi, the presence or absence of margins on the hind
body, the presence or absence of an orange spot on the elytra, and the
relative length of the posterior tarsi ; there are three or four species which
have the formation of the penultimate joint of the tarsi intermediate be-
tween that of the species forming the two great groups; after some consider-
ation I have placed these in a separate section.

I. Penultimate joint of tarsi simple, not, or scarcely, broader than third joint ; third
joint always simple.

i. Hind body plainly margined at sides throughout.

1. Elytra with a round orange or yellow spot on each. (Section I., p. 327.)
2. Elytra black, unicolorous. (Section II., p. 330.)
ii. Hind body not margined at sides (except sometimes the first one or two basal

segments). (Section III., p. 342.)

II. Penultimate joint of tarsi semi-bilobed, not much broader than third joint.
(Section IV., p. 344.)

III. Penultimate joint of tarsi very strongly bilobed, evidently broader than third
joint.

ie Hind boy plainly margined at sides; elytra black, unicolorous. (Section V.,

- 346.
ii. Hind fod not margined at sides (except sometimes at extreme base).
1. Elytra with a round orange spot on each. (Section VI., p. 356.)
2. Elytra black, unicolorous. (Section VII., p. 356.)

(Secrron I.)

The species belonging to this section are at once distinguished by the
simple penultimate joint of tarsi, the orange spots on the elytra, and the
long posterior tarsi which are not much shorter than the tibie; they
are found on the margins of ponds and streams, or in damp marshy
places.

328 STAPHYLINIDA. . [Stenus.

The larva of Stenus bipuactatus is described and beautifully figured by Schiddte
(Part vii., p. 548, pl. xviii.) : it is elongate and fusiform, and bears a sort of resem-
blance to the perfect insect; the colour is white with the head and dorsal scuta
fuscous, and the mouth-organs, ventral scuta, antenne and cerci yellowish; head
narrower than prothorax, suborbicular, narrowed behind ocelli; antenne and maxil-
lary palpi very long and slender; mandibles slender, hooked, and furnished with
teeth ; prothorax longer than broad, meso- and meta-thorax together considerably
longer than prothorax, all three segments very uneven and much impressed ; abdomen
long with the secoud segment broadest, and the rest gradually narrowed to apex,
contracted in front and behind so that the intersections are well marked, with strong
outstanding sete ; last seginent furnished with two long and rather stout cerci, of
which the second joint is narrower and shorter than the first,* and an anal appendage,
which is much dilated at apex and terminates in four wart-like prominences ; legs
very long and slender, the first pair considerably shorter than the others, claws rather
long and sharp.

I. Legs quite black.
i. Spots on elytra small; first joint of palpi and base

as second testaceous . S. sraurtatus, LZ.
. Spots on elytra larger ; first joint of palpi only tes-
ry Ris 0 0 . . S. BIPUNCTATUS, Er.

we Legs variegated, partly ‘testaceous.
. Hind body without a longitudinal keel at base of
a, ont segments ; size smaller, more slender. . S. gurruna, Miill.
- Hind body with a longitudinal keel at base of front
“eaietal size larger, more robust . . . . . . S. BIMAOULATUS, Gyll.

S. biguttatus, L. Black, with a slight metallic tinge, clothed with
short silvery pubescence; form rather slender; head rather finely and
thickly punctured, hollowed in front, with a fine longitudinal elevated
keel ; antenne pitchy brown with the first joint and the club darker ;
thorax oblong, much narrower than elytra, with sides narrowed in front
and behind, somewhat cylindrical, rather strongly and thickly, and some-
what rugosely, punctured, with a somewhat indistinct dorsal furrow ;
elytra rather longer than thorax, moderately strongly, thickly, and rugosely
punctured, each with a rather small orange spot a little below middle ;
hind body with the basal segments strongly impressed longitudinally
at base, finely and thickly punctured ; legs black, rather shining, with
the trochanters pitechy-red, and apex of tarsi brownish. L. 43-42 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply emarginate,
sixth broadly sinuate with a smooth transverse impression before sinuation,
fifth with a slight smooth impression at apex.

Margins of ponds, streams, and rivers; not uncommon; Darenth Wood, Lewisham,
Mickleham (banks of Mole), Croydon, Woking, Hendon, Reigate, Charlton, &e. ;
Cambridge; Hastings ; Devonshire; Dean Forest; Bewdley ; Tewkesbury ; banks
of Dove, near Burton-on-Trent; Yorkshire; Preston, Lancashire; Manchester ;
Liverpool ; Northumberland, Durham, and Cumberland; ‘South of Scotland,”
Murray.

* The cerei of the Staphylinide usually terminate in a more or less long seta,
which by some authors is merely regarded as a seta, by others as a setiform third
joint of the cerci; this point must be noticed, or else confusion may arise.

Stenus. | STAPHYLINIDE. 329

S. bipunctatus, Er. Very like the preceding, but rather larger,
and a little more robust, with the first joint only of the palpi testaceous ;
the head is a little narrower and less hollowed in front, and the
antenne are rather shorter and darker; the elytral spot is rather larger
and lighter, and situated a little further from the suture ; the legs are
rather shorter, and the trochanters are more darkly coloured ; the male
has no impression at the apex of the fifth ventral segment of hind body.
L. 5 mm.

Margins of ponds, rivers, &c.; local; Darenth Wood, Lee, Sevenoaks, Aslstead,
Mickl ham, Reigate, Hendon, Charlton ; Hastings; Glanvilles Wootton; banks of
Dove; Bewdley ; Tewkesbury ; Wicken Fen; Lincoln; Manchester; not recorded
from the northern counties of England, or from Scotland ; Ireland, near Belfast.

S. guttula, Mill. (geminus, Heer). Narrow and slender, smaller
than either of the preceding, black, with a large yellow spot on each
elytron ; pubescence short and silvery ; head much broader than thorax
rather strongly and thickly punctured, antenne pitchy with the first
joint and club darker, palpi testaceous, with the second joint often
darker ; thorax somewhat cylindrical, strongly, very thickly, and rugosely
punctured ; elytra slightly longer and much broader than thorax, very
thickly and rugosely punctured, yellow spot nearer sides than suture ;
hind body rather narrow, finely and thickly punctured ; basal segments
strongly impressed transversely ; legs testaceous, with the apex of femora
broadly dark, and the tibiz and tarsi more or less ferruginous. L.
4mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body feebly, and the
sixth more strongly, sinuate, the latter with a smooth impression before
sinuation.

Damp margins of streams, ponds, &c., and in wet places generally ; local; London
district, not common, Tottenham, Highgate, Sheerness, Amberley, and Charlton ;
Cambridge; Herne Bay; Bungay, Suffolk; Hastings; Isle of Wight; Devonshire ;
Knowle; Bewdley; Tewkesbury ; banks of Dove, Burton-on-Trent; Bridlington,
Yorkshire; Isle of Man; Manchester, Preston, and Liverpool; Northumberland,
Durham, and Cumberland; Scotland, common, Solway, ‘I'weed, Forth, Tay, and Dee
districts ; Ireland, banks of Dodder and Loughlinstown.

S. bimaculatus, Gyll. Black, rather dull, larger and more robust
than either of the preceding, clothed with short ashy pubescence, front
parts rather strongly, thickly, and rugosely punctured ; head with two
impressed longitudinal grooves with a raised space between them;
antenne pitchy, palpi yellow, with apical joint fuscous, except at base ;
thorax longer than broad, more narrowed behind than in front, with
sides rounded ; elytra about as long as thorax, with the yellow spotrather
small in proportion and situated at about an equal distance from the
sides and suture ; hind body with the centre of base of front segments
furnished with a distinct longitudinal keel, rather finely and thickly
punctured, more feebly towards apex ; legs testaceous, with the coxs
black, apex of femora and the entire tarsi pitchy, tibiz often darker. L.
53 mm.

330 STAPHYLINIDE, [ Stenus.

Male with the seventh segment deeply emarginate, with an oblong
tubercle near the middle of its base; sixth widely emarginate with the
middle surface depressed and smooth and enclosed by two parallel ridges
which are more elevated towards posterior margin, and terminate on each
side ina prominent tooth; the depressed space has a tuberele in the
centre ; fifth segment slightly sinuate with a smooth space furnished
with a tubercle before sinuation ; fourth segment with a trace of a
smooth space and a small tubercle.

Marshy places; at roots of grass, in moss, flood refuse, &c.; common and widely
distributed in the Midlands and Southern districts; rarer in the north; Scotland
rare, Solway and Tweed districts; Ireland, near Dublin.

(Section IT.)

This section contains a considerable number of species, which are
distinguished by the simple penultimate joint of the tarsi, the absence of
spots on the elytra, and by the fact that the hind body is margined ; the
colour of the legs is an important character, but in one or two species
(e.g. S. proditor) is somewhat misleading.

I. Posterior tarsi elongate, as long as, or not much
shorter than, tibiae, with first joint almost always
evidently longer than the last.

i. Legs entirely black.

1. Base of segments 2-5 of hind body without
longitudinal keel; first joint of posterior tarsi
shorter in proportion to last on a 5 6

2. Base of segments 2-5 of hind body with a short

longitudinal keel in centre; first joint of pos-

terior tarsi longer in proportion to last.
A. Head almost as broad as elytra.

a. Form broader, more robust ; male without
raised prominence on posterior third of hind
WISE, NO io ce oda eo of po 6 ol fstediuittoy 2%

b. Form narrower; male with a raised pro-
minence on posterior third of hind tibia . S. ATER, Wann.

B. Head plainly narrower than elytra, scarcely

S. ASPHALTINGS, I’,

broader than thorax . . . . . . . . . SS. LONGITARSIS, Thoms.
ii. Legs more or less light in colour, never entirely
black.

1. Thorax and elytra very coarsely and rugosely
punctured, with upper surface very uneven . . S GUYNEMERI, Duv.
2. Thorax and elytra much less coarsely and more

regularly punctured, with upper surface not *
or only slightly uneven.
A. Tibiw dark brown; size smaller . . . . S. PRropItToR, Zr

B. Tibie more or less reddish or testaceous ;
size larger.
a. Elytra as thickly punctured as thorax,
which is narrower in proportion.
a*, Punctures of elytra distinct, not con-
fluent ; femora narrowly dark at apex . S. SPECULATOR, Lac.
b*, Punctures of elytra confluent ; femora
broadly dark atapex . . . . . . S. PROVIDUS, Hr.
(v. Rogeri, Kr.).

Stenus. | STAPHYLINIDE,

b. Elytra not as thickly punctured as thorax,
which is broader in proportion. . . + -
Il. Posterior tarsi short, hardly longer than half the
tibia, first joint about equal to last.
i. Legs entirely black.
1. Segments 2-5 of hind body each furnished with
four little raised longitudinal keels at base.
A. Elytra uneven, with evident depressions.
a. Head almost as broad as elytra,

a*, Thorax and elytra strongly and rather
thickly punctured; elytra as long as
tHOTAXs eee ied ele) ley wo) nes ie) ais

b*, Thorax and elytra coarsely and not
thickly punctured ; elytra a little longer
Shan thorax = 4) er (histone |S

b. Head evidently narrower than elytra.
a*. Head hardly broader than thorax.
b*, Head evidently broader than thorax.
at. Interval between the frontal fur-
rows broad, not raised in a keel;
thorax without trace of central
PMA oO ded mo UG

bt. Interval between the frontal furrows

raised, more or less keeled; thorax

with obsolete central furrow °

B. Elytra even or almost even, without, or with

very obsolete, depressions, except at suture.

a. Thorax channelled for the greater part of
its length.

a*, Upper suface rather dull, less strongly

puncturediiss 6 8 ss) Io) © 0 io ke
b*. Upper surface shiny, more strongly
punctured . - - + + e+ 6 ee

b. Thorax without central channel . . + -
2. Front segments of hind body with one small
longitudinal keel situated in centre of base.

A. Elytra very uneven, much longer than
eee G@ wo ob 01 Oo GD 2a) Ged ip

B. Elytra much less uneven, searcely longer
imines G Oo Oo oO SOO

3. Base of front segments of hind body simple ;
elytra a little longer than thorax; upper sur-
face rather thickly pubescent . . + + + =

ii. Legs more or less light, never black.

1. Hind body with very feeble margins; legs dark

ferruginous, or brownish, with knees darker. .«

2. Hind body with rather strong margins.

A. Legs light, testaceous; base of front seg-
ments of hind body with one small central
longitudinal keel . . + + +

‘B. Legs darker, more or less pitchy.

a. Base of front segments of hind body with
four small keels; front parts more coarsely
punctured ; thorax longer with sides less
mon 6 G o @ a 6 1G Go Oo 6

331

§. LusTRATOR, Er.

S. BUPTHALMDS, Grav.

S. metanopus, Marsh,

S. INCRASSATUS, Er.

S. MELANARIUS, Steph.

(cinerascens, Kr.).

S. aTRATULUS, Er,

S. CANALICULATUS, Gyll.

S. NITENS, Steph.
; (emulus, Er.).
S. MORIO, Grav.

S. pusitius, Steph.

S. Exieuus, Er.

S. incanus, Er.

S. FUSCIPES, Grav,

S. cCIRCULARIS, Grav.

S. VAFELLUS, Ev.

332 STAPHYLINID ®. [Stenus.

b. Base of segments of hind body without
keel; front parts more closely punctured ;
thorax shorter, with sides more rounded . . S. DECLARATUS, Er.

S. asphaltinus, Er. Shining black, front parts very coarsely
punctured ; antenne brownish with first two joints black, basal joint of
maxillary palpi and sometimes base of second joint testaceous; thorax
longer than broad with sides rounded a little before middle, with a short
longitudinal furrow in middle of disc ; elytra scarcely longer than thorax ;
hind body elongate, very shining, rather strongly and sparingly punc-
tured ; legs black. This species is smaller and less robust than S. Juno,
and in size and build resembles S. afer; it is, however, more coarsely,
punctured, and has the elytra proportionally shorter than either of these
two species. L. 42 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body emarginate at
apex, sixth depressed and slightly sinuate.

Sand and chalk pits; not found, apparently, in damp or marshy localities ;
rare; Charlton, Strood, Erith, Reigate, Caterham, Chatham, Shirley, West
Wickham, Tonbridge. Mr. Chappell records it from decayed Sparganium at

Bowdon, near Manchester, and Withington, Cheshire; it is found under stones,
dead leaves, &e.

S. Juno, F. (loops, Gray.). Black, not very shining; head large
with eyes very large and prominent, antenne black, maxillary palpi
testaceous, with the second joint pitchy at apex, and the third dark,
lighter at base ; thorax rather strongly and closely punctured with a
short, obsolete, dorsal channel; elytra longer than thorax and more
strongly, thickly, and rugosely punctured, with two or three depressions ;
hind body rather finely and thickly punctured, with a distinct short
longitudinal keel at base of each of the front segments ; legs black,
hinder femora in male very broad and slightly curved, tibiz also shghtly
curved and terminating in a short spur. L. 5-55 mm,

Besides the differences in the legs, the male has the metasternum deeply
impressed and covered with pale pubescence which takes the form of a
thick tuft between the middle coxe ; the seventh ventral segment of hind
body is deeply and somewhat angularly excised at apex, the part behind
excision being smooth and shining; the sixth segment is rather deeply
sinuate with a smooth depression, flanked on each side by a ridge, with
a tubercle at base, and the remaining segments exhibit a smooth
depression (most evident in fifth), each furnished with a fine longi-
tudinal keel in centre.

Marshy places, at roots of grass, &e.; common and generally distributed through-
out the kingdom.

S. ater, Mann. Smaller and less robust than the preceding, with
the legs and tarsi more slender; antennz black, maxillary palpi black,
with the first joint and lower third of second testaceous; front parts
strongly, thickly, and rugosely punctured ; thorax more cylindrical than

Stenus.] STAPHYLINIDA, 533

in the preceding species, with dorsal channel plainer; elytra with less
evident depressions ; hind body rather finely and thickly punctured,
with a longitudinal keel at base of front segments; legs black, hind
tibia in male furnished with a very distinct tooth-like elevation on
their inner side about a third from apex, a character which will at once
distinguish the species. L. 42-5 mm.

Seventh ventral segment of hind body in male smooth in middle,
deeply emarginate at apex, with two tubercles at base ; sixth segment
emarginate in middle of apical border, broadly hollowed out in a smooth
depression, enclosed between two elevated ridges (clothed with long
yellow hairs) which terminate behind in a tooth ; the other segments
exhibit somewhat the same structure but are not toothed, and not, or
scarcely perceptibly, sinuate.

In moss, haystack refuse, &c., in dry places; local; London district, generally
distributed, and not uncommon; Hastings; Deal ; Brighton ; Barmouth ; Manchester

district; it is chiefly confined to chalky districts in the south and south-east of
England.

S. longitarsis, Thoms. Smaller than the preceding with the head
narrower and more deeply excavated ; palpi with the first joint, and only
the extreme base of second, light ; thorax shorter; elytra longer, broader
in proportion, more convex, and more uneven ; in the male the hinder
tibia have no elevation on their inner side, and the seventh segment is
sparingly punctured before the emargination, and has two very obsolete
tubercles, which are sometimes absent; the characters of the remaining
segments somewhat resemble those of S. ater, but are much less pro-
nounced. L. 4-43 mm.

Marshy places, at roots of grass, &e.; first taken by Mr. Rye at Wimbledon, and

it has also occurred at Esher ; these are apparently the only localities known for the
insect.

S. Guynemeri, Duv. (rugosus, Kies.). Deep shining black, sculpture
of front parts extremely rugose and uneven and in parts warty; head
with a shining central keel and two more or less interrupted keels
between this and eyes; antennz pitchy with darker club, maxillary
palpi pitchy black, with first joint and base of second more or less
broadly testaceous; thorax widest before middle and rather strongly con-
tracted behind, with a broad dorsal channel and several more or less
marked depressions ; elytra as long as thorax; hind body with broad
margins, rather coarsely punctured at base and sides of the segments,
smoother on disc; legs testaceous with the apex of femora broadly, and
the apex and base of tibiz narrowly, dark, tarsi pitchy, cox black. L.
5 mm.

Male with the sixth and seventh segments of hind body feebly emar-
ginate,

Under stones and in moss in or by the side of swiftly running streams, especially in

waterfalls (often in company with Déanous aud Quedius auricomus) ; local, and
chiefly fuund in hilly and mountainous districts. Hastings district ; North Devon,

354 STAPHYLINIDA. [ Stenus.

Ilfracombe, &e.; Somerset ; Barmouth; Matloek; Buxton ; Scarborough ; Cheshire ;
not recorded from the extreme northern counties of England, but it probably occurs,
as it is found in Scotland in the Solway, Tweed, Forth, and Clyde districts; Ireland,
near Killarney. :

S. proditor, Er. (ripecola, Sahlb.), A narrow, parallel-sided, and
somewhat cylindrical species ; black, moderately shining ; antenne
pitchy, basal joint, and base of second joint of palpi, testaceous; head
large with very prominent eyes, strongly furrowed; thorax oblong,
almost as broad as elytra, and of about the same length; thorax and
elytra thickly and moderately, but not coarsely, punctured ; hind body
rather finely and thickly punctured, front segments with a small longi-
tudinal keel at base ; legs dark pitchy-black, or pitchy-red ; base of femora
lighter ; this species most resembles S. argus, but 1s darker, less pubes-
cent, with much shorter elytra, and more distinctly margined hind body ;
from S. ntens it may be distinguished by its duller appearance, shorter
elytra, and the absence of a dorsal channel on thorax. L. 34 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body excised angularly
at apex, sixth deeply sinuate with a smooth depression behind sinuation,
terminated on each side by a slight keel.

Rare; first taken at Finchley by Mr. E. W. Janson; it is chiefly a fen species, and
has been found at Wicken, Horning, and Ranworth Fens, by Mr. Crotch, Dr. Sharp,
Mr. Matthews, Dr. Power, and others,

This species has the legs so dark that it hardly seems to belong to the
group in which it is placed; at the same time it can hardly be classed
with the species in which the legs are quite black.

S. speculator, Er. (clavicornis, Scop., boops, Gyll.). Dull black,
winged ; head rather strongly furrowed, antenne pitchy red with the
club dark, and the first two joints black, palpi testaceous ; thorax
oblong with sides moderately rounded, broadest in middle, rather strongly
and very thickly punctured, with obsolete central channel ; elytra as
long as thorax, strongly and closely punctured ; hind body rather shining,
closely and much more finely punctured than elytra; legs testaceous,
knees and sometimes extreme base of femora narrowly darker, cox
black, trochanters pitchy ; between the middle coxe in male there is a
thick tuft of grey hairs. L. 5 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply emar-
ginate, sixth slightly emarginate with a broad, depressed, punctured
space behind, which is bounded on each side by a rather prominent
keel, the two keels being prolonged at apex into a blunt tooth and
ciliate,

Marshy and damp places, at roots of grass, in'moss, haystack refuse, &c. ; common
and generally distributed throughout the kingdom,

S. providus, v. Rogeri, Kr. Very closely allied to the preceding,
but it is more shining, and more coarsely punctured, with the punctures
much more rugose and confluent ; the wings are rudimentary ; the head

Stenus. | STAPHYLINIDE. 335

is more deeply hollowed, the antenne are pitchy black, and the palpi
are, as a rule, darker at apex ; the thorax is broadest before middle and
not in the middle ; the elytra are shorter, straighter at the sides, and
more shining, and the hind body also is more shining ; the apex of femora
is much more broadly darker, and the cox and trochanters are lighter ;
the tuft of hair between the middle coxe of male is not nearly so dis.
tinct; the male characters of the seventh and sixth ventral sezments of
hind body do not present any striking difference, but the whole of the
remaining segments show a more or less distinct longitudinal impression
with a small polished space on its hinder margin, and on each side are
furnished with a thin ridge of yellow hairs, forming two lines or curls
turned inwards. L. 5 mm.

Marshy places, at roots of grass, in moss, &c.; not so common perhaps as the
preceding, but generally distributed throughout the kingdom.

Apparently we do not possess the type form as British ; it appears to
be duller than the variety, and to have longer elytra; the variety, how-
ever, does not appear to be a distinct species, as some authors would
consider it.

S. lustrator, Er. This species is elosely allied to S. speculator, but
is rather smaller, and may be distinguished by the colour of the palpi
which are pitchy with the first joint and base of the second testaceous ;
the legs are more slender, and more suffused with pitchy in most speci-
mens; the punctuation is not quite so close and the punctures therefore
are rather more distinctly separated, and the elytra are evidently a little
longer and slightly broader in proportion; in the male the seventh
ventral segment of hind body has a slight angular emargination ; the
sixth segment is broadly and deeply emarginate, and is smooth in the
centre, and furnished on each side of the smooth space with a rather
sharp keel ; there is also a slight central tubercle ; the other segments
are slightly depressed in middle and furnished with rows of long ‘pubes-
cence taking the form of curls as in S. providus, v. Rogeri ; from the
latter species S. lustrator is easily separated by its darker palpi and
different punctuation. L. 45-4¢ mm.

Marshy places; in moss, especially sphagnum, at roots of grass, heather, &e.; rare ;
Esher, Wimbledon, Shirley, Woking, Richmond Park, Croydon, Caterham ; formerly
taken in Hammersmith Marshes; Parkhurst Forest, Isle of Wight; New Forest;
North Devon; Wicken Fen; Scotland, very rare, Solway district : Mr. Rye remarks
(Ent. Mo. Mag. i. 62) that he has a male from Wicken Fen in which the ciliation of
the under side is entirely absent.

The following species of this section are distinguished by the shor
posterior tarsi, which are scareely longer than half the tibie ; they are, a
a rule, considerably smaller than the preceding species.

S. bupthalmus, Grav. (sulcatulus, Rey, jfovedventris, Fairm. 2),
Black, rather dull, hind body more shining ; antenne rather short, black,

336 STAPHYLINIDA. [Stenus.

maxillary palpi black with first joint testaceous ; head wider than thorax
with two shallow grooves ; thorax oblong, narrower than elytra with
sides rounded slightly before middle and somewhat contracted behind,
strongly, thickly, and somewhat rugosely punctured, with an obsolete
central channel and a feeble depression on each side behind middle ;
elytra short, very little, if at all, longer than thorax, strongly, deeply,
and rugosely punctured, somewhat uneven; hind body rather finely and
thickly punctured, front segments with four small longitudinal keels at
base of each; legs black, tarsi short, with penultimate joint a little
thickened and cordiform. LL. 31-4 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly, slightly,
and somewhat angularly emarginate at apex.

Damp places; at roots of grass, in moss, &e.; generally distributed and common
throughout the kingdom.

This species varies considerably in size and to some extent in general
appearance, but may be distinguished by its rather robust build and
stout legs, and also by its dull appearance, and the obscure depressions
at sides and near base of thorax, which are, as Mr. Rye observes
(Lc. p. 38), best seen by using a glass of low power ; it is one of the
commonest of the Steni, and therefore its variations cause more mistakes
than would be the case if it were less common.

S. melanopus, Marsh (nitidus, Lac., capitatus, Epp.). Deep
black, very shining; head with two deep furrows between eyes meeting
in front, the space between rather strongly and sharply raised ; antennee
rather short, black, maxillary palpi black with first joint testaceous ;
thorax scarcely longer than broad with sides strongly dilated and rounded
in front and narrowed behind, strongly but not closely punctured, witha
distinct central furrow, which is, however, usually very short and does
not extend much beyond middle towards apex, and is evanescent before
base ; elytra a little longer than thorax, impressed at suture, and between
suture and shoulders, strongly and not closely or rugosely punctured ;
legs black. L. 3 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly emar-
ginate at apex.

Damp places, especially wet muddy banks; also in haystack refuse, &e.; I once
found it plentifully on a damp place on the shore at Bridlington, Yorkshire, in company
with Bledius arenarius and Dyschirius thoracicus; it is common and generally dis-
tributed in the London district and the south of England, and also in the Midlands
and the mid-northern counties; it becomes, however, rarer further north; ‘‘ North-
unberland district, rather uncommon” (Bold); Scotland, rare, Forth district only
(Sharp); Rye records it as “ common at Falkirk.”

S. incrassatus, Er. This species-is about the size of S. bupthalmus,
but is broader, with the elytra evidently wider, and the head distinctly
narrower, the latter being only about as broad as the middle of thorax ;
the hind body also is thicker ; antenne short, black, palpi black with

9

Stenus. ] STAPHYLINIDE 837

first joint reddish testaceous; thorax and elytra strongly, thickly, and
somewhat rugosely punctured, the former with sides slightly rounded,
the latter rather uneven, with a strong depression near scutellum; hind
body finely and not thickly punctured with front segments keeled as in
S. bupthalmus ; legs black, tarsi short with the penultimate joint slightly
cordiform. L. 34-3} mm.

Male with the seventh segment of hind body with a rather deep semi-
circular emargination at apex, sixth segment depressed in middle and
slightly sinuate.

Marshy places ; at roots of grass, &c.; not common; Reigate, Barnes, Wandsworth,
Wimbledon, Sheerness, Southend ; formerly common in Hammersmith Marshes and
at Notting Hill; Tonbridge ; Maidstone; Wicken Fen; Bungay, Suffolk ; Brighton ;
Boston; Knowle, near Birmingham; Repton; not recorded from the north of
England or Scotland.

S melanarius, Steph. (cinerascens, Ev., gracilentus, Fairm., nigri-
palpis, Thoms.). Black, rather dull, somewhat parallel-sided, with the
hind body rather convex and very slightly narrowed behind; head evi-
dently broader than thorax with two broad feeble furrows, the interval
between them being broad and not raised in a keel; antenne rather
short, black, palpi black with first joint pitchy testaceous ; thorax and
elytra strongly and thickly punctured, the punctuation of the latter
being somewhat less close; thorax longer than broad with no trace of
dorsal channel; elytra rather longer than thorax; hind body shining,
finely and rather diffusely punctured ; legs black. L. 3 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body feebly emarginate
at apex, and the hind body a little more narrowed behind than in
female.

This species closely resembles S. morio, but differs in several im-
portant particulars ; from S. canaliculatus it may be at once separated
by the absence of a dorsal channel on thorax; and from bupthalmus it
may be distinguished by its narrower thorax, less strongly and rugosely
punctured elytra, and by the finer and more remote punctuation of the
hind body ; it is, moreover, more slender and parallel-sided.

Marshy places; at roots of grass; rare; Wimbledon, Weybridge, Walton-on-
Thames, Woking, Barnes, Chobham, Merton; Dagenham; Bishopstoke ; Horning
Fen; Soham, Cambridge; Snowdon; Coleshill, near Birmingham; Repton ;
Scotland, rare, Tay and Solway districts.

S.incanus, Er. This species is allied to the preceding, and also to
S. morio and S. atratulus; it is, however, narrower than any of them and
the colour is more leaden-grey, the insect being more distinctly clothed
with whitish pubescence ; the forehead has two broad deep furrows, the
space between them being strongly convex and as high as the outer sides
of the furrows ; the thorax and elytra are thiekly and rather finely punc-
tured ; the elytra are plainly longer than the thorax, and are furnished
with one or two obscure depressions at base; the hind body is sparingly

VOL, IL. Z

338 STAPHYLINIDS, [ Stenus.

and finely punctured, and has no trace of a keel at the base of the front
segments; legs black. L. 2% mm.

Male with the head broader than in the female, and with the seventh
ventral segment of hind body broadly emarginate in a short angle at
apex.

Damp places; rare, although occurring in some numbers where found ; Scotland,
Solway district, banks of Nith, Thornhill, Dumfries; also taken in the Tay district ;
it appears to be rare in France, and only to occur in warm damp valleys on the edge of
running streams.

(S. Shepherdi, Crotch. A specimen of a Stenus found by Mr.
Edwin Shepherd at Hammersmith Marshes, and returned as distinet by
Dr. Kraatz, was named as above by Mr. Crotch (Proce. Ent. Soe., Nov.
19, 1866); it appears to be closely allied to S. melanarius, but is said
to be larger and more shining, with the palpi black, except the basal
joint, which is yellow; from S. bupthalmus it differs by its sparingly
punctured hind body ; the middle keels of the segments of the hind body
appear to be strongly elevated (Ent. Ann., 1867, 49). Gemminger and
Von Harold in their catalogue refer this insect to the female of S. ru-
rvalis, Er. (v. Muls. et Rey, Brévipennes, Stenides, 1884, p. 100), but it
appears to differ in having the basal joint of the palpi yellow, although
it agrees with it in its sparingly punctured hind body.*)

S. morio, Gray. (trivialis, Kr., ewqualis, Rey), Of a somewhat
leaden black colour, but moderately shining, clothed with a fine and
short whitish pubescence ; head evidently narrower than thorax, gently
excavated and obsoletely furrowed between the eyes with the interval
between the furrows scarcely raised; antennee black, palpi black with
first joint testaceous; thorax nearly cylindrical with no channel or
depressions, longer than broad, thickly and deeply punctured ; elytra
evidently longer than thorax, dise without depressions, thickly and
deeply punctured ; hind body narrowed at apex (more so in male than
female), shining, rather finely and closely punctured ; legs black; dis-
tinguished from S. melanarius by its broader head, concave forehead,
wider elytra, and more closely punctured hind body, and from S. eana-
liculatus by the absence of a dorsal channel on thorax. L. 3 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly and
angularly emarginate at apex, sixth broadly sinuate with a feeble punc-
tured depression before sinuation.

In moss, &c., in damp places; rare; Highgate, two specimens in a watercourse
(E. W. Janson); Rusper, near Horsham (Gorham) ; Tonbridge (Horner) ; Tewkes-
bury (Blatch) ; according to Mulsant and Rey it is rather a common species through-
out France.

* Since I wrote the above, Mr. Mason has informed me that he has had the specimen
alluded to figured, and that it is S. rwralis; the character, however, of the colour of
the first joint of the palpi is a very important one, and it seems strange that Dr.
Kraatz did not recognize the insect,

Stenus. ] STAPHYLINIDS. 339

S. atratulus, Er. A small, black, rather shining species; head
broader than thorax, more so in male than in female, with two broad
rather feeble furrows on forehead separated by a narrow raised keel ;
antenne short, black, palpi black with basal joint testaceous or rufo-
piceous; thorax somewhat dilated in middle where it is about as broad
as long, with an obsolete dorsal channel, strongly and closely punctured ;
elytra wider and considerably longer than thorax, strongly and closely
punctured, with an elevation between suture and shoulders ; hind body
evidently narrowed behind in male, thick and scarcely narrowed in
female, rather coarsely punctured, with the four keels at the base of each
of the front segments conspicuous ; legs black.* L. 23-22 mm.

+ Male with the sixth and seventh ventral segments of hind body very
feebly sinuate on apical margin.

Damp places, in moss, at roots of grass, &c.; rare; Battersea Park (Rye); Doni-
ford, Somerset (Power); Lewes; Weymouth; Bristol ; Coleshill and Knowle, near
Birmingham (Blatch) ; Bewdley ; Repton (Garneys); Shrewsbury ; Southport (sand-
hills) ; Northumberland district, more plentiful on the coast than inland; not
recorded from Scotland.

S canaliculatus, Gyll. (congener, Maekl.). Rather dull black,
front parts somewhat leaden, clothed with a fine, short and close, ashy
pubescence ; head broader than thorax, rather strongly and thickly
punctured, almost even with traces only of the usual furrows ; antenne
short, black, palpi black, with the first joint, and extreme base of
second, testaceous; thorax longer than broad with sides slightly
rounded, very thickly and rather strongly punctured, with a fine but
very distinct central channel extending throughout its length; elytra
a little longer than thorax, rather strongly and closely punctured,
without depressions on dise; hind body rather finely and thickly punc-
tured; legs black. L. 34 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body emarginate at
apex, the sixth segment also showing traces of emargination.

Marshy places, banks of ponds, streams, and rivers; also at roots of grass, in moss,
&c.; rather local, but not uncommon; London district, generally distributed ; Glan-
villes Wootton ; Brighton; Devonshire; Bungay, Suffolk; Fen districts; Repton ;
Boston ; Lincoln (banks of Witham) ; Manchester ; Liverpool ; Northumberland and

Cumberland, rather rare; Scotland, scarce, Solway, Forth, and Clyde districts ;
Ireland, near Belfast.

S. nitens, Steph. (wmulus, Er.). Very like the preceding in
general shape, and also resembling it in having a distinct dorsal central
channel extending the whole length of the thorax; it is, however, at
once distinguished by its rather narrower form and much more shining
appearance, the colour being shining black and not dull; the head is
considerably broader in proportion to the thorax, and the punctuation
of the front parts is much coarser; the hind body is less deeply punc-
tured, and very shining; the size is somewhat variable. L. 31—4 mm.

* T have seen specimens in which the legs are pitchy or brownish.
z 2

340 STAPHYLINIDA. [ Stenus.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly but
widely emarginate, the sixth segment slightly sinuate and depressed.

Marshy places, especially in fen districts; very local; Norfolk and Cambridge
Fens (Horning, Wicken, &c.) ; also recorded from Southend, Devonshire, and Liver-
pool, and as common near Dublin; it is possible, however, that some of these records
may be erroneous ; it has not occurred in Scotland.

S. pusillus, Er. A very small species, rather broad proportionally,
somewhat depressed, black, front parts rather dull, hind body more
shining ; head rather broad, with two grooves meeting in a point in
front, the space between elevated and rather shining ; antenne short
and stout, black, palpi black with first joint testaceous ; thorax about as
long as broad, or even slightly transverse, with the sides strongly rounded,
rather strongly and thickly punctured, with two evident lateral de-
pressions behind the middle, united by an obsolete transverse depression
near the base; elytra distinctly longer than thorax, rather depressed,
strongly punctured, dise uneven; hind body short, rather suddenly
narrowed at apex, shining, finely punctured, with one short longitudinal
keel at base of the two or three front segments; legs black or nearly
black, L. 2-22 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly and
somewhat angularly emarginate at apex.

Marshy places, at roots of grass, &c.; widely distributed and rather common
throughout England; rarer further north; Scotland, not common, Solway, Tweed,
Forth, Tay, and Dee districts ; Ireland, near Waterford.

S. exiguus, Er. Very closely allied to the preceding, from which
it may be distinguished by its somewhat narrower form, more glossy,
less closely punctured, and less depressed thorax, which has the sides less
rounded and the depressions near base less evident; the elytra are dis-
tinctly shorter, being scarcely longer than the thorax, and are rather
strongly and not quite so closely punctured, and their disc is less uneven ;
Rey suggests that it may be a brachypterous form of the preceding ;
it is possible that this may be the case if we consider the great difference
in the length of the elytra in certain species uf Lathrobium, but if it
were so we should expect to find brachypterous forms of more species of
Stenus. L. 2-2} mm.

Damp places; in moss, &c.; Holm Bush, near Brighton; Tonbridge; “Hastings;
Knowle ; Bewdley; Repton; Lincolnshire ; Scotland, rare, Tay and Solway districts ;
Ireland, Cork.

S. fuscipes, Grav. (femorellus, Zett.). Black, rather shining ; head
as broad as elytra with furrows obsolete, and the interval between them
only slightly raised ; antennz moderately long, pitchy, with dark club,
palpi dark with first joimt testaceous ; thorax longer than broad, with
surface even, strongly and rather thickly punctured ; elytra about as long
as thorax, somewhat convex, rather coarsely and not very elosely punc-
tured, without depressions; hind body very finely margined, finely and

Stenus. | STAPHYLINID &. 341

rather sparingly punctured in centre, more thickly towards sides, with
the first segments each furnished at base with four small longitudinal
keels ; the hind body is much narrower and more pointed in the male
than in the female ; legs varying from dark to light-reddish brown, with
knees darker. L. 22 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly emargi-
nate and the sixth very slightly sinuate on apical margin.

In damp moss, flood refuse, &e.; not uncommon, but local; London district,
generally ; Cambridge and Norfolk Fens; Devonshire ; Scotland, rare, Solway and
Tay districts; Ireland, Armagh: it appears to be found in dry as well as marshy
localities.

S. circularis, Grav. Rather depressed, black, dull; head with
broad feeble furrows, antenne short, dark with base lighter, palpi
entirely pale testaceous ; thorax broader than long, with sides strongly
rounded, strongly, very thickly, and rugosely punctured, with the
surface even; elytra longer than thorax, and not so closely punctured,
rather broad, with an elevation at base between suture and shoulder ;
hind body rather short, strongly margined, and strongly narrowed behind,
so that it appears conical, front segments each furnished with a plain
longitudinal keel at base, punctuation rather fine ; legs lighter or darker
reddish testaceous, with the knees occasionally a little darker, L.
2-23 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly sinuate
at apex.

In damp moss, &c.; on banks of ponds and rivers, and occasionally by
sweeping in damp meadows; very local; Eltham, Horsell, Cowley, Mickleham,
Esher, Cobham, Woking, Norwood, Wimbledon, Tonbridge: recorded also by
Mr. Garneys from Bungay (Suffolk), and from Repton, and by Mr. Haliday from
near Belfast.

S. vafellus, Er. (submarginatus, Steph.). Leaden black, rather
shining, with distinct short grey pubescence; head large, quite as broad
as elytra, with broad shallow frontal furrows, the space between being
not strongly elevated; antenne moderate, pitchy brown, maxillary
palpi dark pitchy red with the first joint pale; thorax slightly longer
than broad, with sides somewhat strongly rounded in front, rather
strongly and thickly punctured, sometimes with a trace of a short dorsal
channel behind middle; elytra evidently longer than thorax, with the
shoulder angles decided, rather strongly and thickly punctured ; hind
body rather short, narrowed behind, finely and not thickly punctured,
front segments with four small keels at base ; legs lighter or darker
reddish-brown, knees darker, tarsi with fourth joint subeordiform. L,
25-22 mm.

Male with the seventh segment of hind body broadly and slightly
emarginate at apex, sixth segment slightly sinuate and depressed.

This species closely resembles S. argus, but has the elytra flatter with

342 STAPHYLINID.E. [ Stenus.

the shoulder angles more decided, and the hind body also flatter with
more distinct margins ; the elytra also are rather more thickly punctured,
and the legs, as a rule, are lighter; from S. fuscipes the species may
easily be distinguished by its considerably longer elytra, which are more
thickly and less strongly punctured, and by the very much stronger
margins of hind body.

Marshy places; in moss, &c.; local; rare in the London district, Weybridge 5

Fen districts, not uncommon (Horning Fen, Wicken Fen, Lincolnshire Fens, &c.) :
it is also recorded from Manchester ; Ireland, Killarney.

S. declaratus, Er. (nanus, Fauv.). A short and rather broad
species, black, depressed, very slightly shining; in shape it strongly
resembles S. circularis, the thorax being transverse or subtransverse,
with the sides strongly rounded and dilated ; it differs from that species,
however, in having the palpi black with the basal joint testaceous, and
the legs dark pitehy or pitchy red, sometimes a little lighter; the head,
moreover, is more deeply furrowed than in S. ezreularis, and the interval
is more strongly elevated ; the elytra are flatter, rather more even, and
longer, being distinctly longer than thorax ; the punctuation is thick and
rather deep, but considerably less coarse ; the front segments of the hind
body are not keeled at base, but simply crenulate. L. 22mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body rather narrowly
and feebly emarginate at apex.

In moss, haystack refuse, &c.; common and generally distributed throughout
England and Scotland: I can find no Ivish record, bat it has probably been over-
looked in that country.

The legs in this species are sometimes so dark that it is hardly satis-
factorily placed in this division ; the colour, however, is variable, and is
always more or less pitchy.

(Srction III.)

The species belonging to this section are characterized by having the
penultimate joint of the tarsi simple or somewhat cordiform, and the hind
body without margins ; as here constituted it only contains two species,
as S. nigritulus, Gyll., and 8. brunnipes, Steph., are placed in the follow-
ing section; Thomson and other authors consider the v. littoralis of
S. crassus, Steph., as a separate species, but it appears to be only a
variety ; the position of S. nigritulus, Gyll., seems to be somewhat
doubtful, as the penultimate joint of the tarsi is only shghtly bilobed ; on
the whole, however, it is best to class it with §. brunnipes, &., in a
separate section.

J. Head scarcely broader than thorax ; form stout, upper sur-

face rather shiny ; punctuation coarser and not rugose . . S. CRASSUS, Steph.
II. Head plainly broader than thorax ; form rather narrow ;

upper surface dull; punctuation closer and rugose . . . S. OPTICUS, Grav.

Stenus. ] STAPHYLINIDE. 343

S. crassus, Steph. (crassiventris, Thoms., nigritulus, Er. nee Gyll.).
Black, rather shining, clothed with slight, short, whitish pubescence ;
head scarcely broader than thorax, frontal furrows broad and obsolete
with a fine raised middle line ; antenne rather short, black, palpi black,
with first joint pitchy-testaceous; thorax rather longer than broad,
with sides rounded before middle and narrowed behind, strongly, evenly,
and not very closely punctured, without dorsal channel; elytra a little
longer, and considerably broader than thorax, and not so closely punc-
tured; hind body rather short, stout, and cylindrical, evidently more
narrowed behind in the male than in the female, rather finely and
sparingly punctured, with the front segments furnished at base with
four small keels ; legs black or blackish, tarsi rather short, with the
penultimate joint subeordiform. L. 3-32 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body feebly emarginate
at apex.

