Dromius.'\ adepiiaga. 143 



Undor bark, prencrally distributed and common, but not so abundant as the pre- 

 ceding ; Scotland widely distributed :i;; far nortb as the Moray district, but nob 

 common ; not recorded from Ireland, but probably occurs there. 



D. quadrisigrnatus, Dej. Head bkck, smooth, mouth, palpi and 

 antenniti ttj.staceous, the latter shorter and with the joints distinctly less 

 elongate than in the two preceding species ; thorax quadrate, reddish, 

 with the centre sometimes pitchy, only slightly contracted l)ehind, pos- 

 terior angles obtuse ; elytra with very feeble traces of striae, shoulders 

 well marked, fuscous, with two testaceous spots on each, an irregular 

 one towards l)ase, as a rule not quite reaching suture, and a smaller one 

 at apex, the apical spots uniting at suture ; legs pale testaceous. L. 3| 

 mm. 



Not common, under bark of oak, apple, &c. ; Ashford, Reigatc, Maidstone, Nuffield, 

 Horsell, Wimbledon I'ai'k ; Margate; Rusper, near Horsham; Grantchester ; Ather- 

 stoue ; Weston, Oxfordshire (bark of firs) ; Cambridge ; not recorded from tlie midland 

 or northern districts. 



D. melanocephalus, Dej. Head black, smooth ; antennce and 

 palpi testaceous; thorax reddish, sometimes slightly clouded on disc, 

 subquadrate, a little narrowed towards base, posterior angles distinct 

 and elevated ; elytra entirely testaceous, very feebly striated ; under- 

 side reddish, abdomen often brownish; legs testaceous. L. 2^-3 mm. 



Damp places, in moss, &e. ; common and widely distributed throughout England ; 

 Scotland, rare. Lowlands, Tay, Solwayj Ireland, near Belfast and Dublin, and pro- 

 bably widely distributed. 



D. nig-riventris, Thorns, {fasciafus, Dej., ohlituft, Boield.). Head 

 black, antciDKe ;md palpi testaceous, apex of latter pitchy ; thorax 

 pitchy with the margins lighter, subiiuadrate, margins raised, especially 

 behind, posterior angles blunt but distinct ; elytra oblong more or less 

 pitchy, with a pale patch covering the basal portion except just at suture, 

 and an indistinct smaller patch at apex ; in sonu^ specimens the spots are 

 cloudy anil confused, and run more or less the one into the other ; striK 

 exceedingly feeble, sometimes almost obliterated; underside pitchy black; 

 legs testaceous. L. 3 mm. 



Sandy coasts, and banks of rivers ; also on banks of ditches, and in hedge bottoms; 

 local, but common where it occurs, and widely distributed. (Jravesend, Sluerness, 

 Chatham, Whitstable, Walton-on-Thaines; Eastbourne, Weymouth, Lymington, and 

 other places on the south coast ; Essex; Scarborough; Devonshire ; Ciieshire ; Liver- 

 pool ; Northumljcrland and Durham ; Scotland, scarce. Lowlands, Tweed, Tay, Forth, 

 ]\I(iray ; Inland, near Dublin, &c. 



D. sig-ma, Rossi. Very lik(> the preceding in shape and size, but 

 much lighter, with the dark markings on the elytra well deliucd ; the 

 thorax also is much lighter, being usually unicolorous testaceous red 

 without any darker shade on disc; the elytra are clear testaceous with a 

 dark transver.se toothed fascia behind middle ; the suture also is more or 

 less dark; the abdomen, instead tif iicing pitchy, is yellow or reddish 

 yellow, sometimes slightly fuscous at margins ; antenn;e, palpi, and legs 

 entirely testaceous. L. 3 mm. 



