38 



segment ; there is also only a very small smooth depression in the 

 middle of the margin of the third segment. The meta-sternum is 

 depressed, more closely and finely punctured. 



I took this insect some years ago in a wet marshy place on AVim- 

 bledon Common, not near any chalk, and unaccompanied by S. ater ; it 

 has since been taken in the same neighbourhood by Mr. E. Shepherd, 

 Mr. Sharp, and Dr. Power, also by Mr. Sharp at Bishop's "Wood, 

 Hampstead. I must have brought forward this species with some 

 doubt (my specimen being a female), had not the latter gentleman 

 taken a male, which he kindly lent me. 



BuPHTHALMUS, Grav., Erichson. 1\ — 2 lin. Black, opaque. 

 Palpi black, with the basal joint clear testaceous yellow. Head a little 

 wider than the thorax, closely and deeply punctured, with two 

 shallow longitudinal grooves, the insterstice slightly convex. Thorax 

 a trifle longer than broad, slightly narrowed behind, closely and deeply 

 punctured, with a narrow, almost obsolete dorsal groove, and an 

 obscure depression on each side behind the middle, best seen Avith 

 a glass of low power. Elytra short ; scarcely, if at all, longer 

 than the thorax ; strongly and deeply punctured, the interstices 

 rugulose and dull. Abdomen more finely punctured, the four 

 first segments having four short keels in the basal transverse 

 grooves. Legs short ; the femora, especially in the male, stout. 

 The male has a very slight triangular notch in the margin of 

 the 6th segment beneath.* 



This most abundant species assumes at times a very puzzling aspect, 

 but may generally be known by its robust build, opaque appearance, 

 short elytra, stout legs, and the depression on the sides and back of the 

 thorax. 



Common all over England, usually most abundant. 



MoRio, Erichson. 1\ lin. Ashy-black, slightly shining. Palpi 

 black, the basal joint testaceous. Head decidedly wider than the 

 thorax, gently hollowed in front, with mere traces of grooves, and 

 the interstice scarcely elevated. Thorax nearly cylindrical, with no 

 channel or depressions. Elytra decidedly longer than the thorax, slightly 

 convex, thickly and deeply punctured, the interstices level. Abdomen 

 narrowed at the apex, shining, closely and delicately punctured. The 

 broader head, concave forehead, ampler elytra, and more closely punctured 

 abdomen, distinguish this species from melanarkis ; and the absence of 



* As the species get smaller this eniargination, or notch, in the male becomes so diminished, or 

 undeveloped, as to afford little help, and indeed sometimes is scarcely visible. I shall therefore omit 

 referring to it, unless it is sufficiently large to afford assistance in determining species. 



