260 nYDROPHILID.E. " [Cevr 1/0)7. 



lary palpi is rather strongly dilated, and the mesosternum is oval. 

 L. l|-2 mm. 



This appears to be rather a donbtful species ; I have specimens of 

 what I believe to be C. luguhris taken together and mounted on the 

 same card, which seem to vary in the dilatation of the second joint 

 of the maxillary palpi, and in some of the Hydrophilidse (e.g. Liin- 

 nehius) this seems to be a sexual and not a specific character ; with 

 regard to • the less alutaceous and more shining elytra it is quite 

 jDossible that this also is sexual, as a double form of the female 

 (shining and dull) is very common in the Hyilropori at all events, 

 and might be found in other families ; the character of the mesosternum 

 appears to be the one most to be relied upon for its distinction as a 

 species. 



Found under the same circumstances as the preceding, and probably overlooked ; 

 Birmingham district; Walton-on-Thames ; it is very likely that it is widely dis- 

 tributed, but mixed with C. luguhris in our collections. 



C minutus, Muls. (tristis, 111.). This species also chiefly re- 

 semljles C. lugubrts, but is easily distinguished from it by not having 

 the striae of elytra continued to apex, so that the apex is smooth ; the 

 elytra also are less contracted and rounder behind, and the punctured 

 striae are finer ; the mesosternum is somewhat narrower, and the legs and 

 palpi as a rule a little darker ; the interstices of the elytra are almost 

 impunctate, alutaceous, and dull, as in C. hir/ulris ; this character will 

 at once separate the species from C. mialis. L. l|-2 mm. 



Found like the two preceding in flood refuse, at roots of grass, in moss, &c , in 

 marshy places, and like them not occurring in dung; not common; Netting Hill 

 (formerly), Weybridce, Walton-ou-Thames, Blackheath, Dagenham ; Tewkesbury ; 

 Scotland, Forth and Sohvay districts. 



It is very probable that this and several other of the rarer Cercyons 

 are much commoner than they seem to be, as from their clo'se resemblance 

 to the common species they must often be passed over by collectors, 

 who, as a rule, do not trouble themselves much about this genus. 



MS:G-AST3SRNUM, Mulsant. 



This and the succeeding genus, as remarked before, are easily dis- 

 tinguished from Cercyon by the much greater width of the mesoster- 

 num ; from Criq^itopleurum this genus may at once be separated by the 

 anterior tibiae being emarginate externally in front ; it contains three or 

 four species from Europe, Japan, and North America. 



9X. boletophag-um, Marsh. Short oval, very convex, somewhat 

 narrowed beliind, smooth and shining, black, or dark pitchy brown ; 

 antennae, palpi, and legs red, club of former darker, second joint of 

 maxillary palpi dilated ; sides of thorax sometimes reddish; elytra with 

 apex somewhat obscurely red, with rather distinct rows of punctures set ' 

 in obsolete striae which are often hardly traceable ; interstices punctured; 



