76 STAPHYLINID^, [_Rt)iiialota. 



Group 4. 



This group is distinguished by the absence of a tubercle on the sixth 

 segment of hind body, coupled with the fact that the sixth segment is 

 almost impunctate : the species have a strong resemblance mter se, and 

 are chietly found in damp places under moss, leaves, and refuse, 



H. luridipennis, INIann. (elonr/atula, vat'., Er., PeJurga luridipennis, 

 jMus. etKey, Atheta prodiicfa, Thorns., ulujinosa, Thoms.). Broad, dull, 

 and somewhat depressed, fuscous-black, with the elytra and apex of 

 hind body testaceous, and the hind margins of tlie segments of the 

 latter more or less distinctly reddish or reddish-testaceous ; head, thorax, 

 and elytra closely and finely punctured ; head broad, vertex depressed in 

 male ; antennae rather long and stout, a little thickened toAvards apex, 

 fuscous with base lighter, joints 2-3 about equal, joints 4-10 gradually 

 very slightly shorter, the latter somewhat transverse, eleventh half as long 

 again as tenth ; thorax plainly transverse, broad, scarcely narrowed 

 behind, with an impression at base ; elytra a little broader and longer 

 than thorax, rather broader than long ; hind body with segments 2-4 

 rather thickly and finely punctured, fifth sparingly punctured, sixth 

 almost impunctate ; legs yellow. L. 4 mm. 



Male with the upper plate of the seventh segmentof hind bodyemarginate 

 in middle, under plate much produced and turned upwards, female with 

 the upper plate obsoletely emarginate at apex, under plate not produced. 



Damp places, on the banks of rivers, &c. ; grenerally distributed and not uncommon 

 tliroughout England and Wales; common in Scotland. 



The more robust form, very transverse thorax, and peculiar male 

 characters will at once distinguish this species from the three or four 

 following species, to which it bears considerable resemblance. 



H. Gyllenliali, Thoms. (londinensis, Sharp, Metaxya terminalis, 

 Muls. et Key, Homaluta elongatula, var , Er., Atlieta Gyllenhali, 

 Thoms.). Vaiial;)le in colour, as a rule coloured as the preceding species, 

 but occasionally almost entirely rufo-testaceous ; head a little less 

 closely punctured than in the preceding species, antennae much the 

 same, except that the eleventh joint is shorter; thorax as long as broad 

 very obsoletely channelled, closely and finely i)unctured, more often reddish 

 brown than black; elytra longer and slightly bi'oader than thorax, a 

 little longer than broad, very finely punctured; hind body with the apex 

 and the hind margins of segments more or less distinctly reddish-yellow, 

 segments 2-4 closely and finely punctured, fifth more sparingly, sixth 

 nearly impunctate; legs testaceous. L. 4 mm. 



Male with the under plate of the seventh segment produced and nar- 

 rowed towards apex, but scarcely bent upwards. 



Marshy places ; not uncommon in the neighbourhood of London ; Tonbridge ; 

 Smallheath, near Birmiughaiu (under bones); Ncedwood Forest, near Burtou-on-Treut; 



