66 ADEPHAGA. [Omascus. 



D.imp places; at roots of grass, in moss, under stones, &c. ; common and generally 

 distributed throughout the kingdom. 



P. gracilis, Dej. Smaller than the preceding species, shining black, 

 with antenna pitchy, with testaceoiis apex and the base of some of the 

 joints reddish; thorax almost as in P. anthracinus ; elytra strongly 

 striated, the striae plainly but finely punctured ; anal segment simple in 

 both sexes, the rudiments only of a raised line being traceable under a 

 high power in male ; legs pitch-black, tibiae and tarsi lighter than 

 femora, L. 8 mm. 



Local ; marshy places, at roots of grass, &c. ; it formerly occurred at Notting Hill 

 and in Hammersmith Marshes; Walton-ou-Thames ; Keigate; Burton-on-Trcut ; 

 Wliittlcsca Mere and AVicken Fen; Crosby, Lancashire; Hornsea, Yorkshire : Scot- 

 land, Dollar (A. Beaumont) ; Ireland, near Belfast, and Armagh. 



P. minor, Gyll. Much smaller than the ])receding ; in size and 

 general ai)pearanc(! it rather rcsemljles at first sight the two following 

 species ; antennae }ntchy red, base lighter ; thorax almost quadrate, with 

 sides very slightly rounded and narrowed behind, posterior angles right 

 angles, slightly projecting, dorsal furrow almost entire, base with two 

 dee[)ly punctured foveas, variable in size, the space between them either 

 smooth or punctured ; elytra oblong, narrow, rather parallel-sided, striated, 

 the striae faintly punctured ; anal segment of male furnished with a 

 transverse raised keel ; legs pitchy red. L. 6-6| mm. 



Marshy places, at roots of grass; local, but very common where it occurs. London 

 and southern districts, widely distributed ; common in the Midlands and Fen districts ; 

 Hornsea and Scarborough ; rarer in the north of England ; Scotland, local. Lowlands. 

 Ireland, near Belfast. 



(Sub-Gen. Arg-utor, Megerle.) 



I. Underside of thorax punctured at sides ; legs reddish . . P. strentjus, Panz. 



II, Underside of thorax smooth at sides ; legs pitchy . . . P. diligens, Sturm. 



P. strenuus, Panz. {erpthropus, Marsh). Pitch-black, antennaj 

 and palpi brown red ; thorax as long as broad, somewhat cordate, con- 

 vex, with sides much rounded in front, contracted behind, posterior 

 angles acute, base entirely punctured, with a deep oblong punctured 

 depression on each side, central furrow distinct; elytra broader than 

 thorax, strongly striated, the striae plainly punctured, outer striae mucli 

 feebler ; underside of thorax jranctured at sides ; legs reddish. L, 

 5 1 mm. 



Damp places, under stones, and at roots of grass ; common and widely distributed, 

 but not so abundant as the next species, with which it is very often confounded, 

 Scotland, not common, Lowlands. Ireland, near Belfast, 



P. dilig-ens, Sturm [strenuus, Daws. G. D., nee, Panz.). Very like 

 the preceding, but smaller and narrower, with the thorax less dilated at 

 the sides and more gradually contracted behind, with posterior angles 

 slightly more prominent ; easily distinguished by the sides of the thorax 