In manure heaps, haystack refuse, &e.; usually in dry places; local; London
district, rather common; Esher, Lee, Amberley, Eltham, Sheerness, Northfleet,
Tonbridge; Bungay; Brighton; Weston; Boston; Knowle; Scarborough; Liver-
pool; Northumberland district, rare, Long Benton, Gosforth, Budle Crag, Wallington ;
Scotland, local, Solway, Forth, and Tay districts.

V. littoralis, Thoms. (S. littoralis, Thoms., borealis, Maekl.). Very
like the type form, but smaller, with the legs pitchy, and the punctuation
eloser on the elytra, and thicker and stronger on the hind body ; the
head also is rather broader and the frontal keel more obtuse, and the
keels at the base of the front segments of hind body are more obsolete.
L. 22 mm.

Damp and marshy places; Claygate near Esher, Merton Marsh, Notting Hill and
Hammersmith Marshes, Dulwich, Tonbridge; also at Weston-super-Mare: it is
probably often confused with small specimens of the type form.

S. opticus, Grav. Dull black; head evidently broader than thorax
with large prominent eyes; antennx and palpi pitchy, the latter with
the basal joint testaceous; thorax evenly rounded from middle, but a
little more contracted behind than in front, very closely and somewhat
rugosely punctured ; elytra hardly longer than thorax, and with the punc-
tuation hardly as close but rather stronger, suture shining; hind body
narrow, attenuate at apex, rather finely and sparingly punctured, not
margined, segments 2-3 with four very small and fine keels at base,
4-6 simply crenulate ; legs dark pitchy-red, often almost black, tarsi
short with fourth joint simple. L, 24-22 mm.

Male with sixth and seventh ventral segments of hind body slightly
emarginate at apex.

Marshy places, usually in fen districts; rare; Chobham, Surrey ; Horning and
Ranworth Fens, Norfolk; Derwentwater: Mr. Matthews and Mr. Croteh once
took it abundantly at Horning Fen by sweeping in the dark, late at night, and
examining the contents of their nets next day: the species was not to be found in the
daytime.

34d STAPHYLINIDS. [Stenus.

This species could not be confounded with any other except S. crassus,
from which it may at once be separated by its broader head and more
prominent eyes, closer punctuation, and much duller appearance.

(Srction IV.)

The species belonging to this section are four in number, and are
usually classed under one or other of the preceding sections ; the fourth
joint of the tarsi, however, is evidently, although not strongly bilobed,
and it seems more satisfactory to remove them from the species with
simple tarsi, although they can hardly be placed with the succeeding
species,

I. Hind body distinctly margined.

i, Legs quite black; punctuation close, somewhat

rugose . S. cARBONARIUS, GyZl.

ii, Legs dark pitchy ; punctuation strong and rather
close; butnot)rugose i, 2 cians ser yess ol ee IO NARGUS iGa.aus
IL. Hind body not margined.
i. Legs black ; elytra plainly longer than thorax . . S. NIGRITULUS, Gyll.
ii. Legs pitchy-brown; elytra as long as or rather
shorter than thorax . . ... . . + « . . S. BRUNNIPES, Steph.

S. carbonarius, Gyll. (opacus, Er., debilis, Rye, niger, Mann.).
Rather depressed, dull black, with very tine and short ashy pubescence ;
head distinctly broader than thorax with two broad shallow furrows, the
space between them rather wide and feebly convex; antenne short,
pitchy, palpi brown or dark pitchy red with the base paler; thorax
scarcely longer than its greatest breadth, considerably rounded at sides
and contracted behind, closely but not very deeply punctured ; elytra
scarcely longer than thorax, and rather more strongly punctured ; hind
body moderately narrowed behind, closely punctured, with the front
segments obsoletely keeled at base, the most evident keel being in the
centre of each ; legs black, tarsi often brownish, the latter short and
rather thick, with the penultimate joint plainly bilobed for about half
its length. L. 22-32 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body rather broadly
emarginate at apex, fifth and sixth somewhat impressed and more thickly
punctured in middle of apex.

Marshy places; in flood refuse, moss, &c.; rare; Walton-on-Thames, Weybridge,
Dagenham, Chobham, Sunbury, Amberley, Sheppey, Tonbridge; Henley-on-Thames ;
Wicken Fen; Horning and Ranworth Fens; Burton-on-Trent; Repton; Tewkes-
bury; Manchester; Northumberland, somewhat doubtful; Scotland, very rare,
Solway district ; Ireland, Killarney.

This species, as Mr. Rye remarks, somewhat resembles S. bupthalmus,
but may be distinguished from that species by its flat, dull appearance,
and very closely punctured hind body ; the structure of the tarsi is, how-
ever, one of its best characters,

S. argus, Gray. This species is usually classed with the section

Stenus. | STAPHYLINIDE. 345

containing S. vafellus, &c., to which it is rather closely allied; it
is, however, separated by the fourth jomt of the tarsi, which is
bilobed for half its length; the insect is of a somewhat leaden
black colour, rather shining; head broader than thorax with furrows
obsolete, and the middle elevation scarcely perceptible ; antenne short,
pitchy brown, palpi blackish with first joint testaceous ; thorax and
elytra rather strongly, thickly, and evenly punctured, the former rather
long, with sides feebly rounded and upper surface even, the latter
scarcely longer than thorax ; hind body subcylindrical, more narrowed
behind in male than in female, margins rather feeble and becoming less
towards apex, front segments with obsolete keels at base; legs black,
tarsi often brownish. L. 3-54 mm.

Damp and marshy places, in flood refuse, moss, &e.; occasionally in haystack
refuse; local and not common; Walton-on-Thames, Belvedere, Cowley, Tonbridge ;

Henley-on-Thames ; Wicken and Horning Fens; Repton; Manchester; Northum-
berland, very rare ; not recorded from Scotland or Ireland.

S. nigritulus, Gyll. (ec Er.), (wnicolor, W. C. and old collections,
nec Er.) Rather larger than the allied species; dull black; head dis-
tinctly broader than thorax, about as broad as elytra ; frontal furrows
broad with interval slightly raised ; antenne pitchy, palpi with the
basal joint testaceous, and the second and third pitchy testaceous ; thorax
rounded at sides and gently but decidedly narrowed behind; elytra a
little longer than thorax ; the whole insect is very strongly and thickly
punctured, the thorax especially thickly, rugose ; hind body rather long,
cylindrical, with only faint indications of keels at base of front segments;
legs black, sometimes a little pitchy, tarsi short, with fourth joint
evidently bilobed for a portion of its length. L. 4mm,

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly emargi-
nate at apex.

Marshy places, at roots of grass, in haystack refuse, &c.; not uncommon; Lee,
Westerham, Wimbledon, Reigate, Greenwich, Amberley, Northfleet, Tonbridge ;
Bungay; Wicken and Horning Fens; Glanvilles Wootton; Lewes; Brighton;
Knowle, near Birmingham ; Repton ; Scarborough ; Northumberland and Cumber-

land, not common, in burrows of Bledius arenarius ; Scotland, doubtful, the only
record being “ South of Scotland, Rev. W. Little,” Murray’ s Cat.

S. brunnipes, Steph. (wnicolor, Er., laticollis, Thoms.). Very like
the preceding species in sculpture and general shape, but smaller and
more shining with the elytra evidently shorter, hardly as long as thorax ;
the frontal furrows are a little more marked and the interval between
them more raised; the legs are pitchy-red with the cox and knees
darker, and the antenne are pitchy with the two basal joints darker ;
the punctuation of the hind body is a little less strong than in S.
nigritulus, and the penultimate joint of the tarsi is more strongly
bilobed ; the very strong punctuation, short elytra, pitchy legs, and sub-
bilobed “penultimate joint of the tarsi will distinguish it from all our
other species. L. 3-34 mm.

346 STAPHYLINIDA. [ Stenas.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly and
feebly emarginate at apex.

In moss, haystack refuse, by sweeping, &ec. ; most abundant and common throughout
the kingdom ; one of the commonest of British beetles.

This species somewhat resembles 8. latifrons, but that species is much
less coarsely punctured, and has the elytra longer, and the lobes of the
penultimate joint of the tarsi much more strongly developed.

(Srctron V.)

This section contains a considerable number of species, which are
characterized by having the penultimate joint of the tarsi bilobed, and
the hind body margined ; the colour of the elytra is always unicolorous
black, but the colour of the legs is very variable, in some species being
quite black, and in others entirely, or almost entirely, testaceous ; in
size and form also there is considerable variation, and the section must
be considered as somewhat an artificial one.

I. Posterior tarsi long and slender, evidently longer
than half the tibie.
i. Hind body plainly bordered throughout, not or
hardly cylindrical.
1. Elytra distinctly longer than thorax.
A. Legs more or less testaceous; thorax with
central furrow marked.
a. Upper surface shiny.
a*, Punctuation rather strong and coarse ;
apex of femora broadly darker (for about
half their lenge) tibia more or less

dark. . S. SUBENEUS, Er.
b*. Punctuation ‘finer; . knees only ‘narrowly
darker . . S. zZRosus, Er.

b. Upper surface dull, ‘very thickly punctured ;
apex of femora moderately broadly darker
(for about one-third of their length) ; tibiz

more or less dark. . S. ossrum, Steph.
B. Legs reddish brown ; ‘thorax with central fur-
row obsolete . . - o es ee! ©) OS eRUSCICORNIS, yur.

2. Elytra about as long as thorax.
A. Thorax and ely tra very strongly punctured ;
antenne long and slender; size larger . . S. G@LACIALIS, Heer.
B. Thorax and elytra moderately strongly pune-
tured; antennz shorter ; size smaller.
a. Upper surface rather dull black without
leaden reflection.
a*, Legs testaceous with knees only darker ;
size larger. . 8. GENICULATUS, Grav.
b*. Legs dark reddish brown, with ‘the
basal half of femora testaceous; size

smaller . . S. PALUSTRIS, Ex.
b. Upper surface shining black with leaden
reflection.

a*, Elytra as long as thorax, scarcely
widened behind . . . . . . «. « « SS. IMPRESSUS, Germ.

Stenus.] STAPHYLINIDE. O47

b*, Elytra at suture rather shorter than
thorax, strongly widened behind . . . S. Ericnsont, Rye.
ii. Hind body scarcely bordered behind, cylindrical . S$. PALLIPES, Grav.
II. Posterior tarsi not elongate, about half as long as
tibia,
i, Third joint of tarsi bilobed for half its length ; body
clothed with whitish pubescence.
1. Tarsi black or blackish.
A. Hind body subparallel, or only slightly nar-
rowed.
a. Elytra rather depressed with surface uneven ;
pubescence longer; size larger . . A
b. Elytra more convex with surface nearly
even ; pubescence shorter; size smaller
B. Hind body ee narrowed from base to
APEX: ei’ G) See TG as

mM

S. PUBESCENS, Steph.

mn

. BINOTATUS, Ljwngh.

™

CANESCENS, Rosh.

(major, Rey).

ne Tarsi testaceous . . . §S. PALLITARSIS, Steph.

. Third joint of tarsi entire, “triangular o or cordiform.

“1 Form linear, very narrow ; legs entirely yellow-
testaceous dc) cc et.

mn

. FLAVIPES, Steph.
(filum, Er.).
2. Form more or less broad ; legs, in part at least,
dark,
A. Front segments of hind body witha small keel
in middle of base; upper surface very shining. S. BIFOVEOLATUS, (y/ll.
B. Front segments of hind body without keel
at base.
a. Hind body sparingly punctured, especially
on disc; surface of elytra somewhat un-
even; upper side shiny.
a*, Hind body finely punctured, with basal
impressions of front segments Pass
form longer, more parallel” : S. NITIDIUSCULUS, Steph.
b*. Hind body coarsely punctured ; ” basal
impressions of front segments deep; form
shorter, broader, and more fusiform
b. Hind body thickly and uniformly punc-
tured; surface of elytra even or nearly
even; upper side dull.
a*, Elytra considerably longer and much
broader than thorax
b*. Elytra scarcely longer and very little
broader than thorax .

mn

. PICIPENNIS, Er.

wR

S. PICIPES, Steph.

nm

. FOVEICOLLIS, Av.

S. subeneus, Er. (gonymelas, Steph. ). ‘Black, or black with a slight
bronze tint, shining ; head much broader than thorax, with broad frontal
furrows, and the interval between wide and somewhat elevated 3 antennee
reddish or pitchy testaceous with the two first joints black and the club
pitchy, palpi with the apical joint pitchy, the second pitchy testaceous,
and the basal joint testaceous ; thorax rather longer than broad, with a
more or less distinct central furrow and two slight depressions behind
middle, rather coarsely and strongly, and somewhat irregularly punctured ;
elytra plainly longer than thorax and a little more coarsely punctured ;
hind body rather strongly narrowed towards apex, with the punctuation

348 STAPHYLINIDZ. [Stenus.

much stronger in front than behind; legs testaceous with the coxe
biack, and the apex of femora broadly dark ; the tibie are also more or
less pitchy. L. 4 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body very slightly
sinuate in middle of apical margin.

Damp places, in moss, flood and haystack refuse, &e. ; often in sandpits ; local, but
not uncommon; Wimbledon, Chatham, Upnor (Kent), Sheerness, Shirley, Reigate,
Caterham, Chobham, and several other places in the London district ; Tonbridge ;
Hastings; Granvilles Wootton; Weston-super-Mare; Repton; Lincoln; Preston ;
Liverpool ; Northumberland district, somewhat rare and local ; Scotland, Falkirk.

S. ossium, Steph. (¢mpressipennis, Duv., carinifrons, Fairm., elevatus,
Mots.). Very closely allied to the preceding, but smaller as a rule, and
duller; the basal joint of the antenn and the two apical joints of the
antennge are pitchy, and the legs are not quite so much infuscate; the
species may, however, be at once distinguished by its much closer and
finer punctuation, which is especially thick and fine on the hind body.
L. 33 mm.

In moss, haystack refuse, vegetable rubbish, &e. ; common and generally distributed
throughout England; Scotland, common; Ireland, near Waterford, &c.

S. fuscicornis, Er. Black, somewhat shining, rather depressed ;
head much broader than thorax, with broad frontal furrows, the interval
being somewhat narrow and slightly raised; antenne and palpi pitchy
brown, the latter with the basal joint testaceous; thorax longer than
broad, rather strongly and thickly punctured, with the dorsal central
furrow absent or obsolete; elytra a little longer than thorax rather
strongly and thickly punctured ; hind body narrowed to apex, more
strongly punctured in front than behind; legs pitchy-red with the
apex of the femora and the tibize more or less pitchy-black, tarsi long and
slender and very deeply bilobed ; the lobes, however, are thin and fine,
and, if the specimen is much gummed, are hardly noticeable. L. 22-34 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body rather narrowly
and somewhat angularly emarginate at apex, sixth segment very slightly
sinuate.

This species bears an exceedingly close resemblance in size, punctua-
tion, and general appearance, to S. fuscipes, but, apart from the bilobed
penultimate joint of the tarsi, it may be known by the elongate joints
of the same, especially, as Rye remarks, by the basal joint of the hinder
pair.

In moss, dead leaves, &c., usually in woods; not common; Cobham, Charlton,
Greenhithe, Shirley, Coombe Wood, Caterham, Dulwich, Mickleham, Darenth, Wim-
bledon, Purley Downs, Hammersmith, Tonbridge; apparently not found except in
the London district and its neighbourhood ; in France it appears to be a very common
species : it is possible it may have been overlooked, as it closely resembles one or two
other species.

S. glacialis, Heer. Black, very shining, with long, thin pubes-
cence ; one of our largest and finest species; head much broader than

Stenus. | STAPHYLINIDS. 349

thorax, at least as broad as elytra, with broad and deep frontal furrows,
and the interval raised in an obtuse keel ; antenne elongate, very slender,
pilose, testaceous with the club darker, palpi entirely testaceous ; head,
thorax, and elytra very strongly and coarsely punctured ; thorax rounded
in front and narrowed behind, with a more or less distinct central furrow
and two slight impressions on each side ; elytra only slightly longer than
thorax ; hind body rather long, somewhat strongly and thickly punctured
at base, more finely behind ; legs testaceous with the femora, at least the
intermediate and posterior ones, broadly dark at apex. L. 44-5 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment angularly emarginate at apex,
sixth broadly sinuate, depressed and more thickly punctured in middle.

Rye says of this species (Ent. Ann., 1867, 66) that ‘it is at first sight
strongly suggestive of S. lustrator, on account of its size, colour, and very
slender limbs ; but is not in the same section as that insect, having the
penultimate joint of its tarsi bilobed, though narrowly and minutely
only ;” it disagrees, however, entirely with S. lustrator in many other
points, being far more shiny, and more closely punctured, with the
palpi entirely testaceous, the legs more brightly coloured, &c. ; Mulsant
and Rey speak of S. glacéalis as having the penultimate joint of the tarsi
“ profondément bilobé,” but Rye appears to be more correct in saying
that the lobes are small, although he rather leads us to imagine that they
are smaller than they really are.

In moss in high mountainous districts; very rare in Britain ; Cheviots (Hislop),
August, 1865; Scotland, very rare, Dee district (Sharp) : it occurs rarely in
eee aud Switzerland in alpine and subalpine districts in July and August in moss
in forests,

S. geniculatus, Gray. Elongate, rather depressed, dull black ; head
nearly flat with a polished narrow central line separating the furrows which
are feeble and broad ; antennz testaceous, with the first joint pitchy, and
the club brownish, palpi testaceous with the apical joint more or less
pitchy ; thorax longer than broad, with traces of a smooth central line,
very closely and rather strongly punctured; elytra as long as thorax
strongly and thickly punctured; hind body long, narrowed behind,
strongly and closely punctured, more finely behind ; legs testaceous with
the knees pitchy (the posterior pair more broadly so). L. 34 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly emargi-
nate at apex.

This species very much resembles S. ossiwm, but it has the elytra
shorter in proportion and is more strongly punctured.

In moss, &e., in dry places, especially heathy localities; local; Wickham,
Woking, Reigate, Weybridge, Shirley (by sweeping heath at night), Esher,
Chobham, Coombe Wood, Hounslow; Snowdon; Scotland, Lowlands and High-
lands, scarce, Solway, Clyde, Dee, and Moray districts ; Ireland, Newcastle,
co. Down.

S. palustris, Er. Rather narrow, black, somewhat shining; head
at least as broad as elytra with broad, feeble furrows, separated by a

350 STAPHYLINIDE [Stenus.

raised interval which is smooth and shining behind ; antenne pitehy red
with the club, and sometimes first joint, dark, palpi testaceous, with the
apical joint pitchy; thorax oblong, rather strongly rounded at. sides,
rather strongly and thickly punctured, with a distinct central furrow ;
elytra about as long as thorax, and slightly more coarsely punctured ;
hind body very little narrowed behind, rather finely and thickly punc-
tured, more finely towards apex, lateral border fine ; legs dark reddish
brown, with the basal half of the femora testaceous. L. 3 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly emargi-
nate at apex. :

The general form and the somewhat cylindrical and narrowly bordered
hind body will at once separate this species from its near allies.

Marshy places, especially in fen districts ; in moss, &c. ; local, but common in places
where it occurs; Bearsted, Kent (Gorham) ; abundant in Wicken Fen, Cambridge ;
Horning Fen, Norfolk; it probably occurs in all the fen districts of the east of Eng-
land.

S. impressus, Germ. (aceris, Lac. nec Steph., carinifrons, Mots.
nec Fairm.). Shining black with a leaden reflection; head as broad as
elytra with broad and rather deep frontal furrows, the interval being
smooth and shining ; antennz testaceous with club slightly darker, palpi
testaceous ; thorax at widest about as broad as long, strongly but not
very closely punctured, with a more or less distinct central furrow and a
strong oblique depression on each side behind middle ; elytra as long as
thorax, scarcely widened behind, strongly and not coarsely punctured, with
the surface impressed and uneven ; hind body rather long, narrowed
behind, rather finely and thickly punctured, a little more strongly so at
base ; legs entirely testaceous, with the knees, at all events the posterior
ones, often a little dusky. L. 31-35 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body angularly emar-
ginate at apex, sixth slightly sinuate in middle of apical margin, with an
obsolete longitudinal furrow which is thickly pubescent.

In moss, haystack refuse, &ce.; common and generally distributed throughout the
kingdom.

S. erosus, Er. (annulatus, Crotch, aceris, Steph. ?). Very like
the preceding ; it may, however, be easily distinguished by having the
elytra considerably longer in proportion to the thorax, and by the knees,
especially the posterior ones, being evidently ringed with black or fus-
cous ; Crotch (Proc. Ent. Soc., Nov. 19, 1886) suggests that it may be
a winged form of S. impressus, in which case the longer elytra would be
analogous to those in the winged forms of Lathrobium (ante, p. 297), but
apart from the differences above mentioned, the punctuation is distinctly
closer, so that it must evidently be regarded as a distinct species ; more-
over the first joint of the antenne is often dark and the apical joint of
the palpi is more or less fuscous, and the sexual characters are slightly
different. L. 35-4 mm.

In moss, dead leaves, &e.; local, but not uncommon where it occurs; Weybridge,

Stenus. | STAPHYLINIDA. S51

Esher, Darenth Wood, Hayes (Kent), Mickleham, Wimbledon, Caterham, Plumstead ;
Deal; Isle of Wight ; Bournemouth; Salisbury ; Hunstanton; Bromsgrove; Sutton
Park and Knowle, near Birmingham ; doubtful as Scottish; Ireland, near Waterford,
Power.

This species is evidently the S. wrosus of Er., and is regarded as such
in the catalogue of Heyden, Reitter, and Weise ; in this catalogue, how-
ever, both S. wrosus and S. annulatus are regarded as synonymous with
S. aceris, Steph., nec Lac. ; in Waterhouse’s catalogue 8. aceris, Steph.,
is given as synonymous with S. impressus; it is most probable that
Stephens included both species under his S. acer?s ; the insect named by
Crotch S. annulatus, which is the species we are now considering, was
long a puzzle to British entomologists, and is alluded to by Rye (Ent.
Monthly Mag. i. 91) as still undetermined when he wrote his mono-
graph of the Steni.

S. Erichsoni, Rye (flavipes, Er. nec Steph.). A small and rather
depressed species, shining black, with strong and not very close punctua-
tion ; head considerably wider than thorax, eyes very large, antenne
testaceous with the club darker, palpi testaceous ; thorax at widest about
as long as broad, much widened a little before middle and contracted to
base, with a more or less distinct dorsal furrow ; elytra about as long as
thorax, or a little shorter at suture, strongly widened at apex, so that the
apical margin is considerably broader than the basal margin ; this is a
point that will at once separate it from the allied species ; hind body
broad, but considerably narrowed at apex, with rather strong margins,
rather finely and thickly punctured ; legs entirely testaceous, sometimes
with a slight fuscous shade at extreme apex of femora. L. 3-31 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body rather deeply and
angularly excised at apex, sixth segment feebly emarginate.

In moss, dead leaves, &c., usually in chalky places; local; London district, rather
common; Mickleham, Wimbledon, Caterham, Reigate, Croydon, Warlingham ; East-

bourne ; Bungay, Suffolk (W. Garneys) ; Repton; Dunham Park, Manchester; Cum-
berland, rare ; Scotland, Falkirk (Rye).

S. pallipes, Gravy. About the size and general appearance of S.
Erichsoni, but narrower, with the hind body longer and more cylindrical,
with much finer margins which are almost effaced behind; the whole
upper surface is much duller and more pubescent, and the punctuation is
finer and closer; the elytra are not widened behind or contracted at
shoulders, and the legs, as a rule, are rather darker testaceous with the
slight pitchy suffusion more marked ; in the male the seventh ventral
segment only is emarginate. L. 3-35 mm.

Marshy places; in moss, flood refuse, &e.; local; London district, not uncommon,
Wimbledon, Tottenham, Staines, Peckham, Dulwich, Lee, Eltham, Egham, Shirley,
Tonbridge; formerly common at Hammersmith Marshes; Hastings; Bungay ;
Holme Bush, Brighton; Barnstaple; Malvern; Barmouth; Knowle; Needwood

Forest ; Repton ; Northumberland district, rare, Gibside and Ravensworth Woods ;
not recorded from Scotland or Ireland.

352 STAPHYLINIDA, [Stenus.

S. flavipes, Steph. (jilum, Er.). This very distinct species is easily
recognized by its elongate, linear, and almost parallel form ; it is black,
rather shining, with the legs, palpi, and antenne yellow, the latter with
the basal joint black and the two apical joints fuscous; head much
broader than thorax, with plain frontal furrows, the interval broad, not
much raised, and smooth ; thorax longer than broad, rather finely and
not closely punctured with a smooth space on middle of disc; elytra
slightly longer than thorax, a little widened behind, moderately strongly
but not closely punctured ; hind body elongate, rather widely margined,
more sparingly punctured on disc than at sides, apical segments nearly
smooth ; legs testaceous, coxe black, tarsi very short and thick. L.
3 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body rather strongly
emarginate in an angle, fifth and sixth with longitudinal impressions
which are punctured and pubescent.

Marshy and damp places, especially in woods; in moss, at roots of grass, and very
commonly by sweeping rushes or other herbage ia many damp or shady localities ;
common and generally distributed throughout the Southern and Midland districts of
England ; not so common further north; Scotland, local, Tay district only ; Ireland,
near Waterford.

S. pubescens, Steph. (swhimpressus, Er.). A large, elongate, and
rather parallel-sided species, dull leaden black, clothed with fine and dis-
tinct whitish pubescence ; head broader than thorax, with the frontal
furrows not deep and the interval only moderately raised ; antennz tes-
taceous, with first joint black, and club pitchy, palpi pitchy, with base
testaceous ; thorax oblong, rounded at sides before middle, rather finely
and thickly punctured, with two rather strong impressions behind middle;
elytra longer than thorax, rather finely and thickly punctured, with
obsolete impressions ; hind body subparallel, only slightly narrowed
behind, finely and thickly punctured, rather strongly margined ; legs
black, tarsi lighter, with third and fourth joints bilobed. L. 5-55 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment furnished with a broad, deep,
somewhat semicircular notch, the inner apex of which is slightly elevated,
sixth simply depressed and slightly produced in centre, fourth and fifth
rather broadly, but very slightly emarginate, depressed in middle, the
depressions being punctured and pubescent and having on each side of
their extremity a minute elevation.

Marshy places ; at roots of grass, &e. ; also on clayey banks of rivers ; rather common

and generally distributed throughout England; rarer further north; Scotland, not
common, Solway, Tweed, and Forth districts ; Ireland, near Belfast.

S. binotatus, Ljungh. Very similar to the preceding, but smaller,
less robust with the legs not so stout, the antenne shorter and darker
(pitehy-red with the basal joint and club pitchy), and the palpi less tes-
taceous at the base of the joints ; the head and thorax also are narrower,
the elytra shorter, and the punctuation rather coarser and closer ; in the
male the seventh ventral segment has a deep triangular notch, and the

Stenus.] STAPHYLINID 2. 353

third, fourth, and fifth segments are slightly depressed in the middle of
the hinder margin. L. 43-5 mm.

Marshy places ; at roots of grass, in moss, &e. ; local ; London district, not uncommon
and widely distributed ; Bungay; Hastings; Brighton; Cambridgeshire and Norfolk
Fens; Coleshill; Sutton Park ; Cannock Chase ; Repton; Boston; Liverpool; Man-
chester; Northumberland, Durham, and Cumberland; Scotland, scarce, Tweed and
Forth districts.

S. canescens, Rosh. (major, Rey). Closely allied to S. pubescens,
and about the same length as that insect, but more robust, with the front
parts wider and the hind body conical, contracted from base to apex, the
apex being very acuminate; this character will at once distinguish it ; the
head, also, is wider; the antenne are darker at the base, and the whole
insect is a little more shining ; the thorax is considerably wider than in
S. pubescens and is broadest in the middle, whereas in the latter insect
it is rather narrow and broadest before middle ; in the male the seventh
ventral segment of hind body is deeply excised in a rounded angle, and
the fourth, fifth, and sixth segments are broadly and slightly emarginate,
depressed in middle, with the depression ciliated with white hairs at the
sides. L. 5-53 mm.

Marshy places; at roots of grass, &c.; local and, asa rule, rare; it sometimes,
however, occurs in eousiderable numbers; Southend, Wimbledon, Darenth Wood,
Faversham (in numbers, J. J. Walker), Snodland, Merton, Ealing, Richmond Park,
Maidstone ; Sandwich; Stretford and Bowdon, near Manchester.

S. pallitarsis, Steph. (plantaris, Er., cavifrons, Rey). Rather
depressed, leaden black ; of the same general appearance as S. binotatus ;
it may, however, be at once distinguished by having the tarsi, the whole
of the palpi, and the antenne (except the club which is fuscous) yellow-
or reddish-testaceous ; the punctuation is fine, and much resembles that of
S. pubescens, from which it may be easily distinguished by the characters
just mentioned ; it is, moreover, rather more shining than either of these
two species, and has the hind body evidently more acuminate at apex ; in
the male the seventh ventral segment of hind body is very deeply notched,
the notch being rounded triangular, and the third to the sixth segments
are more or less depressed in the middle of hinder margin. L. 45-5
min.

Marshy places; in moss, at roots of grass, in stems of reeds, &c. ; rather local ;
Walton-on-Thames, Woking, Mickleham, Tilgate, Ripley, Barnes, Weybridge, Sheer-
ness, Maidstone; Henley; Bungay; Margate; Hastings; Lowestoft; Brighton;
Devonshire ; Whitsand Bay, Plymouth; Swansea; Wicken and Horning Fens; Sutton
Park ; Repton ; Northumberland district, rare; Scotland, local, Solway, Forth, Tay,
and Dee districts.

V. niveus, Fauvel. This variety, regarded as a separate species by
many authors, is much smaller than the type, narrower, and more linear,
with the hind body more parallel, and the tarsi of a darker testaceous
colour; the frontal impressions are deeper, and the interval between them

VOL. I. Aa

354 STAPHYLINID. [Stenws.

more convex, and there are other minor differences, but not enough to
raise it to the level of specific rank. L. 4 mm.

Not uncommon in the Solway district of Scotland, but I know of no other locality.
Loch Arthur and Thornhill, Dumfries (Sharp).

S. bifoveolatus, Gyll. (ec Er.), (plancus, Er., nitidus, Steph.,
pheopus, Steph.) A species that is easily recognized by its very deep
black colour, and shining appearance ; form almost cylindrical; head
wide with moderate frontal furrows separated by a rather wide interval ;
antenne ferruginous or rufo-testaceous with the basal joint black, and the
club brownish, palpi testaceous at base more or less pitchy towards apex ;
thorax and elytra rather strongly and moderately closely punctured, the
former with a very obsolete impression on each side behind middle, and
an irregular smooth dorsal space in middle, the latter about as long as, or
very little longer than, thorax, slightly widened behind ; hind body long
and cylindrical, finely bordered, with the front segments furnished with
distinct keels in middle of base ; legs more or less pitchy. L. 33-4 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly and angu-
larly excised at apex, fifth and sixth longitudinally impressed, the impres-
sions being more distinctly pubescent.

In moss, dead leaves, &c.; damp and marshy places; rather common and generally
distributed throughout England; Bold, however, records it as somewhat uncommon

in the Northumberland district; Scotland, common in the southern districts and pro-
bably further north also; Ireland, near Waterford, &.

S. nitidiusculus, Steph. (fempestivus, Er.). A somewhat depressed,
parallel-sided species, shining black, with a slight brassy reflection ; head,
thorax, and elytra finely and rather thickly punctured, the punctuation
being not so close on the elytra; head broad, frontal furrows plain, with
the interval rather strongly raised ; antennz testaceous, with the first
joint black, and the club a little darker, palpi testaceous ; thorax a little
longer than broad, with a well-marked oblique depression on each side
behind middle ; elytra about as long as or a little longer than thorax, asa
rule contracted at shoulders and widened behind, with several deep and
irregular depressions ; hind body broad, almost parallel until near apex,
where it is rather abruptly narrowed, with margins strong in front but
wanting on apical segments, finely and not thickly punctured ; legs tes-
taceous, with the coxve black, and the knees more or less broadly infuscate.
L, 4-43 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment emarginate at apex in a rounded
angle, fifth and sixth shghtly sinuate and impressed at extreme apex.

Marshy places, banks of rivers, &c.; in moss, flood refuse, &e.; rather common and

generally distributed throughout England; Scotland, common in Lowland districts as
far north as the Shetlands; Ireland, Armagh, &c., and probably common.

This insect has the elytra rather strongly contracted, as a rule, at the
shoulders, and consequently broader at apex than at base; this is due to
the species being apterous; in Dr. Power's collection, however, there is

Stenus. ] STAPHYLINIDE, 355

a specimen from Lee, Kent, with the elytra broader and longer than in
the ordinary forms, with the shoulders strongly squared and very
marked, and not at all contracted; this is, I think, probably a winged
form ; it appears to be very rare.

S. picipennis, Er. Deep black, shining ; head evidently broader
than thorax, with broad and deep furrows, the interval being raised
rather strongly; antenne, including basal joint, testaceous, with club
dusky, palpi testaceous; thorax at widest as broad as long, with sides
strongly rounded, rather strongly and not very thickly punctured, less
closely on disc, with an evident depression on each side behind middle ;
elytra a little longer than thorax, rather strongly punctured, with several
uneven depressions ; hind body short and stout, contracted towards
apex, with the hinder margin of the first four or five segments smooth
and rather broadly elevated, coarsely punctured at base of the segments
and at sides; legs testaceous, knees more or less broadly infuscate,
L. 33-4 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly and
angularly emarginate, sixth somewhat depressed, very finely and thickly
punctured in middle, with long and thick pubescence.

Damp and marshy places; in moss, at roots of grass, &c.; local; Wimbledon
Common (reedy places, not uncommon) ; Dulwich, Barnes, Peckham, Cowley, Ealing,
Merton, Southend; Folkestone; Isleof Wight; Sutton Park, Birmingham ; Repton ;
Preston, Lancashire ; Manchester district ; not recorded from the extreme north of
England ; Scotland, very rare, Forth district only.

The coarser punctuation and light basal joint of antenne will at
once separate this species from the preceding.

S. picipes, Steph. (rusticus, Er., spretus, Fairm.). Rather flat and
broad ; dull leaden black, hind body a little more shining; head with
broad frontal furrows, the interval not strongly raised; antenne testa-
ceous with the first jomt black or blackish, and the elub dusky, palpi
testaceous ; punctuation of whole upper surface moderately strong and
very thick ; thorax scarcely longer than broad, broadest before middle ;
elytra distinctly longer than thorax, with disc almost even; hind body
rather short, distinctly narrowed towards apex ; legs pitchy red or pitchy
brown, with coxee and knees dark. L. 83-4 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body sharply and
narrowly excised at apex.

In haystack refuse, moss, cut grass, &e. ; often by sweeping; both in damp and
dry localities ; common and widely distributed throughout the kingdom,

S. foveicollis, Kr. (bifoveolatus, Er. nee Gyll., brevicollis, Thoms.,
brevicornis, Sharp’s Cat. 2nd Ed.), Very like the preceding, and, as
Mulsant and Rey observe, it might be mistaken for a variety of it; it is,
however, smaller and more parallel, with the elytra shorter and con-
siderably narrower in proportion to thorax, and a little more strongly and

Aa 2

356 STAPHYLINID 2. [ Stenus.

less closely punctured ; the hind body also is more sparingly punctured
on the centre of the segments, and has the basal impressions of the front
segments deeper; the legs also are much more brightly coloured, being
dark reddish testaceous with the knees more or less broadly fuscous ;
both this and the preceding species may be at once distinguished from
all their allies by their dull appearance, and the close punctuation of the
hind body. L, 31-3} mm.

Marshy places, in moss, sphagnum, &c.; rare; Hayes (Kent), Esher, Horsell,
Woking; New Forest; Repton; Manchester ; Scotland, local and not common,

Solway, Clyde, Dee, Moray, and Shetland districts; it probably occurs in many other
localities.

(Szctron VI.)

The single species contained in this section is characterized by having
the penultimate joint of the tarsi strongly bilobed, the hind body not
margined, and each elytron furnished with a large and distinct orange-
red spot.

S. Kiesenwetteri, Rosh. Black, when alive almost blue-black,
very shining, very coarsely punctured ; head broad with very prominent
eyes, forehead almost flat, the central imterval being only slightly
elevated ; antenne and palpi testaceous, the base and club of former
being usually a little darker than the centre; thorax a little longer than
broad, moderately rounded at sides; elytra about as long as thorax, each
with a large orange-red spot; hind body somewhat cylindrical, without
margins, more closely punctured at sides and apex ; femora with a broad
orange band in middle, tibie pitchy with apex testaceous, tarsi dull
testaceous. L. 5-6 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply excised,
the third, fourth, and fifth slightly depressed at apex.

Marshy places, in sphagnum, and at roots of grass; rare; first taken by Dr. Sharp
on Wimbledon Common ; Chobham, Surrey (Champion) ; New Forest (Blatch).

This species closely resembles S. céeindeloides in shape, sculpture, and
general appearance,’ but may at once be known by the spots on the
elytra.

(Section VII.)

The species belonging to this section have the tarsi strongly bilobed,
the hind body not margined, and the elytra without spots; they differ
very much in general appearance, and, with one or two exceptions, are
very easy to determine. SS. oscdllator, Rye, rests on a single specimen,
and no other has been found either in Britain or on the Continent ; it
is, therefore, rather doubtful, and may perhaps be a hybrid between
S. paganus and 8. latifrons.

1. Hind body subparallel, not strongly narrowed be-
hind; elytra not abnormally dilated.

i, Antenne entirely testaceous, club a little darker;

size larger.

Stenus.| STAPHYLINID&. 357

1. Upper surface, especially front parts, very
coarsely punctured,shiny. . ......
2. Upper surface of head, thorax, and elytra finely,
of hind body very finely, punctured, rather dull, §S, soLurus, Zr.
ii. Antenne testaceous with the first joint black,
club a little darker ; size larger.
1. Legs testaceous, with knees black. . . . . S. srmruis, Herbst.
2. Legs black, with tarsi reddish testaceous . . S. TARSALIs, Ljwngh.
iii, Antenne with the two first joints and the club
blackish ; size smaller.
1, Antenne with joints 3-8 yellow testaceous.
A. Upper surface less shiny, more. strongly and
closely punctured ; legs lighter, pitchy brown, S, paganus, Hr.
B. Upper surface more shiny, less strongly and
not quite so closely punctured ; legs darker,
almost black . ...-. =... =. . . S. OSCILLATOR, Rye.
2. Antenne with joints 3-8 dark pitchy red; legs
arkapitchygans) volte, co) ie el es 8) ies el 6 ite
I, Hind body conical, strongly narrowed from base to
apex ; elytra large, broad, and convex, very strongly
dilatedy) © 1s 6 3 es se es lh Ul Us 6 6S. FORNIOATUS, Steph.

S. CICINDELOIDES, Grav.

mM

. LATIFRONS, Er.

S. cicindeloides, Grav. Elongate, convex, shining black, very
coarsely and deeply punctured; head a little broader than thorax,
broadly furrowed, the raised interval being rather sharp and distinct,
but variable ; antennew entirely testaceous, with club brownish, palpi
testaceous ; thorax rather longer than broad, not much rounded at sides ;
elytra scarcely longer than thorax, and not quite so closely punctured ;
hind body cylindrical, without margins, less closely punctured on middle
of front segments than at sides and apex; legs testaceous yellow, with
the base of femora slightly, and the apex widely, pitchy black ; tibize
pitchy with apex more or less testaceous yellow, tarsi pitchy testaceous.
L. 5-6 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body acutely excised
in a sharp angle.

Marshy places ; at roots of grass, &e.; generally distributed and common in the

London, southern, and midland districts ; rarer further north, and not recorded from
the Northumberland district ; Scotland, rare, Solway district only.

S. similis, Herbst. (ocwlatus, Grav., modestus, Lac., siculus,
Stierl.), Of a rather dull grey leaden-black colour, with fine, short,
rather close pubescence ; head nearly as broad as elytra with broad and
not deep frontal furrows, the interval being broad and well defined but
very slightly raised ; antenns testaceous with the basal joint deep black,
and the club sometimes a little darker, palpi testaceous; upper surface
closely and moderately strongly punctured, the punctuation, however,
being very fine in comparison with that of 8. eicindeloides; thorax a
little longer than broad, moderately rounded at sides, with an obsolete
impression on each side, often hardly traceable; elytra a little longer
than thorax, and a little more strongly and less closely punctured ; hind
body uniformly and moderately strongly punctured, with the punctuation

358 STAPHYLINIDE. [Stenus.

much closer than that of elytra; legs yellow, the extreme apex of the
femora, base of the tibia, and apex of the three first joints of the tarsi
on the upper side, pitchy black; the black colour extends for a greater
extent at the knees on the posterior legs, but in these barely extends toa
quarter of the length of either the femora or tibiz ; the cox are black.
L. 5-55 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply emar-
ginate, fifth slightly depressed, sinuate in the middle of hinder margin,
the sinuation furnished with a very minute blunt tooth on either side.

In haystack refuse, moss, and vegetable rubbish generally ; usually in comparatively
dry places; often by sweeping, as indeed is the case with the majority of the Steni

with bilobed penultimate joint of the tarsi; common and generally distributed
throughout the kingdom.

S. solutus, Er. Very closely allied to the preceding in size and
general appearance, but rather darker and more shining, with the basal
joint of the antennz testaceous (and not deep black as in S. similis) and
the black colour on the intermediate and posterior femora and tibie
extending for about half the length of the former and for more than half
the length of the latter; the coxe are pitchy red; the elytra are nar-
rower in proportion, and the thorax and elytra are not so strongly or
closely punctured ; the hind body is very finely punctured, and is rather
smooth and shining on the centre of its upper surface ; this character
alone will serve to separate it from S. simzlis. L. 5-55 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment deeply and angularly emar-
inate, fifth slightly depressed in middle and feebly emarginate at apex,
third and fourth a little depressed,

Marshy places; in the stems of reeds, &c., often almost in the water; rare; Lee,

Blackheath, Mickleham, Cowley, West Drayton, Dagenham, Horning Fen; Birch-
ington, near Margate ; Sutton Park and Knowle, near Birmingham, :

S. tarsalis, Ljunch (roscidus, Snellen.). Greyish black, very
slightly shining, clothed with fine, short, rather close, whitish pubescence ;
head as broad as elytra with a wide and not very distinct central eleva-
tion and feeble frontal furrows; antenne rather short, rufo-testaceous,
with the: basal joint black, and the club brownish, palpi testaceous,
sometimes a little pitehy; thorax a little longer than broad, moderately
rounded at sides, closely and rather strongly punctured ; elytra depressed,
longer and more strongly punctured than thorax, the punctuation, how-
ever, not being so close; hind body strongly punctured, cylindrical,
more shining than the front parts; legs black or blackish, tarsi more or
less obscurely testaceous, sometimes almost dark, claws always black.
L. 4-43 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly and
slightly emarginate at apex, fifth with a small semicireular impression in
middle of its hinder half bordered with long hairs, fourth thickly
pubescent in middle.

