116 STAPH VLiNiD^. [Homalota. 



second, 4-10 transverse, eleventh nearly twice as long as tenth ; thorax 

 nearly as broad as elytra, not very transverse, with a small obsolete 

 impression in middle of base ; elytra black, or sometimes pitchy, 

 extremely finely punctured ; hind body black and shining, broader at 

 apex, and narrowed gradually to base, very sparingly punctured ; legs 

 pitchy. L. 1^ mm. 



Sexual characters obscure, except that the male has the seventh 

 segment of hind body narrower. 



In cut grass, dead leaves, &c.; rare ; Sanclerstead, Peckham, Ashtead, and Mickleliam, 

 Surrey; Birdbrook, Essex; New Forest ; Scotland, nire, Solway and Dee di.-tricts ; it 

 prol)al)l y occurs in intervening localities, and is very likely overlooked by reason of its 

 minute size. 



K. perexig-ua, Sharp. Very closely allied to the preceding ; it is, 

 however, as Dr, Sharp (I.e. p. 215) remarks, still smaller and more 

 fragile, wath the thorax less transverse, and more distinctly narrovrer 

 than the elytra ; the antennae are evidently thinner, but, as they are 

 similarly formed, the intermediate joints are less transverse ; the male 

 has the seventh segment of hind body narrower than the female, with 

 the ventral plate narrow, a little produced, and with hind margin 

 rounded. L. 1 mm. 



In dead leaves, flood refuse, &c. ; very rare ; London district (Sharp) ; Tonbridge 

 (Hiirner) ; Walton-on-'lhames (Champion) ; Sheerness (J. J. Walker). 



Section VI. 



Hind body parallel ; thorax strongly transverse ; penultimate joints of 

 the antennae strongly transverse. 



This section may be divided into the following two groups : — 



16. Moderately-sized species, or not very small species (p. 116). 



17. Very small species, none exceeding 2 mm. in length, and usually less (p. 119). 



Group 16. 



This group contains several well-marked species, which differ con- 

 siderably in colour and size ; the male characters are very peculiar and 

 pronounced ; Dr. Sharp includes H. cinnamomea and H. hospita in this 

 group, but the abdomen in these species is so evidently narrowed to 

 apex that it is better to separate them, more especially as they are 

 considered a very distinct genus {Tlmmiaraa) by Thomson and other 

 authorities, far removed from Homalota : I have now placed these two 

 species as a separate genus just before S. flavi/ies, confusa, and anceps, 

 to the first two of which they bear a somewhat close relation ; they are 

 placed near these by IMulsant and Rey and other continental authorities, 

 and it seems hardly right to separate them more widely than is possible. 



2£. scapularis, Sahib, {cchracea, Er., AJaohia xrapiilarit^, Thorns.). 



