294 ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES 



SPH.ERIDIUM Fabr. 



1. S. PR.ETEXTATUM. — Black ; elytra with a yellowisli lateral 

 and terminal margin. 



S}iha:rulium prsetextatum Melsh. Catal. 



Body oval, black, polished, punctured : palpi whitish : antennae 

 piceous : elytra striate ; striae very distinct, impressed, punctured; 

 interstitial spaces punctured : a broad pale yellowish outer mar- 

 gin, commencing at the anterior angle, and gradually dilating to 

 the tip : feet piceous. 



Length three-twentieths of an inch, 



[These three species belong to Cercyon. — Lec] 



2, S. NiGRicoLLE. — Black ; elytra and feet pale testaceous. 

 Sphseridlum glahratum Melsh. Catal, 



Body oval, polished, punctured : head black : antennae piceous ; 

 capitulum dull rufous : palpi piceous : thorax black : elytra testa- 

 ceous : striae slender, not deeply impressed, punctured ; terminal 

 margin obsoletely paler, interstitial lines punctured : feet pale 

 testaceous. 



Length more than one-tenth of an inch. [191 ] 



Var. a. Elytra and feet dark reddish-brown, the former with a 



very obvious pale spot at tip, somewhat similar to the unhtriatum 



of Beauvois, but much smaller than he represents that insect 



to be. 



8. S. OCCALLATUM [ocELLATiM.] — Black ; elytra with a pale 

 tip ; feet piceous. 



Body oval, black, polished, punctured : palpi piceous : antennse 

 blackish-piceous : elytra with very distinctly punctured, impressed 

 striae j a large dull yellowish spot at tip, rounded on its anterior 

 termination, and extending further on the lateral margin than on 

 the suture : beneath blackish : feet piceous. 



Length much less than one-tenth of an inch. 



Found in putrescent animal substances at Senipuxten. It i< 

 about the size of apin'alis nobis, which it much resembles, but it 

 is distinguishable by its black color, and firmer consistence. 



[Vol V. 



