Limnchius.] iivoRnPinLiD.E. 231 



various cliaracters affecting the palpi, femora, or tibiie; they also have 

 the thorax somewhat more rounded at the sides : about twenty species 

 are known, which are found chietiy in Europe and North America ; four 

 of these are British, and, except by their size, it is rather hard to deter- 

 mine them ; the minuter species of Limnebius bear rather a striking 

 resemblance superficially to the Trichopterygian genus 11 yd rosea pka. 



I. Length 1|-2V mm. 



1. Liihrum eiuargiuiite L. TEUNCATELLUS, Thorns. 



2. Liibruiu entire L. papposus, Muls. 



II. Loiiglh not exceeding 1^ mm L. nitidus, Marsh. 



III. Length >- mm L. PICINUS, il£ar*A. 



Ii. truncatellus, Thoms. (mar;/i7ialis, Stoph. ? 1). Oblong-oval, 

 convex, shining, black or brownish black with the thorax and elytra 

 lighter at sides ; head and thorax distinctly punctured; elytra alutaceous 

 with i)lain punctuation; legs brownish testaceous with dark femora; 

 male with the last abdominal segment furnished at apex with a blunt 

 channelled projection, and with the intermediate tibise arcuate, and the 

 posterior tibiae very strongly narrowed at apex. L. l^-^} nim. 



Common and widely distributed throughout England and Wales ; Scotland, common, 

 Lowlands, as far north as the Moray district j Ireland, near Belfast, Dublin, and 

 Waterlbrd, and probably coniiuon. 



Xi. papposus, ]V[uls. Very like the preceding in size and general 

 appearance ; upper side brown or brownish yellow with the head and 

 disc of thorax blackish ; head finely punctured, thorax rather obsoletely 

 jiunctured ; elytra alutaceous with distinct punctuation ; legs lighter or 

 darker testaceous; male with the penultimate joint of the maxillary 

 ])alpi thickened, and with a fan-like tuft of hairs at the extremity of the 

 last abdominal segment. L. l|-2 mm. 



Rather common and widely distributed from the Midlands downwards, hut I can 

 find no record from further north than Repton, Burton-ou-Treut, and it has not been 

 taken in Scotland. Ireland, near Belfast. 



Zi. nitidus, Marsh. Considerably smaller than the preceding, shining 

 l)lack, with the sides of thorax and elytra obscurely reddish, very 

 scantily pubescent; elytra alutaceous, rather obsoletely punctured, with 

 a narrow side margin which is not continued to apex ; legs darker or 

 lighter testaceous. L. 1| mm. 



Local hut not uncommon ; ditches, &c. ; Earlswood, Lcwisham ; Camhridgoshire 

 Fetis ; Horning Fen; Uaiiisgate ; New Fon-st ; Swansea; liirmingbani district; 

 The Wausheek, WuUington, and Itolhley Lakes, Northumberland; Scotland, rare, 

 Lowlands, Tweed and Forth districts. Ireland, near Belfast aud W'alerford. 



Zi. picinus, ]\[arsh {afi)mi(f<, Duft., mi)iiifi.-<.'<ii/iut>, Germ.). This 



sjtecics is easily tlistinguished by its very minute size, ami liy having the 

 suture of the elytra linely Ijordered behind ; the elytra, which are plainly 

 alutaceous, are impunctate or very obsoletely punctate, much more so 

 than iu nitidus ; the colour is usually black or brown black, but is 



