Homalofa.] staphylinidji. 121 



are rather sparingly punctured, and 5-6 almost smooth, whereas in this 

 species segments 2-4 are rather closely punctured, the fifth more spar- 

 ingly, and the sixth is almost smoolh ; the punctuation appears very 

 slightly coarser in Dr. Sharp's type specimen of the male, and the 

 upper surface of seventh segment is granulate; there appears some 

 doubt whether it is a distinct species. L. 1| mm. 

 Rare ; Scotland, Solway, Dee, and Moray districts. 



According to Dr. Sharp this species is distinguished from H. sericea 

 by being darker in colour, more depressed, rather broader, but more 

 narrowed to the front, the pubescence finer, denser, and more re<'uLir, 

 and the elytra longer in proportion to the thorax ; from H. indubia it 

 is distinguished by its shorter antennae which are more thickened 

 towards the apex, of which joints 5-10 are distinctly transverse, and 

 by the uncrenulate seventh segment of hind body in male. 



K. indubia, Sharp. About the size of H. sericea but blacker, still 

 more sparingly pubescent, and therefore more shining, with the antenna 

 not quite so stout; head rather broad, with disc flat, almost smooth ; 

 antennae black, with joints 2-3 longer and more slender than in H. 

 sericea, filth slightly transverse, 9-10 strongly so, eleventh pointed, as 

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

 and sparingly punctured and pubescent, indistinctly impressed belore 

 scutelium ; elytra longer than thorax and more distinctly punctured ; 

 hind body black and shining, segments 2-4 sparingly punctured, 5-6 

 almost impunctate. L. 1| mm. 



Male with apical margin of seventh abdominal segment distinctly and 

 plainly crenulate : this is the best distinguishing mark of the species. 



In liaystack rubbisli, dead leaves, tidal refuse, &c. ; rare; Sbeerness, Weybridge, 

 IBirdbrook, Mieklebani, Caterliaui, Sanderstead, Cowley, Birch Wood ; Louj^bion • 

 St. Leouards ; Hastings; Tollbridge; Seaton, Devoii>hire ; Smallheath and Knowle 

 (bones) ; Yardley, near Birmingham (grass-tufts) ; Scotland, scarce, Forth and 8olway 

 districts. 



K, mortuorum, Thorns. (Afliefa mortuomm, Thorns.). Allied to 

 H. sericea, but smaller and blacker, and with shorter antennae than in 

 that species, the basal joints being less elongate ; head nearly as broad 

 as thorax, with an impression or channel in middle ; antennas black, 

 thickened towards apex, second joint almost twice as long as third, 4-10 

 distinctly transverse, eleventh about twice as long as tenth ; thorax 

 transverse, subquadrate, rather dull, thickly punctured, sometimes 

 obsoletely channelled ; elytra short, scarcely longer than thorax, black 

 or dark fuscous, very closely punctured and pubescent; hind body 

 rather shining, with segments 2-4 somewhat closely punctured, 5-6 

 smooth ; legs pitchy. L. 1-i mm. 



Sexual differences obscure. 



Rare ; Dr. Power has specimens in his collection from Shirley, E-her, Birch Wood, 

 Highgate, and Littlington, but I do not feel sure that they all belong to this species! 

 Scotland, rare, Tay, Dee, and Solway districts. 



