183 STArHYLINIDiE. [Jlyp^ci/jihis. 



of thegeuus; it closely resembles H. seminulum in many points, and may 

 be merely a smaller and lighter-coloured variety of that species ; the 

 antennae, however, are, perhaps, a little longer in proportion, and have 

 the sixth and seventh joints a little less short, and their club rather more 

 elongate ; the posterior angles of the thorax are said to be a little more 

 rounded, but this is a point that is not to be depended upon in this 

 genus, as authors appear to differ very widely regarding it in describing 

 the same species ; the colour is much lighter, the elytra being reddish, 

 and the sides of thorax and margins of segments of hihd body being 

 testaceous ; the legs also are entirely testaceous. L. \ mm. 



la vegetable refuse, and also under the same circumstance's as the precedino: ; I 

 have seen speoiincns fi-oin Riddlesdown, Seaton (I)evoushiri'), Colesliill near Bir- 

 mingham, and Dabton Loch, Scotland; it appears to he ratliLT widely di:stnbutid, 

 and, as stated above, in all probability several of the localities given for H. seminulum 

 apply to this insect. 



K. apicalis, Brisout (H. pvllcarkis, rar. a, Muls. et Eey). Very 

 closely allied to H. seminulum, but larger, with shorter and less thick 

 pubescence, and the last three segments of the hind body testaceous : 

 according to Biisout this insect comes very near rufipes, Kr. (which 

 Pandelle (I.e. p. 282) appears to consider only a small var. oilomjicurnu), 

 is rather larger, of a blacker colour, with longer antennae, and a lighter- 

 coloured hind body, which is more strongly contracted at apex. L. 

 1 mm., aljout. 



Taken by Dr. Power at Micklehani : it apjiears to be a distinct species, and to be 

 connected rather with H. longicornis than with H. seminulum. 



K. discoideus, Er. (higuttatus, Matth.). The most distinct species 

 of the genus that we possess ; shining pitch-black, with the disc of the 

 elytra bright reddish-testaceous, the ba.^e and sides being more or less 

 infuscate ; the sides of the thorax are pale, and the apex ol hind body 

 broadly testaceous ; pubescence long, fine, and close, of a greyish yellow 

 colour; head very finely and sparingly jninctured, antennse moderately 

 long, testaceous, with club more gradual in male than in female ; thorax 

 very short, very finely and sparingly punctured, with posterior anijles 

 rather strongly rounded ; elytra strongly transvers ', one and a third times 

 as long as thorax, very finely and thickly punctured ; hind body finely 

 and rather sparingly punctured, retractile, but rather long when drawn 

 out to its fall extent; legs testaceous. L. 1 mm , about. 



Male with the last segments of hind body projecting, seventh ventral 

 segment emarginate at apex, eighth apparent ; first joint of anterior 

 tarsi dilated. 



In vegetable refuse, &e., in marshy and fenny districts; very local, hut sometimes 

 Tcry common where it occurs ; Dagenham, Essex ; Hastings ; Horning Fen and other 

 fen districts on the east of England ; the species is rare, but rather widely dis- 

 tributed, in France. 



It is almost impossible to determine Avith accuracy the closely allied 

 ."species of Hupc'iipfus, unless they are sctfnsh soon after death ; the hind 



