Alcochara-I STAPiiYLiNiDiE. 13 



bf. Antcunae more slender, feebly tliickcncd 

 towards .ipex, joints G-10 not strongly 



transverse A. BETTXEiPENNig, Kr. 



(sanguinea, L.?). 

 2. Thorax sbininj^ black, with two rows of punctures 

 on disc, and diffuse punctures at sides. 



A. Each elytra with a red spot at apex .... A. NITIDA, Orav. 



B. Elytra unicolorous black V. BILINEATA, Oyll. 



ii. Length not exceeding 2-3 nnn. 



1. Form broad in middle, strongly narrowed to apex; 



hind body thickly and evenly punctured .... A. MORION, Orav, 



2. Form narrow more or less linear A. inconspicua, Aubd. 



A. fuscipes, F. Rather broad, and somewhat convex, shining 

 hlack, with the base of the antennae and the legs reddish or pitchy-red, 

 and the elytra red-brown with the sides darker ; head rather small, 

 antennae short very strongly thickened from the fourth joint inclusive, 

 third joint plainly longer and thicker than second ; thorax transverse, 

 convex, narrowed in front, rather closely punctured ; elytra very trans- 

 verse, shorter than thorax, depressed, with posterior angles rounded, very 

 plainly and somewhat rugosely punctured ; hind body narrowed mode- 

 rately at apex, black with apical segments sometimes lighter, strongly and 

 diffusely punctured. L. 5-7 mm. 



Male with the seventh segment of hind body slightly emarginate and 

 finely crenulate on its apical margin. 



In carcasses, haystack refuse, vegetable detritus, &c. ; very cominoa throughout the 

 kingdom. 



A. lata, Grav. This species is often considered a mere colour variety 

 of the preceding, the elytra being black or very dark blackish brown ; it 

 is however rather broader, with the punctuation of the elytra slightly 

 stronger ; the chief difference however lies in the structure of the seventh 

 segment of the hind body of the male, which has the apex crenulated, as 

 in the preceding species, but the crenulations are much finer and almost 

 twice as numerous as in A. fuscipes ; the legs are pitchy. L. 5-6 mm. 



Found under the same circumstances as the preceding, but not so common, and 

 ccmtined to the southern districts of the Midlands ; New Forest (common); Deal, 

 Sheerness, Cliathara, Mickleham, Tonbridge ; Hastings; Glanvilles Wotton j also 

 occurs near Bristol and in Bewdley Forest. 



A. brevipennis, Grav. Entirely black, shining, finely and tliickly 

 pubescent ; antennae rather long, black with base reddish, joints 2-3 

 elongate, third slightly longer than second, 4-10 gradually a little wider; 

 thorax convex, broader than long, narrowed in front, thickly ami finely 

 punctured ; elytra very short, hardly as long as thorax, strongly trans- 

 verse, dull black, very thickly pubescent, strongly and asperately punc- 

 tured ; hind body almost parallel-sided until a little before apex, strongly 

 but not closely punctured towards base, less closely towards apex; legs 

 pitchy, tarsi reddish. L. 4-5 mm. 



