Ilomalula.] stai'iiylinid.e. 83 



H. g-raminicola, Gyll. {Liogluta {Merjhta) graminicola, Muls. et 

 Key, Atlieta (jraiiiiuicola, TlioiiLS.). A very distinct species by reason of 

 its shiuiiig black colour and tlie coarse and distinct sculpture of elytra; 

 head much narrower than thorax, diffusely punctured; antennge rather 

 long and slender, scarcely thickened towards apex, third joint longer 

 than second, fourth longer than fifth^ 5-10 nearly equal, each longer 

 than broad, eleventh about twice as long as tenth; thorax distinctly 

 transverse, moderately closely punctured; somewhat asperate; elytra 

 plainly longer than thorax, rather depressed, coarsely sculptured with 

 small granulations; hind body sparingly punctured, fifth and sixth 

 segments nearly imi)unctate; legs testaceous, or pitchy-yellow, femora 

 darker than tibiae. L. 3|-3| mm. 



Male with the head impressed, elytra more coarsely granulate and 

 dull than in female, sixth and seventh segments covered with distinct 

 granulations, the latter with apex truncate and finally crenulate, under 

 plate considerably produced and narrowed towards apex. 



Damp places, especially uear river banks, flood refuse, &c. ; very common throughout 

 the kingdom. 



A variety occasionally occurs with reddish elytra. 



Section II. 



Hind body parallel; thorax quadrate, or subquadrate; six penultimate 

 joints of the antennae transverse, but not very strongly so, 

 This section may be divided into the following groups: — 



6. Head strongly punctured (p. 83). 



7. Head finely punctured, or nearly impunctate (p. 84). 



Group 6. 



This group contains three closely allied species, which are found 

 exclusively on the coast, and are very distinct from the other members of 

 the genus. Thomson and IMulsant and Eey place them in a separate 

 genus Halohredha. 



S. halobrectha, Sharp (cdridlla, Er. {T),flavipes, Thoms., marifima, 

 Wat.). Fuscous black, clothed with yellowi;ih pubescence, with elytra, 

 and sometimes thorax and head pitchyj and apex of hind body yellow; 

 head scarcely narrower than thorax, coarsely and distinctly punctured; 

 antennae reddish yellow, slightly darker towards apex, joints 3-3 long, 

 4-10 each a little shorter and broader than the preceding, 8-10 trana 

 verse; thorax considerably narrower than elytra, subquadrate, or very 

 slightly broader than long, rather closely punctured; elytra a little 

 longer or hardly as long as tliorax, closely but shallowly punctured; hind 

 body black and shining, segments 2-4 sparingly punctured, 5-G almost 

 impunctate; legs yellowish. L. 2|— 3 mm. 



G 2 



