252 [November, 



country, as the Soiithport specimen was taken in 1898. and there are 

 much older examples in Dr. Sharp's and Garney's collections. 



October 13th, 1910. 



ATHETA (HOMALOTA) PICIPENNI8, Mannh., A NEW BEITISH BEETLE. 



BY NORMAN H. JOY, M.B.C.S., F.E.S. 



Head and thorax brassy black, elytra brown, these parts being plainly 

 shagreened and moderately shining, hind body shining black ; head very finely 

 and sparingly punctured ; antenna? pitchy -black, funiished with rather long 

 outstanding hairs, somewliat thickened towards the apex, ;3rd joint equal to or 

 a little longer than 2nd, 4th — 6th slightly longer than broad, 6th — 10th as long 

 as broad, the last nearly double as long as the penultimate, sharply pointed ; 

 thorax narrower than elytra, one-third broader than long, moderately rounded 

 at sides and slightly narrowed behind, finely pubescent, closely and rugosely 

 punctiu-ed, sides with rather strong outstanding setse, often with a depression 

 at the middle of the base and a slight central furrow ; elytra one-third longer 

 than the thorax, moderately finely and very closely rugosely punctured, finely 

 pubescent ; abdomen narrowed behind, with segments 2 — 4 finely and rather 

 diffusely punctiu-ed, the remainder very finely and very sparingly punctiu'ed, 

 fui'nished at sides with distinct outstanding setae ; legs brownish-testaceous, 

 femora sometimes darker, intermediate and posterior tibise fiu'nished with two 

 long bristles. Length, 2'3 — 2'8 mm. 



Male with posterior margin of 7th segment of hind body emarginate. 



A. picipennis is related to A. atramentaria, G-yll., especially in 

 having the front parts brassy ; but these parts, particularly the elytra, 

 are more finely and much more closely punctured. The antennae are 

 less thickened towards the apex, the penultimate joints being about as 

 long as broad, instead of distinctly transverse, and the last joint is 

 more pointed ; and the legs are lighter in colour. 



I took one specimen at Dalwhinuie, Inverness-shire, in September, 



1909, and a few at Aviemore in rotting fiuigus on September 10th, 



1910. There is no reason why this species should be confined to 

 Scotland, as Granglljauer records that, although rare, it is foimd over 

 the greater part of the Pala3arctic region. 



Bradfield, Bei-ks. : 



October loth, 1910. 



