1910.] 251 



closely and rugosely punctured and channelled in the centre, temples distinct, 

 slightly shorter than diameter of eyes. Antennae testaceous, rather short, 

 reaching to about the base of the thorax, club well marked, three-jointed, of 

 which tlie first two are distinctly transverse ; thorax rather variable, transverse, 

 much narrower than elytra, anterior angles rounded or very slightly prominent, 

 sides roixnded in front and somewhat contracted in a straight line or scarcely 

 sinuate behind, margins narrow, a very shallow, broad, longitudinal fiu-row in 

 the centre, and a rather strong transverse impression towards the base, very 

 closely and rather strongly, rugosely pixnctured ; elytra somewhat convex and 

 shining, rather short oval, evenly rounded at the sides, striae with closely set, 

 moderately large square punctures, interstices narrower than striae, distinctly 

 convex ; tmder-side fuscous or black, shining ; prosternum keeled between the 

 anterior coxae ; metasternum, as in E. transversus, Oliv., with a large fovea near 

 the anterior margin on each side, from which radiate a number of fine impressed 

 lines ; first ventral segment with aboixt six very fine, short, impressed lines 

 starting from near the posteiior coxa; ; legs testaceous ; sedeagus simple, very 

 slightly curved, about four times as long as broad, apex not sharply pointed. 

 Length, 1.4 — 1.6 mm. 



Enicmus histrio differs from E. transversus iii many details. It is 

 distinctly smaller and less elongate ; the club of the antennae is shorter ; 

 the thorax is more rugose and duller, and the Ijorders are narrower ; 

 the elytra are shorter and broader in proportion, the striae are much 

 more strongly punctured, the punctures are more closely placed, and 

 the interstices are more convex. 



In E. transversus there is a single, well-marked, long, impressed 

 line on the first abdominal segment. The sedeagus is entirely distinct 

 in the two species. That of E. histrio is described above ; in E. trans- 

 versus it is a remarkable organ. It is long and thin, and sharply 

 pointed at the apex, and is strongly bent twice at a right angle, some- 

 what like the letter Z> the basal portion being a little longer than the 

 other two, which are equal in length. 



This species is undoubtedly of very general distribution, and has 

 simply been overlooked. Its usual habitat seems to be in hay. Mr. J. 

 Collins seems to have been the first to suspect its distinctness from 

 E. transversus, and has shown us a long series from the Oxford district. 

 We can vouch for its occurrence also at Southport, Bradfield, Whit- 

 bourne-on-Teme, Symond's Yat, Matliou, and West Malvern — the last 

 four being Herefordshire localities. 



Dr. Sharp has very kindly helped us to go into the description of 

 closely allied species and varieties, and agrees that this insect is 

 undescribed. Neither is it one of recent introduction into this 