Stenus. | STAPHYLINID®. 359

In haystack refuse, moss, at roots of grass, &c., in marshy places; I have also
taken it commonly by sweeping in osier-beds; common and generally distributed
throughout the greater part of the kingdom.

S. paganus, Er. (fulvicornis, Steph.). This species is of much
the same build and shape as the preceding, but is considerably smaller,
and the punctuation is relatively stronger; leaden-black, slightly
shining ; head as broad as elytra, with the frontal furrows slight and the
interval between them broad and not much raised, but rather variable,
and sometimes almost keeled ; antenna short, testaceous, with the two
basal joints and the club blackish, palpi testaceous, with apical joint
brownish ; thorax a little longer than broad, strongly and thickly punc-
tured ; elytra longer than thorax, and with about the same punctuation ;
hind body strongly and thickly punctured, more finely behind; legs
pitchy brown, or reddish brown, with knees darker. L. 3-34 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply and nar-
rowly excised in a sharp angle, sixth rather broadly emarginate, with a
broad impression which is punctured and pubescent just before apex, the
impression terminated on each side by a small blunt elevation or keel,
fifth segment depressed, and punctured and pubescent, on its median
line.

Marshy places; in moss, haystack refuse, at roots of grass, &ce.; somewhat local,
but generally distributed throughout the greater part of England; rarer in the

north; Scotland, local, Solway, Tweed, Forth, Tay, and Clyde districts ; Ireland, near
Belfast, Waterford, &c.

S. latifrons, Er. Closely allied to the preceding, but easily distin-
guished by its more linear form, somewhat different punctuation, and the
darker colour of the legs and antenne ; the elytra are rather shorter and
narrower in proportion to the thorax, and the male characters are somewhat
different, the impressions on the fifth and sixth ventral segments being a
little less strong and less pubescent : this and the preceding species bear a
considerable resemblance to S. brunndpes, Steph., but that insect may be at
once dingistuished by its much less strongly bilobed tarsi and short elytra ;
from S. paganus, moreover, it differs by its much darker legs and antenna,
and from SN. latifrons by its coarser punctuation. L. 3-35 mm.

Found in the same localities as the preceding, and very often in company with it 3
rather local, but not uncommon in the London, southern, western, and midland dis-

tricts; rarer further north ; Northumberland district, rare ; Scotland, local, Solway,
Forth, and Tay districts.

S. oscillator, Rye. This species appears to be intermediate be-
tween S. paganus and S. latifrons, having the palpi and antenne
coloured as in the former, and the dark legs of the latter; from both,
however, it differs in its evidently less strong and close punctuation,
and more shining appearance ; the head is very shining and has the
interval between the frontal furrows more marked, and the shape of
the thorax is a little different, being less suddenly and more slightly

360 STAPHYLINIDE. [Stenus.

contracted behind; the antenne, also, are thinner and longer than in
S. latifrons, and more resemble those of S. tarsalis. L. 34 mm.

A single specimen was taken by Dr. Power at Holm Bush, Brighton,
on April 19th, 1863; as stated above, it may be a hybrid between
S. latifrons and S. payanus, but it certainly appears to be quite distinet
from either.

S. fornicatus, Steph. (contractus, Er.). One of the most distinct
of all the Steni, and at first sight appearing generically different ; deep
black, shining ; head small, scarcely broader than thorax, thickly and
deeply punctured, with a small, not strongly raised, smooth elevation
between the frontal furrows, which are broad and obsolete; antennie
pitchy, lighter at base, palpi blackish, with first joint testaceous ;
thorax as broad as long, slightly rounded at sides, subquadrate, coarsely,
deeply, and closely punctured; elytra very large and inflated, twice as
broad as head and thorax, nearly as long as hind body, coarsely and
deeply punctured ; hind body much narrower than elytra, conical, strongly
narrowed from base to apex, very acuminate, with base of segments
strongly and coarsely punctured. L. 2 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment angularly excised at apex,
sixth depressed, thickly punctured in centre, slightly sinuate on apical
margin, fifth emarginate, with an impression at apex, which is crescent-
shaped, and has the extremities of its raised margin produced on each
side in the form of a tooth projecting beyond the apex of the segment.

Marshy places; at roots of grass, &e.; not common; Woking, Barnes, Horsell,
Peckham, Esher, Hammersmith, Bishops Wood, Hampstead, Colney Hatch, Loughton ;
Maidstone ; Horning Fen ; Weston-super-Mare,

OXYPORINZ,

Only one genus is contained in this group, which is remarkable for the
creat development of the last joint of the labial palpi, which is very
much dilated and crescent-shaped, giving the palpus the appearance of a
stalked cup-moss or fungus ; the anterior coxze are prominent and conical,
and the intermediate pair are very widely separated.

OXYPORWUS, Fabricius.

This genus contains about twenty-four species, which mostly inhabit
temperate and cold climates ; they are found in North America, Northern
Asia, and Japan, and three or four species occur in Europe ; species have
also been described from Central America; our single species is a very
striking and handsome insect ; it lives in the gills of fungi.

The larva of the continental Owyporus mawillosus is described and figured by
Schiédte (Part ii., p. 118, fig. xi. 1): it is rather short, broad, and linear, with the
head rather small, narrowed in front, considerably narrower than thorax ; prothorax

Oxyporus. | STAPHYLINIDE. 361

transverse, longer than either meso- or meta-thorax, all three segments with distinct
muscular impressions ; the scuta of all the segments are nearly complete; the ninth
segment is very small, and bears two very short cerciand a cylindrical anal appendage
of about the same length as these latter; legs short; the colour is pale yellow, but
the head and dorsal scuta are pale ferruginous, so that the upper surface appears almost
entirely reddish; the larva is found, like the perfect insect, in agarics.

O. rufus, L. Oblong, rather broad, smooth and shining, with the
head and apical segments of hind body deep black, the thorax and the
remainder of the hind body bright red, and the elytra black with a broad
testaceous red patch on each at shoulders, which almost meet in a point
at apex, but are divided by the scutellum, which is black ; head trans-
verse, rectangular, forehead impressed on each side ; antenne very short,
strongly thickened and compressed towards apex, reddish testaceous with
the apex often a little darker, joints 6-10 strongly transverse ; thorax
short, transverse, much broader than long, smooth or almost smooth ;
elytra transverse, a little longer than thorax, shoulders very strongly
marked, with more or less irregular rows of very large punctures on disc ;
hind body short, somewhat rounded at sides and strongly narrowed at
apex, very finely and sparingly punctured; legs reddish testaceous, with
the cox, trochanters, and base of femora black. Length very variable :
I have specimens ranging from 53-10 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly and some-
what angularly emarginate at apex; head a little broader than thorax ;
female with the seventh ventral segment rounded at apex; head about
as broad as thorax.

In decaying fungi, eating passages through the gills ; local, but not uncommon, and
rather widely distributed ; Sevenoaks, Chatham, West Wickham, Chobham, Coombe
Wood, Westerham ; Suffolk ; Norfolk; Pegwell Bay; Hastings; Winchester ; Devon-
shire; Swansea; Llangollen; North Wales generally ; Kidderminster and Stourport,
Worcestershire ; Repton ; Scarborough; Cheshire; Manchester district ; not recorded
from the extreme north of England, Scotland, or Ireland.

OXYTELINZ,

This sub-family contains, as at present constituted, between twenty
and thirty genera, which are generally distributed; they have the head
large, and the antenne eleven-jointed, usually, although not always, short
and thickened towards apex ; the anterior coxe are large, conical, and
prominent, and the posterior are transverse ; the legs are short, and the
tibiee, at least the anterior and intermediate pairs, are more or less spinose
externally ; in the chief genera, such as Bledius and Oxytelus, the tarsi
are three-jointed, but in Acrognathus and Coprophilus and one or two
others they are five-jointed.

I, All the tarsi 3-jointed.

i. Anterior, and sometimes intermediate, tibie formed

for digging, more or less spinose externally.
1. Intermediate coxa more or less distant ; anterior
tibize with one row of spines.

362 STAPHYLINIDE. [Oxyteline.

A. Thorax with a central longitudinal furrow only ;
elytra dehiscent at apex . . PLATYSTETHUS, Mannh,
B, Thorax with three more or less distinct ‘longi-
tudinal furrows ; elytra not dehiscent at apex OxXYTELUS, Grav.
2. Intermediate cox contiguous.
A. Elytra finely bordered at sides; anterior tibia
with two rows of spines. . . Buepivus, Mannh.
B. Elytra not bordered at. sides ; anterior tibia
with one row of spines.
a. Mandibles short, toothed; last joint of maxil-
lary palpi small, subulate .°. HAPLODERUS, Sfeph.
b, Mandibles long, simple ; ; last joint of maxil-
lary palpi large, as long as the two preced-
ing together, acuminate. . CompsocuILus, Kraaéz.
. Anterior tibia not formed for digging, ‘finely “ciliate
or pubescent.
1. Last joint of maxillary palpi very small, subulate.
A. Elytra not truncate obliquely or dehiscent ;
body somewhat convex, scutellum hidden , . TrogopHia@us, Mannh.
B. Elytra obliquely truncate and dehiscent at
sutural angles; scutellum visible. . THINOBIUS, Kies.
2. Last joint of maxillary palpi aslong as the preceding AncyRopHorus, Kraatz.
II. All the tarsi 5-jointed.
i. Anterior tibize formed for digging, spinose.
1. Reflexed margin of thorax sinuate in middle and
strongly and angularly dilated behind anterior
COX ; atl palpi not elongate and rather
thick, . . Copropuitus, Latr.
2. Reflexed margin of thorax “angularly dilated in
middle ; maxillary palpi elongate and slender . ACROGNATHUS, Hr.
ii. Anterior tibie not formed for digging, pubescent.
1. Antenne short with three last joints forming a
club, and the first two joints thickened; size
small. . Syyromium, Er.
2. Autenne rather ‘Tong, gr adually thickened, second
joint not thicker than the following ; size com-
paratively large . « . . . » - « - « «* DELEASTER, Fr.

BLEDIUS, Mannerheim.

This genus appears to be widely spread over the world, and in all pro-
bability is much more generally distributed than is at present known ; as
now constituted it contains about 150 species, the majority of which
occur in Europe and the temperate regions of North America; several
have been described from Chili, and the genus is represented in India
and Ceylon, Japan, Arabia, the Australian region, the Amazon and other
districts of tropical South America,* and also in Siberia.

The genus Bledius is somewhat closely related to Oxytelus by reason
of its three-jointed tarsi and other characteristics ; itmay, however, be easily
distinguished by having simply a central furrow or an impunctate line on

* Only seven or eight species, all inconspicuous, occur in South America.

Bledius.| STAPHYLINIDE. 363

the thorax, and by its anterior tibia being armed with two rows of spines;
this latter character and the contiguous intermediate coxe, as well as the
more parallel and cylindrical form, will serve to separate it from Platy-
stethus ; the species are all fossorial, and are found in clayey and sandy
places digging galleries in the mud or damp soil; they throw up small
casts, and by these their presence may easily be detected by any person
acquainted with their habits ; as they do not often appear above ground
unless disturbed, they are perpetually passed over, and in this way some
of the species, which are really locally common, have come to be con-
sidered generally rare ; they are slow in their movements ; as a rule our
species are found in company with species of Dyschirius, which prey
upon their larve and pupe; there are about fifty European species,
of which sixteen or seventeen are British ; there is, however, a little
doubt with regard to the specific value of one or two that have hitherto
been received.

Several larvie of species of Bledius have been described ; I have found the larva
and pupa of Bledius dissimilis in numbers in the sides of the clay cliffs at Bridlington,
Yorkshire ; the pup were in small hollow chambers or cells which they had evidently
formed before undergoing their transformation; the general characteristics of the
larve of Bledius are as follows: head transverse, broader than thorax ; ocelli three in
number, the two front ones the largest; legs fossorial, tibize armed with strong
spines ; cerci solid, setose ; anal appendage very short, often apparently absent; the
larvee of the genus appear to fall under two divisions; in one of these the body is much
strangulated behind the head; the thorax is cordate, much narrower than the head,
and the meso- and meta-thorax are very narrow ; the first segment of the abdomen is a
little broader than the metathorax, and the next become gradually wider to the seventh
and eighth where the abdomen is much dilated ; to this division belong the larvae of
B. tricornis, B. fracticornis, &e.; in the second division the whole body is broader
and less narrowed behind, and the pro-, meso-, and meta-thorax are of about equal
breadth, the first being subquadrate ; to this must be referred the larve of B. pallipes,
&e.; the division almost appears to be a generic one.

The pupa of B. tricornis is very extraordinary, the thoracic region being produced
in front in a long, broad, and blunt protuberance, and the “ styli motorii”’ at the sides
of the body and on the apex of thorax being stout and very long; the general form is
oblong, and the abdominal region is very little narrowed behind and terminates in two
short and thick conical cerci (v. Schiédte, part ii., p. 121, pl. xii., 4, 14, 28).

I. Thorax with a distinct central furrow.

i, Thorax in front armed with a strong projecting horn
in male; head furnished with two horns or horn-
like prominences in male, and two less distinct pro-
minences in female.

1, Horns on the head of male very long; posterior
tibia with four long spines near base ; elytra black
or yellowish-testaceous, with scutellary region
Gian Gh Gea oo ty Ob ke oF Oo oo

2. Horns on the head of male taking the form of

two more or less raised blunt prominences ; pos-
terior tibia with one spine only near base.

A. Head with eyes plainly narrower than thorax;
size larger; elytra (except scatellary region)
red or reddish testaceous.

a. Thorax sparingly punctured with somewhat

B. taurus, Germ.

364 STAPHYLINIDA.

raised impunctate spaces scattered over
IEC 2/51, iste alee Aas Sp cece Maia aa tae
b. Thorax more closely and. evenly punctured,
with impunctate spaces wanting or present
only nearcentralline . . . . , . ,
B. Headwith eyes as broad as thorax 3 Size small;
colour usually unicolorous black, elytra rarely

pitchy or even testaceous . . , , ,

ii. Thorax not armed with a horn in male,

1. Head produced into a short but more or less distinct
horn-like prominence on each side . . . , ,

2. Head without horns or horn-like prominences,

A. Antenne rather slender with an abrupt three-
jointed club ; elytra very light yellowish testa-
ceous (almost whitish in life), with scutellary
region more or less broadly black. . . .

B, Antenne with a more or less gradual and elon-
gate club,

a. Posterior angles of thorax viewed from above
well marked, and projecting in a minute
tooth.

a*, Elytra black or pitchy black; antenna
dark with base reddish testaceous ; pune-
tuation of thorax fine.

at. Elytra not more than one and a half times

as long as thorax; mandibles stout ;
labrum entire or feebly sinuate.

at. Legs lighter ; antenna more slender .

by. Legs darker ; antennz stouter, much

thickened towards apex . . . . ,

bf. Elytra nearly twice as long as thorax ;

mandibles slender ; labrum more or less

bilobediawpueeeeare

b*. Elytra reddish testaceous
red ; punctuation of thorax strong . . .

b. Posterior angles of thorax viewed from above
blunt or quite rounded.

a*, Thorax rather strongly and thickly punc-
tured,

at. Antennz dark with base red; forehead
distinctly punctured ; elytra usually red,
sometimesidark asus cue aa ee
bt. Antenne entirely dark ; forehead almost
impunctate; elytra chestnut brown, dark
brown, or blackish , reo Oo) hp

b*. Thorax shallowly and sparingly punctured,

af. Thorax evidently transverse; form longer

and broader ; elytra rather deeply pune-

tured: ieatan oolsttnuien enti vat

bf. Thorax scarcely transverse (often red-

dish) ; form shorter and narrower; elytra

very finely punctured . . . . .

IL. Thorax without central furrow, but with a smooth and
usually somewhat raised longitudinal dorsal line.

i. Thorax strongly punctured with posterior angles

obtusely rounded.

3; antennz entirely

B.

[Bledius.

SPEOTABILIs, Ky.

B. rricornis, Herbst.

B. untcornis, Germ.

B.

BICORNIS, Germ.

(Luddii, Steph. ).

B. ARENARIUS, Payk.

B.
B.

B.

PALLIPES, Grav.

FUSCIPEs, Rye.

SUBTERRANEUS, Hr,

+ LONGULUs, Lr.

» FRACTICORNIS, Payk.

- FEMORALIS, Gyll,

. OPACUS, Block.

» ATRICAPILLUs, Germ,

Bledius, | STAPHYLINIDE. 365

1. Elytra about as long as thorax, bright red . . . B. cRAssIcOoLLI8, Lae.
2. Elytra considerably longer than thorax, yellowish-
testaceous, with the disc more or less broadly
darker, often entirely dark except margins . . JB. DIssIMILis, Er.
ii. Thorax finely punctured with posterior angles right
angles, somewhat projecting. . . . . . . . B.ERRatTICcUs, Er,

B. taurus, Germ. Elongate, subparallel, moderately convex, black,
or black with elytra (except scutellary region) testaceous, front parts rather
dull, hind body shiny, upper surface clothed with fine and not very close
pubescence ; head shagreened, smoother in front, with a strong anterior
border, with a very large and strong horn on each side in male, and a
distinct prominence in female ; antenne short, gradually thickened, pitchy
red, first joint elongate, penultimate joints transverse, the last short oval ;
thorax transverse and armed with a very long horn in male furnished at
the end with long hairs or sete, rather longer and without horn in female,
anterior angles prominent and raised more so in male than in female,
shield-shaped, almost truncate before and behind and abruptly narrowed
and contracted from posterior third to base, finely channelled, shallowly
and sparingly punctured, and finely shagreened ; elytra a little longer than
thorax rather finely although distinctly punctured; hind body shining,
obsoletely and thickly shagreened and punctured; legs pitchy or pitchy
red with tarsi, and often tibiz, lighter. L. 6-7 mm.

The sexual differences of the hind body in this and many other species
of Bledius are not striking, the seventh ventral segment of hind body
being more or less deeply sinuate at apex with the central lobe of the
sinuation more or less produced, more so, as a rule, in the female than in
the male ; the chief sexual differences lie of course in the head.

On or near the coast; rare; Wells and other localities in Norfolk; Ireland, North
Bull and Howth, near Dublin: the type variety of this insect, which has the elytra
entirely black, appears to be very rare in Britain; I have only seen it in Mr. Rye’s
collection, now in the possession of Mr. Mason,

B. spectabilis, Kr. (¢ricornis, Fauv., nec Herbst.). In general
appearance this species much resembles the preceding, and does not need
a separate detailed description ; it may, however, be easily known by the
following characters : the clypeusis not furnished with a raised border in
front; the horns on the head are very much smaller and shorter, and the
thoracic horn is longer and sharper not tufted with hairs at the end and
channelled for its whole length ; the thorax is less truncate in front and
less abruptly narrowed behind, and the anterior angles are rounded and
not prominent; the punctuation of the thorax is rather deeper and more
distinct ; the elytra are of a bright red colour with the scutellary region
darker, and the hind tibie are furnished at base with one spine only
instead of four as in B. taurus. L. 6-7 mm.

Salt marshes and sandy and clayey places near the coast; usually in the clayey banks
of brackish pools ; often in flood refuse, &c.; local, but common where it occurs;

366 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Bledius.

Gravesend ; Sheerness; Harwich; Essex Coast; Deal; Pegwell Bay; Dover; Isle of
Wight; Weymouth; Portland; Bournemouth; Dawlish; Lancashire Coast; Scot-
land, maritime, very local, Solway and Forth districts,

B. tricornis, Herbst. (mwchicornis, Rey). This species is very
closely related to the preceding, and by some authors has been con-
founded with it ; it is, however, smaller, and is easily distinguished by
the shorter and less conspicuous thoracic horn, and by the shape and
sculpture of the thorax, which has the sides more rounded and less
abruptly contracted behind, and the punctuation much more regular, and un-
interrupted by raised smooth spaces on disc as in B. spectabilis; occasionally
there are one or two of these spaces near the middle ; the elytra are of
a more yellowish-red or testaceous colour, and as a rule are more infuseate
around scutellum and near suture; these latter are also a little more
closely punctured, and the apex of hind body is rather lighter. L.
6 mm.

Salt marshes, burrowing beneath stones, in the banks of pools, &c.; very local, but
common where it occurs; Sheerness (J. J. Walker, in profusion) ; Sandgate; Lowes-
toft; Deal; Hastings; Littlehampton; Lymington; Shoreham ; Exmouth Warren;

Hunstanton; Manchester and Lancaster district; Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire; not
recorded from further north; Ireland, North Bull Sands, Dublin,

B. unicornis, Germ. (monoceros, Rosh.). One of the smallest of
our species, rather narrow and convex, black or pitch-black with the
elytra black, pitchy, or occasionally testaceous; head subtriangular,
together with eyes as broad as or broader than thorax, with a prominence
on each side which is more raised in male than in female, very finely
shagreened ; antenne short ferruginous or red with apex usually darker ;
thorax as long as broad, armed in front with a long sharp horn in male,
which is usually reddish at apex, very finely channelled, shagreened, and
besides rather strongly, although shallowly, punctured, sides subparallel
strongly narrowed behind; elytra scarcely longer than thorax, rather
strongly and thickly punctured ; hind body very finely shagreened, and
sparingly and obsoletely punctured at sides; legs pitchy, reddish or tes-
taceous, with femora darker. L, 33-4 mm.

Found under the same circumstances as the preceding ; very local, but common
where it occurs; Chobham; Hastings; Shoreham; Lymington; Cowes; Portland;
Weymouth; Exmouth Warren; Dawlish; Teignmouth; Hunstanton; Manchester
district.

B. bicornis, Germ. (Ruddii, Steph. (?), ama, Mots., Elbidus bicornis,
Muls. et Rey). This species is exceedingly closely allied to B. taurus, of
which it has been considered a small variety or race by many authors ;
in almost all points of colour, shape, and sculpture it bears a close
resemblance to that species ; it may, however, be at once known by its
smaller size, and the absence of the thoracic and frontal horns in the
male, the latter being replaced by two short horn-like prominences (which
are present but smaller in the female), and the former being entirely

Bledius. | STAPHYLINIDS. 367

wanting ; the anterior angles of the thorax are less prominent and the
posterior tibiz have only one conspicuous spine at base. L. 5-52 mm.

Found under the same circumstances as the preceding; very local and apparently
scarce; Deal; Pegwell Bay; Harwich ; Cleethorpes; Manchester district.

This species is considered by some authors to be identical with the
B. Ruddii of Stephens, which was so named by him from specimens
taken by the Rev. G. T. Rudd in ‘‘Coatham Marshes, Yorkshire ;”
Sephens’ figure, however (Illust. vol. v., plate xxvii., f. 3), represents an
insect with a distinct thoracic horn, so that it cannot be identical with
B. bicornis, and is probably merely a small variety of B. taurus; the
specimens standing under B. Ruddii in Dr. Power’s and other old collec-
tions must be referred to B, bicornis.

B. arenarius, Payk. (Hesperophilus arenarius, Thoms.). Black
rather shining, front parts clothed with close greyish pubescence, with the
elytra very pale testaceous, the suture and scutellary region being more
or less broadly black ; occasionally the whole upper surface of the elytra
is black with the posterior angles only testaceous ; head subtriangular,
evidently narrower than thorax, obsoletely shagreened ; antenne short,
rather slender with a distinct three-jointed club, reddish testaceous, with
the first joint dark, and the club infuscate; thorax strongly transverse,
one and a half times as broad as long, almost truncate in front, with sides
subparallel and rather strongly contracted behind, finely channelled, and
very finely and obsoletely shagreened, and besides rather finely and
thickly punctured; elytra much longer than thorax very finely and
thickly punctured ; hind body almost impunctate ; legs pitehy testaceous
or pitchy red with the femora darker and the tarsi lighter, L. 3-32 mm.

Damp sandy places near the coast; in profusion where it occurs, and rather
widely distributed; Portland; Weymouth; Hayling Island; Devonshire; Brid-
lington, Yorkshire ; Cleethorpes; Lancashire Coast ; Northumberland Coast; Whitby
Sands, in plenty ; Scotland, very local, Forth district; Ireland, Baldoyle and
_ Portmarnock. ;

B. pallipes, Grav. (ferebrans, Schiddte, rastellus, Thoms., Blediodes
pallipes, Muls. et Rey, sub-gen. Astycops, Thoms., teste H. R. W.).
Entirely black, clothed with fine and not close greyish pubescence ; head
a little narrower than thorax ; antenne short, somewhat thickened
towards apex, but comparatively slender, entirely reddish testaceous, or
more or less darkened towards apex ; thorax evidently transverse, trun-
eate at apex, with sides rounded, and contracted and slightly sinuated
before posterior angles, which are well marked and project in a minute
tooth, finely channelled, very finely shagreened, and besides diffusely and
shallowly punctured ; elytra about one and a third times longer than
thorax, thickly and rather deeply punctured ; hind body finely shagreened
and obsoletely punctured; legs testaceous, femora sometimes a little
darker. L, 33-4 mm.

368 STAPHYLINIDE, [ Bledius.

Banks of rivers, &c.; local, but abundant where it occurs; it appears to be mis-
taken occasionally for B, subterraneus. Wimbledon; banks of Bollin, Cheshire ;
Tewkesbury, banks of the Severn (where I have taken it in great profusion by throwing
up water against the clay banks); Manchester district ; Scarborough; Lancaster ;
Scotland, riparial, local, Solway district.

B. fuscipes, Rye (pallipes, Fauv., pallipes, Grav., 9 H.R. W.).
Closely allied to the preceding, and chiefly distinguished from it by its
darker legs which are fuscous or fusco-testaceous, and stouter antenne
which are more thickened at apex, and also by its somewhat shorter elytra ;
the forehead also is less even; from B. subterraneus it differs by its
shorter elytra, less prominent posterior angles of thorax, and the lesser
spinosity of the outer edge of the anterior tibiz, as well as by the much
more transverse apical joints of the antenne ; according to Mr. Rye
(in his description, Ent. Monthly Mag. 11. 155) the structure of the
antenne separates the species from any of its allies, “the basal joint
being clear testaceous, the second more or less pitchy, longer and much
stouter than the third, which, with the rest, is pitehy black ; the fourth
shorter than the third; the fifth, sixth, and seventh gradually getting
wider, and the eighth, ninth, and tenth widening towards the apex, and
exceedingly transverse, the apical joint being suddenly blunt, wide, and
about half as long again as the penultimate.” L. 3} mm.

A maritime species, found in damp sandy places near or not far from the coast ;
Liverpool district, Crosby, Wallasey, and Hightown; Scotland, very local, Forth
district, where it was first taken in large numbers in June, 1864, by Mr. Rye and
Dr. Sharp on the borders of the Firth of Forth, near Aberlady; according to Mr.
Kidson Taylor (Ent. Monthly Mag. vii. 10) they usually occur in pairs, one, probably
the female, being at the bottom of a downcast burrow, about one and a half inches
deep, and the other in a short transverse burrow, close to the mouth; the casts
resemble those of the larger horned Bledii, being in little heaps, and not like the
sinuous galleries of B. subterraneus, &c., which are always near the surface.

There is still considerable difference of opinion regarding this species,
as many authors consider it identical with B. pallipes, and to be either
a variety or the female of that insect ; it cannot possibly be the latter as
it occurs in numbers without B. pallipes, and the shape of its antenna
seems to separate it specifically, as well as its habits; my Tewkesbury
specimens, however (named for me as B. pallipes by M. Brisout), seem
to be somewhat intermediate between the two forms or species.

B. subterraneus, Er. (pallipes, Thoms. nec Gravy., rastellus,
Schiddte nec Thoms., Astycops subterraneus, Muls. et Rey). Very
closely allied to the two preceding species by its general appearance,
sculpture, &c., but separated sub-generically from them by Mulsant and
Rey by reason of its more slender mandibles and bilobed labrum ; from
both it may easily be distinguished by its much longer elytra which are
nearly twice as long as the thorax ; the differences between this species
and B. fuscipes have been pointed out above; it appears to be more
closely related to B. pallipes than to the latter insect, but besides the

Bledius.| STAPHYLINID. 369

distinctions just mentioned, it has the head and thorax a little duller,
and the punctuation of the latter rather finer and closer, and there
are a few other minor points of difference. L. 33-4 mm.

Sandy banks of ponds and rivers; local; rare in the London district, and
apparently not found in the south; Peckham; Maidstone; commoner in the Mid-
lands, Newton Solney, near Repton, Bewdley, Matlock, &c.; Cromer; Yorkshire,
banks of Derwent and Scarborough; Liverpool, banks of Mersey; Cheshire, banks
of Bollin; Manchester; Northumberland district, general; Scotland, common,
Solway, Clyde, Tweed, Forth, Moray, and Shetland districts, and probably universally
distributed.

B. longulus, Er. (Blediodes longulus, Muls. et Rey). Shining
black, with the elytra bright red or reddish-testaceous, clothed with fine,
diffuse, greyish pubescence; head evidently narrower than thorax, obse-
letely shagreened, eyes rather large ; antenne'’short, somewhat thickened,
red, with the middle sometimes darker, penultimate joints rather strongly
transverse ; thorax about as long as broad, truncate at apex, with sides
rounded and rather strongly contracted behind, slightly sinuate just
before base and terminating at the posterior angles in a minute and
blunt but evident tooth, finely channelled, obsoletely shagreened and
besides strongly and diffusely punctured ; elytra a little longer than
thorax, rather thickly and strongly punctured ;.hind body almost smooth;
legs entirely reddish-testaceous. L. 3 mm.

In sandpits, sandy places on cliffs, near streams, &e.; found both inland and near
the coast; not common; Shirley, Charlton, West Wickham, Maidstone; Southend;
Lowestoft ; Isle of Wight, Luecombe Chine; Scalby Beck, Yorkshire; Northum-
berland district, banks of the Irthing, and rather plentifully towards the north end of
Whitley Sands.

B. fracticornis, Payk. (alpestris, Heer.). Larger than the preceding,
black with the elytra entirely reddish-testaceous, or more or less dark, some-
times entirely black; these latter specimens may be distinguished from
the other black species by the much stronger punctuation of the thorax ;
the apex of hind body is always light ; from B. longulus it may be dis-
tinguished by its size, the very obtuse or entirely rounded posterior
angles of thorax which present no trace of a tooth, by the more closely
and shallowly punctured thorax, and the duller and more plainly sculp-
tured hind body ; from B. opacus it may be at once known by its shorter
elytra, and the much stronger punctuation of the thorax, which is scarcely
shagreened or almost smooth between the punctures, whereas in that
species the whole surface is very plainly shagreened and the punctuation
is diffuse and very shallow. L. 4 mm.

Male with the sixth ventral segment broadly sinuate on apical margin,
with the sinuation filled with membrane and furnished on each side with
some long hairs bending inwards, seventh slightly bisinuate.

Sandy banks of ponds and rivers; local and, as a rule, not common; Reigate,
Mickleham, Chobham, Notting Hill, Charlton, Brentford, Tunbridge Wells ; Bewdley
Forest ; Repton ; Scarborough ; Manchester, and Liverpool districts ; Scotland, very
rare, Solway district, “ Dumfries, W. Lennon.”

VOL. I, Bb

370 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Bledius.

B. femoralis, Gyll. (Blediodes femoralis, Muls. et Rey). <A little
smaller and more linear than B. fracticornis, with the antenne entirely
dark, and their third joint a little shorter in comparison to the second ;
the head isa little broader in proportion to the thorax, which is a little
narrower and less transverse; the forehead is almost impunctate ; the
posterior angles of the thorax are a little less obliquely rounded, and its
punctuation is slightly feebler and less close; the male has the sixth
ventral segment as in the preceding species, except that the long hairs
are replaced by a little spine on each side. L. 34 mm.

This species has only been taken by Mr. G. R. Waterhouse; Mr. C.
O. Waterhouse writes to me regarding it as follows :—“ There are some
fifteen specimens of B. femoralis in my father’s collection, but without
locality, evidently marked by himself and similar to other BJedii in his
collection ; they belong to a period about 1850, before he marked
localities ;’ Mr. Waterhouse has kindly sent me one of these; in this
specimen the base of the antenne is evidently lighter than the rest, so
that this character may not always be reliable.

B. opacus, Block (Blediodes opacus, Muls. et Rey). Black, with
the elytra reddish-testaceous, the suture and scutellary region being more
or less infuscate, head and thorax dull; head a little narrower than
thorax, very finely shagreened ; antenne short, testaceous with apex
infuscate, or dark with base testaceous, penultimate joints strongly trans-
verse ; thorax a little broader than long, with posterior angles very
obtuse, almost rounded, finely channelled, distinctly shagreened, and
diffusely and very shallowly punctured (a point which, as above men-
tioned, will easily separate the species from B. fracticornis) ; elytra
evidently longer than thorax, rather strongly and thickly punctured ;
hind body shining black with apex often pitchy red, almost smooth
or very finely shagreened ; legs testaceous or reddish-testaceous. L.
33—4 mm.

Sandy coasts and banks of rivers; not common; Charlton; Richmond; Shipley,
near Horsham ; Lowestoft; Hastings; Eastbourne; Brighton; Weymouth; Hayling
Island; Isle of Wight ; Hunstanton (where I took a series on the sandhills in 1879) ;
Burton ; Scarborough ; Scotland, rare, Solway, and Tweed districts ; Ireland, near
Belfust.

B. atricapillus, Germ. (Blediodes atricapillus, Muls. et Rey).
This is one of the smallest of our species ; it very closely resembles a
male B. epacus, and hardly requires a separate description ; apart, how-
ever, from its length it may be distinguished by the following characters ;
it is narrower and more linear; the thorax is a little longer, and is more
finely and thickly punctured, and often of a pitchy-reddish colour ; it
also has the posterior angles more obtuse and rounded; the third joint
of the antenne is relatively smaller ; the elytra are more finely punctured,
and the posterior tibize are more sparingly setose ; from B. longulus,
which it much resembles in size and general appearance, it may be easily
distinguished by its longer and more finely punctured elytra, and by the

Bledius.] STAPHYLINIDA. 371

much finer punctuation and obtusely-rounded posterior angles of the
thorax. L. 25-3 mm.

In sandpits, on sandy cliffs near the coast, &e.; very local, but sometimes common
where it occurs ; Strood and Upnor, Kent (in profusion, J. J. Walker); Wells,
Norfolk ; Lowestoft ;} Southend; Isle of Wight, Lueccombe Chine, &e.; Scotland,
rare, Solway district, ‘‘near Dumfries, W. Lennon;” Ireland, Killiney, near
Dublin.

B. crassicollis, Lac., filum. Heer. (Blediodes crassicollis, Muls. et
Rey). Shining black with the elytra bright red or chestnut-red with the
scutellary region sometimes a little darkened; head nearly as broad as
thorax, very finely shagreened, with an obsolete fovea on vertex ; antennz
rather short, red; thorax about as long as broad, truncate at apex, with sides
subparallel until posterior third where they are strongly narrowed to base,
posterior angles blunt, but not rounded,* upper surface rather strongly
and thickly punctured, with the interstices of the punctures scarcely
shagreened, with no central channel but in its place a smooth slightly
raised line ; elytra only a little longer than thorax, rather strongly and
thickly punctured; hind body evidently widened behind, very finely
shagreened, and also punctured at the sides ; legs reddish-testaceous
L. 33 mm.

Male with the sixth ventral segment of hind body broadly sinuate on
apical margin, the sinuation being filled with membrane, and furnished
on each side with a short stout projecting tooth.

Sandy places near the coast; very local; has only hitherto occurred near Deal
(Walmer, &c., Power and C. G. Hall) ; it is rather rare, although widely distributed
in France, and is by no means an exclusively maritime species, appearing rather to
frequent hilly and woody localities where it is found on the banks of streams,
marshes, &c.

B. dissimilis, Er. (Blediodes dissimilis, Muls, et Rey). Shining
black with the elytra chestnut-red, or reddish-testaceous, with the suture
more or less broadly dark ; head nearly as broad as thorax, very fincly
shagreened, antenn short, reddish-testaceous, lighter at base, penulti-
mate joints transverse; thorax as broad or very slightly broader than
long, truncate at apex, with sides not quite so parallel as in B. crassicollis
and more rounded behind, posterior angles almost if not quite rounded,
upper surface with central channel replaced by a smooth and some-
what raised line, rather strongly and thickly punctured, with the inter-
stices rather plainly shagreened under a high magnifying power; elytra
considerably longer than thorax, rather strongly and thickly punctured ;
hind body widened behind, shining black with apex reddish, very finely
shagreened, and obsoletely punctured at sides; legs reddish-testaceous,
with the posterior coxce sometimes darker. L. 35-3 mm.

* This character is a somewhat difficult one to perceive, although an important
one in the Bledii: with regard to this particular species [ agree with Rey ; Erichson
says of the posterior angles, fortement arrondis, Lacordaire assez arrondis, Kraatz
trés obtus, Fauvel obtus.

Bb 2

372 STAPHYLINID®. [ Bledius.

Male with the sixth ventral segment of hind body broadly sinuate,
the sinuation being filled with membrane, and furnished on each side
with a long fine and sharp projecting spine ; these are plainly visible
from above, and the species may be easily known by their presence ;
Rey, in his figure (Brévipennes, 1879, Oxyteliens, Pl. iv.), represents
these species as directed outwards at apex: in all the specimens I have
examined they are directed inwards.

In the summer of 1878 I took two or three specimens of this insect
on the side of a sandy and clayey cliff near Bridlington, Yorkshire; they
were in company with a Dyschirius very like D. angustatus, but apparently
only small D. politus ; these specimens were named for me Bledius
erraticus, and as such I had the species for a long time in my collection ;
afterwards, however, it appeared that they had very little in common
with B. erraticus, being quite distinct by the much stronger sculpture of
the thorax and elytra, while their longer elytra separated them from
B. crassicollis ; they at. last proved to be the species now described. In
the summer of 1884 I found the species in profusion at Bridlington,
together with its larva and pupa: it burrows in the clay cliffs and its
casts are very conspicuous on their sides if searched for from a few feet
above high-water mark, almost to their top; these are the cliffs in the
crevices of which Nebria livida occurs commonly; I never found the
insect running on the level sand lke Lledius arenarius, which also
occurs in profusion at Bridlington ; it always required digging for, and
appeared almost invariably to frequent clay.

V. nigricans, Er. In this variety the elytra are almost or entirely
black ; it occurs with the ordinary form.

This species appears to bear a close relation to B. cribricollis, Heer.,
but may be distinguished by the elytra being testaceous or less brightly
red, by the rather closer punctuation of the thorax (the interstices between
the punctures being more evidently shagreened), and somewhat shorter
antenne ; the long spines on the sixth ventral segment of hind body in
male will distinguish the species from all its allies,

B. erraticus,; Hr. (Blediodes evraticus, Muls. et Rey). Black with
the elytra red or chestnut-red with the suture more or less broad]
darker; head very finely shagreened ; antennz short, red with the base
lighter, penultimate joints transverse ; thorax broader than long, parallel-
sided, strongly narrowed behind, sinuate just before posterior a angles,
which are subrectangular and furnished with a minute prominent tooth,
central line replaced by a smooth space, upper surface finely but distinctly
shagreened, and besides sparingly and rather obsoletely punctured ; ae
evidently longer than thorax, rather finely punctured ; hind body very
slightly w idened behind, very finely shagreened, shining black with
apex reddish ; legs reddish- testaceous. L. "B1_33 mm.

Male with the sixth ventral segment of hind body simple, the seventh
slightly bisinuate.

Bledius. | STAPHYLINIDE. 373

The much finer sculpture and minutely, although distinctly, toothed
posterior angles of thorax, as well as the absence of spines on the sixth
ventral segment of hind body in male, will separate this species from
both the preceding ; the smooth central line on thorax will distinguish it
from all our other species.

Sandy banks of streams, &c.; Northumberland district, rare; ‘beneath stones in
the bed of the Irthing, when the water was low, at St. Mary’s s Holme, near Lanercost”
(Bold). Mr. Theodore Wood records it from West Wickham, near London ; I know
of no other locality.

PLATYSTETHUS, Mannerheim.

This genus comprises between thirty and forty species, which oecur
chiefly in temperate or cold climates, although some are recorded from
South Africa, India, Cuba, &e. ; they much resemble Oxytclus in general
appearance, but are, as a rule, more shining, and may be at once dis-
tinguished by the single very distinct longitudinal furrow on centre of
thorax, all the Oxyteli having three furrows which are, as a rule, more
or less irregular or obsolete: there are five British species of Platystethus ;
the first two of these are considerably larger insects than the other three,
but this character cannot always be depended upon, as they are extremely
variable in size.

The larva of P. morsitans (arenarius) has been described and figured by Bouché,
Westwood, and Schiédte: it is rather convex and subcylindrical, smooth, shining, and
linear, with the abdomen slightly dilated to the sixth segment, and then narrowed ;
the colour is white with the head yellowish, and all the segments except the prothorax
are marked at base with two black spots; the head is narrower than the prothorax,
which is larger than the succeeding segments; the ocelli are two in number; the
antennze and legs are short ; the cerci are very short, with the first joint not marked,
and the anal appendage is short, thick, and clavate, and furnished at apex with
exsertile wart-like appendages. The pupa is of the ordinary shape, and has the
“styli motorii” distributed over the dise of body and thorax, as well as at the sides
and apex of the thoracic region ; the abdominal region terminates in two short cerci.
(v. Schiddte, Part II., p. 120, 124, Pl. xi. 18, xii. 3.)

I. Head plainly contracted at base; second joint of antennas
short and rather dilated; male without spines on each
side of forehead . . . . . P. ARENARIUS, Foure.
TI. Head not contracted at base ; second joint of antenne
longer, not dilated.
i. Elytra dull, finely shagreened between punctures ;
forehead of male with a sharp projecting spine on each
sides sizelarger =. 2 . - » . » «| + « + « « DP, CORNUTUS, Gyll.
ii, Elytra shiny, not shagreened between punctures ;
forehead of male without projecting spines in front ;
size smaller.
1. Head, thorax, and elytra very strongly and coarsely
punctured; form somewhat contracted in middle ;
od body widened behind . . . . . P. caprro, Heer.
. Head, thorax, and elytra moderately or sparingly
punctured ; form subparallel ; hind body not or
scarcely widened behiud.

374 STAPHYLINIDR. [ Platystethus.

A. Punctuation stronger and less sparing ; scutellum

with a distinct furrow on each side at base; third

joint of antennz a little shorter than second . . P. Nopirrons, Sahlb.
B. Punctuation finer and more sparing; scutellum

bifoveolate at base; third joint of antenna much

shorter than second. . . . . . + . « »« « DP. NITENS, Sahib.

P. arenarius, Foure. (morsitans, Payk., Pyctocrerus morsitans,
Thoms.). Rather depressed, smooth and shining, with strong outstanding
sete at sides, black, with the disc of elytra more or less distinctly reddish ;
head variable, as broad as or eveu broader than thorax in male, narrower
in female, depressed and finely shagreened in front, strongly punctured
behind, vertex with a strong furrow in centre ; antenne rather short,
pitchy black or black with penultimate joints rather separated, transverse ;
thorax transverse, not much narrowed behind, the basal margin being
almost as broad as the apical, deeply furrowed along central line, rather
finely and moderately punctured on disc, much more strongly and thickly
at sides, where the punctuation is often rugose or even longitudinally
striate ; elytra short, transverse, about as long as thorax, rather strongly
and moderately closely punctured ; hind body finely shagreened ; legs
pitchy testaceous, with tibie paler than femora, and tarsi very light. L.
2-34 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment produced in a plate in middle,
with a long sharp straight spine on each side.

