Plate XIV. 



Fig. 117. PHYTOSUS NIGRIVENTllIS, Chevr. [F. Aleocharidce. G. Phytosus, Curtis^, 

 (P. spinit'er $ , Curtis.) 



Elongate, reddish yellow, clothed with a dense short grey pubescence, sub-opaque. Head 

 globose, as wide as the thorax, dark brown, ferruginous at the base ; parts of tlie mouth and 

 antenna? pale yellow, the latter ferruginous at the ajiex. Thorax as broatl as long, narrowed behind, 

 rounded at the sides in front, with a distinct central longitudinal channel, finely punctate. Elytra 

 conspicuously shorter than the thorax, shoulders rounded, apex emaig'inate, thickly and finely 

 punctate. Abdomen dilated towards tbe apex, the 4th, 5th, and base of the Gth segments black. 

 Legs testaceous, anterior and intermediate tiliiaj thickly spinulose externally. Length, 1| line. 



Rare ; on the coast. Beneath stones below high-water mark. 



Fig. 118. PHYTOSUS SPINIFER, Curtis. [F. Aleocharida;. G. Phytosus, Curtis.'] 

 (P. spinifefj 5 , Curtis.) 



Elongate, dull black, thickly and minutely punctate, clothed with a dense short grey pubescence, 

 sub-opaque. Head narrower than the thorax, globose ; antenna; reddish yellow, parts of the mouth 

 ferruginous, palpi dusky. Thorax narrower than the elytra, slightly transverse, narrowed behind, 

 rounded at the sides in front, with a broad, shallow, central, longitudinal fui-row. Elytra conspi- 

 cuously longer than the thorax, shoulders prominent, apex emarginate, with an ill-defined ferru- 

 ginous spot at the sutural angle. Abdomen very slightly dilated towards the tip, apex of the 

 (jth segment and the 7th entirely reddish brown. Legs reddish yellow, anterior and intermediate 

 tibia? spinulose externally. Length, Ij line. 



Very rare ; on the coast, in company with the preceding, near Ryde, Isle of Wight, and near 

 Berwick-upon-Tweed. 



Fig. 119. PROGNATHA QUADRICORNIS, Kirbij. (.Male.) [F. Piestida;. G. Pro- 

 gnatha, Latr.~\ (Siagoiiium quadricorne, Curtis.) 



Elongate, depressed, pitchy black, shining. Head as wide as the thorax, sparsely and finely 

 punctate, forehead concave, produced on each side in front at the base of the antenna? into an erect 

 Hat horn, each mandible emitting from its base an elongate falcate process ; antenna? two-thirds of 

 the length of the body, reddish brown. Thorax transverse, a trifle narrower than the elytra, 

 narrowed behind, the sides gently rounded anteriorly, base truncate, posterior angles obtuse, finely 

 and rather sparsely punctate. Elytra half as long again as the thorax, castaneous, each with a deep 

 sutural, and fuur shallusv, abbreviated, curved, dorsal stria?, the stria? finely and remotely punctate. 

 Abdomen with the sides parallel, thickly and finely punctate, apex ferruginous. Legs reddish brown. 

 Length, 2-21 lines. 



The female has the head narrower than the thorax, simply tubercul.ated on each side at the 

 base of the antenuie, the mandibles unarmed, and the antenna? shorter. 



Common in the south. Beneath bark of felled trees, especially elms. 



Fig. 120. BLEDIUS TAURUS, Germar., var. (Male.) [F. OxytclidEe. G. Bledius, 

 Leucli.] (B. Skrimsbirii, Curtis.) 



Elongate, sub-cylindrical, black, thinly pubescent, elytra pale yellow, with a triangular black 

 patch at the base. Head narrower than the thorax, faintly coriaceous, the forehead deeply impressed, 

 armed with a long, erect, flat horn on each side at the base of the antenna? ; parts of the mouth 

 pitchy red. Thorax transverse, as wide in front as the elytra, narrowed behind, sides straight to 

 about the middle, thence abruptly rounded, base truncate, posterior angles very obtuse ; finely 

 coriaceous, sjiarsely and coarsely punctate, the punctures shallow, with a fine but very distinct 

 central longitudinal impressed line ; the anterior margin produced in the centre into an elongate 

 horizontal spine, lying between the cephalic horns, and adorned on each side near the apex with a 

 tuft of golden-yellow hairs. Elytra conspicuously longer than the thorax, rather thickly and 

 coarsely punctate, the punctures very shallow, either entii'ely black, or pale yellow with a triangular 

 black patch at the base. Abdomen with the sides parallel, finely coriaceous, the four basal segments 

 sparsely punctate. Length, 2|-o| lines. 



The female has the forehead less deeply impressed, the lateral horns reduced to acute ridges, 

 and the ihorax straightly truncate in front, unarmed. 



Rare ; near Fakenham, on the coast of Norfolk. 



27 



