(Page 550) 

 which partly placed free upon a narrow mesotnorax strip before the elytral 

 base, is proportionately large, triangular and with two small foveae. 

 The elytra are short, at most as long as pronotum and with a distinct 

 sutural groove and rounded off sutural corners, side-margins, most often 

 also posterior margins are finely bordered. Abdomen is rather short and 

 broaa, posteriorly feebly broadened, its sides stoutly marginated. Pro- 

 sternum under the fore-coxae is at middle membranous ; fore-coxae large, 

 middle-coxae rather broadly separated; legs short, the first four tibiae 

 at outer margin spiniferous, and the foremost at tip with a distinct in- 

 cision, all tarsi are three-jointed, and the claw-joint longer than the 

 other two short joints together. 



The species live principally at manure and rotting plants. The follow- 

 ing are distributed in North and Middle Europe. 



Key to Subgenera end Species. 



1. Head distinctly constricted behind, without groove along inner margin 



of the eye. Elytral surface longitudinally aciculated: 1. Subg. 

 Pyctocraerus Thorns. - Pronotum deeply middle-grooved. L. 2.5-4 



mm 1 . P. arenarius Fourcr. 



Head not constricted behind, with a fine, margined groove along in- 

 ner margin of the eye. Elytral surface either finely reticulated 

 or smooth between the punctures: 2. Subg. Plat.y stethus s. etr. 

 Thorns 2. 



2. -lytra in surface very finely reticulated 3. 



Elytra with smooth surface between punctures 4. 



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