In haystack refuse, moss, dung-heaps, &e.; common and generally distributed
throughout the kingdom as far north as the Shetland Islands,

P. cornutus, Gyll. (mavillosus, Peyr.). In general appearance this
species much resembles the preceding, but it is rather duller owing to
the spaces between the punctures of the front parts being very finely
shagreened ; the head is not contracted at base and is armed in front
with two long and sharp projecting spines; the thorax is evidently
more narrowed behind, so that the basal margin is narrower than the
apical, and the punctuation of thorax and elytra is much finer; the elytra,
moreover, are finely bordered at apex. L. 2-34 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body impressed, the
impression being terminated on each side by two sharp teeth which are
bent inwards, sixth segment either broadly emarginate, or narrowly and
angularly excised in middle of apex: both this and the preceding species
appear to vary considerably as regards the male characters. According
to Mulsant and Rey the seventh ventral segment is deeply and angularly
emarginate at apex, in P. morsttans, while Erichson says it is triangularly
produced ; the fact appears to be that both are right, the produced
plate seeming as if it were distinct from the emargination, beyond which
it projects.

Damp margins of ponds, &c.; also sometimes in hotbeds; generally distributed
and common in the London district and the south ; not so common in the Midlands ;

occurs in the Manchester district, but is not recorded at all from the extreme northern
counties, or from Scotland ; Ireland, Waterford and Galway.

Platystethus. | STAPHYLINIDZ. 875

P. capito, Heer. (pilosellus, Wank.). Shining black, rather narrower
in middle ; head broader or narrower according to sex, rather convex and
smooth before antenna, strongly and rather thickly punctured behind,
more coarsely at sides, vertex with a rather indistinct central furrow ;
antenne long, black, with penultimate joints more or less transverse
according to sex ; thorax evidently broader than long, plainly con-
tracted behind, very strongly and coarsely punctured, the punctures at
sides being setigerous, with distinct central furrow; elytra transverse,
hardly as long as thorax, strongly punctured; hind body narrower at
base than elytra, considerably widened behind, almost smooth or very
finely shagreened ; legs pitchy, or pitchy-testaceous, with tarsi, and some-
times tibia, lighter. L. 23-3 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly depressed,
and furnished with a small spine on each side of the depression.

In haystack refuse, dung-heaps, &c.; often in sandpits; local; London district,
not uncommon, Darenth Wood, Sheerness, Chatham, Cobham, Sevenoaks, Shirley,
Walton-on-Thames, Reigate, Dulwich, Bearsted, Sanderstead, Croydon ; Folkestone ;
Dover ; apparently not recorded from any other districts.

P. nodifrons, Sahlb. This species may at once be distinguished
from the preceding by the much finer punctuation of the thorax and
elytra; the head is usually strongly striate on the internal border of the
eyes, but this character does not appear always to hold good ; the
antenne are rather shorter in proportion than in P. capito, with the
penultimate joints somewhat more strongly transverse ; the elytra are
slightly longer in proportion to thorax, and the hind body is subparallel
and not much widened behind ; the legs are lighter in colour ; in the
male the seventh ventral segment of hind body is furnished with two
keels in middle. L. 23-23 mm.

In haystack, flood, and vegetable refuse ; local, but apparently more widely distri-
buted than the preceding; London district, not uncommon, Sheerness, Gravesend,
Chatham, Forest Hill, Walton-on-Thames, Highgate, Greenwich, Tonbridge, Bir.l-
brook ; Isle of Wight; Portland ; Littlington, Sussex; Bedford ; Whittlesea Mere ;
Tewkesbury.

P. nitens, Sablb. (sfriatulus, Heer.). Very closely allied to the
preceding, with which it has been considered identical hy some authors,
but distinguished by its smaller size (which point, however, is not of
much value in this genus), the more diffuse punctuation of the head,
thorax, and elytra, the structure of the scutellum, and the characters of
the seventh ventral segment of the hind body, which is impressed and
bounded on each side of the impression by a keel which projects beyond
apex in a spine, and is flanked outside by a short, small, and indistinct
tooth. L. 13-2 mm.

In haystack refuse, under loose bark, &e.; rare; Forest Hill, Brockley, Highgate,
Croydon, Lee, Waddon (Surrey); Dagenham; Isle of Wight; Salford Priors ;
Tewkesbury: it appears rather to frequent chalky places; it has been recorded
from Tain, Ross-shire, N.B., but this may be in error. Superficially this species
reer to be difficult to distinguish from the preceding, and to be often confounded
with it.

376 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Oxytelus.

OXVTELVUS, Gravenhorst.

This genus at present comprises about 150 species which are very
widely distributed throughout the world, ranging from the Arctic
Regions, Northern Europe “and Asia to Southern * Africa, Ceylon, South
America, and the Australian region; they are, however, chiefly found
north of the equator; they vary very much in size but have a facies
almost peculiar to themselves, which is in great measure due to the shape
and sculpture of the thorax and elytra, the former being furnished with
three more or less large and distinct longitudinal furrows on dise, of which
the outer ones are sometimes more or less obsolete, but are usually trace-
able ; the Oxyteli are sluggish in their movements and are usually found
in dung-heaps, vegetable refuse, at roots of grass, &ec. ; there are about
thirty European species, of which about half are found in Britain ; some
of these require considerable care in determination, and it is rather hard
to distinguish them by descriptions, although on comparison with au-
thentic types their differences are at once apparent.

Several larve of different species of Oxytelus have been described by different authors :
that of O. seu/ptus is described and figured by Chapuis and Candéze (Cat. des Larves
des Coléoptéres, p. 60, pl. ii. fig. 2); it is subeylindrical, rather stout, and linear,
covered with long soft yellow hairs; the colour is yellowish-white with the apex of the
mandibles, and the cerci, brown, and the dorsal scuta greenish-brown; the head is
rounded, a little wider than prothorax, which is longer than any of the succeeding seg-
ments; the antenne and legs are short; the last segment of the abdomen is termi-
nated by a short anal appendage and two cerci, of which the first joint is much longer
and stouter than the second.

The other larvee of the genus that have been described appear to be very closely
related to the one just described, and to one another, and seem to differ chiefly in colour,
relative length of joints of cerci, and other minor points.

I. Sides of thorax more or less notched or crenulate.

i, Last joint of posterior tarsi much longer than the
two others united; elytra and thorax thickly
bate moderately strongly punctured.

. Elytra usually black ; forehead depressed ; form

broader. | et ee be ee OS RU GOSTSIEE
2. Elytra bright red ; forehead not depressed ;
form narrower, elongate 5 O. INSECATUS, Grav.

. Last joint of posterior tarsi about equal ‘to the
other two together; thorax and elytra very
coarsely punctured ; upper surface shining black. O, ruLyIPEs, Er.
re Sides of thorax nof crenulate.
. Elytra furnished with an impressed stria on sides,
forming a raised ridge at the edge of upper
epantacer: hind body with distinet “outstanding
bristles ; elytra red or reddish.
1. Antenne elongate with penultimate joints not
transverse 3 eyes Mee prominent ; head tri-
angular. . O. scuLPtus, Grav.
2. Antenne rather ‘short. with "penultimate joints
transverse ; eyes not very prominent; head
transverse in male, subtriangular in female.
A. Forehead with three longitudinal furrows
(sometimes not very distinctly marked) ;

Oxytelus.] STAPHYLINIDE. 317

last joint of maxillary palpi shorter than
penultimate. . O, LaqueEatvs, ALarsh.
B. Forehead with one longitudinal central fur.
row; last joint of maxillary palpi as long as
or longer than penultimate. . O. picts, L.
i. Elytra w ithout impressed stria and ridge at sides ;
hind body without distinct outstanding bristles ;
elytra usually black or pitchy.
1. Head, thorax, and elytra shining.
A. Antenne black or blackish.
a. Forebead somewhat convex, very smooth;
vertex of head not or only indistinctly
foveolate ;.upper surface black, very
SHINY, is ee O. INUSTUS, Grav.
b. Forehead depressed ;_ vertex of head dis-
tinctly foveolate.
a*, Length 33-4 mm,; elytra unicolorous
black or dark brown; upper surface
moderately shiny . . . . . . . O.scULPTURATUS, Grav,
b*. Length 23 mm.; elytra with disc red-
dish ; upper surface very shiny . 5
B. Antenne reddish ; elytra black or testaceous,
2. Head, thorax, and elytra (except sometimes
front of head) dull.
A. Length 3 mm.; forehead quite dull . . . O. compLanatus, Er.
B. Length 13-2 mm.
a. Head dull with clypeus very shiny; elytra
longer; antenne more slender. . O, CLYPEONITENS, Pand,
b. Head dull with the antennal projectious
and two little spots on vertex more shiny ;
elytra shorter; antenna stouter . . . O. SPECULIFRONS, Kr.
(nee Rye).

. NITIDULUS, Grav.
. MARITIMus, Thoms.

oo

c. Head entirely dull. :
a*, Anterior tibie entire . . . . O. TETRACARINATUS, Block.
b*. Anterior tibize emarginate at ‘apex » « O, FatRMalReEI, Pand.

©, rugesus, Grav. Depressed, somewhat parallel-sided, black,
rather shining with hind body duller; head considerably broader in male
than in female, with a dull depressed space before eyes which is finely
shagreened, hinder part shining and punctured; antenne rather short,
dark with the first four joints pitchy red, penultimate joints scarcely
transverse ; thorax transverse, thickly and rather strongly punctured,
rounded and narrowed behind, with the central furrow distinct in front,
and the side ones more distinct behind ; elytra transverse a little longer
than thorax, depressed, rugosely punctured, the punctuation forming
three or four striz at sides; hind body nearly as broad as elytra, very
finely punctured; legs variable, lighter or darker pitchy red. L. 4-5
mm.

Male with seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply bisinuate on
apical margin, the central lobe being prolonged almost to a level with
the lateral ones, sixth segment with three or four obsolete small teeth in
middle of margin, fifth and sometimes fourth and third with a rather
strong tubercle at apex ; in the female, as is the case with almost all the

378 STAPHYLINIDA. [ Oxytelus.

other species, the seventh ventral segment is bisinuate, the central lobe
being prolonged beyond the sides, and projecting in an obtuse angle.

In dung, decaying seaweed, haystack and vegetable refuse, at roots of grass, &e. ;
very common, and generally distributed throughout the greater part of the kingdom ;
it has been recorded as local from Dublin.

V. terrestris, Lac. (Oxytelus pulcher, Grav., terrestris, Lac.). In this
variety the thorax is hghter or darker pitchy brown, and the antenne and
elytra red ; it occurs with the type in the London district and elsewhere,
but is much less common,

O. insecatus, Grav. Narrower and more elongate than O. rugosus,
shining black, with the elytra bright red, the scutellary region being a
little darkened ; the thorax is often more or less distinetly pitchy red ;
although this species at first sight seems perfectly different to the pre-
ceding, yet it rather closely resembles small specimens of the var. ter-
restris ; doubtful specimens, however, may be distinguished by having
the forehead more convex and shining and not shagreened, by the elytra
being a little shorter, and the second and third joints of antenne a little
less elongate. L. 3$-4 mm.

Male characters of seventh ventral segment of hind body very much as
in the preceding ; sixth segment furnished at apex with two shining
red granules placed near one another in centre, and also with a tubercle
at base.

In dung, haystack refuse, seaweed, &c.; often by sweeping; rather local, but
widely distributed from Lincolnshire and Lancashire southwards; it has not however
been recorded from the northern counties; Darenth, Faversham, Chatham, Sheerness,
Peckham, Mickleham, Shirley, Tonbridge, &c.; St. Peter’s, Kent (in decaying seed
potatoes) ; Hastings, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, Devonshire and southern counties
generally ; Midland counties, general ; Lincoln (one specimen on a doorstep) ; Liver-

pool; it is a species that never seems to occur abundantly, and can by no means be
called common.

O. fulvipes, Er. Allied to O. rugosus but of a deeper and much
more shining black colour, and shorter and proportionately broader in
form ; the distinct and rather coarse punctuation of the forehead, and
the much coarser punctuation of the thorax and elytra will at once dis-
tinguish it; the thorax is shorter in proportion and has the sides more
obsoletely crenulate, and the first joint of the posterior tarsi is more
elongate; the legs are clear testaceous-yellow ; in the male the central
lobe of the bisinuate emargination of the seventh ventral segment is
itself subemarginate at apex. L. 4 mm. j

Under dead leaves, &e.; very local; first diseovered by Mr. Gorham at Needwood,
near Burton-on-Trent, and afterwards taken in the same locality by Mr. Harris, Mr.
Champion and others, by the side of a pond, and almost in the water; Mr. Blatch

has subsequently found it in numbers at Sutton Park, Birmingham, and Mr. A. C.
Horner has recently taken it at Tonbridge.

O. sculptus, Gray. (lonyicornis, Mannh., Epomotylus sculptus,
Thoms.). Pitchy black, with the thorax sometimes pitchy red, and the

Oxytelus. | STAPHYLINIDZ. 379

elytra reddish or reddish-brown; head distinctly triangular, with very
prominept eyes, depressed and dull in front and punctured behind, with
a distinct furrow in centre of vertex ; antennz elongate, as long as head
and thorax united, slightly thickened towards apex, with the penultimate
joints not transverse, black, with the first three joints red; thorax trans-
verse, not strongly narrowed behind, with the usual three furrows
strongly marked, rather strongly punctured ; elytra transverse, evidently
longer than thorax, with a distinct raised line at sides, rather finely and
thickly punctured ; hind body aimost impunctate, with strong outstand-
ing seta, a little lighter at apex ; legs testaceous. L. 35 mm.

Male characters very peculiar, the seventh ventral segment being fur-
nished with two deep incisions ; the space between these is as long as
the lateral lobes of the segment, and is longitudinally impressed, and
dilated at the apex, which is slightly emarginate.

In dung, vegetable refuse, &e. ; common and generally distributed throughout the
kingdom,

This is one of our most distinct species and may at once be known by
its very triangular head and elongate antenne.

O. laqueatus, Marsh (piceus, Sahlb. nec. L., lute‘pennis, Er., pla-
giatus, Mots. Tanycrerus luteipennis, Thoms.). More shining than
the preceding, with the elytra more brightly reddish-testaceous ; head
large, as broad as thorax and transverse in male, narrower than thorax
and subtriangular in female, with forehead much depressed especially in
male ; vertex with three more or less distinctly marked longitudinal
furrows ; antenne rather short, dark, with testaceous base, penultimate
joints rather separated, transverse ; thorax more strongly transverse
than in O. sculptus ; elytra with punctuation a little more distinct and
less rugose ; hind body scarcely visibly punctured or shagreened in front,
punctuation sometimes more evident behind ; legs testaceous. L. 4
mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply bisinuate,
the central lobe narrow and projecting beyond lateral lobes, sixth feebly
sinuate with a depression before sinuation which is bounded on each
side by a small reddish tubercle.

In dung, haystack refuse, moss, &e.; generally distributed and common throughout
the kingdom.

O. piceus, L. Extremely like the preceding in general appearance,
and very liable to be confounded with it ; it is on the average a little
larger, and may be distinguished by its head which has only one longi-
tudinal groove on centre of vertex, and is also more punctured in front,
with the frontal space less concave and depressed, and the clypeus not
so acute at the angles; the last joint of the maxillary palpi is about as
long as, or even longer than, the penultimate, instead of shorter as in
O. laqueatus ; the eyes also are larger than in that species; the male

3380 STAPHYLINIDE. [Oxytelus.

characters are very different and hard to describe; the seventh ventral
segment is deeply and doubly incised, the space between the incisions
being a little shorter than the lateral lobes, much broader than the cor-
responding space in O. laqueatus, and feebly tricuspid at apex ; the
lateral lobes are prolonged and acuminate ; the sixth segment is bisinuate
with the median lobe broad, slightly prolonged, and emarginate at
apex. L, 4-43 mm.

In dung, flood refuse, &e.; apparently very rare in England, but most probably
much commoner than it appears to be; Birchwood (Mr. Waterhouse, one specimen
in cowdung, in the field opposite the inn); Snodland, Kent, and Barnes Common
(Dr. Power and Mr. Rye) : the species appears to be considered common in France,
Germany, and Sweden.

Q. inustus, Grav. (mavillosus, Sperk. Anotylus inustus, Thoms.).
Shining black ; head much larger in male than in female, forehead
somewhat convex, very smooth, vertex only indistinctly foveolate ; an-
tenn short, gradually thickened towards apex, entirely black, with
joits 6-10 strongly transverse ; thorax variable in length, more or less
transverse, sometimes fully twice as broad as long, with the central
furrow more marked than the other two, rugosely and rather thickly
punctured at sides, more sparingly on disc; elytra transverse, scarcely
longer than thorax, rather finely and thickly punctured, with the pune-
tuation forming longitudinal rugosities, especially at sides; hind body
very finely punctured ; legs lighter or darker testaceous, with femora
darker. L, 3-3$ mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly and
deeply sinuate, with the centre of sinuation slightly produced, sixth
segment with two tubercles in centre of apex.

In dung, dead leaves, hotbeds, decaying seawced, &c.; common and generally dis-

tributed in the London district and the south; rarer in the Midlands and further
north, and not recorded from the extreme north of England, or from Scotland.

According to Mulsant and Rey, the small males of this species have
the head shaped as in the female, a peculiarity found also in other
species ; it is very variable in size.

©. sculpturatus, Grav. (flavipes, Lac., montivagus, Heer. Anotylus
sculpturatus, Thoms.). Very closely allied to the preceding and often
confounded with it ; it is however a little larger and broader, and evi-
dently less shining; the front of the head is more depressed, and is less
shining owing to being finely shagreened, and the vertex is more dis-
tinetly. foveolate ; the forehead, at least in the female, is bordered at the
sides towards the eyes, whereas in O. inustus ib is not bordered i in either
sex; the antenn are perhaps a little stouter, but this is not a very evi-
dent character ; the male characters are very much the same as in the
preceding species, except that the impressed space before the tubercles
on the sixth ventral segment is rather plaimer and smoother. L. 34-4
mm.

Oxytelus. | STAPHYLINIDA, 381

In dung, vegetable refuse, dead leaves, at sap of freshly-cut trees, &e.; very
common and generally distributed throughout the kingdom as far north as the Shet-
land Islands.

O. maritimus, Thoms. (Perrisi, Fauv., oceanus, Fauv. Anotylus
maritimus, Thoms.). This species rather closely resembles O. sculptura-
tus, but is smaller, and may easily be distinguished by its entirely red
antenne; the head is more or less large, sparingly punctured, with two
broad impressions on the forehead and a furrow or fovea in centre of
vertex ; the forehead is obsoletely bordered at sides towards eyes ; the
elytra are sometimes black, sometimes reddish, and occasionally pale tes-
taceous ; in the male the seventh ventral segment is deeply bisinuate, with
the central and lateral lobes all rounded at apex, and the sixth segment
is quite truncate, and furnished in centre of apical margin with two
rather distinct and projecting tubercles. L. 3-3} mm.

A maritime species, found in decaying seaweed and refuse on the shore; Isle of
Wight and South Coast, rather common; Ventnor, Hayling Island, Portland, Whit-
sand Bay, Plymouth, &c.; Liverpool district, Wallasey, &e.; Hartlepool ; Northum-
berland district, abundant (Bold); Scotland, local, Tweed and Forth districts; it
probably occurs on all the coasts of England, but appears to be more common in the
north and south. The variety with testaceous elytra has occurred in some numbers
in Scotland, but seems to be very local.

QO. nitidulus, Grav. (Anotylus nitidulus, Thoms.). A small, narrow’
linear species, shining black, with the disc of elytra pitchy red ; head as
broad as thorax in male, narrower in female, depressed, almost smooth
and shining in front, rather thickly punctured behind; antenne short,
black, with joints 6-10 strongly transverse ; thorax transverse, rather
strongly and thickly punctured, with the central furrow distinct, and the
side ones more or less obsolete; elytra longer than thorax, finely and
thickly punctured, the punctuation forming longitudinal lines; hind
body very finely and sparingly punctured; legs testaceous with the
middle and posterior femora sometimes darker, L. 25 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body simply and
broadly emarginate.

In dung, decaying vegetable refuse, seaweed, &c. ; common and generally distri-
buted throughout the kingdom,

The small size of this species will at once distinguish it from all the
others in which the front parts are shining, and its shining appearance
will separate it from all those that follow, which have the front parts
dull.

O. complanatus, Er. (Anotylus complanatus, Thoms.). Rather
broad in proportion as compared with its allies, dull black, with the hind
body more shining ; head more or less broad, according to sex, dull, with
the antennal projections alone shining, finely shagreened ; antennz short,
black, thickened towards apex, joints 6-10 evidently transverse ; thorax
short, almost twice as broad as long, very finely and thickly punctured,

882 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Oxytelus.

the punctuation for the most part taking the form of fine longitudinal
strie, with the three dorsal furrows, especially the middle one, rather
plainly marked ; elytra a little longer than thorax and sculptured after
the same fashion, black or brownish; hind body finely and rather
thickly punctured ; legs testaceous, with the femora a little darker. L.
2i-3 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply, and
feebly bisinuately, emarginate, sixth furnished in middle of apical
margin with two large projecting tubercles (often reddish), which are
bounded by a semicircular ridge behind.

In dung, hotbeds, decaying fungi, &c.; often on the coast under seaweed. London
district, common; Pegwell Bay, Hastings, Dover, Devonshire, and south coast
generally ; Tewkesbury, Birmingham district, Repton, and other Midland localities ;
Liverpool; Northumberland district; Scotland, not common, Solway, Forth, and

Clyde districts; it apparently becomes rarer towards the north. I have no record
from Ireland, but have no doubt that it occurs in that country.

O. clypeonitens, Pand. (speculifrons, Rye, nec Kr. Anotylus
clypeonitens, Thoms.). Dull black, with the hind body more shining,
and the elytra often brownish ; head more or less broad according to
sex, dull black, with the antennal projections and the whole space
between them smooth and very shining, middle of vertex with a fovea or
longitudinal furrow ; antennz moderate, thickened towards apex, black,
penultimate joints transverse ; thorax transverse, very finely and thickly
sculptured, central furrow very narrow and well marked, external furrows
broad ; elytra much longer than thorax, very finely sculptured with
longitudinal strie ; hind body very finely punctured; legs testaceous.
L. 2 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly and
rather feebly bisinuate, with the centre of the emargination slightly pro-
duced, and furnished with a depression before apex, which is bounded
by a semicircular ridge.

In dung, dead leaves, decaying fungi, &c.; rare; Sheerness, Shirley, Putney,

Mickleham, Tonbridge, Hampstead, Hammersmith, Plumstead; Repton, Burton-on-
Trent; Wallasey sandhills, Cheshire.

This species is easily distinguished from O. tetracarinatus by the
shining front part of the head, lighter coloured elytra, and pale testaceous
legs.

O. speculifrons, Kr. (Axotylus speculifrons, Thoms.). This species
closely resembles the preceding, but may be distinguished by the head,
which is dull, with the antennal projections, and two small spaces on
vertex, near one another, more smooth and shining ; the third joint of
the antenne is a little longer, and the elytra are darker, and shorter in
proportion to thorax ; the seventh ventral segment of hind body in more
is more distinctly bisinuate, with the central lobe more produced; the
sixth segment has no tubercles on apical margins. L. 2 mm,

Oxytelus. | STAPHYLINIDA, 383

I have only seen a single specimen of this species, which is in Dr.
Power’s collection, and has no locality attached; it appears to be a
maritime species.

OQ. tetracarinatus, Block (depressus, Grav., pusillus, Mannh.,
opacus, Steph. Anotylus depressus, Thoms.). Dull black, with the
hind body more shining ; narrow and linear ; head transverse, differing
in size according to sex, entirely dull, very finely shagreened ; antennew
moderate, black, joints 6-10 strongly transverse ; thorax one and a half
times as broad as long, very finely shagreened longitudinally, with the
usual three furrows more or less obsolete, the central one plainer than
the others ; elytra transverse, a little longer than thorax, very finely and
thickly shagreened longitudinally ; hind body finely and rather thickly
punctured ; legs lighter or darker testaceous, with femora and coxe
more or less infuscate. L, 2 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body bisinuate and
plainly granulate before central lobe ; sixth finely granulate in middle.

In dung, haystack refuse, decaying seaweed, &c.; very common and generally dis-
tributed throughout the kingdom.

OQ. Fairmairei, Pand. (Anotylus Fairmairei, Thoms.). Allied to
the preceding, but easily distinguished by having the anterior tibie ex-
cavated at apex, and the elytra much longer than thorax; the legs,
moreover, are dark with the knees and tarsi reddish-testaceous ; in the
male the seventh ventral segment of hind body is deeply and broadly
emarginate, without any central lobe, and the sixth segment is furnished
with two longitudinal tubercles or carine near middle of apex: in size
the species is exceedingly small. L. 13 mm.

In moss, rotten wood, &ec.; very rare, but perhaps sometimes confused with the
preceding ; found by Dr. Sharp sparingly in several localities ; Scotland, Dee district.

HAPLODERWUS, Stephens.

This genus contains about half a dozen species from Europe and North
America; our single species is very like an Oxytelus, but may be at once
distinguished by having two distinct central furrows in middle of disc,
instead of a distinct central furrow and two more or less obsolete on each
side of it, as in the latter genus.

H. coelatus, Grav. Somewhat parallel, black, rather shining, with
the elytra pitchy brown ; head larger or smaller according to sex, often
raised in front in male, sparingly and obsoletely punctured ; antenne long,
black, with the base of the first two or three joints pitchy red, penulti-
mate joints about as broad as long ; thorax strongly transverse, rounded
at sides, coarsely and sparingly punctured, with two broad furrows on
centre of dise, separated by a smooth interval ; elytra evidently longer

384 STAPHYLINIDA. [ Zaploderus.

than thorax, rather strongly and thickly punctured; legs testaceous. L. 4
mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply emarginate,
the emargination being feebly bisinuate with the central lobe hardly
marked,

In dung, vegetable refuse, at roots of grass, in marshy places, &e.; common and
widely distributed from the Midlands southwards; rarer further north ; Bold mentions
it asa rare hill insect only met with on the western borders of the Northumberland and
Durham district ; Scotland, Lowlands, rare, Forth and Tay districts.

ANCYROPHORUS, Kraatz (Octhephilus, Rey).

This genus comprises about a dozen species from Europe, North
America, and Central Asia ; they are rather peculiar in appearance owing
to their very long depressed elytra, which are much broader than the
thorax ; the tarsi are all 3-jointed ; our two British species are very local,
and are found at the sides of streams, or in damp moss in or near running
streams and waterfalls ; when disturbed they fold themselves into an S
and remain motionless ; the sexual characters are unimportant, the seventh
ventral segment being slightly rounded or subemarginate at apex in male
and feebly bisinuate in female.

I. Form smaller and more slender; antenna not much longer
than head and thorax, with joints 4-6 subtransverse. . . . A. OMALINUS, Er.

IJ. Form larger and more robust; antenna much longer than
head and thorax, with joints 4-6 longer than broad . . . . A. AUREUS, Fauv.

A. omalinus, Er. (venustulus, Rosh., prepositus, Rey, procerulus,
Epp.). Elongate, subparallel, rather depressed, black, more or less shining,
with the elytra more or less brown or pitchy-red ; head subtriangular,
almost as broad as thorax, with two deep furrows; antenne mode-
rately long, blackish with base lighter, slightly thickened towards apex ;
thorax subtransverse, much narrower than elytra, finely and hardly visibly
punctured with two furrows on dise divided by a smooth central line,
which forms with the base, which is somewhat raised, an anchor-shaped
elevation ; elytra much longer than broad, about three times as long as
thorax, finely and thickly punctured ; hind body finely and not thickly
punctured ; legs reddish-testaceous. L. 3 mm.

On the sides of streams, &c., in damp moss; very local; Sawley, Lancashire (first
taken as British in this locality by Dr. Power) ; Bewdley, banks of Severn ; Clifton ;
Scarborough; Northumberland district, banks of Irthing and Wansbeck ; Scotland,
common, Solway and probably other districts ; Ireland, Bray, co, Wicklow.

A. aureus, Fauv. (/ongipennis, Wat., &c., nec Fairm.). Larger and
more robust than the preceding, and evidently duller, with the antenne
much longer, and stouter, with the joints more elongate; the elytra are
a little more distinctly punctured, and the legs are, as a rule, of a clearer
testaceous colour; this species differs from O. longipennis, Fairm., to which
it has usually been referred, by being a little larger and broader, with the

Ancyrophorus. | STAPHYLINIDE. 335

pubescence of the hind body rather finer and more golden, and the
punctuation of the head and thorax a little less fine and less close, and
of the elytra somewhat stronger; the pubescence of the elytra also is
more golden and rather less thick than in A. longipennis, and the antenne
are a little lighter, L. 3-4 mm.

On the sides of streams and waterfalls, in damp moss; very local; Tonbridge ;

Searborough ; Northumberland district, banks of Irthing, taken abundantly at Yet-
holm by Mr. Crotch ; Scotland, not common, Solway, Tweed, and Forth districts.

TROGOPHLEUS, Mannerlheim.

This genus comprises, as at present constituted, rather more than one
hundred described species, and is probably one of the most extensive of
all the genera of Staphylinide ; about a third of these species are found
in Europe, and the rest are widely distributed over the surface of the
globe, representatives oceurring in Siberia, India, Ceylon, Cuba, North
Ameriea,* Brazil (Amazon districts), New Guinea, Australia, &c.; there
are eleven British species, omitting 7. spinicollis, Ry e, W hich rests on a
single specimen found near Manchester and was probably an importation ;
some of these are extremely closely allied and hard to determine ; they
are for the most part very small and insignificant-looking insects, and are
slow in their movements ; their usual habitat is in muddy places near
streams and ponds, where they hollow out for themselves small galleries ;
they are therefore found abundantly, asa rule, in flood refuse ; they often
occur, however, in haystack and vegetable refuse, hotbeds, &c., especially
in damp places ; their form is linear and parallel; the scutellum is quite
hidden; the thorax is quite level in some cases, but is almost always
furnished with more or less distinet furrows or fovez on dise ; the follow-
ing table of the species may be found of some service, but they are very
hard to tabulate satisfactorily ; the species are divided by Thomson,
Mannerheim, Rey, and others into three genera, Carpalimus, Trogophlwus,
and Tcenosoma, according to the sculpture of the thorax and the relative
length of the second and third joints of the antenne ; although this
latter character is on the whole a useful one, yet it is rather confusing i in
certain cases, as may be proved by the fact that Rey places 7. fuliginosus
under Trogophl@us verus, whereas Thomson places it under Tienosoma ; if
however, we take out this latter species, which is very easily distinguish-
able by other characters, the distinction will be found to be in most cases an
easily recognized one.

I. Thorax marked at base with a strong crescent-shaped
furrow ; third joint of antennw about equal in length

to secnd; length 3 mm, (Sub-Gen. Carpalimus,
Sou) 6 ob 4 6 go 0 8 5 of oho of 6 HOUR OR

* Leconte mentions fifty species, mostly undescribed, from America, north of
Mexico.
VOL, IL cc

336 STAPHYLINIDE. ( Trogophlaus.

II. Thorax without crescent-shaped furrow at base, its dise,
asarule, furnished with two longitudinal furrows, which
are sometimes obsolete, and occasionally wanting.
i, Third joint of antenne a little shorter than second;
joints 5-7 oblong ; length 23-3 mm.
1. Elytra more strongly punctured; sides of thorax
evidently rugose and duller; average size larger . T. BILINEATUS, Steph.
nec Er.).
2. Elytra more finely punctured; sides of thorax not : )
or very slightly rugose and not duller; average
sizesmaller . . . T. RIvuLarts, Mots,
. Third joint of antenne somewhat variable, but usually
about half as long as second; joints 5-7 as long as
broad; head much narrower than thorax which is not
visibly foveolate on disc ; legs clear testaceous ; length
2-2i mm. . T. FULIGINOSUS, Grav.
. Third joint of antenna “much. shorter than second (the
latter being about three times longer than the former) ;
joints 5-7 ‘always transverse.
1. Antenne black, with at most the first joint pitchy
brown or pitchy red.
A. Legs, except knees, tarsi, and trochanters, black ;
elytra rather strongly and thickly punctured ;
length limm. .. T. roveoxatus, Sahklb.
B. Legs pitchy or pitchy testaceous, with femora
darker ; 3; elytra finely punctured.
a, Head and thorax plainly punctured, the latter
with earns eleg t traceable ; length
14-2mm. . T. CORTICINUS, Grav.
b. Head and thorax very finely shagreened, the
latter without dorsal furrows, but indistinetly
foveolate at base. L.1i mm. . T. HALOPHILUS, Kies.
2 Antenne dark with base more or less broadly reddish
or reddish-testaceous.
A. Elytra about as long as, or slightly longer than,
thorax, the latter with two obsolete dorsal fur-
rows, legs red or pitchy red; length 2mm.. . T. ELONGATULUS, Er.
B. Elytra much longer than thorax; legs clear tes-
taceous; length not exceeding 1k mm.
a. Thorax’ distinctly transverse ; ‘dorsal furrows
rather distinct, divided, taking the form of
four shallow depressions 60 T. PUSILLUS, Grav.
b. Thorax not transverse, as long as broad ; * dorsal
furrows as in the preceding, but very indistinct. T. TENELLUS, Er.
3. Antennz entirely testaceous; thorax not transverse ;
form extremely narrow and linear . . . . . . T.susBrinis, Zr.

The sexual characters of the genus do not require particular mention ;
in 7. arcuatus the seventh ventral segment of hind body is very narrowly
and angularly emarginate in middle of apical margin; in the other
species the same segment is feebly bisinuate or almost truncate, the
central portion being more or less, but always slightly, advanced.

T. arcuatus, Steph. (scrobiculatus, Er., Carpalimus areuatus,
Steph.). Rather broad and depressed, black, somewhat shining, clothed

Trogophlaus. | STAPHYLINIDE, 387

with rather close and fine greyish pubescence ; head somewhat triangular,
contracted behind, distinctly narrower than thorax, thickly punctured ;
antenne moderately long, blackish or brownish, with first joint pitchy red ;
thorax transverse, subcordiform, with sides strongly and somewhat angu-
larly rounded in front and contracted behind, thickly punctured, with a
distinct crescent-shaped impression along base, and two more or less plain
oblique fovew on disc; elytra broad, much wider than hase of thorax,
closely and rather strongly punctured; hind body narrower than elytra,
subparallel until near apex, where it is narrowed, finely and thickly
punctured; legs pitchy brown, with the tarsi and sometimes the knees,
lighter. L. 3 mm.

In moss, flood refuse, at roots of grass, &c., on the banks of ponds and rivers; not
common; Hammersmith ; Tonbridge; Knowle, near Birmingham (on submerged logs
in the river Blythe (Blatch)) ; Repton; Scarborough ; Northumberland district, Wal-
lington (Power), banks of streams very rare (Bold); Scotland, local, Solway and
Tweed districts; Ireland, Bray, co. Wicklow.

|. bilineatus, Steph. (nec Er.) (riparius, Lac., suspectus, Rey).
This species much resembles the preceding in general appearance ; it may
however, be easily distinguished by the absence of the crescent-shaped
furrow at the base of thorax, which is less angularly rounded in middle,
the lighter base of the antenne, and narrower elytra, which are somewhat
longer in proportion; the antenne are rather longer and more slender,
dark with the first two or three joints red, or occasionally ferruginous
with the base lighter, third joint a little shorter than second, joints 4-7
oblong in the male, and suboblong in the female; the elytra are clothed
with distinct and rather close pubescence, and are rather strongly punc-
tured; the legs are reddish-testaceous with the posterior coxe darker.
L. 23-3 mm.

Marshy places, in flood refuse, at roots of grass, &e.; common and generally dis-
tributed throughout England and Scotland as far north as the Moray district, and
probably common in Ireland.

In immature specimens the elytra and antenne are entirely reddish ; I
have a specimen, which appears to be mature, in which one antenna is
dark with red base, and the other entirely red.

T. rivularis, Mots. (bilineatus, Er., nec Steph., Erichsoni, Sharp).
Very like the preceding, and often confounded with it; it is, however,
on the average, rather smaller, with the thorax not rugose or duller at the
sides as is the case with the preceding species; the sides of the thorax
are more rounded in front, and the elytra are evidently more finely punc-
tured ; this latter character is perhaps the most satisfactory, some of the
others being only slightly apparent; the dorsal furrows are often inter-
rupted, so as almost to form four separate fovew ; the legs are reddish
with the femora sometimes darker, L. 2}-2$ mm,

Under the same conditions as the preceding, but much less common; Dulwich,
Ce 2

383 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Trogophleus.

Darenth, Norwood, Birdbrook, Chatham, Sheerness, Whitstable, Merton, Forest Hill,
Mickleham, Egham, Tonbridge; Bewdley Forest; Knowle; Repton; Manchester ;
Ireland, Waterford (Power),

T. elongatulus, Er. (Zi@nosoma elongatula, Thoms.). This species
very much resembles superficially a small and narrow example of the
preceding ; linear, rather dull black, clothed with thick ashy pubescence ;
head subtriangular, about as broad as thorax, narrowed behind, thickly
and rugosely shagreened ; antenne rather short, dark, with first joint red,
third joint much shorter than second, fifth subtransy erse, fourth mode-
rately, 6-8 strongly transverse ; thorax transverse, subcordiform, rounded
in front and narrowed behind, very finely, thickly, and rugosely sha-
greened with dorsal furrows somewhat obsolete ; elytra slightly longer
than thorax, finely and very thickly punctured; hind body very finely
and thickly punctured, base of segments almost smooth ; legs reddish,
with the coxe and femora darker. L. 2 mm,

Marshy places, at roots of grass, &c.; common and generally distributed in the
Midlands and the London and southern districts; rarer further north ; Northumber-

land district, amongst algz on the sea-coast, rare (Bold) ; Scotland, Lowlands, Forth
and Solway districts.

T. fuliginosus, Gray. (Twnosoma fuliginosa, Thoms.). Black,
moderately shining, with the elytra usually brownish, clothed with very
fine, thick, and close ashy pubescence ; head and thorax very finely sha-
ereened, the former much narrower than thorax, the latter transverse
strongly rounded and dilated in front, and much narrowed behind, with
two more or less obsolete fovez at base, but with the dise smooth and even;
antenne moderate, reddish with the apical joints darker, third joint about
half the length of second, fourth joint subtransverse, 5-7 as long as broad
in male, almost as long as broad in female, penultimate joints transverse ;
elytra evidently longer than thorax, very finely and thickly punctured ;
hind body narrower than elytra, very slightly wider behind, extremely
finely punctured or shagreened; legs testaceous, with the cox, and
occasionally posterior femora, a little darker. L. 2 —2+ mm.

Damp and marshy places; under dead leaves, in moss, flood refuse, &.; also by
sweeping herbage ; local and not common ; ; Wandsworth, Sheerness, Mickleham,
Faversham, Tonbridge; Hastings ; Norfolk ; Suffolk; Devonshire ; Bristolls Salford
Priors ; Repton ; Liverpool ; Northumberland district, rare, bauks of Till; Scotland,
Lowlands, rare, ‘Tweed and Solway districts.

T. foveolatus, Sahlb. (Zwnosoma foveolata, Thoms.). Of a shorter
and broader form than any of the allied species; deep black, with very
fine and indistinct pubescence ; head transverse, nearly as broad as thorax,
rather strongly impressed in front, finely shagreened ; antenne rather
short, black, with third joint much shorter than second, thickened towards
apex 3 thorax strongly transverse, subcordiform, finely shagreened, with
four more or less obsolete foveze on disc ; elytra plainly longer than thorax,
rather strongly and thickly punctured ; "hind body short and broad, finely,

Trogophlaus. | STAPHYLINID.E. 389

and rather thickly punctured; legs black, knees, tarsi, and trochanters
testaceous. L. 1} mm.

Salt marshes, on the mud, in flood refuse, &e.; rare; Whitstable and Sheerness
(Champion) ; also inland, Darenth Wood and Bewdley Forest (Blatch).

T. corticinus, Grav. (Twnosoma corticina, Thoms.). More elongate
and linear than the preceding, with the elytra more finely punctured, and
the dorsal furrows more distinct and not divided into fovez ; the legs also
are lighter; black, rather shining, with very fine and rather sparing ashy
pubescence ; head hardly narrower than thorax, very finely and thickly
punctured ; antenne rather short, black, with first joint rarely lighter,
third joint much shorter than second, fifth distinetly longer and thicker
than fourth and sixth, 8-11 broad; thorax transverse, not strongly
narrowed behind, very finely and thickly punctured, with the dorsal
furrows distinct ; elytra evidently longer than thorax, thickly and finely
but distinctly punctured ; hind body slightly wider behind, very thickly
and obsoletely punctured ; legs pitehy with tarsi, and more or less of tibize,
testaceous. LL. 1{-2 mm.

Marshy places, at roots of grass, on mud, &e. ; also found in dry localities ; generally
distributed and common in the London district ; apparently less common further
north; Wicken Fen; Knowle; Bewdley Forest; Saliord Priors; Repton; Scar-
borough; Manchester; Lincoln ; Northumberland district ; Scotland, Lowlands,
Solway district.

T. halophilus, Kies. (Tanosoma halophila, Thoms.). This species
is allied to the preceding, but is considerably smaller, and may easily be
distinguished by the sculpture of the thorax, which has the centre of dise
smooth or almost smooth, and the base furnished with two shallow and
more or less obsolete fovew, which are sometimes united; the head and
thorax are very finely shagreened and not punctured as in Z. corticinus,
and the elytra are more finely punctured. L. 11-13 mm.

Salt marshes, in flood refuse, &c. ; rare ; Sheerness, Rochester, Chatham ; Southsea ;
Lymington; Weymouth; also inland, Hopwas Wood, Tamworth (B'atch) and
Lincoln.

T. pusillus, Grav. (Z@nosoma pusilla, Thoms.). Narrow and linear,
dull black, with the elytra reddish-brown, clothed with fine and thick
ashy pubescence ; head about as broad as thorax, distinctly impressed in
front, very finely and thickly shagreened ; antennz moderate, dark red,
with one or two joints at base testaceous, third joint much shorter than
second, last three joints larger than the rest ; thorax distinctly transverse,
moderately narrowed behind, very thickly and hardly visibly punctured,
with four depressions on disc, which are more or less distinet ; elytra
much longer than thorax, very finely and thickly punctured ; hind body
almost as broad as elytra, black with apex lighter, very finely shagreened,
L. 13 mn.

