Oxypoda.] STArnTLTNIDyE. 31 



O. umbrata, Orav., GylL, Thorns. {Oxypoda {rodoxyd) unilirata, 

 IMuLs. et Rey, ciiniruJina, Er. pars.). Rather strongly fusiform, very 

 finely and thickly pubescent, of a dull pitchy black colour, with the 

 elytra, apex of hind body, and the hind margin of its segments more or 

 less plainly reddish brown ; head finely but distinctly punctured, antennre 

 pitchy with first joint sometimes lighter, third joint a little shorter 

 than second, 6-10 strongly transverse, eleventh broad, longer than the 

 two preceding, and constricted so that it appears almost two-jointed ; 

 thorax broader than long as broad as elytra, more finely punctured than 

 head ; elytra plainly longer than thorax, strongly sinuate near postero- 

 external angles, with fine somewhat rugose punctuation, Avhich is a little 

 closer, but not stronger than that of thorax ; hind body rather strongly 

 narrowed and setose towards apex, very finely shagreened ; legs testaceous, 

 posterior tarsi elongate, with first joint rather longer than the three 

 following together. L. 3 mm. 



In haystack refuse, dead leaves, old foggots, &c. ; generally distributed and 

 common. 



This species much resembles 0. opaca, but is distinguished by its 

 smaller size, and shorter antennae, of which the third joint is plainly 

 shorter than the second. 0. umhrata, Er., is a different species = 0. Jiu- 

 midula, Kraatz. 



O. pectita, Sharp, (cunicxiina, Er. pars.). This species is closely 

 allied to the preceding, but is distinctly narrower and more parallel, with 

 the thorax especially narrower and always having a more or less distinct 

 longitudinal channel ; the hind body is not so much pointed at apex, and 

 the thorax and elytra are not so finely punctured ; the antennte also are 

 plainly longer, with the penultimate joints less transverse ; owing to the 

 narrower form the elytra appear somewhat longer in proportion to the 

 thorax. L. 3 mm. 



Haystack refuse, &c. ; not common, but probably overlooked ; Eltham, Shirley, 

 Forest Hill, Tonbriilge, Hammersmith; Abbey Wood j Littlehamptou; Cambricl"-e. 

 Scotland, rare, Lowlands, Forth and Solway districts. 



O. nig-rina, "Wat. {sericea, Heer. teste Fauvel, nigreseens, Muls. 

 et Rey). Considerably smaller than 0. umhrata, which it resembles in 

 form, and usually of an entirely dull black colour; the elytra, however, are 

 sometimes obscurely brownish ; the antennte and posterior tarsi are 

 shorter than in either of the two preceding species ; it bears a superficial 

 resemblance to 0. hntula, but may at once be distinguished by its longer 

 elytra (which are plainly longer than thorax) and shorter and more 

 distinctly thickened antennae : Mulsant and Rey refer it to their 

 O. nigrescens, but as they say that this species comes nearest to 

 0. Jicemorrhoa, it would appear that they can hardly be right in so doin^-. 

 L. 2j mm. 



In moss, at roots of grass in marshy places, &c., occasionally iu sandpits and hot- 



