206 [February, 



Watertiouse as E. Kirhyi is only a form of this species, although for 

 a long time I was inclined to regard it as distinct. 



I have captured this species in some numbers in Sherwood Forest, 

 under bark of fallen trees ; also near Birmingham, at Bewdlej, Can- 

 nock Chase, Hopwas AYood, "Windsor, and the Xew Forest. It occurs 

 in hot-beds, but certainly, in my experience, seems to prefer a sub- 

 cortical life. 



h. Head without any distinct basal fovea. 



1. E. NIGRICANS, Chaud. E. Dennyi, Waterhouse, loc. cit. E. sulcatulus, De 

 Saulcy. E. piceus, Mots. 



Long., 1'8 mm. Black or pitch-black, antennae and legs bright chestnut. Head 

 short and broad, strongly punctured, especially near eyes, temples short, contracted 

 behind, frontal depression traversed'by a transverse groove, terminating in a deep 

 puncture on each side. Besides the generally punctured surface there is a row of 

 distinct punctures on each side of suture of elytra. Basal depressions on abdomen 

 broad and shallow, with very divergent sides. The $ characters are remarkable ; 

 the middle and posterior tibiae are armed with a rather strong spur at apex, the 

 metasternum is deeply grooved along the middle, and on each side, near the posterior 

 coxae is a pointed tubercle, the 4th ventral segment of abdomen is bisinuate, 5th 

 segment partly covered by a broad semi-circular plate bearing a blunt tubercle on 

 each side, 6th segment depressed at base, emarginate at apex. Metasternum of $ 

 also channelled, but less deeply than S • 



In Mr. Wilkinson's collection, now in the possession of Mr. P. B. Mason, is a 

 fine ? of this species which differs from typical specimens in being more intensely 

 black, and in having very dark pitchy-brown legs and antennae. It is the only ex- 

 ample I have ever seen with the latter characteristics. 



Immature specimens of this distinct species are of frequent occurrence, and, 

 being destitute of any trace of the usual pitchy hue, are sometimes mistaken for 

 other and totally different species. I have examined a specimen named by Dr. 

 Sharp as E. piceus, and another returned by Brisout as E. sulcatulus, both of which 

 are pale forms of E. nigricans. The specimens in Rye's collection, standing under 

 the name of E. Dennyi, are also referable to this species. 



This has generally been considered a rare beetle, but I have 

 never had any difficulty in finding it in abundance ; in fact, during 

 the last four or five years I have captured and distributed several ' 

 hundreds of specimens. It is decidedly a sub-cortica] species, but has | 

 occurred rarely in hot-beds. Plentiful in the neighbourhood of Bir- ' 

 mingham, also at Sutton Park, Knowle, Hopwas Wood, Cannock 

 Chase, Bewdley and Sherwood Forests ; in short, I find it in every 

 locality in which I collect. 



2. E. SANGUINEUS, Denny, Mon. Psel., p. 10, pi. 1, fig. 2. E. nanus, Waterhouse, 

 loc. cit. 



Long., 1'2 — 1'5 mm. Dark specimens of this very common species often do 