Marshy places, in flood refuse, &e., and by sweeping ; also common in hotheds and
dungheaps in some localities. Chatham, Whitstable, Sheerness, Caterha m, Mickle

390 STAPHYLINID F. [ Trogophleus.

ham, Dulwich, Kingsgate, &e.; Deal, Hastings, and southern districts generally ;
Devonshire; Bewdley Forest; Burton-on-Trent; Cheshire; Northumberland dis-
trict ; Scotland, not common, Solway, Tweed, Forth, and Dee districts; Ireland,
near Dublin; it appears to be somewhat local, and to be rarer in the north, but it
occurs in large numbers when found, and is usually considered the commonest species
of the genus,

T. tenellus, Er. (gracilis, Mannh., Twnosoma tenella, Thoms.).
Narrower and more linear than the preceding, which it closely resembles
in appearance, but easily distinguished by the shape of the thorax, which
is as long as broad, and subquadrate ; the dorsal furrows also are less
marked and less interrupted; the elytra are distinctly narrower and
longer and the hind body is more elongate. L. 14 mm.

Marshy places, in flood refuse, &c.; rare; first taken by Mr. Waterhouse at

Kingsbury Reservoir; Colney Hatch; Mickleham; Esher; Darenth Wood; Small-
heath and Knowle, B.rmingham; Scotland, rare, Solway district.

T. subtilis, Er. (Te@nosoma subtilis, Thoms.). More slender and
linear than any other species of the genus; it is closely allied to the
preceding but has the antenne entirely testaceous and the thorax longer
and more distinctly narrowed towards base ; there seems, however, to be
some variation in the shape of the thorax in these small species, and the
colour of the antennz is somewhat deceptive. Thomson speaks of a
variety of T. tencllus with the antenne entirely testaceous. L. 14 mm.

This species appears to have been introduced by Mr. Crotch, but I
can find no record of any locality for it: in Dr. Power’s collection,
however, there are doubtful specimens from Birdbrook and Cowley which
appear to belong to it, as also do the specimens from Eltham which are
placed under T. tenellus.

(T. spinicollis, Rye. A single specimen of this curious insect was
taken by Mr. J. Kidson Taylor of Manchester under flood refuse by the
river Mersey on August 9th, 1868 ; it is black with the first joint of the
antenne, the thorax, elytra, and legs, rufo-piceous; the thorax is trans-
verse, scarcely cordiform, with an impression on each side behind, and
the anterior angles produced into a short but evident spine, coarsely
punctured ; the elytra are double as broad and more than twice as long
as thorax, very coarsely and almost rugosely punctured ; the hind body
is black, shining, very delicately and at the apex widely punctured ; it
is of the same size as 7’. arcuatus, and is in some ways allied to that
species, but differs widely from it in several particulars; no further
specimen has occurred, and it is very probable that it was an importa-
tion.)

THINOBIUS, Kiesenwetter.

There are about twenty-six species at present comprised in this genus,
of which thirteen are European, and the rest occur in Siberia and North

Thinobius.] STAPHYLINIDA. 391

America with the exception of two, which are found, like many other
of the forms of the Northern Hemisphere, in Chili; they are very minute
insects, usually less than 2 mm. in length, and live on the banks of
streams in the damp sand, often almost in the water; they are rapid in
their movements ; all our species are rare, and one or two of them
extremely so; it is however very probable that they are often passed over
owing to their minute size, and inconspicuous appearance; the sexual
differences appear to be imperfectly known and of little importance.
Dr. Sharp proposes to separate Thinob/ws and its allies from the Oxyte-
line on the ground that ‘they possess a different structure of the pro-
thoracic side pieces and of the front coxw, making some approach i
these respects to the sub-family Aleocharine.”
I. Head quadrangular, as broad as thorax; eyes smaller
and situated further from neck; form more elongate
and linear. (Zhinophilus, Rey.)
i, Size larger (2 mm.); body pitch-black with elytra
dark pitchy brown ; fourth joint of antenne smaller
than those on each side of it tata T. mason, lyr.
ii. Size smaller (less than 2 mm.); body pitchy brown
with elytra fusco-testaceous.
1. Antenne longer and more slender, with fifth joint
longer than those on each side of it, distinctly
longer than broad, joints 7-8 subequal a little
longer than broad ; head and thorax less thickly
punctured and pubescent, more shiny . . . T. LINKEARIS, Avr.
2. Antenne shorter and rather stouter with joints
4-8 subequal, about as long as broad; head more
thickly punctured and pubescent, dull . . . . J, BRUNNEIPENNIS, Ar.
Il, Head somewhat rounded, or subtriangular, narrower
than thorax ; eyes larger and situated nearer to neck ;
form less elongate and linear. (Zhinobius, i. sp.)
1. Elytra brownish ; antennz longer, with joints oat
about as long as broad. . T. LONGIPENNIS, Heer.
2. Elytra and whole upper surface deep black ; an-
tennx shorter, with joints 5-7 distinctly trans-
Vowtbo gpg of oo 8 6 5 8 6 5 pho 4 pe diguiaa pedo nape igiey

T. major, Kr. (Thinophilus major, Rey). Elongate, lnear, de-
pressed, pitch-black, rather shining, with the elytra a little lighter ;
clothed with very fine greyish pubescence ; whole upper surface very
finely and thickly punctured ; head about as broad as thorax, subquad-
rate ; antenne pitchy, rather long, third joint shoit, subglobose, fourth
smaller than those on each side of it, 9-10 broader than the preceding,
eleventh oval-oblong ; thorax strongly transverse, truncate at apex,
with the anterior angles right angles, rounded at sides and behind ;
elytra depressed, twice as long as thorax, more obsoletely punctured
than head and thorax ; hind body elongate, almost as broad as base of
elytra, with sixth segment sinuate on apical margin and furnished with
a pale membrane, and the seventh slightly emarginate ; legs pitchy tes-
taceous, with femora darker. L. 2 mm.

Very rare; Scotland, Tay district; taken by Mr. Crotch on the shores of Loch

392 STAPHYLINID®. [ Thinobius.

Rarnoch ; it appears to be very rare on the Continent, as Kraatz, its describer, knew
only of two examples; it is the largest species of the genus at present known.

T. linearis, Kr. (longicornis, J. Salilb., luteipennis, Rey? Thino-
philus linearis, Rey). Much smaller than the preceding, pitchy brown,
with the elytra lighter, clothed with very fine and close greyish pubes-
cence ; head as broad as thorax, with two very distinct furrows in front,
transversely subquadrate ; punctuation of head and thorax very fine,
thick, and obsolete ; antennz moderately long, thickened towards apex,
testaceous, with the apex sometimes a little darker, joints 5-8 varying
somewhat in size ; thorax strongly transverse, almost truncate in front
and rounded behind; elytra almost twice as long as thorax, very finely
and thickly punctured ; hind body elongate, almost as broad at base as
elytra, very thickly punctured, shining at apex, sixth segment slightly
sinuate; legs testaceous with the femora sometimes slightly darker. L.
1} mm.

In sand on the banks of rivers, streams, and lochs; rare; Scarborough (Wilkinson) ;

Scotland, scarce, Solway, Forth, and Tuy districts; Dr. Sharp has found it in com-
pany with Homalota subtilissima, to which it bears a great superficial resemblance.

T. brunneipennis, Kr. (sub-gen. Thinophilus, Rey). Very closely
allied to the preceding, but a little broader, with the head and thorax
more thickly punctured and pubescent and so duller; the general colour,
moreover, is darker, and the posterior femora are more often darker;
the antennz are rather shorter and stouter, and have joints 4-8 sub-
equal, and almost as broad as long or subtransverse ; the thorax is more
strongly rounded at sides and contracted behind, and the elytra are a
little shorter in proportion. L. 13} mm.

Very rare; Scotland, Tay district. It was first recorded by Mr. G, Waterhouse as
from Scotland, Rev. W. Little’s collection (Ent. Ann, 1859, 137).

T. longipennis, Heer. (ciléatus, Kies.). This and the next species
are easily distinguished from all those that precede by their smaller
size, less linear form, and the fact that the head is evidently narrower
than thorax, somewhat rounded, or even subtriangular; this species is
dull black, with the elytra brownish, clothed with very fine ashy pubes-
cence ; the whole upper surface is very finely, and scarcely visibly,
shagreened ; antenne slender, dark testaceous or brownish with the basal
joints lighter, joints 4-10 at least as long as broad or subtransverse
(this difference is probably sexual) ; thorax very strongly transverse,
slightly and very broadly emarginate at apex, with the anterior angles
almost right angles, rounded, but not much narrowed, behind, without
impressions ; elytra more than twice as long as thorax; hind body a
little narrower than elytra, not elongate, sixth segment slightly sinuate
in middle of apical margin; legs lighter or darker testaceous: the general
colour, however, of the whole inseet is variable and differs considerably
according to the localities in which it occurs ; this is especially noticeable
in continental specimens. L. 1 mm.

Thinobius.] STAPHYLINID ®. 393

Under stones, in sand and shingle, on the banks of rivers, streams, &c.; local ;
Scarborough (Lawson) ; banks of the Skell, near Ripon, in company with Homalota
exilis and Actidium concolor (Waterhouse); Scotland, common, Solway, Tweed,
Forth, Tay, and Moray districts ; Ireland, Dodder banks, near Dublin; it probably
occurs in many localities in the North of England.

T. brevipennis, Kies. This species is allied to the preceding, but
may be distinguished easily by its deep black colour, and shorter and
stouter antenne of which the intermediate joints are strongly transverse ;
the thorax is more strongly rounded at the sides and is furnished with
two more or less obsolete oblique depressions at base, separated by a more
or less distinctly raised line; the elytra are shorter in proportion ; the
antenne and legs are much darker, being very dark, pitchy, or black ; the
size is on the average rather smaller. L. vix 1 mm.

Has only been found hitherto in the Fen districts; Holme Fen, Hunts (Janson),
May, 1859; Quy Fen, Cambridge April 3rd, 1863 (Power and Crotch); Fen districts,
in numbers (Crotch).*

SYNTOMIUM, HErichson.

This peculiar genus appears to contain at present only two species, one
inhabiting Central and Northern Europe, and the other oceurring in
Alaska, North America: our species is easily known by its broad and
short form, metallic lustre, and very strong punctuation ; the tarsi
are all five-jointed, the first four joints being short, and the last about
as long as the rest taken together ; the insect is found in moss in woods
and is slow in its movements ; it is not uncommon in many localities,
but never appears to occur abundantly.

The larva of S. @neum is described and figured by Schiddte (Part vii. p. 559, Pl. 1,
&e.): it is very short and broad, convex, and capable of rolling itself up into a ball,
and much resembles a very minute wood-louse ; all the dorsal scuta are complete and
are dark-coloured ; the head is much narrower than the prothorax, and the antennze
are very short and rather stout; the ocelli are three in number on each side; the
prothorax is larger than any of the other segments and is emarginate in front
and strongly rounded behind so that it is almost lunate; the body is broadest at
the fourth abdominal segment and from thence is narrowed to apex ; the anal appen-
dage is short and broad and looks like an extra segment, and the cerci are solid, very
short, and only visible from the side as they do not pass the anal appendage ; the
legs are short. This larva is found in the same habitat as the perfect insect ; it is
slow in its movements, and avoids danger by rolling itself into a ball and keeping
motionless,

S. weneum, Mill. Form short, thick, somewhat convex, of a dark
black bronze, or brownish bronze colour, sometimes a little greenish ;
head much narrower than thorax, strongly and rather thickly punctured ;
antenne about as long as head and thorax united, black, with the apex
reddish, or entirely reddish, terminating in rather a strongly marked
three-jointed club; thorax transverse, much narrower than elytra, very
strongly and deeply punctured, with two fovez at base and a smooth

* This species has been taken this summer (1887) by Mr. Champion in the Isle of
Wight; Dr, Sharp has also taken it in the island at Totlands Bay.

B04 STAPHYLINIDE, [Syntomium

raised central line ; elytra much broader than long, a little longer than
thorax, very strongly, thickly, and somewhat rugosely punctured ; hind
body short and very broad, almost, if not quite, as broad as elytra, shin-
ing, bronze-black, almost smooth, or extremely finely shagreened ; legs
ferruginous or pitchy red. L. 2 mm.

In moss, or in damp places, especially in woods ; occasionally by evening sweeping ;
local ; London district, Caterham, Shirley, Reigate, Esher, Woking, Tonbridge, &c. ;
Dover; Hastings; New Forest; Oxfordshire; Midland districts, rather common,
Bewdley Forest, Birmingham district, Repton, &c.; Liverpool; Manchester; No»th-
umberland district ; Scotland, not common, but rather widely distributed, Tweed,
Solway, Forth, Dee, and Moray districts; Ireland, Dinnish Island (J. J. Walker).

COPROPHILUS, Kuaatz.

This genus comprises about half-a-dozen species (if we exclude the
four or five species of-the genus Zonoptilus, Mots., which is included
under it by some authors), of which three occur in Chili, one in Mesopo-
tamia, and one in Europe: our single species is like a large Oxytelus in
general appearance, but has all the tarsi five-jointed ; the strongly striated
elytra will at once serve to distinguish it; it is rather slow in its move-
ments, and is often taken on the wing ; it occurs commonly on roads and
pavements in some localities during the first warm days of spring.

G. striatulus, F. Elongate, rather depressed and parallel-sided,
shining black, glabrous; head rather long, narrowed in front, with two
very strong impressions, sparingly and unevenly punctured ; antenne
rather long, ferruginous or reddish brown, with the apex often a little
lighter, penultimate joints scarcely transverse; thorax about as long as
broad, with sides slightly rounded and crenulate in front, and slightly
sinuate behind before posterior angles, which are rather prominent right
angles, sparingly and unevenly punctured, with a strong elongate central
fovea and two smaller ‘ones on each side at base ; elytra longer than
thorax, very strongly and deeply striated longitudinally and punctured,
the intervals being smooth, apex finely rugose; hind body narrower.
than elytra, finely and somewhat asperately punctured in front, almost
smooth behind ; legs dark pitchy, or pitchy red, with the trochanters
and tarsi light red. L. 6-7 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body prolonged and
somewhat rounded at apex, female with the same ‘segment distinctly
produced in a somewhat rounded angle.

In haystack and vegetable refuse, hotbeds, &e.; generally distributed and rather
common throughout the London, southern, and midland districts ; Lincoln, common
on pavements in early spring, running in the sun, but not found later in the year;
rarer further. north, Scarborough, Manchester, &e. ; Northumberland district, not
common; Scotland, Lowlands, scurce, Solway, Tweed, Forth, and Dee districts.

ACROGNATHUS, Erichson.

There appears at present to be only one described species belonging to

Acrognathus, | STAPHYLINID B95

this genus; it is scarce on the Continent, and is one of our rarest British
insects ; it occurs under dead decaying leaves on the edges of stagnant
pools, almost, if not quite, in the water.

A. mandibularis, Gyll. Elongate, linear, somewhat depressed, of
a dull ferruginous-red colour, with the head black, or pitchy brown, and
the thorax often dark pitchy red ; the elytra are lighter red, with the
apex sometimes a little infuscate ; head subtriangular, rather strongly
and sparingly punctured ; antenne entirely red, rather long, with the
last three joints larger than the rest ; thorax subquadrate, or slightly
longer than broad, considerably narrower than elytra, very slightly and
gradually narrowed behind, with posterior angles almost right angles,
rather finely and sparingly punctured, with a smooth central line, which
is abbreviated in front; elytra considerably longer than thorax, very
finely shagreened, and besides finely and rather thickly punctured in
irregular rows, with three more or less obsolete raised lines on each ;
hind body parallel-sided, more shining than elytra, very finely sha-
creened, smooth and rather shining at apex ; legs testaccous-red. L.
53-6 mm.

Male with the first ventral segment furnished behind with a tubercle
in centre, seventh slightly and obtusely prolonged in middle.

In rotting leaves, on the banks of stagnant ponds, especially in woods; once taken
on the wing ; very rare; Darenth Wood; Claygate, Surrey; Epping Forest ; Ton-
ridge.

COMPSOCHILUS, Kraatz. (Planeustomus, Duval.)

The species belonging to this genus bear a rather close relation to
Acrognathus, but are widely separated from them by the structure of the
tarsi, which are five-jointed in the latter genus, whereas in Coipsochilus
they are all three-jointed ; the elytra, moreover, have no border, whereas
in Acrognathus they are finely bordered at the sides; the genus com-
prises about a dozen species, which are all found in Europe with the
exception of two from Algeria and Morocco: they are slow in their
movements and live in woods and damp places ; they are said to fly just
before twilight.

Cc. palpalis, Er. Elongate, narrow and linear, testaceous, rather
shining, with the head, metasternum, and usually a space before apex of
hind body, darker; head subtriangular, very finely shagreened, and
rather strongly and sparingly punctured, clypeus smooth and shining,
forehead with a slight impression on each side; antenne testaceous
with the five last joints darker ; these joints are also larger than the
rest, the three last being the largest; thorax a little longer than broad,
much narrower than elytra, gradually and slightly narrowed behind, with
posterior angles somewhat obtuse, obsoletely shagreened, finely and
diffusely punctured at sides, and with two series of punctures on disc,
separated by a rather narrow, impunctate, somewhat raised interval ;

396 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Compsochilus.

elytra oblong, considerably longer than thorax, rather finely punctured in
more or less distinct rows; hind body elongate, subparallel, almost
smooth and impunctate ; legs yellow-testaceous. LL, 38-4 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body rounded at apex,
female with the same segment somewhat angularly rounded.

Banks of ponds and ditches, by sweeping long grass and herbage towards evening ;
once tuken on the wing; very rare; Sheerness (Walker) ; Tonbridge (Wollaston) ; *
Wandsworth (Waterhouse); Caterham, one example brushed from long grass on the
banks of a pond, July, i875 (Champion). The antenne are sometimes entirely testa-
ceous, and the head entirely red; the males are generally of a duller red colour,
according to Mulsant and Rey, and have the hind body occasionally almost entirely
black or brownish, with the exception of the apex.

DELEASTER, Erichson.

This genus seems to form a transition between the Oxyteline and the
Homaliin, its members bearing a strong superficial resemblance to
Anthophagus; it only comprises three or four species from Europe,
North America, and Southern Abyssinia ; they are active in their move-
ments and live under stones, &e., on the banks of ponds and streams ;
our single species appears to be taken mostly on the wing; the legs are
elongate, and the tarsi are all five-jointed.

D. dichrous, Grav. Rather broad and depressed, of a bright tes-
taceous-red colour, with the head black, and the hind body pitchy black,
the lateral margins, which are very broad and much raised, and the apex,
being brownish or reddish ; head subtriangular, broader than thorax,
smooth and shining on disc, duller towards base ; eyes large and pro-
minent ; antenne long, and somewhat thickened towards apex, ferru-
ginous, with base often lighter, joints 5-10 almost equal in length,
oblong ; thorax subcordiform, much narrower than elytra, strongly
rounded in front and evidently narrowed behind, sparingly, and rather
coarsely, but not deeply punctured, with a short channel on centre of
dise and a depression before scutcllum; elytra about twice as long as
thorax, and much broader, finely and thickly punctured, entirely reddish-
testaceous ; hind body with sides somewhat rounded, evidently, though
finely, punctured at sides, disc smooth; legs reddish-testaceous. L.
6-7 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body truncate at apex,
and the four first joints of anterior tarsi slightly dilated and furnished
with very close-set hairs heneath ; in the female the anterior tarsi are
simple.

In rotting leaves, under stones, &e.; on the banks of ponds; mostly taken on the
wing; not common; Lewisham, Maidstone, Croydon, Caterham, Hammersmith,
Colney Hatch, Norwood, Bromley, Bearsted, &c.; Hastings; Salford; Bewdley

* Since the above was written this species has been taken in some small numbers
near Tonbridge (June 1887) by Mr. Horner and Mr. Blatch.

Deleaster.] STAPTYLINID£. 397

Forest ; Repton; Buxton ; Withington, Cheshire ; Scotland, very rare, Solway and
Forth districts ; Ireland, one specimen, near Dublin (Egan).

V. Leachit, Curt, (adustus, Kiist.). This variety is a little narrower
than the type, especially at the elytra, and the elytra have the whole apex
or at least the posterior angles more or less broadly darkened.

This variety sometimes occurs with the type, but as a rule they are
found in different localities; Tonbridge; Hythe; Barmouth; Bewdley
Forest ; Scarborough ; Preston Marsh, Lancashire ; Stretford, near Man-

>
chester; Carlisle; Scotland, very rare, Solway and Forth districts.

HOMALIINA,

This sub-family contains upwards of forty genera, of which by far
the largest in point of numbers is Homalium; this genus, however, is
by some authors split up into seven or eight sub-genera; the great
characteristic of the sub-family is the presence of two ocelli or simple
lenses on the vertex of the head, which are usually placed on a line
joining the posterior margins of the eyes; the anterior cox are conical
and prominent, and the posterior ones transverse ; the body, as a rule, is
flat and the elytra often cover a great portion of the hind body; all the
tarsi are five-jointed ; very little appears to be known as yet regarding
their transformations.

The following arrangement of the genera must be regarded as more or
less provisional, as it is rather hard to arrange them satisfactorily : —

I. Maxillary palpi with the last joint very minute,
subulate ; penultimate joint very strongly dilated.

i. Posterior tarsi with first and second joints rather
longer than the two pler nes antennze more

_ slender c-6 4 . Corypuium, Steph.
. Posterior tarsi with joints a4 about equal in
Sein ; antenne shorter and stouter. . . . Eupectus, Redt.

Il. Maxillary palpi with the last joint more or “Tess
elongate; penultimate joint not, or only slightly,
dilated.
i. Posterior tarsi with joints 14 unequal in length.
1. Posterior tarsi elongate nearly as long as
fibig = < . . PHILORHINUM, Kraalz.
2. Posterior tarsi distinetly ‘shorter than tibia.
A. Maxillary palpi with the last joint four
times as long as the penultimate . . . . LexsreEva, Latr.
B. Maxillary palpi with last joint equal to ora
little longer or shorter than penultimate.
a. Mandibles strongly denticulate with the
teeth long and sharp.
a*, Maxillary palpi with penultimate
joint not dilated . . . ANTHOPHAGUS, Grav.
b*. Maxillary palpi with penultimate joint
distinctly, although not strongly di-
lated, pyriform, Day broader at apex
than last joint. . . . GeropRomicvs, Redt.
b. Mandibles quite simple, or at most with
a trace of a blunt tooth at apex.

398 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Homaliine.

a*, Maxillary palpi with the last joint
plainly longer than penultimate; an-
tenn rather stout; elytra longer . . AcrpoTa, Steph.
b*. Maxillary ‘palpi with last joint rather
shorter than penultimate; antenne
slender; elytra very shoré. . . . . ARPEDIUM, Hr.
ii. Posterior tarsi with joints 1-2 elongate, nearly
equal in length,
1. Mesosternum strongly emarginate in front with
a sharp tooth in the middle of Gasca
tibia spinose . . ; . . Latrarimzum, Er.
2. Mesosternum simply ‘emarginate i in front,
A. Last joint of posterior tarsi short.
a, Tibiee pubescent . . . . . . + . « OLopHRuM, Er.
b. Tibia spinose . . . » . DeELipHRum, Zr.
B. Last joint of posterior tarsi elonga ate, nearly
as long as the other joints together tibize

spinose . EvsPHaLervmM, Kr.
- Posterior tarsi with joints 1-4 equal in length,
very short.
1. Elytra very short . . . MicratymMa, Westw.
2. Elytra long, covering a great part ‘of the hind
body.
a Tibia more or less spinose. . . . . Homatium, Grav.

. Tibia pubescent, not perceptibly spinose,
a. Legs very slender, tarsi simple, filiform ;
head with a raised line near eyes,
a*, Form oblong ovate, not very convex,
hind body rather short; posterior tarsi
with the last joint equal in length to the
others together . . . . . HapaLar%a, Thoms.
b*. Form ovate, very convex; hind body
very short; posterior tarsi with the last
joint longer than the others taken
together: so. ee teuel ye) Goteke ACRULTAN Thoms:
b. Legs stouter; tarsi with the first four
joints somewhat dilated; head without
raised line near eyes . . . . « «'. - ANTHOBIUM, Steph.

ANTHOPHAGUWS, Gravenhorst.

The genera Anthophagus and Geodromicus which are classed together
by many authors contain between them upwards of forty species, several
of which appear now to be considered as varieties; the great majority of
these belong to the former genus, of which no less than twenty-one
species are recorded as European in the catalogue of Heyden, Reitter,
and Weise ; several occur in the Caucasus district and one or two are
found in North America ; they are chiefly found in hilly or mountainous
districts ; there are two British species.

I. Elytra broad, much wider at apex than at base,

strongly punctured ; thorax red; sizelarger . . . A. TESTACEUS, Grav.

II. Elytra narrower, not much wider at apex than at

base, more finely Ponce thorax black; size
HrewiGaG Go po a 6 oo * «eo CAL ALPINUS ebay.

Anthophagus. | STAPHYLINIDX. 399

A. testaceus, Grav. (palustris, Heer, caraboides, L., var.). De-
pressed, rather shining, rufo-testaceous, with the head darker, and the
elytra lighter, and the hind body more or less dark before apex ; head
in both sexes not broader than thorax, rather strongly and thickly pune-
tured, with clypeus smooth, strongly narrowed before eyes which are not
large, but distinct and prominent ; dise with two oblique depressions ;
antenna very long, much longer than head and thorax united, reddish
testaceous ; thorax much narrower than elytra, with sides rounded in
front and gently narrowed behind, posterior angles sharp right angles,
rather thickly, strongly, and regularly punctured; elytra more than
double as long as thorax, rather strongly punctured ; hind body diffusely
and very finely punctured ; legs testaceous. L. 45 mm.

Male with the sixth segment of hind body emarginate at apex.

In moss, &e.; a northern species, and rare further south than Northumberland ;
sometimes abundant where it occurs; Scarborough; Southport; Northumberland
district, abundant in woods, Wallington, &e.; Scotland, common and widely dis-

tributed in Lowland districts as far north as the Moray district, and probably in the
more northern counties.

Specimens occur in which the head and thorax are dark red or even
almost black.

A. alpinus, Payk. Smaller and narrower than the preceding and
more parallel ; head differing very much in the two sexes; thorax more
diffusely and finely and less regularly punctured; elytra much more
finely and less evidently punctured and much less dilated behind; the
species may also be easily distinguished by its colour, the head and
thorax being black or very dark and the hind body entirely black; the
antenn also are dark with base testaceous ; legs testaceous with femora
a little darker in some specimens. L. 3-4 mm.

Male with the sixth ventral segment of hind body emarginate at apex,
and with the head very large, broader than thorax, and furnished on each
side in front with a rather long and sharp projecting horn; the man-
dibles also are strongly developed ; in the female the head is narrower
than or about as broad as thorax, without horns, and with the mandibles
not strongly developed.

In moss and by sweeping, &e.; confined to hilly and mountainous districts ;
Snowdon district, North Wales; Ripon, Yorkshire ; Northumberland district, top of
Cheviot, Hedgehope, &c. ; Scotland, Highland and “alpine districts ; local, but some-
times abundant, Tweed, Tay, and Dee districts (Glasgow ; Ben Lomond ; tannoch,

common on Grayvel, &c.). According to Thomson it occurs chiefly on leaves of
willow or birch trees.

GEODROMICUS, Redtenbacher.

This genus appears to comprise about half-a-dozen species, two of
which are European; they appear to be extremely variable, to judge by
the amount of varicties and synonyms which follow their names in the

400 STAPHYLINID®. [ Geodromicus.

European catalogue; our species G. négrita is really a variety of G. pla-
giatus, F., the type form not occurring in Britain ; the species differ from
Anthophagus, with which they are united by many authors, by having
the penultimate joint of the maxillary palpi strongly dilated and pyriform
and evidently broader than the last joint, and also by the absence of the
small membranous plate beneath the tarsal claws, which is present in the
first-mentioned genus.
I. Elytra more than twice as long as thorax ; legs black

with tarsi lighter; form broader . . . . . . . G. NiGRITA, Mill.
II. Elytra scarcely twice as long as thorax; legs

reddish; form marrower . . . . «+ « « - - « G. GLOBULICOLLIS, Zett.

G. nigrita, Miill. (plagiatus, var. b, Heer, anthracinus, Bris.).
Deep black, shining, with greyish pubescence; head in both sexes
somewhat narrower than thorax, rather deeply punctured, strongly im-
pressed in middle, with two oblique depressions more or less distinctly
marked ; antenne much longer than head and thorax, blackish brown,
or ferruginous ; thorax much narrower at base than apex, cordiform,
with sides strongly rounded in front and narrowed behind, posterior
angles sharp right angles, not very closely and strongly punctured ;
elytra more than double as long as thorax, widened behind, with
shoulders raised and callose, not deeply but plainly and not very closely
punctured; hind body finely and asperately punctured; legs black or
pitch-black with tarsi lighter. L. 43-5 mm.

Male with the sixth ventral segment of hind body emarginate at
apex.

In moss at the sides of lakes, streams, and waterfalls; Bewdley Forest ; Llangollen;
Manchester district ; Scarborough; banks of the Bollin, Cheshire ; Northumberland

district, Wallington, Rothley Lakes; rare on the Derwent and Irthing; Scotland,
local, Solway, Tweed, Dee, and Moray districts; Ireland, Newcastle, co. Down.

In the type form (G. plagiatus), which does not occur in Britain, the
elytra have a red band on each or a common red‘spot at suture ; Stephens’
Lesteva plagiata is only a variety of L. longelytrata.

G. globulicollis, Mann. Smaller than the preceding, and easily
distinguished from it by its pitchy-red appearance, narrower form, and
much shorter elytra ; the thorax is proportionally longer and narrower
with the sides less rounded in front and contracted behind, and is more
finely punctured ; the punctuation of the elytra is much stronger than
that of thorax, and is deeper than in G. nigrita ; the legs are red or pitchy
red; the species is rather variable in colour, some specimens being much
lighter than others. L. 4 mm.

In moss, &c.; a highland and alpine species, which has not been taken in Britain,
except on Snowdon and in Scotland; rare; Clyde, Tay, Dee, and Moray districts
(Loch-na-gar, Ben Lomond, &ec.).

Lesteva. | STAPIYLINIDE. 401

LESTEVA, Kraatz.

The species belonging to this genus are elosely allied to those in the
preceding genera, but are very easily distinguished by the elongate last
joint of the maxillary palpi, which is four times as long as the penultimate ;
in Anthophagus and Geodromicus the penultimate is only a little, if at all,
shorter than the last joint ; the genus comprises about twenty-five species,
which are confined to the cold and temperate portions of the Oldand New
Worlds ; one species (our common L. longelytrata) ranges under different
names from Siberia to Algeria; there are about ten species found in
Europe; our five representatives may be distinguished as below ; the
sexual characters are not remarkable, the male having the sixth segment
of hind body truncate.

I. Elytra very long, more than double as long as thorax,
very closely and moderately strongly punctured . . L. LONGELYTRATA, Goeze.
IL. Elytra shorter, about or not quite twice as long as
thorax,
i. Size larger; form rather broad; antennw long and
slender.
1. Punctuation of elytra moderately strong . . . L. Smarpr, Rye
(monticola, Sharp).
2. Punctuation of elytra extremely close and fine . L. puBrscens, Mannh.
ii. Size smaller; form narrower; antenna shorter;
elytra very strongly and deeply punctured.
1. Thorax shorter; third joint of antenne shorter;
elytra more closely punctured . . . . . . UL. sicuta, Er.
(punctata, Brit. Coll.).
2. Thorax longer; third joint of antennx longer ;
elytra less closely punctured. . . . - . . L. Punorata, Er.
: (muscorum, Duv.).

&L. longelytrata, Goeze (bicolor, F.). Black, rather shining, clothed
with fine grey pubescence, elytra often lighter or darker pitchy brown ;
head rather narrower than thorax, thickly and deeply punctured ; antennze
longer than head and thorax united, ferruginous, with first joint, and the
second except base, black or darker than the rest ; thorax much narrower
than elytra, subeordiform, with sides rounded in front and contracted be-
hind, posterior angles right angles, thickly and deeply punctured; elytra
very long, more than double as long as thorax, dilated behind, very closely
and moderately strongly punctured; hind body very finely punctured ;
legs lighter or darker red. L. 33-4 mm.

In moss, refuse, &c., mostly in damp places; generally distributed and common
throughout the kingdom.

L. Sharpi, Rye (monticola, Sharp, nec Kies.), This species is very
like L. pubescens in general appearance, but may easily be distinguished
from that species by the evidently much stronger punctuation of the elytra;
it is of the same size as L. longelytrata, from which it may be distinguished
by its rather longer.antenne which are of a clearer red colour, by its longer
thorax, and by the less close and stronger punctuation and evidently
longer pubescence of the thorax and elytra, the latter of which are shorter;

VOL. Il. pd

402 STAPHYLINIDA, [Lesteva.

it is very close to L. monticola, Kies. (with which it is regarded as
synonymous by many authors), but in that species the punctuation of the
elytra is finer than in Z. Sharpi, the hinder angles of thorax are not so
acute, and the pubescence is grey ; in Z. Sharp? the punctuation is dis-
tinetly stronger, the hinder angles are slightly sharper, and the pubeseence
is yellowish ; it therefore seems to be a distinct species. L. 34-4 mm.

In moss, &e., in damp places; rare; Llangollen; Snowdon; Northumberland dis-
trict, Wallington (Power); Scotland, Highlands, local, Solway, Forth, Clyde, Tay,
Dee, and Moray districts.

i. pubescens, Mannh. Rather shorter and broader than L.
longelytrata, and at once distinguished from that and all our other species
by the extremely close and fine punctuation of the elytra, and in fact of
the front parts generally ; the antennz are longer and more slender, uni-
colorous reddish testaceous ; the thorax is less cordiform, with sides
somewhat angularly rounded at its widest part, and less sinuate behind,
disc plainly impressed ; the elytra are hardly double as long as thorax ;
legs red or reddish with femora usually darker. L. 33-33 mm.

In moss about streams and waterfalls; not common, although very widely distri-
buted; Bromley, Kent; Isle of Wight, Ventnor, &c.; Barrucane Bay, North Devon ;
Llangollen ; Snowdon; Bewdley ; Tewkesbury; Matlock ; Church Stretton, Cheshire ;
Repton; Lymm, near Warrington ; not recorded from the Northumberland district,

but almost certainly occurs ; Scotland, scarce, but widely distributed ; Solway, Tweed,
Clyde, Tay, Dee, Moray, and Shetland districts.

&. sicula, Er. (Heeri, Fauv., punctata of all British eatalogues).
Smaller and narrower than any of the preceding species, and at once dis-
tinguished from them, apart from other characters, by the very strong
and coarse punctuation of the elytra; the species above described are
winged, but this insect is apterous, and in consequence has the elytra
evidently depressed towards base ; the thorax is transverse or almost
transverse at its widest part ; the antenna are rather stouter ; these latter
and the legs are red or reddish testaceous ; the colour is somewhat vari-
able, being piteh-black or lighter or darker pitchy brown or reddish: I
have taken several specimens in the Isle of Wight, which when alive
were entirely of a bright reddish-testaceous colour, and did not seem to
be immature. L. 35 mm.

Damp places; at roots of grass, in flood refuse, moss, &c., also under stones near
running streams and waterfalls; rather common in the south and Midlands, and also
in the London district ; rarer further north ; Northumberland district, not common,
but widely distributed ; Scotland, Lowlands, not common, Solway, Tweed, Forth, Tay,
Dee, and Moray districts; Ireland, Dodder Banks, Dublin; Galway ; Newcastle, co.
Down.

H. punctata, Er. (muscorum, Duy.). Closely allied to the preceding,
with which it appears to be considered as synonymous by continental
authors ; it is, however, usually larger, and especially longer; its antennz
are longer, the third joint being conspicuously so; its head is not so closely
applied to the thorax, and is more deeply and regularly foveated, with the

Lesteva. | STAPHYLINIDS. 403

interstices of the punctures, especially behind, wider and more shining ;
the thorax is evidently longer than broad, and is more suddenly narrowed
behind middle, with an evident lateral impression at the point of con-
traction; the punctuation also is coarser and not so close, and there are
more evident traces of dorsal impressions, and the elytra are longer: the
differences given are mostly comparative and not very marked, and it
seems very probable that after all the species will have to be sunk as a
variety of the preceding. L. 33-3$ mm.

In moss, &c., in damp places; Scotland, Lowlands, rare, Solway, Clyde, and Moray

istricts.

It is now considered that Duval’s Z. muscorum was the real L. punc-
tata of Erichson and Heer, so the above alteration in nomenelature must
be adopted.

ACIDOTA, Stephens.

This genus contains about a dozen species from the temperate and
northern portions of the Old and New Worlds; there are three European
species, of which two are British ; they are among the least common of
our Staphylinide ; they are distinguished by their elongate-oblong and
rather broad form, and cannot well be confounded with any other genus;
the male characters are as in the preceding genus.

I. Thorax convex, even; colour pitchy; size larger.
If. Thorax with disc rather flat and more or less obsoletely impressed ; colour reddish
testaceous ; size smaller,

A. crenata, F. (rufa, Grav., pulchra, Mots.). Elongate-oblong,
rather broad, subparallel, somewhat convex, glabrous, dark pitchy, or
chestnut-brown, with the margins of thorax, elytra (at least towards apex),
and the apical margins of the segments of hind body reddish; head small,
thickly and deeply punctured; antenne rather long and stout, reddish
testaceous, penultimate joints about as long as broad; thorax about as long
as broad, with sides rounded and narrowed in front and behind, posterior
angles blunt, broadest behind middle, rather strongly margined, dise con-

-vex and even, thickly and deeply punctured ; elytra much longer than
thorax strongly punctured in evident and more or less regular strie; hind
body thickly and deeply punctured; legs red. L. 6-634 mm.

In moss, &e.; occasionally taken on the wing; rare; Reigate, in sphagnum ;
Tonbridge; Oxfordshire; Branksome Park, Bournemouth, one specimen on the wing
(Kemp-Welch) ; Snowdon; Yorkshire; Stalybrushes, Cheshire, in ants’ nests and
under stones (Chappell); Northumberland district rare, woods near Ravensworth
Castle (Hardy); Scotland, Lowlands, Highland and alpine districts, local, Solway,
Tweed, Forth, Tay, Dee, Moray, and Caithness districts.

A. cruentata, Mannh. Much smaller than the preceding, and
easily distinguished by its entirely rufo-testaceous colour and somewhat
flattened and impressed dise of thorax ; the antenne are evidently shorter
and stouter with the joints less elongate, and the thorax is differently

pd 2

4.04 STAPHYLINIDE. [Acidota.

shaped, being subquadrate with the sides very slightly rounded, and
almost as broad in front as behind ; the elytra are strongly punctured in
more or less regular rows, but are not so plainly striate. L. 42-5 mm.
In moss, &c.; about the bark of fir trees ; occasionally found in sandpitsand crawl-
ing on walls; rare; Greenwich; Shirley; Birch Wood; Reigate; Chiswick; Hast-
ings; Harwich ; Stretford and Agecroft, near Manchester, on walls and in haystacks ;
Coleshill, near Birmingham; Scarborough, flood refuse ; Northumberland district,
Hetton Hall near Belford ; Scotland, Lowlands, Solway, T'weed, and Forth districts.

V. ferruginea, Er. Smaller and narrower than the type, with much
shorter elytra, of which the punctuation appears rather more confused ;
it seems to bear the same relation to A. crwentata that A. rufa, Grav.,
bears to A. crenata. L. 44-45 mm.

Scarborough (five specimens taken by R. Lawson in flood refuse in the autumn of
1872); Studley, Yorkshire (Waterhouse).

OLOPHRUM, Erichson.

This genus contains about twenty species, which are found in the
temperate and more particularly in the northern and colder regions of
the Old and New Worlds; they are found in damp places, in moss,
dead leaves, &c. ; they are recognizable by their broad and convex form,
dark pitchy-red appearance, and long elytra which cover the greater
part of the hinder portion of the body, the hind body itself being short ;
there are three British species, one of which is common and the others
local or rare.

I. Thorax with sides completely rounded, posterior angles
rounded; elytra shorter.
i. Form broader and more conyex; elytra confusedly
Mmupiclen td oo Old glo on 6 6 po 6 O. riceuM, Gy/il.
ii. Form narrower and more depressed; elytra punctured
in more or less distinct rows near suture. . . . . O.FusCcUM, Grav.
II. Thorax with sides slightly sinuate behind middle ; posterior
angles somewhat prominent ; elytra longer . . . . . O. CONSIMILE, Gy/ll.

©. piceum, Gyll. Oblong, convex, with hind body conical and
strongly acuminate, dark pitchy-red, shining ; head small, coarsely
punctured ; antennz moderately long, red or ferruginous, with base and
apex often lighter, penultimate joints not transverse ; thorax behind as
broad as elytra, about twice as broad as long, sides moderately rounded,
posterior angles rounded, strongly punctured, with a small smooth space
generally distinct in centre behind middle ; scutellum punctured or
almost impunctate; elytra double as long as thorax, widened behind,
very coarsely and irregularly punctured ; hind body very finely sha-
greened, usually lighter at apex ; legs red, L. 4-5 mm.

Ju moss, dead leaves, at the roots of grass, &e., in damp places in woods and other

localities ; common and generally distributed throughout the kingdom as far north as
the Shetland Islands.

Olophrum | STAPHYLINID. 405

O. fuscum, Gray. (/aticolle, J. Sahlb.). Rather shorter, more
depressed, and narrower than the Bee and, as a rule, more darkly
coloured ; the head is often quite black and the disc of thorax is some-
times much darker than the margins; the thorax is longer and less
transverse, being only about one and a half times as broad as long, and
its side margins are more strongly raised than in O. picewm; the scu-
tellum is furnished with one or two or more punctures (the distinctions,
however, drawn from the punctuation of the scutellum in this genus are
very unsatisfactory) ; the elytra are narrower, and their punctuation is
arranged in more or less irregular but distinct rows near suture. L. 4
mim.

In moss, &e.; very local; rare in England, Coleshill, Sutton Park, Bewdley and
Matlock (Blatch) ; Scarborough ; Scotland, Lowlands, local, Solway and Forth dis-
tricts: it is worthy of notice how many of the northern species have been found by Mr.

W. G. Blatch in various Midland localities, especially in Bewdley Forest and on
Cannock Chase.

O: consimile, Gyll. (limbatum, Makl.). Narrower than the pre-
ceding and somewhat longer; it may, however, be easily distinguished
from both the other species by having the sides of the thorax slightly
sinuate behind middle, so that the posterior angles, instead of being
rounded, are somewhat prominent ; the elytra are longer in proportion ;
the scutellum appears to be always deeply and diffusely punctured, L.
4-5 min, ‘

In wet moss and banks of streams on mountains, often near the snow; very local
and rare; Scotland, Dee district (Braemar).

LATHRIMBEUM, Erichson.

This genus comprises about a dozen species, which appear to be dis-
tributed much as those belonging to the two or three preceding genera:
Kraatz mentions an undescribed species from Chili, but I can find no
further record of it; our species are small insects, much resembling
Olophrum in form, but much smaller and lighter coloured; they are
found in decaying fungi, moss, dead leaves, &c.; the sexual ‘differences
are as in the preceding.

I, Head black or dark pitchy brown; thorax with distinct
central furrow; sizesmaller, . . . . . . . UL. ATROCEPHALUM, Gyll.
Il. Head yellowish-red ; thorax with central furrow

obsolete and abbréviated and often absent; size
VWargeroOe) set =) 9) «1 © oe = « Lu UNICOLOR, Steph.

