124 STAPHYLiNiD^. [Jlomalota. 



obscurely channelled ; elytra longer than thorjx, closely and finely 

 punctured ; hind body a little narrowed towards apex, closely, finely, 

 and evenly punctured, segments 5-6 more sparingly than the others. 

 L. l|-2 mm. 



Male with the upper plate of seventh segment of hind body truncate 

 and furnished with four indistinct projections or teeth, two at the sides, 

 and two intermediate ; female with the hind margin of the same part 

 indistinctly emarginate in middle. 



In haystack refuse, decaying fungi, and vegetable refuse generally ; very abundant 

 throughout the kingdom. 



K. hodierna, Sharp (sub-gen. Microdata, Muls. et Rey). This 

 species is certainly very closely allied to H. nigra, but is larger and more 

 robustly formed, and the antennae are longer and less thickened towards 

 apex, and have the last joint much longer than in H. nigra ; head 

 broader and shorter than in this species, in the male distinctly chan- 

 nelled ; the general punctuation,' also, is rather finer, especially of the 

 hind body ; male characters as in H. nigra. L. 2 mm. 



Very rare ; Horning Fen, Norfolk ; it has also occurred in Scotland. 



If closely compared with S. nigra under a high magnifying power, 

 this certainly appears to be a good and distinct species. 



K. g-ermana, Sharp (sub-gen. Microdota, Muls. et Eey). About 

 the size of H. 7iigra, but distinctly broader in proportion, with a shorter 

 and more transverse thorax and more distinStsaud rougher punctuation ; 

 tlie antennae are rather shorter, as also is the head ; the elytra also are 

 slightly shorter \ the hind body is black, a little shining, closely and 

 finely but distinctly punctured, the punctuation not closer but more dis- 

 tinct than in H. nigra ; legs pitchy. L. 1^ mm. 



Male characters much as in //. nigra, except that the teeth are still 

 more obsolete and sometimes hardly visible. 



Ill haystack refuse, dead leaves, &c. ; not common in the London district ; Lee, 

 E'lier, Woking, Mickleham ; Gomshall, Highgate, Chatham ; Kiddlesdown ; Y^rdley 

 and Knowle, near Birmingham; Sherwood Forest; commouer further north; North- 

 umberhind district, nearly as common as H. nigra. Bold. Scotland, common, Tay, 

 Forth, and Solway districts. 



Dr. Sharp compares this species, as above, with H. nigra ; it appears, 

 however, to be more closely connected with H. celata, from which it is 

 distinguished by its darker colour, distinctly longer elytra, longer head, 

 and distinctly coarser sculpture ; the thorax also is plainly more narrowed 

 in front, whereas in H. celata it is almost as broad in front as behind ; 

 the colour of the antennae and legs, also, is darker ; it certainly appears 

 to be a distinct species. 



K. celata, Er. (Microdota (Datomicra) celata, Muls. et Rey, indi- 

 gena, Heer, Atheta dadopora, Thorns., arenicola, Thoms.). Black, rather 

 dull, with the elytra fuscous, and the apex of hind body sometimes 



