TacJtmus,] utaviiywsid.-il 207 



dorsal segment in female with four long lol)eR, the interior pair more 

 slender and sharj^er. 



In dung, moss, &c. ; Sheerness, Shirley, Leith Hill, West Wickham, Reigate, 

 Adtlington; Seal Wood, Stnttbrdshire (J. T. Harris); Lincoln; Northnmherland 

 district, banks of Wooler Water and Irthing, Gibside, &c. ; Scotland, Lowlands 

 and Highlands, rare, but widely distributed as far north as the Moray district ; 

 Ireland, Chapelizod Glen, near Dublin. Mr. Clorham has lately (June, 1887) taken a 

 specimen in the New Forest with reddish brown elytra. 



laHGACRONVS, Thomson. 



There is considerable confusion with regard to this genus, Bri/opo7'u.o, 

 Bolitohius, and Mycetoxiorus ; Dr. Sharp (Biol. Cent. Am. Staphylinidfp^ 

 p. 317) considers that tlie union of Bryoporus witli the Mpgacronus 

 division of Bolitohius, while the other two genera are treated as distinct, 

 offers a satisfactory solution of the ditlRcuIty ; it seems, however, prefer- 

 able to keep Bryoporus distinct from Mexjacronus, the maxillary palpi in 

 the former having the last joint evidently narrower at base than the 

 apex of the penultimate, whereas in the latter they are shorter and 

 thicker, and have the last joint as broad at base as the apex of 

 penultimate ; in some points the relation is closer betAveen Bryoporus 

 and Bolitohius ; there are about a dozen known species of Meqa- 

 cronus, which have much the same distribution as Bolitohius ; there are 

 three British species, and one which is doubtfully indigenous ; they are 

 large, conspicuous, and brightly coloured insects ;' all our species belong 

 to the sub-genus Bryocharis, Lac, which is distinguished from Mcqa- 

 croims proper by having the first joint of the intermediate and posterior 

 tibiae spinose, as w^ell as pubescent, beneath. 



I. Elytra with three rows of punctures, smooth and 



glabrous between the punctures; thorax black. 

 i. Length 7-8 mm. ; last joint of antenna? bright 



. yellow . M. CINQULATUS, JfaBW. 



li. Length 6-6| mm. ; last joint of antennae ferru- 

 ginous brown or dusky-yellowish M. analis, Payk. 



II. Elytra strongly punctured, and evidently pubescent. 



i. Elytra rather thickly punctured, longer than thorax . M. inclinans, Grav. 

 ii. Elytra sparingly punctured, as long as thorax . . , M. formosus,' Grao. 



TH. cing-ulatus, Mann. Shining black, Avith the elytra and last tAvo 

 or three segments of abdomen red, the colouring being very bright ; head 

 subovate, mouth parts testaceous ; antenna black Avith the base, and at 

 least the Avhole apical joint bright yelloAv, longer than the head and thorax 

 united ; penultimate joints gradually shorter, the tenth being transverse 

 last joint oval and a little longer than the penultimate in female, sub- 

 cylindrical, and longer than the tAA'o preceding in male ; thorax strongly 

 narroM^edin front, Avith posterior angles very obtuse ; elytra subquadrate, 

 about a quarter longer than thorax, smooth, Avith three longitudinal roAv.s 

 of setigerous punctures set rather far apart, and often not" conspicuous ; 

 hind body long, narroAved gradually from base to apex, covered Avitli 