ZL. atrocephalum, Gyll. (mec Heer) (melanocephalum, Marsh, nec
T.). Short and broad, somewhat oblong, convex, rufo-testaceous with
head black or dark brown, shining ; antenne fivekened towards apex,
rather long, testaceous with apex pitchy; head small, thickly ‘and
deeply punctured behind, smooth and shining in front ; home at base
a little narrower than elytra about twice as “broad as long, with sides

406 STAPHYLINID&E, (Lathrimeum.

moderately rounded and central furrow very distinct, thickly and strongly
punctured ; elytra more than double as long as thorax, almost covering
hind body, strongly and rather regularly punctured in rows; hind body
almost concealed, very finely punctured. L. 24-3 mm.

In moss, dead leaves, decaying fungi, &c.; common and generally distributed

throughout the greater part of England; rarer further north ; Scotland, not common,
Tweed, Forth, and Dee districts ; Ireland, Armagh, and probably widely distributed.

L. unicolor, Steph. (Jutewm, Ev.). Very like the preceding, but
evidently larger ; it may as a rule be distinguished by its much lighter-
coloured head, but in mature specimens this is sometimes nearly as dark
as in immature specimens of L. atrocephalum; the thorax has the cen-
tral furrow obsolete and abbreviated and very often absent, and the
elytra are distinctly more: coarsely and somewhat less regularly punc-
tured, L, 3-3$ mm.

In moss, dead leaves, decaying fungi, &c.; common and generally distributed
throughout the kingdom.

DELIPHRUM, Erichson.

This genus contains six or seven species, three of which are European;
two or three occur in Siberia and one in Colorado ; superficially they
much resemble Homalium, and are chiefly distinguished from that
genus by the relative length of the joints of the posterior tarsi; they
occur in dung, especially sheep-dung, under bones, refuse, &c. ; the
sexual differences are unimportant, and are the same as in the preceding
genera,

I. Length 3 mm.; elytra confusedly punctured. . . . . D. TEcTUM, Payk.
II. Length 43-5 mm, ; elytra punctured in strie . . . . D, CRENATUM, Grav.

D. tectum, Payk. Rather broad and depressed, shining black, with
the elytra testaceous, and the extreme margins of thorax reddish ; head
short, transversely triangular, very finely punctured ; antenne rather
short, a little thickened towards apex, blackish with the base sometimes
lighter, penultimate joints broader than long; thorax transverse,
narrower in front than behind, nearly as broad behind as elytra, even
and somewhat convex, thickly and finely punctured, posterior angles
rounded ; elytra much longer than thorax, widened behind, thickly and
finely but rather deeply punctured; hind body very finely punctured,
usually yellowish at apex ; legs testaceous. L. 3 mm.

In sheep-dung, at sap, in refuse, flood rubbish, &c.; not common; I have taken it in
flood rubbish at Repton near Burton-on-Trent, and Mr. Blatch has found it under
bones at Knowle near Birmingham, but I know of no localities further south ; Mat-
lock ; Scarborough ; Cheshire ; Northumberland district (Gosforth, &c.) ; Scotland,
in sheep-dung and at oozing sap, local, but rather widely distributed, Tweed, Forth,
Tay, Dee, and Moray districts, usually on hills or mountains ; Ireland, Belfast (?).

®. crenatum, Gray. Ofa shining brownish colour, with the base

Deliphrum. | STAPHYLINIDE. 407

of the antenn and the legs testaceous; the thorax is rather narrower
than the elytra, moderately transverse, rather diffusely and finely pune-
tured, with two more or less plain impressions on middle of disc, posterior
angles almost right angles; elytra nearly double as long as thorax with
regular rows of punctures, the interstices being confusedly punctured ;
hind body diffusely and finely punctured ; legs red. L. 45-5 mm.

Very rare; Scotland, Tay district ; taken by Turner.

This species is entirely different from D. tectwm; it has much the
appearance of H. florale, from which, according to Mr. Rye, it may be
readily distinguished by its longer antenna, punctate-striate elytra, and
sparingly but visibly punctured hind body; the colour also appears to be
different.

ARPEDIUM, Erichson.

This genus contains thirteen or fourteen species, the range of which is
much the same as that of the members of the preceding genera; they are
distinguished superficially by their short elytra.

A. brachypterum, Grav. Pitchy black or brownish, with the
margins of thorax and elytra and the apex of hind body sometimes
obscurely lighter; head narrower than thorax, very finely punctured,
with two rather strong oblique furrows before oce]li; antenne reddish or
pitchy-red, slightly thickened towards apex; thorax about as long as
broad, at its widest as broad as base of elytra, with sides and angles
rounded, finely punctured, and alutaceous; elytra short, not much longer
than thorax, rather diffusely and distinctly punetured ; hind body long,
finely punctured, and alutaceous; legs brownish testaceous, or reddish,
L. 33-4 mm.

Male with the anterior tarsi distinctly dilated, and the anterior tibie
feebly toothed in the middle.

In wet moss and at roots of heather, usually on mountain sides ; Snowdon ; North-
umberland district, rare, on the top of Cheviot and of Hedgehope ; Scotland, hilly and
mountainous districts, common, Tweed, Solway, Clyde, Tay, Dee, Moray, and Shet-
land districts; Ireland, Newcastle, co. Down. Mr. Blatch has taken it at Sutton
Park, near Birmingham.

MICRALYMMA, Westwood,

This genus is related to the preceding by its short elytra, but is widely
separated from it in several particulars ; the habitat also of its members
is quite different ; it contains about half-a-dozen species, which are found
in Greenland, Siberia, and North America; one only occurs in Europe ;
it is found on or near the coast often below high-water mark.

™M. brevipenne, Gyll. (marinum, Stroem., Johnstont, Westw.).
Black, rather dull, the whole upper surface being finely alutaceous between

403 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Mieralymma.

the punctures; head large not much shorter than thorax, finely and
diffusely punctured, smooth in front, with impressions before ocelli ;
antenn short and stout, black with reddish base, penultimate joints
strongly transverse ; thorax somewhat cordiform, with sides rounded in
front and contracted behind, posterior angles blunt, punctuation as on
head; elytra shorter than thorax, much dilated behind, strongly rugose ;
hind body dilated and rounded at sides very finely punctured ; legs
pitchy-black or pitchy-red, femora darker. L. 3 mm.

About old posts, under stones, &e., on or near the coast ; local; Harwich; Plymouth;
Isle of Wight ; Lymington; Weymouth; South Devon, Kingsbridge, &c. ; Barmouth;
Lancashire and Cheshire, Constantine, Hoylake, Grange-over- Sands, &c. ; Northumber-
land district, sparingly on the sea-coast in the fissures of shaly sandstone, crevices of
limestone, beneath stones, &e., often below high-water mark; Scotland, very local,
maritime, Tweed, Clyde, Forth, and Tay districts. I have taken it a long way below
high-water mark at Ventnor, Isle of Wight, running on stones in the sun, in company
with a species of Thysanura, which it probably preys on, and larger specimens of which
it rather strongly resembles at a little distance ; it is slow in its movements.

PHILORHINUM, Kraatz.

This genus contains three or four species from Europe and the Canary
Islands ; in appearance they resemble a small Homaliwm; the sexual
differences are unimportant.

P. sordidum, Steph. (subpubescens, Steph., humile, Er.), Elongate,
depressed, subparallel, black, with the elytra pitchy testaceous, and the head
and thorax often lighter or darker pitchy brown; head and thorax thickly,
evenly, and somewhat deeply punctured; head smooth and even with
the ocelli hardly visible ; antennie with the first four joints yellow and
the rest darker testaceous or fuscous, penultimate joints oblong ; thorax
not much broader than long, with apex truncate, and sides and posterior
angles rounded ; elytra plainly double as long as thorax, with rather
shallower and slightly rugose punctuation ; hind body finely punctured ;
legs testaceous, femora and tibiz sometimes a little infuscate. L. 2 mm.

On flowers of gorse, broom, &e.; also on oak; locally abundant ; London district,
generally distributed ; Hastings; Glanvilles Wootton ; Isle of Wight (abundant on
furze in spring); Exeter; Plymouth; rarer in the Midlands, Sherwood Forest, &e. ;
Scarborough ; Manchester; Northumberland district ; Scotland, local, Solway, Tweed,
and Forth districts; Ireland, Dublin, Phoenix Park.

EUDECTUS, Redtenbacher.

This genus contains at present three species, Z. Whitei, H. Giraudi,
which occurs in the German mountains, and £. rufulus taken by Mr.
Lewis in Japan; Dr. Sharp appears to be of opinion that the three
species will be found to be connected by a form yet remaining to be
discovered in Siberia ; in common with Coryphium the genus is remark-
able for the strongly dilated pyriform penultimate joint of the maxillary

Hudectus.} STAPHYLINIDE, 409

palpi, but it is distinguished from that genus by its shorter and stouter
antenne, and by the fact that the posterior tarsi have the first four joints
of about equal length; one specimen only has occurred in Britain.

=. Whitei, Sharp. Black, rather shining, very finely pubescent,
closely and strongly punctured; antenne rather short and stout with
penultimate joints transverse ; thorax rather short with the sides dilated
and strongly angulated (a character that will at once separate it from
Coryphium angusticolle, the only British species with which it can be
compared); legs black, knees and tarsi pitchy. L. 2} mm.

A single specimen was taken by Dr. Sharp in June, 1871, on the summit of Ben-a-
Bhuird, Braemar, Dee district : #. Giraudi appears to be a bark insect, and therefore
Dr. Sharp believes that a coleopterist working at the old trees at the foot of Ben-a-
Bbuird or other of the high mountains in the heart of the Grampians might perhaps
be fortunate enough to meet with the species.

CORYPEHIUM, Stephens.

This genus contains about half-a-dozen species from Europe and North
America; they may be distinguished, as above mentioned, by the
strongly dilated penultimate joint of the maxillary palpi, the terminal
joint being extremely minute, subulate, and hardly perceptible ; they
occur under bark, about old posts, in moss, &e.

Cc. angusticolle (brevicolie, Hal., bifoveolatum, Thoms.). Black or
pitchy black, rather shining, finely pubescent ; head, thorax and elytra
rather closely and moderately strongly punctured, that of the elytra being
very slightly rugose in places; head with eyes nearly as broad as thorax,
with strong depressions in front, ocelli very plain; antenne rather stout,
pitchy with base red ; thorax very transverse, with sides rounded in front
and contracted behind, posterior angles blunt, with two more or less
obsolete depressions on disc ; elytra more than twice as long as thorax,
widened behind, shoulders well marked, posterior sutural angles sharper
in male than in female ; hind body finely and moderately thickly punc-
tured ; legs testaceous with tarsi sometimes infuscate. L. 3 mm,

Male with the first four joints of the front tarsi dilated, hind body
more acuminate at apex, sutural angle of elytra sharp.

Under bark of beech, fir, &c., in moss, on old posts, &e.; rather widely distributed,
but always rare; Chatham, St. Mary Cray, Forest Hill, Caterham, Bishops Wood,
Weybridge, Highgate, Dulwich; Hastings; Glanvilles Wootton; Gumley, Market
Harborough ; Sutton Park; Knowle; Needwood; Buddon Wood; Foremark, near
Repton; Chat Moss; Lincoln; Northumberland district, rare; Scotland, very rare,
Clyde district.

HOMARLIUM, Gravenhorst. (Omalium, Er., &.).

This genus comprises about 150 species, the great majority of which
inhabit the temperate and northern portions of both the Old and New
Worlds; a few species have been recorded from South Africa and
Ceylon, twenty-three from North America, eight from Central America,

410 STAPHYLINID.E. [ Homalium.

and only one from Tropical South America ; a considerable number also
have recently been described from Australia and New Zealand; they
are distinguished by their usually long parallel-sided form, long elytra,
and more or less spinose tibiz; all the tarsi are five-jointed, the first four
joints being short, of about equal length, and taken all together either
shorter or only slightly longer than the last joint.

There are about fifty European species, of which about thirty are
British ; some of these are very distinct, but many of them are closely
allied and require great care in distinguishing them, as the differences
are merely comparative ; the best plan appears to be to separate them first
into sections according to the various sub-genera into which they have
been divided, and then to tabulate them under these sections.

The sexual differences are, with one or two exceptions, very slight, and
do not require separate notice ; the male has the sixth ventral segment
of hind body truneate or slightly emarginate at apex, and the seventh
somewhat more projecting than in the female.

The larva of Homalium vile is described and figured by Perris, Ann. Fr, 1853,
p- 576, pl. 17, fig. 49-55: it is about 3mm. in length and is shaped almost exactly like
that of Phleopora reptans, but differs in being of a uniform livid reddish colour, in
its longer head, and the different formation of the apical abdominal segments and
appendages ; the eighth segment is not prolonged above the ninth, and the ninth is
narrow and bears a short anal appendage, and two rather long cerci, of which the
first joint is as long as the anal appendage, and is longer than the second joint; the
insect has the power of widening or lessening the distance between these cerci at will ;
above each antenna there is a small reddish ocellus.

The larva of H. pusillum is smaller than the preceding, and differs in having five
ocelli on each side of the head, and in its longer anal appendage which is about as long
as the cerci; these latter have the first joint double as long as the second.

Both these larvae, like those of Phleopora and Placusa, live in the galleries of
Tomicus and devour the pup of species of that genus.

I, Form elongate, parallel; elytra not dilated behind, hind body elongate, more or
less parallel-sided for the greater part of its length.
i, Antenne pilose ; forehead almost always furnished with a line or fovea before
ocelli.*
1. Hind body deeply impressed within lateral margin.
A. Upper surface glabrous ; elytra confusedly punctured,
a, Last joint of maxillary palpi double as long as the preceding; tibie
spinose ; form less flat ; thorax with impressions rather strongly marked,

Section I. (Homalium, i, sp., p. 411.)
b. Last joint of maxillary palpi not much longer than penultimate ; tibia

feebly spinose ; form flat, dull, very small; thorax with impressions
strongly marked.

Section II. (Phlceonomus, Heer, p. 416.)
c. Last joint of maxillary palpi about three times as long as the preceding ;
tibia spinose; form rather flat; thorax with impressions shallow.

Section IIL (Kylodromus, Heer, p. 417.)

* The only exceptions are H, vile, H. brevicorne, H. gracilicorne, and H. iopterum
(in the sub-genus Phyllodrepa).

Homatium. } STAPITYLINIDZ. 411

B. Upper surface slightly but evidently pubescent; elytra as a rule more or
less plainly punctured in striae or longitudinally strigose ; thorax with
dorsal impressions more or less obsolete or absent.

Section IV, (Phyllodrepa, Thoms. p. 417.)

2. Hind body scarcely impressed within lateral margin ; form flat, shining, very
small,

Section V, (Phleeostiba, Thoms. p. 421.)

ii, Antenne shorter than head and thorax, pubescent; forehead with fovea before
ocelli very small or absent; thorax with impressions very obsolete, or quite
wanting.

Section VI. (Etheothassa, Thoms. p. 421.)

II. Form short; elytra more or less dilated behind; thorax with dorsal furrows
obsolete or absent ; hind body short, ovate, strongly narrowed and acuminate
behind; elytra plainly punctured in rows.

Section VII. (Acrolocha, Thoms. p. 423.)

Section I, (Homalium, i. sp.)

The species belonging to this section differ considerably in size and
sculpture, but some of them are extremely closely allied to one another;
they are found in decaying vegetable refuse, carcases, in decaying fungi,
at sap, &c., but none of them are bark or flower frequenting insects.

I. Head with two round or roundish depressions before
ocelli,
i, Length 3-4 mm.; head as a rule rather diffusely,
or not very closely, punctured, sometimes
almost impunctate in front.
1, Sides of thorax moderately or slightly rounded
and widened in front and narrowed behind.
A. Disc of thorax rather closely punctured ;
elytra strongly punctured.
a. Antenne longer, dark with base red;
elytra not rugosely punctured, shiny. . H. RIVULARE, Payk.
b. Antenne shorter, entirely testaceous ;
elytra rugosely punctured, rather duller. H. RUGULIPENNE, Rye.
B. Dise of thorax almost impunctate; elytra
finely punctured . . . .. . . . . H, LEVIUSCULUM, Gy/ll.
2. Sides of thorax very slightly rounded and not
widened in front, and straight or almost
straight behind.
A. Disc of thorax closely punctured . oO
B. Dise of thorax diffusely punctured. . . .
ii. Length 14-2} mm. ; punctuation of head closer.
1. Antenne dark with first six basal joints red ;
elytra brownish or pitchy-black with shoulders
more or less broadly testaceous; size larger . II, ALLARDI, Mairm,
2. Antenne unicolorous, blackish or pitchy;
elytra unicolorous, pitchy brown or black ;
size smaller.

. SEPTENTRIONIS, Thoms.
. RIPARIUM, Thoms.

jeogae)

412 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Homalium.

A. Forehead with very strong impressions near
antennz nearly meeting impressions before
ocelli; elytra strongly aud very closely
paw iG HO oo o 6 o o Jel rbot, Colt
B. Forehead with impressions near antennae
not strong ; elytra less strongly and cleeen
punctured! =. ge0 ea 0 H, oxyacantum, Grav.
II. Head with two large and deep longitudinal im-
pressions before ocelli, very closely, deeply and
thickly punctured; length 3-3} mm. . . . . H.ExXcAVATUM, Steph.
IfI. Head with two narrow impressed lines before
ocelli; front parts very closely punctured, dull;
length 2-23 mm.
1, Form narrower and darker; elytra shorter in
proportion, less coarsely punctured . ; H. czsum, Grav.
2. Form broader, usually reddish brown with
head black; elytra longer in proportion, a
little more coarsely punctured ~ 5 « « « HW NIGRICEPS, Jizes,

#. rivulare, Payk. Black, shining, elytra lighter or darker yellowish
brown, or pitchy ; head triangular, moderately thickly punctured, almost
smooth in front, eyes prominent, ocelli with a distinct roundish impres-
sion before each, neck thickly punctured; antenne moderately long,
dark, with first joint clear red, and the three or four following joints
usually lighter than the rest, or reddish ; penultimate joints slightly
transverse ; thorax broader than long, narrower than elytra, rounded and
somewhat widened in front and narrowed slightly but perceptibly behind,
posterior angles sharp and distinct, disc with two strongly marked
furrows or fovex, rather thickly and strongly punctured; the space
between the impressions, however, is often more or less smooth ; elytra
at least twice as long as thorax, strongly, but scarcely, if at all, rugosely
punctured ; hind body very finely punctured ; legs testaceous, L. 33-4
mm

In decaying vegetable rubbish, at sap of trees, in haystack refuse, decaying fungi
and sea-weed, in carcases, &c. ; abund: int throughout the kingdom.

H. rugulipenne, Rye. Of the same general form, appearance, and
size as the preceding, but differing in the following points: the antenns
are shorter and entirely pale, the elytra longer and densely rugulose ;
the neck is alutaceous and has a very few indistinct punctures, and the
thorax is almost impunctate at least on disc ; this latter character, how-
ever, is somewhat variable, as I have specimens in which the thorax is
distinctly punctured, but more closely and finely than in H. rivulare ;
the species, however, may be known by its general colour, which is ferru-
ginous brown or reddish, with the hind body and sometimes part of the
elytra darker ; in some points the species resembles HZ. ripariuwm, but is
at once distinguished by its colour, longer antennz, and rugose elytra.
L. 3} mm.

In decaying sea-weed, careases on the shore, &e.; very local; Mr. Rye believed he
captured the specimen from which he described his species at "Gravesend, but it has

THomatium.] STAPHYLINIDE. 413

not since been taken in the London district; it appears to be rather common in the
Liverpool district, Wallasey, New Brighton, Hoylake, &c.; it is also abundant at
Hartlepool ; Scotland, very rare, Dee district.

H. leviusculum, Gyll. Closely allied to H. rivulare, but distin-
guished by having the head and dise of thorax impunctate or almost
impunctate, the sides of the thorax even less dilated in front, and the
elytra more finely punctured ; in well-marked specimens the head and
disc of thorax are quite smooth and the elytra very finely punctured,
but in these characters the insect is somewhat variable, although, as a
tule, there is no difficulty in distinguishing the species ; varieties often
occur in which the thorax is reddish and the elytra reddish-brown ;
occasionally the whole body is reddish brown with the elytra lighter ;
the sculpture of the elytra will, however, at once separate it from
H, rugulipenne, which these specimens somewhat resemble incolour, L.
33—4 mm.

In decaying sea-weed ; common all along the south-eastern and southern coasts, and
in the Isle of Wight; Barmouth ; Lancashire coast; Scarborough and Yorkshire
coast ; Northumberland and Durham co: ist, common ; Scotland, on the coast, local,
but found as far north as the Shetland Islands ; not recorded as yet from Ireland, but

it is probably common : this species often occurs in company with the preceding, and
hence mistakes are liable to arise.

H. septentrionis, Thoms. (impressum, Kr., languidum, Makl.).
This species also is closely allied to H. rivulare, and may probably be
only a northern variety of that insect ; it differs in being much more
strongly and closely punctured, and less shining, with the elytra nar-
rower in proportion to the thorax, the sides of which are rounded ; the
five basal joints of the antenne are red, whereas in H. rivulare the first
or first two only are red, but the latter insect varies somewhat in this
respect ; from H. ripariwm it may be distinguished by its much stronger
punctuation. L. 3 mm.

Very rare, Scotland, Highlands, Tay and Clyde districts ; the species was first
recorded as British by Mr. Henderson (Ent. Monthly Mag. ii. p. 205), who took a
specimen in the Isle of Arran in August, 1864, and Dr. Sharp gobeeguently found it
among species taken by himself at Rannoch.

EH. riparium, Thoms. (mpar, Rey). This is another of the close
allies of H. rivulare ; it is on the average a little smaller, and may best
be distinguished by the shape of the thorax, which is not dilated in
front and has the sides almost straight to base; the head is more spar-
ingly punctured, and the neck is alutaceous and scarcely at all punctured ;
the large fovee on thorax are deeper in front, and the disc is more spar-
ingly punctured ; the elytra are longer, pitchy black, and less strongly
punctured. L. 3-33 mm.

In decaying sea-weed, under refuse, &c., on the shore; rather local; Sheerness ;
Whitstable; Pegwell Bay; Isle of Wight ; Weymouth; South Devon ; BAN allasey;
Cheshire ; Manchester district ; Norehtan Geran district, “ plentiful on the sea-coast
amongst alge ” (Bold) ; Scotland, maritime, local, Clyde and Forth districts ; Ire-
land, Waterford, and Newcastle co. Down. This species appears to be almost, if not

414 STAPHYLINID AE. [ Homalium.

quite, exclusively maritime; I have, however, records from Dulwich and Glanvilles
Wootton, Dorset, but it is possible that mistakes may arise among these closely allied
insects.

H. Allardi, Fairm. Pitchy black or pitchy brown with the shoulders
of the elytra and the apex and margins of hind body lighter; the colour,
however, is variable, the sides of thorax and hind body (and occasionally
almost the entire elytra) being reddish testaceous in some specimens ;
head thickly punctured, smoother in front, with a distinct deep impres-
sion before ocelli; antenne dark with more or less of the basal joints
red, penultimate joints slightly transverse ; thorax transverse evidently
although slightly widened in front and contracted behind, closely but
variably punctured, with depressions on dise distinct ; elytra at least
twice as long as thorax, closely and moderately strongly and somewhat
longitudinally punctured, more closely at apex; hind body very finely
punctured or shagreened, dull; legs testaceous. L. 2} mm.

In haystack refuse, in carcases, under old bones, &ec. ; also in bird-cages and pigeon-
cotes ; local and not common ; precincts of Guy’s Hospital, London (Sharp) ; Eltham,
Kent; Margate; Smallheath, Birmingham, under bones (Blatch); Manchester ;
Northumberland district, “of occasional occurrence in several localities; often crawl-

ing on the top of old walls” (Bold); Scotland, local, in carcases, Solway, Tweed,
and Clyde districts; Ireland, near Waterford (Power).

In shape this species much resembles H. rivulare, but may be at once
distincuished by its smaller and narrower form, closer punctuation, and
duller appearance ; mature and normal specimens may be at once known
by the distinct light yellowish-testaceous patch at the shoulders of
elytra, but, as said before, the colour is very variable in many of the
Homalia.

H. exiguum, Gyll. The smallest species of this section, and one of
the smallest of the genus ; deep black, moderately shining ; head thickly
and deeply punctured, with strong and deep impressions before ocelli
and a strong oblong depression on each side near antennz nearly meet-
ing these; antenne entirely pitchy black, moderately long, somewhat
thickened towards apex, with penultimate joints scarcely transverse ;
thorax transverse, one and a half times as broad as long, narrower than
elytra, a little rounded in front and narrowed behind, posterior angles
right angles, upper surface thickly and deeply punctured, depressions
on dise strong ; elytra more than double as long as thorax, very thickly
and strongly and slightly rugosely punctured ; hind body almost impunc-
tate, unicolorous black ; legs testaceous, with femora more or less pitchy.
L. 13-2 mm.

In dead leaves, carcases, &e.; rare; Cobham, Richmond Park, Loughton, Shirley,
Lee; Sherwood Forest; Lincoln; Scarborough; Northumberland district, rare ;
Scotland, rare, Solway district.

H. oxyacantha, Gray. A little larger on the average than the
preceding, and easily distinguished from it by the evidently less close

Tomalium.] STAPHYLINIDE. 415

punctuation of the elytra and the feebler impressions on the head ;
colour black, with elytra often lighter or darker pitchy brown or even
brownish testaceous; thorax more transverse than in the preceding
species almost double as broad as long, with the posterior angles blunt,
and the impressions on dise not deep; elytra plainly more than double
as long as thorax ; hind body scarcely punctured, very finely shagreened,
almost always lighter at apex; legs testaceous. L. 2 mm,

In dead leaves, haystack refuse, decaying sea-weed, &e. ; occasionally by sweeping ;
local; London district, not uncommon, and generally distributed; Dover; Wicken
Fen ; Birmingham district; Sherwood Forest ; Robins Wood, Repton; Northumber-
land district, common (Bold) ; Scotland, not common, but widely distributed, Solway,
Tweed, Forth, Dee, and Moray districts ; Ireland, recorded from Armagh, but I do not
feel sure as to the identity of the specimens.

H. excavatum, Steph. (jossulatum, Er.). Deep black, rather
shining, front parts duller than hind body owing to their close punctua-
tion; head thickly, finely, and deeply punctured, with two large deep
longitudinal impressions before ocelli, almost meeting the strong impres-
sions near antenne (this is seen more plainly if the insect is held a little on
one side while examined); antennz reddish brown or reddish, often
darker at base, rather long, penultimate joints transverse; thorax evi-
dently narrower than elytra much broader than long, with two compara-
tively small, but very deep, furrows on disc, and a very strong and deep
depression on each side near margins; punctuation rather thick but
variable, posterior angles sharp right angles ; elytra about twice as long
as thorax, thickly and rather deeply punctured ; hind body smooth and
shining ; legs reddish testaceous. L. 3-34 mm.

In dead leaves, haystack and vegetable refuse, &e.; common and generally distri-

buted throughout England and Scotland as far north as the Shetland Islands; pro-
bably equally common in Ireland.

EH. czsum, Grav. (impressum, Heer, corticinum, Mots.). This and
the succeeding species may be at once distinguished from all their allies
by having only a narrow impressed line before the ocelli ; colour black,
rather dull, with the elytra pitchy-black or brownish; head very closely
punctured, with the elypeus smooth and shining; antenne reddish,
darker at base, penultimate joints transverse; thorax narrower than
elytra, thickly punctured, with central furrows distinct; elytra quite
double as long as thorax, very thickly and rather strongly punctured ;
hind body extremely finely punctured, dull; legs lighter or darker testa-
ceous according to the colour of the rest of the insect. L. 2-24 mm.

In haystack and vegetable refuse, decaying fungi, debris of fern, &c. ; common and
generally distributed throughout the greater part of the kingdom,

HI. nigriceps, Kies. This is a very unsatisfactory species, and is
very probably only a variety of the preceding; it may, as a rule, be
superficially distinguished with ease by its black head and the rufo-tes-
taceous colour of the rest of the body, but it seems to vary in this respect

416 STAPHYLINIDHE. [Homalium.

and sometimes not to differ materially in colour from light examples of
H. cesum ; as regards structural distinctions, it is broader than this
latter species, with the elytra shorter, and the sides of the thorax less
rounded; these differences, however, appear to be exceedingly slight.
L. 24 mm.

Found under the same circumstances as the preceding; very local; London district,
not uncommon ; Darenth Wood, Strood. Faversham, Shirley, Richmond Park, Reigate,

Mickleham, Birdbrook, Cowley (in refuse hay in cow-shed (Power)); Littlington
(Sussex) ; Scotland, in vegetable refuse, rare, Forth district.

Section II. (Phiceonomus, Heer.)

This section contains two minute insects, which live under bark, and
are so extremely closely allied that it is somewhat doubtful whether they
ought to be regarded as separate species ; they certainly appear to differ
in habitat, one being found under bark of fir trees, and the other under
bark of beech, birch, &e., but it has hardly been proved conclusively that
this is invariably the case.

I. Punctuation of elytra scarcely visible ; antenne yellow
with apical joints brownish. . . . . 2. . . -
II. Punctuation of elytra evident; antenne entirely

yellow «GS ef si yet ce fy We Nien wl ol iti MoH SPUNOTIPENN Elon

H. PusI~Lum, Grav.

EH. pusillum, Grav. (abietinwm, Thoms.). Depressed, parallel-sided,
head black, hind body blackish-brown, thorax and elytra dull brownish-
red ; sometimes the whole upper surface, except the head, is reddish ;
head very closely punctured, except in front where it is smooth and
shining ; antenne yellow, brownish at apex, rather short, with penulti-
mate joints strongly transverse ; thorax not much narrower than elytra,
very transverse, slightly rounded in front and narrowed behind, posterior
angles right angles, with dorsal fovez plain ; elytra about double as long
as thorax very delicately alutaceous, and scarcely visibly punctured ;
hind body very finely shagreened ; legs testaceous. L. 13-1$ mm.

Under bark of fir; common and generally distributed throughout England; Scot-
land, common, Solway, Tay, and probably other districts.

H. punctipenne, Thoms. Almost exactly resembling the preced-
ing, from which it was separated by Thomson, but rather more shining
in appearance, with the antennz quite yellow, more thickened at apex,
and with the third joint somewhat shorter; the anterior angles of the
thorax are somewhat more rounded, and the dorsal fovex are larger and
deeper; the chief character, however, lies in the elytra which are deli-
cately alutaceous as in the preceding species, but besides this are very
finely and diffusely, but somewhat distinctly punctured if viewed under
a high magnifying power. L. 13-1} mm.

Under bark of birch and beech, and perhaps of other deciduous trees (Thomson’s

“léftrad’’); apparently as common and widely distributed as the preceding both in
England and Scotland, but often confused and mixed with it in our collections.

Homatlium. | STAPHYLINID. 417

In the male the seventh ventral segment of hind body appears to be
rather strongly emarginate.

Section III. (Kylodromus, Heer.)

This section contains one species only, which is chiefly distinguished
from its allies by the very long terminal joint of the maxillary palpi; it
is about the size of H. excavatum ; it may be distinguished by its rather
depressed form, shining appearance, and rather long, almost subquadrate
thorax; the dorsal depressions of thorax are much less distinct than in
the H. rivulare group, but much more evident than in HZ, rufipes and its
allies, which latter, moreover, have the thorax more convex and quite
differently shaped ; the species is very rare, and is not found except in
Scotland ; it occurs under bark.

H. monilicorne, Gyll. Rather depressed, shining black, parallel-
sided, elytra sometimes pitchy or pitchy brown; head very sparingly
punctured, with distinct impressions before ocelli, smooth in front ;
antenne pitchy, with first five joints red, penultimate joints transverse ;
thorax rather variable in length, but not as transverse as in any of its
allies, sometimes almost subquadrate, with sides rather strongly rounded
in front, and contracted and sinuate behind, posterior angles almost right
angles, upper surface scarcely convex, strongly and very diffusely punc-
tured, with dorsal fovez shallow; elytra double as long as thorax mode-
rately closely but not very strongly punctured; hind body extremely
finely shagreened, usually lighter at apex ; legs testaceous. L. 3-3}
mm.

Under bark, Highlands, rare, Tay and Dee districts. It was first taken in Britain
by Mr. Foxcroft at Rannoch in 1855.

Section IV. (Phyllodrepa, Thomson.)

This section contains seven species, which differ considerably in size,
but are easily distinguished from all the other species of Homalium, except
those belonging to the sub-genus Ltheothassa, by their smooth and even
thorax, which has the usual dorsal fovez either entirely absent or very
obsolete; they are found under various conditions, in haystack and vege-
table refuse, under bark, &c., and one or two are often found in flowers :
it is doubtful whether one or two of them are separate species and ought
not rather to be considered as varieties.

I. Head with distinct impressions before ocelli; size
larger (8-43 mm.).
i. Antenne more or less dark; punctuation of elytra
evidently finer and closer; size smaller.
1. Length 4 mm.; antenne shorter, dark with
apical joints often lighter; thorax less narrowed
Mua 6 op og ya wb Oo 6 6 oF co a USGEtuigesorh yi
(florale, Payk.).
VOL, II. Ee

418 STAPHYLINIDE. [ Homalium.

2. Length 3 mm.; antenne longer, dark with first
five joints red ; thorax more narrowed in front. H. NIGRUM, Grav.
ii. Antenne entirely ferruginous with base lighter ;
punctuation of elytra seb stronger and
coarser ; size larger OF to H. saticis, Gyll.
II, Forehead without impressions before ocelli * size
very small (2-23 mm.).
i, Elytra variable in colour, pitchy testaceous or black ;
thorax dark.
A. Punctuation stronger and coarser not distinctly
strigose.
a. Antenne very short and stout; size larger,
colour'darker. <5 « « «. «1s « ©» « HH. BREVICORNE) L7:
b, Antennze much longer; size smaller, colour
lighter. . . . a © 6
ee Punctuation feebler, distinctly strigose ao

i, Elytra entirely or more or less testaceous ; thorax

red.

A. Punctuation of elytra feebler; size smaller ;
thorax less convex with dorsal fovez plainly
traceable . . . epee ee H. vILe, v. Herrit, Heer.

B. Punctuation of elytra stronger ; size larger 3
thorax very convex, with dorsal fover wanting. H.1opreruM, Steph.

. GRACILICORNE, Fairm.
. VILE, Hr.

jonfs|

H. rufipes, Fourc. (florale, Payk., ruficorne, Steph., maculicorne,
Heer). Black, rather shining, exceedingly finely pubescent ; head with
distinct but small impressions before ocelli, rather sparingly punctured
behind, smooth and shining in front; antenne pitchy black, more or
less ferruginous towards apex, gradually and slightly thickened, penul-
timate joints not strongly transverse ; thorax rather narrower than elytra,
convex, with dorsal fovez very obsolete or absent, sides finely bordered,
rounded rather strongly in front, and slightly narrowed behind, rather
thickly and finely punctured, posterior angles somewhat blunt but dis-
tinct ; elytra not quite double as long as thorax, rather strongly and
thickly punctured in irregular rows; hind body very finely punctured
or shagreened; legs red, femora sometimes darker. L. 4 mm.

In haystack refuse, &e. ; often found in flowers, and, rarely, in birds’ nests or under
bark ; widely distributed and not uncommon in many parts of the country ; London
district, rather common; Mickleham, Caterham, Sheerness, Forest Hill, Shirley,
Whitstable, &c ; Norfolk; Suffolk; Devonshire ; Somersetshire ; Swansea; Midland
districts, rather common ; ‘Chat Moss ; ; Sherwood Forest ; Scarborough ; Manchester ;
Liverpool; rarer further north: Northumberland districts not common, on flowers of
Unbellifere ; Scotland, in flowers, rare, Solway, Tweed, and Tay districts.

H. nigrum, Grav. (salicinwm, Gyll., atrwm, Heer). Very closely
allied to the preceding, of which it is considered by some authors to be
only a variety ; it is, however, rather smaller, and differs in the following
particulars : the antennz are longer, with the first five joints red and the
remainder black ; the thorax is rather shorter and more narrowed in
front, with the sides more widely margined and the margins pitchy; the

* See p. 410, foot-note.

Homalium.] STAPHYLINIDE, 419

elytra are rather longer, and their punctuation is more generally inclined
to run into strie; the colour of the antenne appears to be one of the
most important characters. L. 3 mm.

Very rare; Oxfordshire (Rev. A. Matthews): it appears to be scarce on the
Continent.

H. salicis, Gyll. (crassicorne, Matth.). This very distinct insect is
the largest species in the section ; it is of much the same build and
general appearance as H. rufipes, but may be easily distinguished by the
entirely ferruginous red antenne, which are lighter at base, and the
evidently stronger and less close punctuation of the elytra; the margins
of the thorax are much stronger, somewhat raised, and reddish, and the
hind body is more evidently, although very finely, punctured ; the legs
are of a somewhat clearer red colour. L. 4} mm.

In haystack refuse, &c.; very rare ; Bearsted, near Maidstone (Gorham); Littlington,
Sussex (Power); New Forest ; Oxfordshire (Matthews) ; Wicken Fen and Sherwood
Forest (Blatch); Waddington, Lincolnshire (H. Matthews) ; the specimen from the last-
mentioned locality was introduced by Mr. Matthews as H. crassicorne, n. sp., but
Mr. Rye was of opinion that it was only a “depauperized immature example” of
H. salicis,

H. vile, Er. A very small, depressed, parallel-sided species ; lighter or
darker pitchy black, shining, exceedingly finely pubescent ; head more
or less closely punctured, almost smooth in front, antenne pitchy with
the first five or more basal joints testaceous red, joints 6-10 strongly
transverse : thorax in front almost as broad as elytra, scarcely transverse,
strongly narrowed behind, posterior angles almost right angles, upper
surface only slightly convex, thickly, deeply, and distinctly punctured,
with dorsal furrows shallow or obsolete, but usually more or less distinctly
traceable ; elytra about double as long as thorax, very thickly and
moderately deeply punctured, distinctly strigose ; legs light testaceous.
L. 2 mm.

Under bark; generally distributed and common throughout England and Scotland,
and probably also in Ireland.

V. Heerti, Heer. The specimens introduced by Mr. Blackburn (Ent.
Mo. Mag. iii. p. 93) as H. Heerti appear to be only a highly coloured
variety of H. vile ; they are entirely testaceous with the head and apex
of elytra and hind body darker ; Mr. Blackburn took his specimens in
fungi on rotten birches near Rannoch, and Dr. Power subsequently cap-
tured the same insect at Balmuto in Fifeshire; it has also occurred at
Aviemore.

H. brevicorne, Er. Closely allied to H. vile, from which it may
be known by its decidedly larger size, more robust and broader build,
more shining thorax, stouter and shorter antenne, and stronger punctua-
tion ; the punctuation of the elytra is more confused, almost rugose in
places, and scarcely, if at all, strigose ; when fully mature it appears to

Ee2

420 STAPTIIYLINIDE [ Iomalium.

bear a superficial resemblance to a small H. mondlicorne, but is much
more Closely related to H. vile; its very short antennz will distinguish
it from the allied species. L. 2} mm.

Under bark, in rotten wood, &c.: introduced by Rev. A. Matthews on the autho-
ri y of a specimen taken by him in 1862, at Gumley, Leicestershire: My. Rye refers
to this species some specimens taken by Mr. J. Hardy, at Wooler, Northumberland
district, in fungus on alders, and also the specimens taken by Dr. Power, at Balmuto,
Fifeshire, which have been distributed by him as H. gracilicorne: I have not seen the
former specimens, but he can hardly be right with regard to Dr, Power’s specimens,

which have the antenne quite as long, if not longer, than H. vile. Dr. Sharp records

H. brevicorne as rare in Scotland, in the Solway, Forth, and Dee districts.

I. gracilicorne, Fairm. This species closely resembles H. vile,
but differs by being larger, by the antenne having the first five joints
only testaceous, and by the somewhat stronger punctuation of the
head and thorax ; the latter is much rounded at the sides in front, and
the anterior angles are scarcely marked, the impressions on the dise are
almost absent, the punctuation of the elytra is coarser but less close, and
the elytra are less black, and a little reddish at base and apex, with the
strie hardly at all marked; compared with H. brevicorne it is smaller,
narrower, lighter, with the dorsal depressions on the thorax considerably
more obsolete, and the sides of the same more rounded and less econ-
tracted beliind ; the penultimate joints of the antenne are not so trans-
verse, the antennz themselves being longer, and the punctuation of the
elytra is not so close; the hind body also is duller. L. 2} mm,

Under fir-bark; rare; one specimen from the London district (Rye); Scotland,
Balnuto, Fifeshire, in numbers (Power): D». Power’s specimens appear to agree well
with Fairmaire’s description ; there is, however, considerable confusion with regard
to these last two or three species ; according to the catalogue of Heyden, Reitter, and
Weise, the H. gracilicorne of Fairmaire, which they mention as from Britain, is a
different insect from the H. gracilicorne of Rye, which is considered by them to be
synonymous with H. vile, Er. ; this, however, can hardly be correct, as Mr. Rye was
too keen an observer to have confused the species in this fashion,

EH. iopterum, Steph. (lucidum, Er.). Reddish testaceous with the
head black, the hind body more or less broadly pitchy towards apex, or
entirely dark, and the elytra with suture and apex, and sometimes the
ereater part of its surface black or bluish black ; head rather thickly and
strongly, but variably punctured ; antennz short and stout, entirely red,
or occasionally darker towards apex, penultimate joints strongly trans-
verse ; thorax almost as broad as elytra, transverse, but not strongly so,
rounded at sides, posterior angles right angles, thickly and moderately
punctured, dorsal fovew obsolete or absent ; elytra scarcely twice as long
as thorax, strongly and thickly punctured in distinct striated lines ;
hind body very finely alutaceous and punctured, L. 25-23 mm,

Under bark, in cut grass, on flowers, &c. ; local; London district, not uncommon,
aud generally distributed; Glanvilles Wootton; New Forest; Devonshire; Dean
Forest; Montgomery; Yardley and Knowle, near Birmingham; Salford Priors ;
Sherwood Forest; Robins Wood, Repton; Lincoln; Manchester district; rarer

omalium. STAPHYLINIDE. 2
val 1 STAPHYLINIDE 421

further north ; Northumberland district, rare; Scotland, scarce, Tweed, Forth, and
Dee districts.

Section V. (Phiceestiba, Thomson.)

This section contains two minute, shining, flat insects, which live
under bark ; they are very closely allied to one another; the margins of
the hind body make a considerably wider angle with its dise than in the
other sections.

