Aleochara.] STArnvLiKiDiE. 19 



elytra, diffusely and distinctly punctured at sides, with a smooth longi- 

 tudinal space on centre of disc bounded Ly two somewhat irregular hut 

 plainly traceable rows of strong punctures (this character at once separates 

 the species from all others) ; elytra about as long as thorax strongly 

 and thickly punctured; hind bodj' almost parallel-sided, thickly and evenly 

 jiunctured, sixth segment a little more sparingly than the others ; legs 

 pitchy black, knees and tarsi lighter. L. 3-5 mm. 



Male with the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind body finely 

 crenulate on apical border, ventral 2>late distinctly prolonged and ciliate. 



In dung, haystack refuse, &e.; generally distributed and common throughout 

 England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland. 



V. hilineata, Gyll. This variety differs from the type form in 

 having no red spots at the apex of the elytra, which are unicolorous 

 shining black ; some authors consider it a separate species, on the 

 ground that the size is a little larger, and the antennae less thickened, 

 Avith the fourth joint slightly longer ; the punctuation also of the head 

 and thorax is said to be more diffuse ; the structural differences, however, 

 do not seem to be sufficiently marked to allow of its being considered 

 a species, especially if Ave consider the extreme variability of A. nitida : 

 Mulsant and Eey (Brev. Aleochaires, 1874, p. 155) describe three 

 named varieties Avhich differ in the size and shape of thorax, coloration 

 of elytra, and punctuation of hind body, and these are connected by 

 many gradations. 



Found in similar localities, and often in company with the type, but not nearly as 

 common, although widely distributed j Scotland, Tweed, Forth, and Dee districts. 



A. morion, Grav. {Baryodma morio7i, Muls. et Eey). This veiy 

 small species has somewhat the appearance at first sight of one of the 

 black Homalotaj Avith hind body narroAved to ajjex (such as H. aterrima) ; 

 it is dull l)lack, finely pubescent, rather broad in front and strongly 

 narrowed behind ; head finely but distinctly punctured ; antenn® black, 

 Avith base reddish, somcAvhat thickened towards apex, third joint a 

 little longer than second, 5-10 strongly transverse; thorax almost twice 

 as broad as long, as broad at base as base of elytra, finely and closely 

 punctured; elytra strongly transverse, a little longer than thorax, sinuate 

 near postero-external angles, thickly and rugosely punctured ; hind body 

 gradually narroAved from base to apex (as in A. hijnmctata), thickly 

 punctured towards base, apical segments less punctured, and more 

 shining; legs reddish ov pitchy-red. L. l|-2j mm. 



Male Avith the dorsal plate of seventh segment of hind l)ody slightly 

 emarginate and crenulate on its apical border (the crenulations num- 

 bering six or eight), ventral plate much prolonged. 



In dung, &c. ; common and widely distrilnitcd in England and Wal< s and the 

 southern jiart of Scotland, but very often oveilooked; Ireland, near Waterfbrd, aud 

 probably common. 



c 2 



