224: iiydrophilidj:. [Philhydrus. 



district; Askliam Bog, York; not recorded from the extreme north of England 

 or froiu Scothiud. 



This species is easily distinguished by the dark second joint of the 

 maxillary palpi. 



P. maritimus, Thorns. {J/icolor, F., grisescens, GylL). Vexy like 

 the preceding, but at once diistinguished by the second joint of the 

 antennai being entirely testaceous ; it is also slightly smaller and 

 narrower, and the head and legs are of a lighter colour. L. Q>-(S\ mm. 



Brackish ponds and ditches ; common near the coast except in the extreme 

 north of England and in Scotland. Gravesend ; Sheeriiess ; Whitstable ; Lyming- 

 ton; Brighton; Pegwell Bay, near Deal; Hunstanton; Southport ; recorded also 

 from Ireland. 



P. nigricans, Zett. (fr^ontalis, Er.). Oval, convex, smaller than 

 the two preceding species ; head entirely black, or black as far as front 

 of eyes ; thorax dark with margins more or less broadly testaceous ; 

 elytra lighter or darker testaceous ; legs testaceous, femora darker ; last 

 joint of maxillary palpi entirely reddish testaceous. L. 5-5 1- mm. 



Ditches, &c. ; local ; not common near London ; Plumstead, Lee, Gravesend, 

 Greenwich, &c. ; Abbey Wood ; New Forest ; Pegwell Bay ; Wicken Pen ; Askham 

 Bog, York ; Lancaster ; Northumberland ; Scotland, local. Lowlands, Tay, Dee, 

 Moray, Sol way. 



P. melanocephalus, 01. {f_[uadri]punctatus, Herbst.). Very like 

 the preceding, but slightly narrower, and usually of a darker colour ; 

 head, and thorax, except margins, black ; elytra with traces of rows of 

 larger punctures ; last joint of maxillary palpi distinctly black at apex. 

 L. 5-5 3 mm. 



Ditches, &c.; local but not uncommon; Darcnth Wood, Lee, Greenwich, 

 Woking ; Devonshire ; Swansea ; Lancaster ; Liverpool ; Rothley Lakes, Northumber- 

 land ; Scotland, common. Lowlands, Highlands, as far north as the JVloray district ; 

 Ireland, near Belfast and Dublin. 



P. minutus, F. {mwginellus, Thoms.). Oblong-ovate, moderately 

 convex ; upper surface closely and distinctly punctured ; head black, 

 unicolorous ; thorax dark with lighter margins ; elytra lighter or darker 

 testaceous, suture and sides usually darker ; legs brownish testaceous, 

 tarsi lighter ; the maxillary palpi are more or less dark, and the last joint 

 is often entirely black. L. 3| mm. 



Ditches, &c. ; apparently not a common species, the succeeding species being far 

 commoner, and being often confounded with it ; Esher, Woking, Purfleet, Horsell ; 

 Cambridge; Manchester district ; Northumberland; Scotland, local. Lowlands, Forth, 

 Tay, Clyde, Solway. 



P. coarctatus, Gredl. (suturalis, Sharp). This species comes very 

 close to the preceding, but is distinguished from it by its rather larger 

 size, testaceous palpi, and the yellow spot on the clypeus on each side in 

 front of eye ; the colour of the suture also is usually more marked ; 

 occasionally the palpi have the second and the middle of the last joint 

 slightly clouded. L. 3|-4 mm. 



Common and widely distributed ; Loudm district ; Deal ; Hastiugs ; New Forest ; 