I. Form broader; elytra fusco-testaceous; thorax with two
impressions near anterior margin... oe. «6 H PLANUM, Payk.

Il. Form narrower ; elytra fuscous ; thorax without impres-
SLONSRMUBELONG MEME) Ws) Sct ele 6 eh uel te cn ole e -FA. PINETI. Thoms:

H. planum, Payk. Depressed, black, shining, with the elytra
fuscous-testaceous, sometimes yellowish, and the thorax occasionally
pitchy- red, almost without pubescence ; head triangular, with distinct
Impressions before ocelli, rather closely punctured behind, almost smooth
in front, eyes very prominent ; antennze dark with the five or six basal
joints reddish-yellow, joints 6-10 about equal in breadth, very strongly
transverse ; thorax not much narrower than elytra, very transverse,
somewhat plainly narrowed behind, posterior angles almost right angles,
upper surface closely and distinc ‘tly punctured with dorsal impressions
more or less obsolete, but traceable ; elytra about twice as Jong as thorax,
very finely and irregularly, but distinctly punctured, sometimes a
little rugose ; hind body very finely shagreened; legs testaceous. L.
2-22 mm.

Under bark and at sap of freshly cut trees, or about Cossus burrows ; local, but
not uncommon; London district, generally distributed ; Norfolk ; Suffolk; Hertford ;
Dorset ; Devonshire ; Midland districts, Tewkesbury, Bewdley, Sherwood Forest, &c.;
not recorded from any locality further north in England; Scotland, rare, at the
oozing sap of the birch tree, Tay district only.

H. pineti, Thoms. (lapponicum, Zett., subtile, Ky., conforme, Kr.).
Very like the preceding, but smaller and distinctly narrower, with the
elytra considerably darker; the thorax has no impressions on its anterior
margin (a character that will easily distinguish it), and the elytra are
evidently more finely and sparingly punctured. L, 2-2} mm.

Scotland, Highlands, under bark of logs of Scotch fir; local A not common, Tay,
Dee, and Moray districts; first taken by Dr. Sharp at Rannoch.

The name lapponicum, Zett., has priority, but cannot stand, as Man-
nerheim had, prior to Zetterstedt, described another Homalium under
that name.

Section VI. (Sub-Gen. Etheothassa, Thomson.)

This section contains three species, the first two of which are found
in haystack refuse, bottoms of corn bins, &e., while the last appears to
occur in rotten wood: they may be distinguished superficially by their

4.22 STAPHYLINID®. [ Homalium.

rather long parallel form, convex thorax, and reddish or reddish-testaceous
appearance,

I. Upper surface piteby, with elytra lighter; thorax even.
i. Elytra shiny, less closely and evidently strigosely
MG Go 6 6.0 6 0 OG a 6 Oo
ii, Elytra dull, extremely closely and not strigosely
itl so alo os wo a a as
II. Upper surface entirely testaceous, with the head and
space round scutellum fuscous; thorax usually fur-
nished with obsolete impressions on disc. . . . . H.TEsTAcEUM, Hr.

H. concinnum, Marsh.

H. DEPLANATUY, Gyll.

EH. concinnum, Marsh. Elongate, parallel, very sparingly and finely
pubescent, pitchy black or pitchy red, with the elytra lighter or darker
reddish or reddish testaceous ; the apex and margins of hind body and
margins of thorax are also more or less plainly reddish ; head almost as broad
as thorax, thickly and finely punctured ; antenne red, with apical joint
somewhat lighter, short and rather stout, with penultimate joints rather
strongly transverse; thorax a little narrower than elytra, transverse,
convex, finely and closely, but distinctly punctured, with sides rounded
in front and narrowed behind, posterior angles almost right angles ; elytra
not quite double as long as thorax, thickly and finely punctured, dis-
tinctly strigose ; hind body very finely, but visibly, punctured ; legs red.
L. 3 mm.

Tn haystack and vegetable refuse; common and generally distributed throughout
England; recorded as very common in the Northumberland district, but, aceording to
Dr. Sharp (Scot. Nat. iii. 135) it is not common in Scotland, Tweed, Forth, and
Tay districts; Ireland, Waterford, Galway, &e.

Specimens of this insect are occasionally found which are quite dark ;
these appear to be the v. fuliginosum, Heer.

EH. deplanatum, Gyll. This species closely resembles the preceding
in general appearance, but may at once be distinguished by its duller
appearance, and the evidently closer punctuation of the elytra, which is
not strigose ; it is a little more pubescent than H. conetnnwm, and the
colour of the elytra is more uniformly reddish testaceous ; the head is
rather narrower in proportion to the thorax, and the thorax is somewhat
longer, but these characters are not very evident ; both in this and the
preceding species the dorsal fovex are usually absent, but may occasionally
be distinctly traced. L. 3 mm.

In haystack refuse, &e.; not common; Croydon, Tonbridge, Cowley ; Norfolk ;
Suffolk; Littlington, Sussex; Knowle; Coleshill; Cannock Chase; Montgomery ;
Repton, Burton-on-Trent; Sherwood Forest ; not recorded from any locality further
north in England, but it probably oceurs ; Scotland, local, Forth and Clyde districts ;
Ireland, Dublin, Waterford, and Belfast.

H. testaceum, Er. Sub-depressed, rufo-testaceous, with the head
and scutellary region infuscate, the head, thorax, and elytra thickly
punctured, and the hind body (which is rather dilated at the apex)
sparingly and most delicately punctured ; from H. concinnum it may be
known by its shorter form, much smaller and narrower thorax, and
invariably paler colour, and from H. deplanatum by its colour, longer

Homalium. | STAPHYLINID 2. 4.23

antenne, less evident pubescence, and distinctly stronger punctuation.
L. 24-3 mm.

In rotten wood; very rare; three specimens were taken in the summer of 1862
near Gumley, Leicestershire, by the Rev. A. Matthews,

Section VII. (Acrolocha, Thomson.)

This section contains one species, which in many points is allied to
Hapalarea pygmea, but differs in having the elytra punctured in distinct
rows, the front of the head without an elevated raised line near
eyes, and the tibic rather strongly spinose ; it is found in vegetable
refuse, &c.

H. striatum, Grav. Oblong, more or less ovate, dark pitchy black,
with the elytra lighter or darker pitchy brown ; head without raised lines
near eyes, moderately closely punctured ; antenuz as long as head and
thorax, with the last five joints forming a rather distinct club, basal
joint red, second pitchy, the next three or four reddish, and the rest
dark ; thorax twice as broad as long, convex, rather feebly rounded at
sides, and scarcely narrowed behind, posterior angles almost right angles,
dise diffusely and rather plainly punctured, with a more or less distinct
central channel, and a shallow, sometimes obsolete, impression on each
side at base ; elytra more than double as long as thorax, punctured some-
what irregularly in straight longitudinal striz, interstices alutaceous ;
hind body short, ovate, much acuminate at apex, very finely shagreened,
dull, usually lighter at apex; legs testaceous. L. 13-2 mm.

Male with the anterior tarsi dilated, and the seventh ventral segment
of hind body truncate at apex.

In haystack and vegetable refuse, dead leaves, &c.; occasionally by sweeping;
local, but not uncommon in many places; Esher, Dulwich, Forest Hill, Cowley,
Caterham, Purfleet, Whitstable, Sheerness; Norfolk; Maidstone; Deal; Pegwell
Bay; Hastings; New Forest; Plymouth; Exeter; Swansea; Knowle; Wicken
Fen; Matlock; Chat Moss; Wallasey, Cheshire; Northumberland district, rare
(Gosforth, Boldon Flats, and Wallington); Scotland, local, Solway and ‘Tweed dis-
tricts ; Ireland, Galway.

HAPALARZEA, Thomson.

This genus comprises the single species formerly known as Homalium
pygmeum ; the absence or almost total absence of spines on the tibia
and its distinct male characters will serve to characterize it; it is easily
distinguished by its entirely or almost entirely reddish-testaceous colour,
short oblong ovate form, and the raised line near eyes ; from Acruléa its
shape will at once separate it ; it occurs in fungi, under bark, &e.

EH. pygmea, Gyll. Oblong ovate, slightly convex, finely pubescent,
entirely reddish-testaceous or brick-red, with the head and apex of elytra
sometimes a little dark; head thickly punctured, with no visible im-

424 STAPHYLINID®. [Hapalarea,

pressions before ocelli, side margins of forehead plainly elevated near eyes ;
antenne reddish-testaceous, gradually thickened towards apex, with
perultimate joints more or less strongly transverse ; thorax rather
narrower than elytra, almost double as broad as long, rounded in front
and scarcely contracted behind, posterior angles distinct, thickly and
rather deeply punctured, without furrows on disc ; elytra more than
twice as long as thorax, rather convex, finely and closely, but distinctly
punctured ; hind body ovate, very finely shagreened; legs testaceous.
L. 24 mm.

Male with the sixth ventral segment of hind body furnished in
middle with a deflexed bifid tooth ; posterior trochanters very large,
securiform.

In fungi, under bark, &c.; occasionally on the wing, or by sweeping; not common ;
Sheerness, Birch Wood, Darenth Wood, Caterham, Mickleham, Addington, Tonbridge,
Cowfold, Esher, Bromley ; Glanvilles Wootton; Alverstoke ; New Forest ; Shrews-

bury ; not recorded from the northern districts of England ; Scotland, very rare, Tay
district (‘‘ Rannoch,” Buchanan White).

AGRULIA, Thomson.

This genus comprises one species, which was formerly included under
Homalium, but has been separated by Thomson ; its peculiar short
inflated shape will at once separate it ; it is extremely rare, and is found
very sparingly under bark in the Northumberland district, and in
Scotland,

A. inflata, Gyll. Broad oval, very convex, almost globose; pitchy
brown or reddish brown with the sides of thorax and hind body and the
suture sides and shoulders of the elytra lighter; the colour, however, is
variable, and the elytra are often dark unicolorous pitchy red; head
rather thickly punctured, smooth in front, with a small and sometimes
indistinct impression near ocelli, forehead raised near eyes as in H.
pygmnea ; antenne red or reddish brown with the four last joints strongly
transverse ; thorax rather narrower than elytra, double as broad as long,
more strongly narrowed in front than behind, with side margins finely
crenulate, depressed at sides, dise very convex, even, punctuation rather
thick and deep ; elytra more than twice as long as thorax thickly, deeply,
and rather strongly punctured ; hind body very short, very finely
shagreened, somewhat shining ; legs testaceous. L. 2 mm,

Under bark; very rare; Northumberland district, Ravensworth Woods (J.
Hardy); Scotland, very rare, Tay and Dee districts; a very few specimens have
been taken, for one of which I am indebted to Mr. J. J. King, of Glasgow, who
kindly gave me one of his only pair,

EUSPHALERUM, Kraatz.
This genus forms a natural transition between Homalium and An-
thobium, being closely connected with the former by its general appearance
and form and its spinose tibie, and with the latter by its stout legs and

Eusphalerum. ] STAPHYLINID&. 495

dilated front tarsi ; it contains a few European species, and one from
the Caucasus district ; ; our single species occurs in the flowers of the
primrose in spring and early summer.

E. primule, Steph. (¢riviale, Er., eribrosum, Heer). Rather
elongate and parallel-sided, with head and hind body pitchy black,
thorax pitchy black or brownish, and elytra and apex of hind body
lighter or darker yellowish brown ; head with eyes (which are very pro-
minent) nearly as broad as thorax, with a small impression before ocelli,
rugose and rather strongly punctured at base, smoother in front ; antennie
reddish testaceous with apex darker, rather ‘long, penultimate joints not
transverse ; thorax shghtly narrower than elytra, subquadrate, not
strongly transverse, with posterior angles blunt but distinct, rather
diffusely and somewhat strongly punctured, and finely alutaceous between
punctures ; elytra long, rather strongly punctured ; hind body very finely
punctured or shagreened ; legs testaceous. L. 2-3 mm.

In flowers of the primrose, &c.; local; Chatham, Mickleham, Caterham, Shirley,
Reigate, Maidstone; Hastings; Isle of Wight, Ventnor, &e. ; Bewdley ; Cheshire ;
Yorkshire ; Northumberland district, in flowers of primrose, guelder-rose, and haw-
thorn, plentiful (Gibside, &e.) ; Scotland, very local, Tweed and Forth districts.

ANTHOBIUM, Stephens.

This genus contains upwards of a hundred species, which inhabit the
temperate and cold countries of the Old and New Worlds; only one
species is found as far south as Madeira; they are distinguished from
Homalium by their pubescent (and not spinose) tibiee, stouter legs, and
dilated tarsi ; as their name implies, they are found in-flowers ; there
are five British species, one of which is exceedingly rare.

J. Thorax and hind body black or pitchy black.

i, Elytra longer, pitchy brown . . . . . . . . A. MINUTUM, F.

ii. Elytra shorter, testaceous . . . . . . . . A. LAPPONICUM, Mannh.
II. Thorax and elytra testaceous,

i. Hind body testaceous in both sexes ; Bynes

of thorax very close; length 1}-2mm. . . . A. OPHTHALMICUM, Payk.
ii, Hind body black or pitchy black in male ; pune-
tuation of Hes more diffuse.
A. Length 13-2 mm.; metasternum black . . . A. TORQUATUM, Marsh.
B. Length £11 mm.; metasternum testaceous. . A. SORBI, Gyll.

A. minutum, F. (lrevicolic, Heer, appendicula‘um, Heer). Black,
rather shining, hind body pubescent, elytra fuscous ; head with a very
small, almost invisible, impression before ocelli, finely shagreened, and
rather sparingly punctured, eyes very prominent ; antenne rather long
and stout, with the first five or six joints testaceous and the rest dark,
penultimate joints not contiguous, not or scarcely transverse ; thorax
transverse, convex, rounded in front, and feebly narrowed behind, with
posterior angles blunt, very finely alutaceous, and finely and diffusely
punctured ; elytra nearly three times as long as thorax, widened behind

426 STAPHYLINID. [ Anthobium.

and dehiscent, moderately strongly punctured ; hind body almost covered
by elytra, strongly acuminate at apex, which is usually lighter ; legs
testaceous. L. 2 mm.

Damp places, in flowers ; local, but common where it occurs; Haslemere, Surrey ;
Aylsham; Norfolk ; Suffolk; Glanvilles Wootton ; Devonshire ; Swansea; Knowle;
Bewdley ; Hartlebury; Lincoln; Manchester (rape, cabbage, and hawthorn);
Northumberland district ; Scotland, common, both Lowlands and Highlands as far
north as the Moray district,

A. lapponicum, Mannh. (flavipenne, Er.). Closely allied to the
preceding, but distinguished by its shorter testaceous elytra, which are
only about twice as long as thorax, by the thorax being more delicately
and less thickly punctured, foveolate at base, and slightly channelled on
dise ; in the female the sutural angle of elytra is produced, L. 2 mm.

In flowers of Caltha palustris; very rare; a single specimen has been taken at

Rannoch by Dr. Sharp: it appears somewhat doubtful whether it is anything more
than a variety of 4. minutum,

A. ophthalmicum, Payk. Colour uniform testaceous, upper surface
rather dull, scarcely pubescent; antenne slightly brownish at apex;
head thickly, deeply, and distinctly punctured; thorax very finely
punctured, with anterior and posterior margins almost equal, posterior
angles blunt, but distinct ; elytra about double as long as thorax, thickly
and deeply punctured, of a lighter colour than the rest of the body;
hind body very finely shagreened, testaceous in both sexes. L. 1}-
2 mm.

In flowers ; generally distributed and common throughout England and Scotland,
and probably Ireland.

A. torquatum, Marsh (scufellare, Er., mucronatum, Steph.). This
species may easily be distinguished from the preceding by the colour of
the hind body, which is black in the male and partially black in the
female, and also by the more diffuse (although very fine) punctuation of
the thorax ; from A. sorbi it may at once be distinguished by its much
larger size and black metasternum; the elytra also are somewhat more
thickly punctured, and the hind body is more evidently punctured and
duller. L. 13-2 mm.

Male with two small red-brown prominences in middle of hind margin
of sixth ventral segment of hind body.

In flowers ; generally distributed in England and Scotland, and probably in Ireland.
I have found it by far the most abundant species of the genus.

A. sorbi, Gyll. (silesiacum, Letz). A very minute species, and the
smallest of the Homaliine that we possess ; it is coloured much as the
preceding, but is usually lighter, and the hind body is pitchy-black or
black in the male, and entirely rufo-testaceous or rufous in the female ;
the metasternum is testaceous, a point that will at once distinguish it
from A. torquutum ; its smaller size and more distinctly punctured

Anthobium.] STAPHYLINIDR. 427

thorax, together with the colour of the hind body in male, will serve to
prevent any confusion with A. ophthalmicum. L. 1 mm.

In flowers ; local, but abundant where it occurs; Micklebam, Caterham, Shirley ;
Hastings; Glanvilles Wootton ; Devonshire; Llangollen (hawthorn); Scarborough ;
Manchester (elder and mountain ash) ; Northumberland district, local, on low plants
in woods on the Irthing, and elsewhere; Scotland, Solway and Forth districts.

PROTEININE.

This sub-family contains two genera, which are distinguished from the
Homaliinz, to which they bear a strong affinity, by having no ocelli on
the vertex of the head ; the anterior coxe are transverse, sublinear, and
scarcely prominent, and the posterior cox are large and transverse; the
antenne are eleven-jointed and all the tarsi five-jointed ; the species are
chiefly found in fungi. The genera may be distinguished as follows :—
I. Antennze with joints 9-11 larger; mesosternum not

CANMALC Nn cue) Mesias rel isis el ts ss 6 PROTEINUS. -Latr:

II. Antenne with eleventh joint only larger; mesosternum
carinate . 2. 2 1 2 es se ew ew el he hth el hf he 6MEGARTHRUS, Sleph.

PROTEINUS, Latreille.

This genus contains about a dozen or fifteen species, the majority of
which are found in Europe; single species have, however, been described
from California, Alaska, Japan, and Chili; there are four British species
which may be distinguished by their different size and sculpture ; mature
specimens may be determined by the colour of the basal joints of the
antenne, but in immature specimens this is a somewhat variable
character ; they occur chiefly in fungi, but are also found in haystack
refuse, &c.; in the male the seventh ventral segment of hind body
is emarginate ; the tarsi are all five-jointed.

The larva of Proteinus brevicollis (ovalis) is described by Chapuis and Candéze
(Cat. des Larves des Coléoptéres, p. 62): if is about 4mm. in length, linear, sub-
cylindrical, slightly narrowed in front and behind, and clothed with long, scattered,
erect hairs; it is whitish with the head of a dirty-yellowish colour, and the thoracie
segments of the same shade but rather clearer ; the head is narrower than the thorax,
and is almost quadrate; it has three ocelli on each side ; the scutum of the prothorax
is the most developed ; the anal appendage is tubular and conical and used for pro-
gression, and the cerci have the first joint three times as long as the second; the larva
is found in fungi.

I. Length exceeding 1 mm.
i, Antenne with first joint pitchy or dark pitchy red;
sculpture of elytra rather strong; length 2mm. . . P. ovaxis, Steph.
ii, Antenne with first joint clear red; sculpture of
elytra moderate; length 1}mm. . . . . . . . P. BRACHYPTERUS, Er,
iii, Antenne with first two joints clear red; sculpture
of elytra fine; length 1}. mm. . . .. . . . . P. MAcRopreRus, Gyll,
II. Length less than 1 mm.; antenni, except club, red ;
sculpture of elytrafine . .... .. . . =. - P. ATOMARIUS, Er.

425 STAPHYLINID A. [ Protcinus,

P. ovalis, Steph. (drevicollis, Er.). Oblong oval, rather convex,
black, somewhat shining, clothed with rather sparse, but evident,
greyish pubescence ; head transverse triangular, very finely shagreened,
with eyes prominent; antenne entirely pitchy black, first joint occasionally
dark pitchy red, first two joints much thickened, the last three or four
forming a distinct club; thorax very transverse, narrower than elytra,
very finely shagreened, and under a high magnifying power finely and
diffusely punctured, with sides a little narrowed in front and almost
straight behind, posterior angles almost right angles ; elytra more than
double as long as thorax, black with shoulders obscurely brownish,
rather strongly sculptured, alutaceous ; hind body oval, acuminate at
apex, very finely and somewhat asperately punctured ; legs testaceous.
L. 2 mm.

In fungi, haystack refuse, decaying sea-weed, dung-heaps, &c.; common and gene-
rally distributed from the Midlands southwards; rarer further north; Northumber-
land district, rare (Morpeth, Gosforth, &c.); Scotland, rare, Solway ani Forth
districts ; Ireland, Armagh.

P. brachypterus, F. (/Jevicollis, Heer). Very like the preceding,
but considerably smaller, with the thorax rather longer and the elytra
shorter in proportion ; in mature specimens the first joint only of the
antenne is clear red; the elytra are unicolorous black, and not lighter
at the shoulders, and are less strongly sculptured, L. 1} mm,

Found under the same circumstances as the preceding ; common and generally
distributed throughout England; Scotland, common in decaying vegetable matter,
Solway, Tweed, Forth, Tay, Dee, Moray, and probably other districts; Ireland,
Dublin and Belfast, and probably common throughout the country.

P. macropterus, Gyll. Smaller than the preceding, with the
elytra brownish black, or pitchy brown ; the antenne have the first two
joints clear red in mature specimens; the thorax is more finely sha-
greened and duller, and is more gradually rounded from a little before
base to apex, and the elytra are much more finely sculptured. L. 1¢
mm.

In fungi, flood refuse, under dead leaves, &c.; local and not common; Esher, Chat-
tenden, Claygate, Birch Wood, Balcombe, Shirley, Walton-on-Thames, Chatham,
Sheerness, Tonbridge; Glanvilles Wootton; Devonshire; Salford Priors; Wicken
Fen; Chat Moss; Mabberley, Cheshire; Lincoln; Scotland, very rare, Solway
district.

P. atomarius, Er. An exceedingly small species, somewhat
resembling a large Trichopteryx ; about half the size of the preceding,
brownish, or brownish-black ; the antennz are testaceous with the
exception of the club; the sculpture of the thorax and elytra is much as
in P. macropterus, but the posterior angles of the former are sharper
and more projecting ; the hind body is extremely finely sculptured.
L. 2 mm.

In rotten fungi; local, and as a rule not common ; London district, not uncommon,
Darenth Wood, Faversham, Brasted, Shirley, Caterham, E=her, Ashtead, Mickleham ;

Proteinus. | STAPHYLINIDE. 429

New Forest ; Hunstanton, Norfolk ; Scotland, local, Solway, Tweed, and Dee dis-
tricts; Ireland, Portmarnock.

MEGARTHRWS, Stephens.

This genus contains about sixteen or seventeen species from Europe,
Northern Asia, North America, and Japan; one or two only are found as
far south as Madeira; they may easily be known by their transverse
channelled thorax, of which the posterior angles are more or less excised,
and by their very rough sculpture ; the tarsi are five-jointed ; there are
five British species, which are found in haystack refuse, fungi, cut
grass, &e.

I. Upper surface black or pitchy black.
i. Basal joint of antenne clear red; thorax feebly but
perceptibly angled in middle of sides, sides straight
or almost straight from angle toapex. . . . . . M. DENTICOLUIS, Beck.
ii. Antenne entirely black.
1. Thorax broadly bordered with red; thorax feebly
but perceptibly angled in middle of sides, sides
straight from angle toapex . . . . . . . . M. Arrinis, Mill.
2. Thorax unicolorous black.
A. Sides of thorax regularly rounded without trace

ofananglein middle . .... . A M. DEPRESSUS, Payk.
B. Sides of thorax evidently angled in middle and
sinuate between angle and apex . . . . M. sINvATOCOLLIS, Lac.

II. Upper surface, except head, entirely ferruginous red;
sides of thorax angled and sinuate .... . . . M. HEMIPTERUS, III.

M. denticollis, Beck. Pitchy black, rather dull, with margins of
thorax reddish ; head triangular, with eyes rather prominent, strongly
depressed on each side and sharply raised in middle in a longitudinal
keel, very closely and rugosely punctured ; antenne dark, with first joint
clear red, slender, not much thickened towards apex, first two joints
much broader than the following; thorax with an obsolete angle in
middle of sides and thence straight or slightly rounded to apex, posterior
angles sharply emarginate, the “angle of the emargination being acute
as the basal margin projects, central channel strongly marked, moderately
strongly and rugosely sculptured ; elytra twice as long as thorax, wider
at apex than at base, sculptured like thorax, or slightly more strongly ; g
hind body ovate, strongly acuminate at apex, very finely shagreened ;
legs reddish testaceous. L. 2 mm.

Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly and the
sixth deeply emarginate ; the posterior femora in this sex are thickened,
and the intermediate tibie are slightly curved, and emarginate before
apex; the posterior trochanters also are strongly dilated.

In fungi, haystack refuse, &c. ; local; rather rare in the south and common further
north; London district, not common, Mickleham, Claygate, “Forest Hill, Cowley,
Sheerness, Tonbridge ; Devonshire; Bath; commoner apparently in the Midland
districts, Knowle, Yardley, Coleshill, Sinallheath, Edgbaston, Repton, Sherwood
Forest, &ce.; Manchester ; Northumberland district; Scotland, in fungus, common ;
Solway, Tweed, Forth, Dee, and probably other districts.

430 STAPHYLINIDE. [Megarthrus.

M. affinis, Mill. (Bellevoye’, Saulcy, sinwatocollis, Kr. nee Lac.).
This species is very closely allied to the preceding, but may be distin-
guished by having the first joint of the antenne black and by the shape
of the thorax, in which the sides are a little more evidently, although
slightly, angled in middle, and the posterior angles are less broadly and
acutely emarginate ; the head is not so strongly raised longitudinally in
centre; the margins of the thorax are reddish as in MZ. denticollis ; the
elytra in Saulcy’s description are said to be a little longer and the
shoulders less projecting, but this character is not very evident ; the
male characters at first sight are not distinct, but the intermediate femora
are slightly thickened, and the intermediate tibia very slightly curved,
and the seventh ventral segment of hind body is semicircularly emar-
ginate. L. 1{-2 mm.

In cut grass, haystack refuse, &e.; not uncommon in England, but not recorded
from Scotland; London district, generally distributed; The Holt, Farnham ; Lit-
tlington, Sussex ; Bath; Birmingham district; Repton; Liverpool ; Northumberland
district.

WW. depressus, Lac. This species is easily distinguished from the
others by having the sides of the thorax evenly rounded from the emar-
gination of the posterior angles (which is slight and obtuse) to apex, and
without a trace of an angle in the middle of sides, and also by its finer
sculpture ; the thorax is short, entirely black, finely sculptured, with
central line distinct ; the elytra are black, sometimes dark brown, rather
finely but plainly sculptured ; hind body very finely shagreened, lighter
at apex. L. 2 mm.

Male with the posterior femora thickened and the tibie slightly
sinuate.

In haystack refuse, dung-heaps, &e.; generally distributed throughout England
and Scotland, and probably common in Ireland.

WM. sinuatocollis, Lac. Distinguished from the preceding by the
strongly angled and sinuate sides of the thorax, of which the posterior
angles are rather strongly emarginate almost in a right angle, and also
by its evidently stronger sculpture ; the unicolorous black thorax,
together with the shape of the thorax, will distinguish it from the first
two species ; in the latter character it somewhat resembles M. hemipterus,
but may of course be at once known by its colour. L. 2 mm.

Male with the last ventral segment of hind body semicircularly emar-
ginate, sixth not emarginate; posterior femora thickened, intermediate
tibie slightly and posterior strongly sinuate.

In haystack refuse, cut grass, &e.; generally distributed and common throughout
England and Scotland, and probably common in Ireland.

IM. hemipterus, Ill. (rfescens, Steph., mitiduloides, Lac.). En-
tirely ferruginous red, with the head black, antenne red with apex
darker, and the legs reddish testaceous; head rather strongly raised
longitudinally in front; thorax double as broad as long, with sides

Megarthrus. | STAPHYLINIDE. 431

angled and sinuate, shaped much as in the preceding species, posterior
angles plainly emarginate, forming an acute angle with the basal margin
which slightly projects; the general sculpture is moderately strong.
L. 2-2$ mm.

Male with the posterior femora slightly thickened, the intermediate
tibiz slightly curved, and the posterior sinuate on their inner side and
dentate in the middle. 7

In putrid fungi; very local, but common where it occurs; Ashtead, Claygate, Til-
gate, Esher, Mickleham, Shirley, Darenth Wood, Mereworth, Sevenoaks, Chatham,
Sheerness, Tonbridge; Norfolk; Hastings; Glanvilles Wootton; St. Leonards
Forest; New Forest; Parkhurst Forest, Isle of Wight; Devonshire; Swansea ;
Somersetshire and Shropshire (Stephens); there are no northern records except
Solway district, very rare, “ Raehills, Rev. W. Little,” which requires confirmation ;
Stephens says that he used frequently to take it at roots of old fir trees near Hertford ;
in all Eeuty there was fungoid growth in or near the spot in which the specimens
occurred.

PHLEOBIINZA.

The single genus that forms this sub-family is distinguished from all
the other groups except the Proteinine by its transverse and sublinear
anterior cox, which are not prominent; it is by many authors classed
with the latter group, but is distinguished from it by the presence of a
single ocellus on the vertex, and by its shorter elytra; the tarsi are all
five-jointed.

PHLG@OBIUM, Lacordaire.

One species only is contained in this genus; in general appearance it
is something like a Megarthrus, but may easily be distinguished super-
ficially by its large transverse head, shorter elytra, and more parallel
form ; it is found in moss, &c., and is not uncommon in many parts of
the country.

P. clypeatum, Mill. (corticale, Lac.). Oblong, rather depressed,
of a dull reddish testaceous colour, with the head and dise of thorax often
darker, clothed with fine short and diffuse whitish pubescence; head
with eyes not much narrower than thorax, transversely oblong, strongly
and rugosely punctured, with front border much raised, and dilated before
eyes in two small ear-like prominences, eyes large, black ; antennz about
as long as head and thorax together, black or blackish, with base and
apex reddish ; thorax very short, more than twice as broad as long, as
broad as elytra, bisinuate at base, which is broadly produced in middle,
and irregular and somewhat crenulate at sides, with evident central
channel ; elytra more than twice as long as thorax, rather strongly and
thickly sculptured ; hind body with at least four segments visible, finely
and asperately sculptured ; the sculpture of the front parts is often more
or less raised in minute prominences; legs reddish testaceous. L. 2-
25 mm.

4.32 STAPHYLINIDA, [ Phlwobium.

Male with the seventh ventral segment angularly emarginate in middle
of apical margin, with a triangular impression before the emargination
traversed by a smooth channel with the sides slightly raised ; inter-
mediate and posterior femora very slightly dilated, with their tibize
curved, thickened a little at base and apex and emarginate in middle.

In moss, at roots of grass, in dead leaves, and under bark of rotten trees infested
with fungous growth; rather local in some parts of the country, but widely dis-
tributed throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland, and as a rule common; it has
not, apparently, been recorded from the Northumberland district. :

PHLEOCHARINA.

This sub-family contains two genera, which are divided by some
authors into three or four ; in some points they bear a relation to the
Oxyteline, and are chiefly separated from that group by reason of their
strongly developed posterior trochanters ; the tarsi are all five-jointed,
and there are no ocelli on vertex of head.

I. Head and thorax not margined, elytra with raised

border not strong . . . . . - « « + + « « « PutcocnAris, Mannh,
II. Head and thorax with margins pronounced; elytra

with raised border very strong. . . . - . + - . PsxEupopsis, Newm.

PHL@OCHARIS, Mannerheim.

This genus contains about six species from Europe, one from Algeria,
and one from Syria; they strongly resemble small species of Oxypoda ;
they live under bark of trees, and are slow in their movements.

P. subtilissima, Mann. Very small, elongate, subfusiform, slightly
convex, pitch-black, with the elytra lighter or darker pitchy brown, and
the apical margin of segments of hind body reddish, pubescence greyish,
rather long, fine, and close ; head triangular, rather large, very finely
punctured ; antenne about as long as head and thorax together, testaceous,
with penultimate joints sometimes a’ little darker, transverse ; thorax
large, broader than, or at least as broad as, elytra, with sides rounded in
front, very finely and thickly punctured ; elytra longer than thorax,
finely and rather thickly punctured; hind body elongate, narrowed
gradually towards apex, which is more or less yellowish ; legs reddish
testaceous, sometimes a little dusky, with tarsi always lighter. L. 13
mm.

Sexual characters not evident; the thorax is sometimes wider than
elytra, and sometimes of about the same width: this may be a difference
due to sex.

Under bark of old trees, in moss on trunks, and among dry dead sticks, &e.; local
and as a rule not common, but probably often overlooked ; Sevenoaks, Esher, Tilgate
Forest, Tonbridge ; Ashdown Forest, Sussex ; St. Leonards; Hastings; New Forest ;

Phleocharis. | STAPHYLINIDS. 433

Oxfordshire ; Sherwood Forest; Lincoln; Scarborough ; Northumberland district ;
Scotland, under bark of Scotch fir, Tay, Dee, and Moray districts.

PSEUDOPSIS, Newman.

This genus at present appears to contain four species, which occur
respectively in Europe, Cvlorado, Caraccas, and Chili; our British
species is very distinct by reason of the strong raised lines on the thorax
and elytra.

P. sulcata, Newm. Elongate-oblong, narrowed in front and
behind, dark pitchy-red or brown, with the apex and raised margins of
elytra lighter; head considerably narrower than thorax, rather long, with
eyes not prominent, rugose, with three longitudinal keels, one in centre
dividing into three before base, and two near eyes; antenne rather
short and stout, ferruginous ; thorax moderately transverse, a little nar-
rower than elytra, with sides rounded, lateral margins strong, explanate ;
the disc is furnished with four strong longitudinal keels, the intervals
between which are excavate and rugose, the central one being traversed
by a fine raised line ; elytra subquadrate, a little transverse, with four
strong raised keels (with rugose intervals), which are slightly curved
inwards at apex, lateral margins raised ; hind body rather long, finely
rugose, with broad, strongly raised lateral margins ; legs ferruginous,
with tarsi paler. L. 3-33 mm.

In haystack refuse, old faggots, &e.; rare; Caterham, Reigate; Kingsgate (one
specimen on the shore); Wicken Fen; Llangollen; Oxfordshire; Scarborough; Pendle-
bury, near Manchester, in decaying brake fern, &e,

PIESTINA.

This sub-family contains rather more than a dozen genera, of which
only three are found in Europe, and one at least of these, Trigonurus, is
separated from it by some authors; they are distinguished by their
globose or subelobose anterior cox ; the genus Glyptoma has the tarsi
three-jointed, but in our single British genus, Prognatha, they are all
five-jointed.

PROGNATHA, Latreille. (Siagonium, Kirby.)

This genus comprises about half-a-dozen species from Europe, North
America, and Ceylon; our single British species is chiefly remarkable
for the great development of the head and mandibles in male ; it occurs
under bark.

P. quadricornis, Lac. (rufipennis, Blond., Siagonium 4-corne,
Kirby). Elongate, linear, depressed, almost glabrous, pitch-black, with
the elytra and sometimes thorax chestnut-brown or reddish and the apex

VOL, Il. Ff

434 STAPHYLINIDE. [Prognatha.

of hind body red ; head transverse, more or less broad, rather sparingly
punctured, with the clypeus, and the antennal projections in female, and
the horns in male red ; antenne very long in male, rather long in female,
reddish ; thorax transverse, subcordiform, anterior margin bisinuately
emarginate, with the angles blunt but distinct, sides narrowed and sinuate
at base, posterior angles almost right angles, punctuation rather diffuse ;
elytra much longer than thorax, with a well-marked sutural stria reaching
apex, and four other plainly punctured striz ceasing before apex; hind
body elongate, parallel, finely and rather thickly punctured ; legs red.
L. 4-5} mm.

Ma’e much larger than female, with head as broad as or broader than
thorax, with two strong short blunt horns before eyes, and the mandibles
furnished with two long curved horns which nearly meet when these are
closed, and look like a second pair of mandibles ; antenne very long ;
in the female the antennee are very much shorter and the head is
narrowet,

Under bark ; often on walls and palings ; local, but not uncommon in many places ;
Chatham, Forest Hill, Cobham Park, Mickleham, Chobham, Peckham, Erith, Cowley,
Addington, Tonbridge; Kingsgate; Norfolk; Suffolk; Winchester; Exeter;
Needwood Forest ; Crewe’s Pond, Repton ; Sherwood Forest ; not recorded from the
north of England or from Scotland.

As this is going to press, I notice that my friend Mr.Champion has just (Nov.
1887) recorded the capture of Ancyrophorus aureus, Fauy. (longipennis, Wat. &c.),
at Luccombe Chine, Isle of Wight. ‘This capture is worth noticing, as the
species has not been taken south of Yorkshire except by Mr. A, C. Horner at
Tonbridge (v. p. 385).

Achenium, Curt.
depressum, Grav.
humile, Nic. . .

Acidota, Steph. .
crenata, F. .
cruentata, Mannh.
v. ferruginea, Er.
pulchra, Mots. .
rufa, Grav. .

Acrognathus, Er.

mandibularis, Gyll. .

Acrolocha, Thoms. .
Acrotona, Thoms.
Acrulia, Thoms.
Actobius, Fauv. .
cinerascens, Grav.

elongatulus, Thoms. .

lathrobioides, Baudi
procerulus, Gray.
prolixus, Er... .
pubipennis, Kol. .
rivularis, Kies.

semipunctatus, Fairm.

signaticornis, Rey
villosulus, Steph.
Actocharis, Jans.
marina, Faw.
Readingii, Sharp
Actosus, Rey
Acylophorus, Nord.
glaberrimus Herbst.

glabricollis, Boisd. .
. 223

pulcher, Scriba .
Agaricochara, Kr. .
leevicollis, Kr.
Aglypha, Rey ..
Alaobia, Rey « «
Aleochara, Grav. .
algarum, Fauv. .
v. bilineata, Gyll.
bipunctata, Ol. .
bisignata, W. C. .

PAGE

- 304

. 305
. 305
. 403

+ 403

. 403
. 404
+ 403
+ 403
. 3894
395
- 423
- 129
. 424
. 283
. 281
285
. 285
. 285
. 286

. 286

. 284
285
. 284
. 285
. 163
. 163
. 163
. 170
. 222
. 223
223

5 alo

- 14

. 16
breyipennis, Gray. .

IND XS:

brunneipennis, Kr.

cuniculorum, Kr.
fuliginosa, Rey
fuscipes, F.
grisea, Kr.
grisea, Thoms.
hibernica, Rye
inconspicua, Aubé
Januginosa, Grav.
lata, Grav.
lugubris, Aubé
lygea, Kr.
maculata, Bris.
meerens, Gyll.
moesta, Grav.
morion, Gray.
mycetophaga, Kr.
nitida, Grav.
nitidula, Thoms. .
obscurella, Er.
obscurella, Thoms.
procera, Er.
sanguinea, L.
spadicea, Er. .
tristis, Grav. .
villosa, Mannh.
Aleocharina
Aleocharine .
Aleuonota, Rey
Alianta, Thoms.
incana, Er.. .
plumbea, Wat.
Aloconota, Thoms.
Amarochora, Thoms.
Amischa, Thoms.
Ancyrophorus, Kr. .
aureus, Fauv. .
longipennis, Wat.
omalinus, Er.
prepositus, Rey
procerulus, Epp. .
venustulus, Rosh.
Anodus, Nord.
rf 2

Anopleta, Rey . .
Anotylus, Thoms.

; Anthobium, Steph.

PAGE
. 114
. 380
. 425

appendiculatum, Heer 425

brevicolle, Heer .
Jlavipenne, Er. .

lapponicum, Mannh.

minutum, F.
nuucronatum, Steph. .

ophthalmicum, Payk.

sceutellare, Er...
stilesiacum, Letz
sorbi, Gyll. °
torquatum, Marsh
Anthophagus, Grav.
alpinus, Payk.
caraboides, L.. .
palustris, Heer
testaceus, Gray. .
Arpedium, Er.

brachypterum, Grav.

Astilbus, Dillwyn
canaliculatus, F..
Astycops, Rey

| Atemeles, Steph.
emarginatus, Gray. .

paradoxus, Grav.
Atheta, Thoms.
Autalia, Steph.
impressa, Ol. .
puncticolli
rivularis, Gray.

Badura, Rey . . .
Beoglena, Thoms.
Baptolinus, Kr. .
afinis, Payk. ;
alternans, Grav. .
Baryodma, Thoms. .
Bessobia, Thoms. .
Bessopora, Thoms ..
Bisnius, Thoms. . «

ah Sharp Z

. 425
. 426
426
. 425

426

426
. 426
- 426
. 426
. 426
. 398

. 399

. 399
. 399
. 399

+ 54

.
Cay
rs

- 126

436

Blediodes, Rey .

Bledius, Manvh,.
alpestris, Heer.
arenarius, Payk. .
atricapillus, Germ.
bicornis, Germ.
crassicollis, Lac. .
dama, Mots.
dissimilis, Er. . .
erraticus, Er. .
femoralis, Gyll.
jilum, Heer
fracticornis, Payk.
fuscipes, Rye. .
Jongulus, kr.
monoceros, Rosh. .
v. nigricans, Er. ,
nuchicornis, Rey
opacus, Block .
pallipes, Gray. .
pallipes, Fuuv.
rastellus, Schiodte
rastellus, Thoms. .
Ruddii, Steph. .
spectabilis, Kr.
subterraneus, Er.
taurus, Germ. .
terebrans, Schiddte
tricornis, Herbst.
tricornis, Faw.
unicornis, Germ.

Bolitobius, Steph. .
angularis, Steph.
atricapillus, F.

v. biguttatus, Steph. .

distigma, Fairm. .
exoletus, Er,
lunulatus, L.
pygmieus, F.
trimaculatus,
trinotatus, Er.

bare,

Bolitochara, Mannh. .

bella, Maerk. .
elegans, Fairm.
elongata, Heer
flavicollis, Rey
lucida, Grav. . .
lunulata, Payk. .
obliqna, Er.
Bolitocharina
Boroborpora, Kr.
Kraatzi, Fuss.
Sauleyt, Kr.
Brachida, Rey
notha, Bric) <.
Brachyusa, Rey .
Bryoporus, Kr. .

INDEX,

castaneus, Hardy
cernuus, Gray.
Hardyi, Crotch
rugipennis, Pand.

Cafius, Steph.

cicatricosus, Er.
fucicola, Curt. .
pruinosus, Er,

s riceus, Holme.

vy. variolosus, Sharp.
xantholoma, Grav. .

Callicerus, Gray.
obscurus, Grav. .
rigidicornis, Er.
unicarinatus,

Calodera, Mannh. .
eethiops, Grav.
migrita, Mannh. .
riparia, Er.
rubens, Er.
umbrosa, Er. .

Cardiola, Rey

Carpatimus, Steph.

Centroglossa, Matth.

Ceranota, Steph.

Ceritava, Rey .

Chetida, Rey.

Chilopora, Kr. .
longitarsis, Er.
rubicunda, Er. .

Cilea, Duv. . :
silphoides, iy .

Colpodota, Rey .

Compsochilus, Kr, .
palpalis, Er. .

Conosoma, Kr. .

bipunctatum, Gray.

fusculus, Er.

immaculat um Steph.

littoreum, L.
lividum, Er.

Fairm.

pedicularium, Gray.

pubescens, Gray.
Conurus, Kr.
Coprochara, Rey
Coprothassa, Thoms.

Coprophilus, Kr.

striatulus, F. .

Coryphium, Steph.

angusticolle, Steph.

brevicolle, Hal.

bifoveolatum, Thoms.

Cratarwa, Thoms.
Creophilas, Mannh.

v, ciliaris, Steph.

