(Page 458) 

 finely transversally aciculated. Elytra are distinctly longer than pro- 

 notum, and this a little narrower than elytra, with parallel sides, 

 with rather robust and dense punctation like in bicolor . L. 3.5-4 mm. 

 In the O the abdominal fifth ventral joint smooth, not grooved in 

 middle-line, the sixth at tip obtuse-angularly emarginate. 



Distributed in the greater part of Europe, but more frequent south- 

 ward than north-ward. Heretofore it has in this country only been taken 

 a few places in Falster (Riserup, Nyk^bing) ; common in South England 

 under moss and in the remains of haystacks (Fowler); also found at Irel- 

 leborg in Skaane (Thorns.). 



3. Subgenus Pseudomedon Muls. 

 7. M. obsoletus Nordm. 



(Nordm. Symb. 146; Erichs. Kaf. Mk. Br. I, 516; Jen. Spec. Staph. 

 623; Kraatz Ins. E. II, 71S; Thorns. Skand. Col. II, 207; Muls. et Rey 

 Brevip. 1878, 166; danglb. Kaf. M. II, 524). 



Narrow and slender, in relation to the closest preceding species 

 can be recognized by the dull, feebly, silklike glistening surface of 

 the body, due to the all over extremely dense and fine punctation, and 

 further by the, especially of the elytra and abdomen, dense, fine, silky 

 glistening gray hair-vestiture. 



Dull pitch-black; pronotum, elytra and abdominal tip often brownish; 

 antennae, mouth-parts and legs brownish red, the antennal middle-joints, 

 and femora often darker. 



The head is noticeably a little narrower than pronotum, with parallel 

 temple-sides; interval of the temples on ventral side of the head rather 



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