Ilomalota.'] stapuylinid.e. - 105 



]\Iale with tlie apex of seventh segment of hind body truncate and 

 plainly crenulate. 



Miivshv places; at roots of grass, in moss, &c. ; not uncommon, but rather local ; 

 London district gcnerallv; Tonbridjre ; SmalUieath, Sutton Park, and Kiiowle, near 

 IJirniinglKim; Nnrthunibtrland district; Scotland, common, Tweed, Solway, Tay, 

 Forth, and Moray districts; Ireland, near Waterford. 



Allied to xantlwptera, but easily distinguished by the darker antennae 

 of Avhich the last joint is evidently shorter, the brassy reflection of 

 head and thorax, and more strongly punctured elytra. 



H. Eeneicollis, Sharp (//. PeHyi, Heer ? ). Closely allied to 

 II. xanthoptera, biit rather smaller and narrower; elytra paler and 

 more distinctly marked with black ; antennae darker and not quite so 

 long or stout, with apical joint not so long, although this is hardly per- 

 ceptible as it bears the same relation to the tAvo preceding ones as in 

 H. xanthoptera. L. 3-3^ mm. 



In decaying fungi and other vegetable matter ; generally distributed in the London 

 district and otlier parts of the couutry, but very comiuou in Scollaud, where it is 

 commoner than H. xanthoptera. 



H. parisiensis, Bris. (ovaria, Kr., cristafa, Mot., aqiiatica, Key, 

 nee Thorns.), is very closely allied to this species, but appears to be 

 considered distinct from it ; it seems a question whether all the de- 

 scribed species belonging to this group are really distinct. 



H. xanthoptera, Steph. (easfanoptera, Mann., Atheta merdaria, 

 Thoms.). Black, rather shining with the elytra more or less obscurely 

 brownish testaceous, or castaneous, obscurely darker about scutellum, 

 extremity of hind body sometimes yellowish ; head black, narrower 

 than thorax, finely and indistinctly punctured ; antenna? long and rather 

 slender and but' little thickened towards apex, yellowish, ^ a little 

 daiker towards extremity, last joint paler than preceding, joints 1-3 

 rather long, third longer than second, fourth as broad as third, longer 

 than broad, fifth broader than fourth, 6-10 nearly equal, not transverse, 

 eleventh very long nearly as long as the three preceding ; thorax one- 

 third broader than long, finely and rather closely punctured, with an 

 indistinct impression in middle of base; elytra longer than thorax, 

 rather closely and finely punctured and pubescent ; hind body black and 

 shining, segments 2-4 sparingly punctured, 5-6 almost impimctate ; legs 

 bright yellow. L. 3^-4 mm. 



Male with the hind margin of upper plate of seventh segment of 

 hind body truncate and crenulate^ the outer crenulations being the 

 largest. 



In decaying funei and other vegetable refuse, especially in early autumn ; one of 

 the commonest of the British species ; Dr. Sharp says that it is occasionally found at 

 sap of trees. 



K. incog-nita, Sharp. A very distinct, largo, robust species, allied 

 to the preceding, but usually larger and broader in proportion, the 



