34 STAPHYLINID.E. [OxTJpOcla. 



smaller, with considerably shorter antenripe ; of a deep s^oty black colour, 

 with the elytra sometimes obscurely lighter and the apex of hind body 

 more or less plainly testaceous ; pubescence and punctuation close and 

 fine; head moderately large; antenna pitchy, rather uniformly 

 thickened, third joint plainly shorter than second, 4-7 moderately, 8-10 

 more plainly transverse, the joints being shorter and less conical than in 

 0. longiuscula, eleventh joint about as long as the two preceding, 

 constricted and so appearing almost two-jointed ; thorax about as broad 

 as elytra, not much broader than long ; elytra somewhat variable in 

 length, but always longer than thorax, sometimes very plainly so ; hind 

 body narrowed a little before apex, with the front segments distinctly 

 depressed at base ; legs pitchy testaceous, posterior tarsi with the first 

 joint about equal to or almost longer than the three succeeding together. 

 L. 2i-2| mm. 



Male with the ventral plate of seventh segment of hind body prolonged 



obtusely. 



This species is allied to 0. lenfula, but is of a rather deeper black colour, 

 Avith longer antenn 33, of which the joints are not quite so transverse; the 

 thorax and elytra are longer, and the posterior tarsi longer and thinner. 



Rare ; in moss and under stones on mountains and high hills ; Snowdon ; Cheviots ; 

 Scotland, Tay, Dee, and Clyde districts; Ireland, co. Down, summit of Sliove 

 Donard : Mr! Eye first found the species under stones on the top of Gray vel, 

 Eannoch. 



Section VI. (Sub-Gen. Demosoma, Thorns.) 



There are five species belonging to this section, 0. formiceticola, 

 recondita, hcemorrlioa, amcena, and nigrofusca ; they are distinguished by 

 their almost parallel-sided hind body, which is not so strongly setose at 

 apex, and by their less fusiform shape ; the elytra are equal to or 

 scarcely longer than thorax : the species are, with the exception perhaps 

 of 0. hcemorrlioa, more broadly and stoutly built than those in the third 

 section, and are usually more brightly coloured ; one or two of them 

 inhabit the nests of Formica rufa : the others occur in various situations. 



O. formiceticola, INlaerk. Elongate, rather broad and parallel- 

 sided, very finely and thickly pubescent, of a lighter or darker pitcliy 

 brown or pitchy red colour with the head and base of central segments 

 of hind body darker ; head rather shining, antennse hardly as long as 

 head and thorax together, gradually and plainly thickened, entirely 

 testaceous, or sometimes a little darker towards apex, third joint a little 

 shorter than second, 4-10 gradually a little broader, 6-10 strongly 

 transverse ; thorax strongly transverse, nari'owed in front, as broad at 

 base as elytra, finely and thickly punctured, with more or less obscure 

 central furrow ; elytra transverse, equal in length to the thorax at the 

 sides, but apparently shorter in the centre, thickly and somewdiat 

 rugosely punctured ; hind body with the apex of the front segments 



