558 INSECTA MADEREXSIA. 



Genus 187. OXYPODA. 

 Mannerheim, Brachel. 69 (1831). 



Corpus parvum, oblongo-fusiforme et miuus deprcssum : capite exserto, iuterdum deflexo : prothorace 

 convexo, antice truncate, posticc latiusculo rotiindato : alis amplis : abdoinine marginato, plcrumque 

 apicem versus attenuate. Antenna ad oculorum marginem internum insertee, breviusculse, apicem 

 versus plus minusve incrassat;e (in maribus srepe validiores), articulis secundo et tertio reliquis 

 magis elongatis, inter so fequalibus. Instrumenta cibariu omuino ut in Homalota. Pedes longi- 

 usculi, graciles : tarsis omnibus 5-articulatis ; posticis articulo primo elongato. 



The genus Oxiipoda is distinguished from Uoinalota by all its feet being com- 

 ])Oscd of five articidations, and by its hinder pair having theii* basal joint elongated. 

 AMiatever value, however, these two characters may possess (and, being structural 

 ones, they are very important), their convenience is practically much diminished 

 on account of their microscopic nature, — the difficulty of observing them being 

 often very considerable. There are few ordinary external members indeed (in 

 constant use, for primary purposes, in the investigation of the Coleoptera) less easy 

 of inspection than the tarsal joints of some of the smaller Bnichelytra, — which 

 are frequently so closely attached to each other, and differ so slightly in breadth, 

 that it requu-es a practised eye, even with the aid of a powerful glass, to define 

 them. The Oxijpodce are principally a little convexer, and more attenuated behind, 

 than the Homalotce, approaching somewhat in general contour to Aleochara, — a 

 resemblance which the deflexed heads and posteriorly-mdened (though rounded) 

 prothoraces of some of the species would not tend to decrease. 



430. Oxypoda Utigiosa. 

 O. fusiformis fusco-nigra confertiin punctulata subopaca sei'iceo-pubescens et minus deprcssa, pro- 

 thorace postice lato, pedibus diluto-testaceis. 

 Long. corp. lin. 1^. 



Oxypoda Utigiosa, Ileer, Fna Col. Helv. i. 321 (1S41). 



Habitat Maderam, in stercore bovine, non infrcquens. 



O. fusiform (being almost equally acuminated before and behind), brownish-black, densely pimctu- 

 lated, almost opake, slightly convex, and clothed with a fine, somewhat sericeous, decumbent 

 pubescence. Prothorax rather narrowed in front, and wide behind. Abdomen a little darker 

 than the prothorax and elytra, and obscurely ferruginous at its apex. Legs diluted-testaccous. 

 Antenna short, and concolorous with the head and prothorax (being scarcely at all diluted at 

 their base). 



The present obscm-e and insignificant little Oxijpoda, wliich, so far as I have 

 hitherto observed, is the sole exponent of the genus in these islands, is I believe 

 correctly referred to the O, Utigiosa of Hear, —of which I jiossess tj'pical specimens 



