132 



CoxcB anterior almost contingent. 

 intfriiiediutf rather distant. 

 posterior widely remote. 



Tbifi very distinct and very pretty genus contains some of the most minute 

 species of Corylophida. They may superficially be recognized by the abrupt 

 deflection of the front of the thorax ; they dlflfer also from other genera in the 

 form of their anteunte, and in many anatomical characters. With one exception 

 the species are all European, but seem confined to its southern regions. 



SPECIERUM EPITOMA. 



L. c. 0-87 miu. — Oralis, minutissime et confertim punctatus, baud 



alutiiceus, niger ......... Walkeri. 



L. c. 075 mui. — Late ovalis, baud alutaceus, piceus, margiue anteriori 



proiioti flavii orientalis. 



L. c. 0-70 mm. — Subhemispbericus, totus alntaceus, castaneus . . alutaceus. 



L. c. 0'G3 mui. — HemispLericus, antice circulariter rotundatus, indis- 



tincte alutaceus, piceus . . . . . . ' . . velatus. 



L. c. 0"03 uiin. — Subovatus, antice attenuatus, glaber, Isete castaneus . Matthewsii. 



Peltinus Walkeri. 



P. Walktri, Matthews, Ent. Mo. Mag. xxii. p. 227, 188G. 



L. c. iV-x"c li^- = 0"75-0"87 mm.— Omnino ovalis, validissime convexus, niti- 

 dissimus, minutissime et confertim punctatus, interstitiis glabris, baud alutaceis, 

 aterrimus ; prnnoto modico, anticte ovaliter rotundato, margine anteriori \ixreflexa, 

 pellucidii, minute et indistincte punctato, interstitiis glabris, nitidissimis, margine 

 basali fere recta, angulis sat acutis ; elytris pronoto dnplo longioribus, vix latioribus, 

 ad media latissimis, minute et sat confertim puuctatis, interstitiis glabris, niti- 

 dissimis, lateribus leviter marginatis, apice obtuso ; pygidio minima exserto, nigro; 

 pedibus brevibus, piceo-testaceis ; antennis sat longis, robustis, Isete flavis. 



Body perfectly oval, exceedingly convex and very shining, very minutely and rather 



closely punctured, with the interstices smooth and shining, not alutaceous, 



deep black. 

 Head very small, piceous ; ej'es small ; antennre rather long and robust, bright 



yellow. 

 Thorax moderate, ovally rounded in front, with the margin scarcely reflexed, 



pellucid, minutely and indistinctly punctured, with the interstices smooth and 



shining, basal margin nearly straight with the angles rather acute. 

 Scutclliim moderate, triangular. 

 Elytra twice longer, but scarcely broader than the thorax, widest at the middle, 



minutely and rather closely punctured, with the interstices smooth and shining, 



sides faintly margined, apex very obtuse. 

 Abdomen with the pygidium very slightly exposed, black. 

 Lefts rather short, i)itchy-testaceous. 

 Under parts picenus, with the bead, prothorax, and edges of the ventral segments 



paler. 

 Differs from P. alutaceus in its rather larger size, oval and not attenuated form, 



smaller thorax, piceous legs, large bright yellow antenna', deep black colour, 



and sculpture ; from other species it may be known by its much larger size. 



Habitat, Europe. Found in Sardinia, near Cagliari, by Fleet-Engineer J. J. 

 Walker, li.X. 



