106 STAPHYLiNiD^.. [Homalota. 



thorax being evidently broader ; it is more obscurely coloured, has the 

 elytra more strongly punctured, and the fourth joint of the antennee 

 longer ; the antennte themselves are longer, and in the male rather more 

 thickened towards apex ; besides this the apex of the upper plate of 

 seventh segment of male is hardly visibly crenulate ; this latter point will 

 also serve to distinguish it from H. valida, from which it may, moreover, 

 be separated by its more obscure colour, paler antennae, and less coarsely 

 punctured elytra. L. 4 mm. 



A Scotch species, not common in Highland districts ; found about decaying branches 

 of Scotch fir, &c. ; Solway, Forth, Tay, Dee, and Moray districts. In Dr. Power's 

 collection there is a specimen from Lee Valley, Nortli Devon, labelled "incognita, 

 var.," which certainly appears to belong to this species. 



K. valida^ Kr. {convexa, J. Sahib., rohusta, Muls. et Eey). A 

 large robust species, black, with the elytra shining brown ; head shin- 

 ing, finely and sparingly punctured ; antennae pitchy with the three 

 basal joints reddish yellow, rather long and stout, slightly thickened 

 towards the apex, third joint rather longer than second, 4-10 each 

 slightly broader than the preceding, in male each longer than broad, in 

 female about as long as broad, eleventh joint pointed rather longer than 

 the two preceding ; thorax nearly half as broad again as long, finely 

 and somewhat diti'usely punctured, with a broad shallow impression in 

 middle of base, and sometimes an indistinct channel ; elytra longer than 

 thorax, strongly and closely punctured and pubescent ; hind body with 

 apex obscurely paler, segments 2-4 sparingly punctured, 5-6 impunctate 

 or nearly so ; legs yellow. L. 4-4| mm. 



Male with the upper plate of seventh segment of hind body crenu- 

 late, and sometimes slightly emarginate. 



In vegetable refuse ; rare ; Northumberland district, Gosforth, three specimens. 

 Scotland, Solway, Forth, and Moray districts (Thornhill, Edinburgh, and Strath 

 Cannich); Ireland, summit of Slieve Donard, co. Down (Champion). 



Group 15. 



This is a very artificial group, and contains no less than twenty-three 

 species, varying very much in size, appearance, and habitat ; they are 

 distinguished from the preceding group by having the penultimate joints 

 of the antennse transverse. H. euryptem, Steph. {succicola, Thorns.), 

 and H. diversa are the largest, being about the size of small specimens of 

 H. xanthoptera, whereas IT. palustris (small specimens), H. corvina, H. 

 pnherula, and H. dancula\{atrafa) are only about 2 mm. in lengthy and H. 

 afomaria and H. perexigua are only l^ mm. and 1 mm, respectively; 

 the remaining species vary from 2^-3 mm. 



K. euryptera, Steph. (succicola, Thoms. et auct., validicornis, 

 Maerk., Atheta swca'co/a, Thorns.). This species bears rather a strong 

 relation to H. xanthoptera, but is broader and stouter, and is easily dis- 

 tinguished by the stouter, shorter, and darker nntunnpc, of which the 

 penultimate joints are transverse ; head narrower than thorax, finely 