PAGE |
- 210
. 210
. 210
. 209

. 281
- 281
. 282
. 283 |
. 283

283
282
59

» 409

409

. 409

409
23

. 247
> PEA

PAGE

maxillosus, L. 247
Cryptobium, Mannh. . 305
brevipenne, Muls. 305
fracticorne, Payk. 306
glaberrimum, Herbst. 306
Cypha, Steph. . . . 184
| Dadobia, Thoms. 94
Datomicra, Rey. 123
Deinopsina ae 183
| Deinopsis, Matth. . 183
erosa, Steph. . . 183
fuscata, Mannh. . 183
laticollis, Er. . 183
Deleaster, Er. . . 396
adustus, Kitst. . 3897
dichrous, Gray. . 396
v. Leachii, Curt.. 397
Deliphrum, Er.. . . 406
crenatum, Grav, 406
tectum, Payk. 406

| Demosoma, Thoms. . 34
|Dianous, Curt. . . . 326
ceerulescens, Gyll. . 326
Diglossa, Hal. : 171
mersa, Hal. 171
sinuatocollis, Rey 171
submarina, Fairm. . 171
Dilacra, Thoms. . 75
Dimetrota, Rey . 96
Dinarea, Thoms. 87
Dinarda, Mannh. . 52
dentata, Grav. . 53
Maerkeli, Kies. . 52
Disochara, Thoms, . . 33
Disopora, Thoms. 68
Dochmonota, Rey 112
Drusilla, Mannh. 59
Drymoporus, Thoms. . 206
Ediquus, Rey . 228
Elbidus, Rey . 356
Emus, Curt. . 248
hirtus, 10h 248
Encephalus, Westw. 141
complicans, Westw. 152
Epipeda, Rey . 162
plana, Gyll. . . 162
Epomotylus, Thoms, . 378
Etheothassa, Thoms, . 421
Eudectus, Redt. . 408
Whitei, Sharp . . 409
Eulissus, Mannh. 288
Euryporus, Er. . 223
picipes, Payk. 223

INDEX.
PAGE | PAGE |
Buryusa, Er. . 164 Power, Grotch - 155
Kirbii, Jans. - + * 39\ pulchella, Heer . . 159
Jaticollis, Heer - 164 puncticollis, Thoms. . 155
linearis, Maerk. 164 punctulata, Rey « 155
Eusphalerum, Kr. 424 strictula, Er. . 159
cribrosum, Heer - 425
primule, Steph. - 425

triviale, Er. + * 425 Habrocerine - 218 |
Bvesthetine 323 | Habrocerus, Er. . . 219
Eyesthetus, Grav... - 324 capillaricornis, Grav. 219
]eviusculus, Mannh. 325 Hapalareea, Thoms. 423
ruficapillus, Lac. 325 | pygmea, Gyll.- 423,
scaber, Thoms. 324 Haploderus, Steph. 383
coelatus, Grav. 383,

Haplogloss, Kr. 22

Falagria, Steph. 147 Hemitropia, Rey - . 183
obscura, Grav. 148 Hesperophilus, Thoms. 367
sulcata, Payk. 147 Heterota, Rey. - ° 64
sulcatula, Grav. - 148 | Heterothops. Steph. 224
thoracica, Curt. - 148| binotata, Er, =o: 224
p.brunneipennis, Kies. 225

dissimilis, Grav- - 225

Gabrius, Thoms. - 274 flavolimbata, Mots. . 225
Gauropterus, Thoms. 288 nidioola, Thoms. - 225
Geodromicus, Redt. 399 nigra, Kr. . 225
anthracim's, Rris. 400 previa, ae sees 225
globulicollis.Mannb. 400 quadripunctula, Gyll. 225
nigrita, Mall. 00 | Hilara, Rey . 10l
plagiatus, Heer 400 Homahine a4 Bia!
Geostiba, Rey + 79 | Homalium, Grav. - « 409
Glossola, Fowler qi abietinum, Thoms. 416
Gnypeta, Thoms 149) Allardi, Fairin. 14
cerulea, Sahlb. 143 atrum, Heer 418
carbonara, Mannh. - 142 brevicorne, Er. . 419
carbonaria, Sharp . 143 casum, Grave. + * 415
Jabilis, Er. - . 143 concinnum, Marsh . 422
ripicola, Kies. 143| conforme, Kr. - 421
Goerius, Steph. + ° 253 corticinum, Mots. . 415
Gymnusa, Grav. - 181 crassicorne, Matth. . 419
previcollis, Payk. 182 deplanatum, Gyll. 422 |
variegata, Kies. - 182| excavatum, Steph. . 416 \
Gyrohypnuss Steph + + 288| exiguum, Gyll. 414
Gyrophena, Mannh. - 153 | _florale, Payk. . 418 |
affinis, Manovh. 155| fossulatwm, TAS oe 415
previcornis, Rey - 159| gracilicorne, Fairm. 420
carpin, Baudi . 157 v. Heerii, Heer - 419
congrua, Thoms. + 156 ampar Rey. - 413
congrua, Er. . 157 impressum, rep 8 ote
despecta, Rey+ + * 157 impresswiny Heer. ~- 410
fasciata, Marsh .- 157 inflatum, Gyll. 424
gentilis, Er. _156| iopterum, Steph. + 420
Jeevipennis, ice 158 Jgeviusculum, Gyll. - 413
lucidula, Er. - 158 languidum, Makl. 413
manca, Er. + 158 lapponicum, Fett. - 421
minima, Er. + + 157 lucidum, Ev. + > 420
nana, Payk. - 156 maculicorne, Heer 4158
polita, Givav. "459 | monilicorne, Gyl, . 41%

PAGE
nigriceps, Kies. - 415
nigrum, Grav. 415
oxyacanthe, Grav. » 414
pineti, Thoms. 421
planum, Payk. 421
punctipenne, Thoms. 416
pasillum, Grav- 16
pygmeums Gyll. . 423,
riparium, Thoms. 413
rivulare, Payk. 412
wuficornes Steph. + 418
rufipes, Foure. 418
rugulipenne, Rye 412
salicinum, Gyll. - 418
salicis, Gyll. + - 419
septentrionis, Thoms. 413
striatum, Grav. - 23
subtile, Kv. + + ° 421
testaceum, JY. 422
vile, Hr. + + ° ALS
Homalota, Mannh. . 65
wera, Heer . . 98
aegyptiach, Mots.. . 79
eneicollis, Sharp 105
anescens, Zett. 130
wquata, Er. 87
alge, Hardy 84
alpestris, Heer 80
amicula, Steph. 120
analis, Grav. - 98
anceps, Ev.. + + 63
angusticollis, Thoms. 114
angustula, Gyll. - 88
aquatica, ‘Yhoms. 104
arata, Rey - + ° 98
arenicola, Thoms. 124
aridula, Thoms. - 113
arvicola, Thoms. . 82
assimilis, Steph. - Sk
aterrima, Grav. - 135
atomavia, Kr.- + + 115
atramentaria, Gyll.. 130
atrata, Kr. . + 3 112
atricapilla, Thoms. - 92
atricilla, Er. 83
atricolor, Sharp - 122
Aubei, Bris. - + + 96
autumnalls, Er. 119
poletobia, Thoms. 109
brach yptera, Thoms. oO)
breviceps,; Thoms. 96
brevicollis, Baudi 118
brunnea, Fo + + * 103
brunnipes, Thoms. - 114
cadaverina, Bris. 131
cesula, Er. - 90
cambrica, Wall. . 70

438

canescens, Sharp
carbonaria, Sharp

PAGE
. 126

castaneipennis, Fairm

castaneipes, W. C.

castanoptera, Mannh.

cauta, Er.
cavifrons, Sharp.
celata, Er.
celata, Thoms. .

cinnamomea, Grav. .

cinnamoptera,
Thoms. = «s
circellaris, Gray.
clancula, Er.
clavipes, Sharp
v. clientula, Er. .
cerulea, Sablb.
complana, Mannh.
compressicollis,
Thoms.
confusa, Maerk.

o%e

consanguinea, Epp..

contempta, Heer
convena, Sahlb.
coriaria, Kr.
corvina, Thoms. .

.

crassicornis, Sharp .

cribrata, Kr.
eribriceps, Sharp
currax, Kr.
currens, Woll.

curtipennis, Sharp .

euspidata, Er.
cyrtonota, Thoms.
dadopora, Thoms.
debilis, Er. :
decipiens, Sharp.
deformis, Kr...
delicatula, Sharp
depressa, Gyll. .
difficilis, Bris. .
dilaticornis, Kr. .
diversa, Sharp
divisa, Maerk.

v. dubia, Sharp .
egregia, Rye.
Hichofti, Scriba
elegantula, Bris. .
elongatula, Grav.
eremita, Rye .
euryptera, Steph.
exarata, Sharp
excavata, Rey .
excellens, Kr.
exilis, Er. .
eximia, Sharp .
fallaciosa, Sharp.

90

INDEX.

fallax, Kr. . .
fennica, Sahlb.
filum, Rey :
jimetaria, Thoms.
jfimorum, Bris.
flavipes, Grav.
flavipes, Thoms.
forcipata, Rey.
foveola, Rey. .
fragilis, Kr.
fucicola, Thoms. .
funebris, Thoms. .
fungi, Grav.
fungicola, Thoms.
fungivora, Thoms.
fusca, Shurp
fuscipes, Heer

fuscofemorata, Wat. .

fuscula, Mannh. .
gagatina, Baudi .
gemina, Er.
germana, Sharp .
gibbera, Rey
glabricula, Thoms.
graminicola, Gyll.
granigera, Kies.
Gravenhorsti, Kr.
gregaria, Er

Gyllenhali, Thoms. .

halensis, Rey

halobrectha, Sharp ;

halophila, Thoms.
hepatica, Er.
hodierna, Sharp .
hospita, Maerk.
humeralis, Kr.
hybrida, Sharp
hygrobia, Thoms. .
hygrotopora, Kr.
hypnorum, Thoms.
hypogeea, Rey .
ignobilis, Sharp .
imbecilla, Wat. .
immersa, Hr. .
immunita, Thoms.
impressicollis, Rey

impressicollis, Sullb.

incana, Er.
imeisa, Rey. » «
incognita, Sharp.
inconspicua, Heer
indigena, Heer
indiscreta, Sharp
indocilis, Rey .
indubia, Sharp
inquinula, Er. .
insecta, Thoms. .

PAGE
intermedia, Thoms.. 132
islandica, Kr. . 95
labilis, Er. . 142
leevana, Rey 128
languida, Er.. . . 68
laticeps, Thoms.. . 98
laticollis, Steph... 137
laticornis, Mots. . 119
lepida, Kr.. . . 114
linearis, Grav. 88
lissonura, Thoms. . 69
littorea, Sharp 74
liturata, Steph. 110
lividipennis, Er. . 133
londinensis, Sharp 76
longicornis, Gray. . 132
longula, Heer . 72
longula, Fairm. 118
luridipennis, Mannh. 76
luteipes, Er. See ES
macrocera, Thoms. . 130
major, Aubé 103
marcida, Hr. 131
marina, Rey . 74
maritima, Wat. 83
melanaria, Brit. Cat. 133
melanocera, Thoms. . 78
merdaria, Thoms, 105
meridionalis, Rey 74
merita, Rey . . 72
minuscula, Bris. . 115
monticola, Thoms. . 86
montivagans, Woll.. 138
mortuorum, Thoms. 121
muscorum, Bris. . 136
mutata, Fairm. 112
nana, Muls. 98
navicula, Rey . 140
nigella, Hr. . . . 87
nigra, Kr. 123
nigricornis, Thoms. . 113
nigripes, Thoms. . 127
nigritula, Grav. . 109
nigritula, Gyll. 110
nitidicollis, Fairm. . 108
nitidiuscula, Sharp. 80
nitidula, Kr. . 80
nivalis, Kies, . 79
notha, Er. . 152
nudicornis, Rey 130
obfuscata, Thoms. 135
oblita, Er. . Sees
oblongiuscula,Sharp 80
occulta, Er. A 84
ochracea, Er. . 116
opacula, Thoms, . 77
orbata, Er. 139

orphana, Er. .
pagana, Er. .
pallens, Redt.
palleola, Er.

pallidicornis, Thoms.

palustris, Kies. .
parallela, Mannh.
parasita, Rey .
parca, Rey .
parilis, Rey .
parisiensis, Bris. .
parva, Brit, Cat. .
pavens, Er. .
perexigua, Sharp
Pertyi, Heer
picipes, Thoms. .
pilicornis, Thoms.
pilosa, Kr.

pilosiventris, Thoms.

plana, Gyll.
planifrons, Wat. .
plumbea, Wat.
princeps, Sharp .
producta, Thoms.
proxima, Kr. . .
puberula, Sharp .
pulchra, Kr. . .
pulicaria, Er. .
pumila, Kr.
puncticeps, Thoms.
putrida, Kr. .
pygmea, Gray.
quisquiliarum,
Thoms. 5
ravilla, Hr, <<
ripicola, Kies. .
robusta, Rey . .-
rufotestacea, Kr.
rustica, Bris.
Saundersi, Rye
scapularis, Sahlb.
sericata, Mannh. .
sericea, Muls..
setigera, Sharp .
Sharpi, Rye
silvicola, Fuss.
simillima, Sharp .
simillima, Rey .
socialis, Thoms.
sodalis, Er. . .
sordida, Marsh
sordidula, Er.
soror, Kr. .
splendens, Kr.
stercoraria, Rey
subenea, Sharp .
subglabra, Sharp .

INDEX.

sublinearis, Kr.
subrecta, Rey .
subsinuata, Er.
subterranea, Muls.
subtilis, Scriba
aaysiticctnan, Gas
succicola, Thoms. .
teniata, Kol. .
talpa, Heer. .
tantilla, Woll.
tenera, Sahlb.
terminalis, Rey
testaceipes, Heer
testudinea, Er.
thinobisides, Kr. .
Thomsoni, Jans. .
tibialis, Heer .
triangulum, Kr. .
trinotata, Kr. .
tristicula, Rey .
uliginosa, Thoms.
umbonata, Rey
valida, Kr. 5
validicornis, Maerk.
validinscula, Ker: .
variabilis, Er.
varicornis, Kr.
velox, Kr. 5
vernacula, Er. .
vestita, Grav.
vicina, Steph.
Vilis; Hr, 2 “.
villosula, Kr. .
volans, Scriba

xanthoptera, Steph.
xanthopus, Thoms. .

wvanthopus, Rey
zostere, Thoms,
Homeeusa, Kr.

acuminata, Maerk. .

Hydrosmecta, Thoms.
Hygrecia, Rey
Iygronoma, Er. .
dimidiata, Gray. .
Hypnota, Rey. .
Hypocyptina .

Hypocyptus, Mannh. .
acuminatum, Marsh.

agaricina, Steph. .

anisotomoides, W. C.

apicalis, Bris. .
biguttatus, Matth.
discoideus, Er.
globulus, Lac. .
granulum, Grav. .

leviusculus, Mannh.

Redt.

leviusculus,

|

lancifer, Pand.
longicornis, Payk.
nigripes, Steph.
nigripes, Heer .
ovulum, Heer .
parvula, Steph.
pulicarius, Er.
punctum, Mots.
pygmeus, Kr. .
rufipes, Steph. .
seminulum, Er.

Ilyobates, Kr. *.
Bonnairei, Fauv.

glabriventris, Rye .

forticornis, Lac.
nigricollis, Payk.
propinquus, Aubé
rufipes, Kr.
Ischnoglossa, Kr. .
corticalis, Steph. .
corticina, Er. .
prolixa, Grav.
rufopicea, Kr.
varia, Heer
Ityocara, Thoms.

Lamprinus, Heer
saginatus, Gray.
Lathrimzum, Er.

atrocephalum, ‘Gyll.

luteum, Ev...
melanocephalum,
Marsh .
unicolor, Steph. .
Lathrobium, Grav. .
angustatum, Lac.
angusticolle, Lac.
atripalpe, Scriba
boreale, Hoch.
carinatum, Bold .
elongatum, L.
elongatum, Gyll. .
filiforme, Gray. .
fovulum, Steph. .
fulvipenne, Grav.
geminum, Kr. .
impressum, Heer .
Jansoni, Crotch
longicorne, Redt. .
longulum, Gray.

multipunctum,Gray.

pallidum, Nord, .
punctatum, Zett.
punctatum, Fauv.

440

PAGE
punctulatum, Mannh. 300
Vv. pyrenaicum,

Fairm. . 803
quadratum, Payk. - 302
rufipenne, Gyll. . . 300
Vv. striatopunctatum 5 St0B}
terminatum, Grav. . 302

Leistotrophus, Perty . 248
cingulatus, Grav. . 248
murinus, L. . . . 249
nebulosus, F.. . . 243

Leptacinus, Er.. . . 292
batychrus, Gyll. . 293
formicetorum,

Maerk. . 293
linearis, Gray. . 293

parumpunctatus,Gyll.292

Leptusa, Kr. . . 164

analis, Gyll. . 165
fumida, Er. . 165
hemorrhoidalis,
Heer . . a onallsts
nigra, Bris. . » « 4d
Lesteva, Kr... . ~ 401
bicolor, F. . 401
Heeri, Fauv. . 402

longelytrata, Goeze. 401
monticola, Sharp. . 401
muscorum, Duv. . . 402
pubescens, Mannh.. 402
punctata, Hr... . . 402
Sharpi, Rye . . 401
sicula, Hr.. . . . 402
Leucoparyphus, kv. . 198
Liogluta, Rey. . . . 79
Lithocharis, Lac. . 318
brumniveps, Fairm. . 319
ochracea, Gray. . . 319

Lyprocorrhe, Thoms. . 68
Medon, Steph. . 312
apicalis, Kr, . 317
bicolor, Ol. . A Bil7/
brunneus, Er. . 315
castaneus, Grav. . 314
dilutus, Er. . . . 315
fusculus, Mannh. . 316
letus, Thoms, . . 317
maritimus, Aubé. . 314

melanocephalus, F.. 317

obsoletus, Nord. . 818
piceus, Kr. . 315
pocofer, Peyr. . 3l4
procerus, Per. . . 314
propinquus, Bris. . 317
ripicola, Kr. . . . 316

INDEX.

PAGE
. dl4
. 316

Ruddii, Steph.
rufus, Rey .

sericellus, Fairm. . 317
vicivus, Bris. . . 317
Megacronus, Thoms. . 207
analis; Moe e208
castaneus, Steph. . 2)8
cingulatus, Mannh.. 207
formosus, Grav.. . 209
inclinans, Gray.. . 208
Megalinus, Rey . . 238
Megarthrus, Steph. . 429
affinis, Mill. . . 480
Bellevoyei, Saulcy . 430
denticollis, Beck . 429
depressus, Lac. . 430
hemipterus, Ill. . . 430
nitiduloides, Lac. 430
rufescens, Steph. . 430
sinuatocollis, Lac. . 430
Megista, Rey 83
Meotica, Rey . 100
Metaxya, Rey 74
Micralymma, Westw.. 407
brevipenne, Gyll. 407
Johnstoni, Westw. 407
marinum, Stroem. 407
Microcera, Rey 174
Microdota, Rey . 93

Microglossa, Kr. . . 22

gentilis, Maerk. . 24
marginalis, Gyll. 23
nidicola, Fairm.. . 24
pretexta, Hr. . . . 23
pulla, Gyll. 24
rufipennis, Kr. . . 23
suturalis, Mannh. 23
Microsaurus, Steph. 236
Mmiusa, Rey. . 41
Mycetodrepa, Thoms. 28
Mycetoporus, Mannh.. 212
angularis, Rey . . 217

australis,Rey . .
brevicornis, Matth. .
brunneus, Marsh. . 215
clavicornis, Steph. .
v. forticornis, Fauv. 217

humeralis, Mots. . 215
lepidus, Grav. 215
longicornis, Kr. . . 218
longulus, Mannh. . 216
lucidus, Er. . 214
monticola, Fowler . 216
nanus, Er. Sed aee2lG
niger, Baudt . 217
pronus, Er. a Aly/
punctus, Gyll. . 215

PAGE
Reyi, Pand. 217
splendens, Marsh 214

splendidus, Gray. . 218
splendidus, Duv.. . 214
Mycota, Rey . ' 111
Myllena, Er. . 176
attenuata, Matth. 5 le/e/
brevicornis, Matth.. 180
conuroides, Matth. 177
dubia, Grav. , 177
elongata, Matth.. . 179
forticornis, Kr. . . 180
Fowleri, Matth. . . 178
glauca, Aubé 179
gracilicornis, Fairm. 178
gracilicornis, H.R.W. 179
gracilis, Matth. 180
greeca, Kr. 179
infuscata, Matth. 180
intermedia, Er. 177
Kraatzii, Sharp . . 179
Masoni, Matth. ae brs
v. minima, Kr, 180
minuta, Grav. 177
Myrmecopora, Sauley 146
sulcata, Kies... . . 146
uvida, Er. . . 146
Myrmedonia, Er. 54
canaliculata, F. . . 59
cognata, Maerk. . 57
collaris, Payk. 56
funesta, Grav. 57
Haworthi, Steph. 55
humeralis, Grav. 57
laticollis, Maerk. 58
limbata, Payk. 56
lugens, Grav. . 58
plicata, Er. . . . 58
Myrmedoniina 51
Notothecta, Thoms. 62
anceps, Thoms. 63
angularis, Heer 63
confusa, Maerk. . 63
flavipes, Grav. . . 62
Nudobius, Thoms. . 291
lentus, Er. . 292
Ocalea, Er. 43
badia, Er. 45
castanea, Er. . 44
latipennis, Sharp 44
picata, Steph. 44
prolixa, Grav.. . . 45
rivularis, Mill. 44

INDEX. 441
PAGE PAGE PAGE
Octhephilus, Rey. . . 384| Ouralia, Rey . - . 92| depressus, Grav. . . 333
Ocypus, Er. . . . - 203 Oxypoda, Mannh.. . 2) Fairmairei, Pand, . 383
abbreviatipennis, Aubé 254 alternans, Grav. . . 28 flavipes, Lac. 380
ewneocephalus, De G.. 256 | ameena, Fairm. . . 36] fulvipes, Er. . 378
ater, Gray.. . - . 257 annularis,Sahlb.. . 37 insecatus, Grav. . 378
brunnipes, FF... . 290 brachyptera, Steph. 37) inustus, Grav. . 380
compressus, Marsh . 258 cingulata, Mannh. +. 37)| laqueatus, Marsh . 379
cupreus, Rossi. . 256 cuniculina, Er. . 31 longicornis, Mannh, . 378
cyaneus, Payk. . . 295 edinensis, Sharp . 30| luteipennis,Er. . - 379
decurtatus, Rey 254 elongata, Aubé. . 33 maritimus, Thoms. . 381
edentulus, Block . 258 exigua, Hr. . . . 32 mawillosus, Sperk. 280
fulvipes, Mots. - 258 exoleta, Br. . . - 29 montivagus, Heer. . 380
fuscatus,Grav. . . 206 ferruginea, Er. . « 37 nitidulus, Gray. . . 381
morio, Grav. . - 258| flavicornis, hr. . - 36 oceanus, Fauv, . . 381
nitens, Schrank . . 204 formiceticola, Maerk. 34 opacus, Steph.. . + 383
olens, Mill. . . . 204 forticornis, Fairm. 37 Perrisi, Faw.. . . 381
opthalmicus, Scop. . 259 hemorrhoa, Mannh. 35] piceus,L. . . + + 379
pedator, Gray. 257 helvola, Thoms. . . 37| plagiatus, Mots. . 379
rufipes, Curt. . + 257| incrassata, Kr. . . 41 pulcher, Grav. . . 378
similis, F.. . - 254 lentula, Er. . . . 30 pusillus, Mannh. . 383
Ocyusa, Kr. . .- 40| lividipennis, Mannh. 27 rugosus, Grav. . 377
aterrima, Wat. 41 longipes, Rey. . 27 sculpturatus, Gray.. 38)
fulvicornis, Fairm. . 42 longiuseula, Er.. . 33 sculptus, Gray. . 378
hibernica, Rye . . 41 lucens, W.C.. « 35 speculifrons, Kr, . 382
incrassata, Kr. . . 41 luteipennis, Er. . . 27 vy. terrestris, Lac. 378
maura, Er.. . . . 42 misella, Kr. . . . 33 tetracarinatus, Block 383
picina, Aubé. + . 42 mutata, Sharp . . &2
ruficoriis, Kr. . s 42 myrmecophila, Maerk. 39
Oligota, Mannh. .« - 172| ‘nigrescens, Rey . - 31 Pachnida, Rey . . . 87
abdominalis, Scriba . 175 nigrina, Wat.. . . 31 Pachygluta, Thoms. . 166
apicata, Er. . . - 175 nigrofusca, Wat. . . 36 Pederinw. . . . . 296
atomaria, Er.. . . 174 opaca, Grav. . . - 28| Pederus, F. . . . - 321
flavicornis, Lac.. .175| v. pallidula, Sahlb. . 37 caligatus, Er.. . . 323
granaria, Hr... - 174 pectita, Sharp . . 3L cephalotes, Mots. . . 322
inflata, Mannh. . . 173 procerula, Mannh. . 33 fuscipes, Curt. . . 323
parva, Kr... + + 173 promiscua, Er, . . 39 gregarius, Scop. . . 322
picescens, Rey. . » 174 recondita, Kr. . 35| littoralis, Grav. . . 322
pilosa, Rey. + + - 174 viparia, Thoms. «+ 29 longicollis, Gaut.. . 322
punctulata, Heer. 174| riparia, Fairm. . . 32 longipennis, Er. . . 823
pusillima, Grav. . - 173| rufula,Heer . . . 37 riparius, L.. . . . 322
pygmea, Kr. . . «173 rupicola, Rye. . . 33 vulgaris, Mill. . . 322
rujicornis, Sharp. + 174 sericea, Heer . + 81| Pelurga, Rey. . - - 76
aanthopyga, Kr. . . 170 soror, Thoms.. . . 35| Phwenogyra, Rey. . - 159
Oligotina . . -. + + 170| spectabilis, Maerk.. 26 Philhygra, Rey . . ~ 141
Olophrum, Er. . . 404 subjlava, Heer . ~» 29 Philonthus, Curt. . . 258
consimile, Gyll. . . 405 tarda, Sharp . . . 38| addendus, Sharp - 2533
fuscum, Grav. . 405 umbrata, Grav. . . 31 zeneus, Rossi . . 262
laticolle, Sahlb. . + 405 verecunda, Sharp . 30 agilis, Grav. . . - 273
limbatum, Makl. .« 405 vittata, Maerk. . 28 albipes, Grav. . . 266
piceum,Gyll.. . 404| Waterhousei, Rye . 36) astutus, Hr. . . . 278
Omalium, auct. . . . 409} Oxyporine . -.- - 360| atratus, Grav. . . 263
Othius, Steph. . . . 294) Oxyporus, Miers 360| v.bimaculatus, Grav. 265
fulvipennis, F. . . 295 rufus, L. - 361 bipustulatus, Panz. . 272
leviusculus, Steph. . 295| Oxytelinw . . - 361 carbonarius, Gyll. . 203
melanocephalus, Grav.295 | Oxytelus, Grav. 376| carbonarius, Er. . . 262
myrmecophilus, Kies. 296| clypeonitens, Pand, 382 cephalotes, Gray. . 267
punctipennis, Lac. . 205 complanatus, Er. 381 cicatricosus, Er. . . 281

442 INDEX.

PAGE | PAGE page

cinerascens, Grav. . 284] varius, Gyll. . . . 265] brachypterus, F. . 42
v. corruscus, Grav. . 270 ventralis, Grav. . . 274 brevicollis, Er. . . 428
corvinus, Hr.. . . 271 vernalis, Grav. . . 274 levicollis, Heer . . 428
cruentatus, Gmel. . 272| villosulus, Steph. . 285] macropterus, Gyll. . 428
debilis) Gray...) . . 27 vantholoma, Grav. . 282] ovalis,Steph.. . . 428
decorus, Grav. . . 264) Philorhinum, Kr. . . 408 | Pseudidus, HE & oo HEB)
v. dimidiatus, Er. . 275) hwmile, Br.. . . .408|Pseudopsis, Newm. . 433
discoideus, Gravy. . 275| sordidum, Steph. . 408] sulcata, Newm. . . 433
ebeninus, Gray. . . 270! subpubescens, Steph.. 408 | Pycnota, Rey. . . . 141
fimetarius, Gravy. . 268) Phlcobiinz . . « 481 | Pyctocrerus, Thoms. . 374
fucicola, Curt... . 282! Ploobium, Lac.. :; . 431
fulvipes, F. . . .279| clypeatum, Mill. . 431
fumarius, Grav. . . 277] corticale, Lac.. . .481|/Quediina . . . . . 222
fumigatus, Er. . . 271) Phiwocharine . . . 432 |Quedionuchus, Sharp. 245
fuscus, Gravy.. . . 269/| Phloeocharis, Mannh.. 432] Jlevigatus, Gyll. . . 245
gagates, Rey . . . 271 subtilissima, Mannh. 432 tevipennis, Duft.. . 245
ammundus, Gyll,. . 271) Phleonomus, Heer . . 416} longipennis, Mannh.. 245
intermedius, Boisd.. 260) Phlcopora, Er.. ... 42/Quedius, Leach . . . 226
laminatus, Creutz. . 260} corticalis,Grav.. . 43 acuminatus, Fairm.. 240
lepidus, Grav, . . 266 reptans, Grav. : . 43 assecla, Rey. . . + 233
longicornis, Steph.. 273| vy. transita, Rey . . 43] attenuatus, Gyll. . 243
lucens, Er... . . 265 | Phleostiba, Thoms.. . 421 auricomus, Kies. . 242
marginatus, F. . . 266] Phyllodrepa, Thoms. . 417 | , bicolor, Redt.. . . 282
micaus, Grav. . . 277|Phytosus, Curt.. . .169} boops, Gray. . . . 245
multipunctatus, balticus;; Kr 2). )sek70 brevicornis, Thoms. 233
Mannh. . . . . 280 nigriventris, Chevr.. 170| brevis, Er. . . . 236
nigrita, Nord... . . 277 semilunaris, Rey . . 169 chrysurus, Kies. . . 229
nigritulus, Grav. . 278] spinifer, Curt. . . 169] cinctus, Payk. . . 235
nigriventris, Thoms. 268) Piestine . . . ,. . 433 cruentus, Ol.. . . 2384
nitidicollis, Boisd. . 265) Placusa, Er. se) el 6O) dilatatus, F. . . . 226
ochropus, Grav. . . 271 complanata, Er. . . 161 v. fageti, Thoms. . 232
parumpunctatus, Er. 280} denticulata, Sharp . 161] frontalis, Er. . . . 237
politus, Ws. . : 265) ginfima, Fir. Soe 4 160.|) =fulpidnsy Ws heme. 232)
procerulus, Grav. . 285] pumilio, Grav. . . 160] fuliginosus, Gray. . 237
prolivus, Er. . . . 286| Planeustomus, Duv. . 395] fulvicollis, Steph. . 244
proximus, Kr. . . 262) Platarea, Thoms. . . 103] fumatus, Steph. . . 239
puella, Nord.. . . 280| Platydracus, Thoms. . 250} fuscipes, W.C. . , 241
pullus, Nord. . . . 279 | Platystethus, Mannh.. 373] gracilicornis, Heer . 239
punctiventris, Jans. . 263 arenarius, Fourc. . 374 humeralis, Steph. . 241
punctus, Grav. . .250| capito, Heer.. . . 375] ‘tmpressus, Panz. . 235
quisquiliarius, Gyll.. 275) cornutus, Gyll. . . 374 letus, Fald. . . . 233
sanguinolentus, Gray. 272 mawxillosus, Peyr. . 374 levigatus, Gyll. . . 245
scutatus, Hr. . . . 264 morsitans, Payk.. . 374 lateralis, Grav. . . 231
scybalarius, Nord. . 273 nitens, Sahlb.. . . 875] longicornis, Kr. . . 228
sericeus, Holme . . 283) nodifrons,Sahlb. . 3875] marginalis, Thoms. , 241
signaticornis, Rey . 284] pilosellus, Wank. . 375] marginellus, Marsh . 235
sordidus, Gray. . . 268] striatulus, Heer . . 3875] maurorufus, Grav. . 240
splendens, F.. . . 260} Podoxya, Rey. . . . 29{ mesomelinus, Marsh 232
splendidulus, Grav.. 275| Polychara, Rey . . . 14] microps, Grav. . . 229
subfuscus, Gyll. . . 267} Polyota, Rey. . . ~ 88| modestus, Thoms. . 240
succicola, Thoms. . 262) Polystoma, Steph. . . 21 molochinus, Gray. . 237
temporalis, Rey . . 263| Prognatha, Latr. . . 433] nigriceps, Kr. . . 239
tenwicornis, Rey . . 263| quadricornis, Lac. . 488] migrocwruleus, Rey . 233
thermarum, Aubé . 276] rufipennis, Blond. . 433] nitidus, Grav. . . 232
trossulus, Nord. . . 279|Proteinino . .. . 427 ochripennis, Mén. . 233
umbratilis, Gravy. . 267] Proteinus, Latr. . . 427] peltatus,Er. . . . 239
varians, Payk. . .273| atomarius, Er. . . 428] v. picipennis, Heer . 244

picipes, Mannh. .
precor, Faw. .
precow, Lac. . .
prowimus, Kr..

puncticollis, Thoms.

quadripunctatus,
Thoms. ates
ruficollis, Steph. .
rufipes, Gray.
scintillans, Gray.
scitus, Grav. . .

semizneus, Steph. . 2
Marsh

semiobscurus,
semiobscurus, Er. .
suturalis, Kies.

temporalis, Thoms. .

tomentosomaculatus,

(OL5RS Sty op
tristis, Grav. .
truncicola, Fairm.
umbrinus, Er. .
variabilis, Gyll. .
variabilis, Heer. .
variicolor, Nord. .
ventralis, Ar.
xanthopus, Er.

Rabigus, Rey. . .
Raphirus, Steph.
Remus, Holme
Rheochara, Er. . .
Rugilus, Curt. .

Sawridus, Rey . .

Schistoglossa, Er. .
viduata, Er. . .

Scopeus, Er. ..
apicalis, Rey
cognatus, Rey
debilis, Rey .
Erichsoni, Kol.
gracilis, Sperk.
minutus, Er.
pusillus, Kies.
rubidus, Rey . .
Ryei, Woll.

subcylindricus, Seriba

sulcicollis, Steph.
Siagonium, Kirby
Silusa, Er. ..
rubiginosa, Er. .
rufula, Mots.
Sipalia, Rey .
ruficollis, Er. .
testacea, Bris.

INDEX.

PAGE |
Solenia, Rey . . » 137
Somatium, Woll. 175
|Staphylinina, . . . 246
Staphylinine . . . 221
Staphylinus, L. . = 249
cmsareus, Ceder. . 252
erythropterus, L, . 252
fulvipes, Scop. 250
latebricola, Grav. . 251
pubescens, De G. 250
rupicola, Kies. 251
stercorarius, Ol... 251
Steninze 326
Stenus, Latr.. 327
aceris, Lac. 350
amulus, Er. 339
a@qualis, Rey 338
zrosus, Er. . 350
annulatus, Crotch 350
argus, Gray. B44
asphaltinus, Hrs: 332
ater, Mannh. 332 |
atratulus, Er. 339
bifoveolatus, Gyll. . 854]
bifoveolatus, Er. + 355
biguttatus, L. . 328
bimaculatus, Gyll. . 329
binotatus, Ljungh . 352
bipunctatus, Er. 329
boops, Grav. 332
boops, Gyll. 334
borealis, Maekl. . 343
brevicollis, Thoms. 355
brevicornis, Sharp’s
Cat. . % . 355
brunnipes, Steph. . 345
bupthalmus, Grav. . 335
canaliculatus, Gyll.. 339
canescens, Rosh. . 353
capitatus, Epp. . . 8386
carbonarius, Gyll. . 344
carinifrons, Fairm. . 348
carinifrons, Mots. . 350
cavifrons, Rey. . . 353
cicindeloides, Grav. 357
cinerascens, Er. . . 337
circularis, Grav. . 341
clavicornis, Scop. . 334
congener, Maekl. . . 339
contractus, Er. . 360
crassiventris, Thoms. 343
crassus, Steph. - 343
debilis, Rye . . . 344
declaratus, Er. . 342
elevatus, Mots. . 348
Erichsoni, Rye . 801
exiguus, Er. . 340 |

femorellus, Zett. .
filum, Er. . .
flavipes, Steph. .
flavipes, Er. . .
fornicatus, Steph.
foveicollis, Kr.

foveiventris, Fairm. .

fulvicornis, Steph.
fuscicornis, Er. .
fuscipes, Gray.
geminus, Heer

geniculatus, Gray. .

glacialis, Heer
gonymelas, Steph.

gracilentus, Fairm. .

guttula, Mull.
Guynemeri, Duy.
impressipennis, Duv.
impressus, Germ.
incanus, Er.
incrassatus, Er,
Juno, F.

Kiesenwetteri, Rosh.

laticollis, Thoms.
latifrong, lea)
y. littoralis, Thoms.

longitarsis, Thoms. .

lustrator, Er.
major, Rey. .
melanarius, Steph. .
melanopus, Marsh
modestus, Lac.
morio, Gray. .
nanus, Fauv. .
niger, Mannh. .

nigripalpis, Thoms. .

nigritulus, Gyll. .
nigritulus, Er,
nitens, Steph.

nitidiusculus, Steph.

nitidus, Steph.
nitidus, Lac.

v. niveus, Fauy. .
oculatus, Grav.
opacus, Er, .
opticus, Grav.
oscillator, Rye
ossium, Steph.
paganus, Er. .
pallipes, Grav.
pallitarsis, ra oe
palustris, Er. .
pheopus, Steph.
picipennis, Er.
picipes, Steph.
plancus, Er. .
plantaris, Er. .

444

PAGE
proditor, Er. . . 334
providus, Er. . . 334
pubescens, Steph. . 352
pusillus, Er. qo GED)
ripecola, Sahlb. .-. 334
v. Rogeri, Kr. . 334
roscidus, Snell. » 358
rugosus, Kies. . . 333
ruralis, Er. . 338
rusticus, Er. . . 355
Shepherdi, Crotch . 338
siculus, Stierl. . 897
similis, Herbst. SB BY/
solutus, Er. . 308
speculator, Er. . . 334
spretus, Fairm. . 895
subzeneus, Er. . B47
subimpressus, Er. . 352

submarginatus, Steph. 341
sulcatulus, Rey - 335
tarsalis, Ljungh . . 358
tempestivus, Er. . . 354
trivialis, Kr. . - 338
unicolor, W. C. . 345
unicolor, Er. , 345
vafellus, Er. . . 341
Stichoglossa, Rey » 39
Stilicus, Latr. . 306
affnis, Hr.. . . . 309
Erichsoni, Fauv.. . 308
fragilis, Grav. . 307
fuscipes, Er. . 809
geniculatus, Er.. . 310
orbiculatus, Er. . . 308
orbiculatus, Payk. . 309
rufipes, Germ. . 308
scutellatus, Mots. . 307
Bimilis, Hr. ~ « «309
subtilis, Er. . 809
Sunins, Steph. . . 319
angustatus, Payk. . 321
diversus, Aubé . . 320
extensus, Manmnh. . 320
fasciatus, Mots. - 320
filiformis, Latr. . 320
immaculatus, Steph. 320
intermedius, Er.. . 320
procerus, Grav. . 320
pulchellus, Heer . . 320
Syntomium, Hr. . 393
eeneum, Mill. . 393
Tachinus, Grav. 5 UGE)
v. bicolor, Grav. . 205
bipustulatus, F.. . 203

INDEX.

PAGE
collaris, Grav. . . 206
elongatus, Gyll. . . 206
flavipes, F. . 201
frigidus, Hr. . . . 203
humeralis, Grav. . 202
imtricatus, Sahlb. . 206
laticollis, Grav.. . 205
marginellus,F. . . 205
palliolatus, kr. . . 203
pallipes, Grav. . . 202

proximus, Kr. .
rufpennis, Gyll. .
rufipes, L.. .
scapularis, Steph.
subterraneus, L.,
Tachyporina. .
Tachyporine . .
Tachyporus, Gray.
brunneus, F.. .
chrysomelinus, L.
formosus, Matth.
humerosus, Er.
hypnorum, F..
y.nitidicollis, Steph.
obtusus, L. 5
pallidus, Sharp
pusillus, Grav. .
rufus, Hr. .
solutus, Er.
tersus, Hr.. .
transversalis, Grav..
Tachyusa, Er.
‘atra; Grave) 6 1
coarctata, Er.
concolor, Hr. . .
constricta, Er.

. 202

201

. 204

203

. 204

189

. 183
. 193

197

. 195
nl OF:
. 196
. 196

194

. 194
- 195
. 196
ol 94

flavitarsis, Sahlb. .
forticornis, Fairm. .
leucopus, Marsh. .

scitula, Er. .
umbratica, Er.
Tenosoma, Thoms. .
Tanycrerus, Thoms.

Tasgius, Steph. .

Tetropla, Rey += +

Thamiarza, Thoms.
australis, Rey
castanea, Aube

cinnamomea, Grav. .

hospita, Maerk. .
Thectura, Thoms.
Thiasophila, Kr.

angulata, Er. .

diversa, Rey

inquilina, Maerk.
Thinobena, Thoms. .

PAGE

Thinobius, Kies. . . 390
brevipennis, Kies. . 393
brunneipennis, Kr. . 392
ciliatus, Kies.. . . 392
linearis, Kr. . . . 392
longicornis, Sahlb. . 392
longipennis, Heer . 392
luteipennis, Rey . . 392
major, Kr.. . . . 391
Thinecia, Rey . . . 72
Thinonoma, Thoms. . 145
Thinophilus, Rey . . 391
Traumecia, Rey . . 85
Trichiota, Rey . . . 8d
| Trichoderma, Steph. . 250
Trichophya, Mannh. . 220
pilicornis, Gyll. . . 220
Trichophyine . . . 220
Trogophleus, Mannh. 385
arcuatus, Steph.. . 386
bilineatus, Steph. . 387
corticinus, Gray. 389
elongatulus, Er. . 388
Erichsoni, Sharp. . 387
foveolatus, Sahlb. . 388
fuliginosus, Grav. . 388
gracilis, Mannh. . 390
halophilus, Kies. 389
pusillus, Gray. . 389
riparius, Lac. . 387
rivularis, Mots. . 387
scrobiculatus, Er. 386
spinicollis, Rye . . 390
subtilis, Er. . . 390
suspectus, Rey 387
tenellus, Er. . . . 890
Velleius, Mannh, 226
dilatatus, F. . . . 226
Xantholinina 286
Xantholinus, Sery. 287
atratus, Heer . . . 289
distans, Kr. . 290
fulgidus, F. 288
glaber, Nord. . 290
glabratus, Gray.. . 288
linearis; O]% eames 291
longiventris, Heer . 291
ochraceus, Gyll.. . 289
punctulatus, Payk, . 289
tricolor, F. . 290
Xenusa, Rey . 146
Xylodromus, Heer 417
Zyras, Steph. . 55