274 STAPH YLINID^E. [PhilonfJlUS. 



1)6 distinguished by its somewhat shorter antennse, of which the pemilti- 

 mate joints are shorter, and by having segments 4-6 of hind body more 

 sparingly punctured ; the three first joints of the anterior tarsi of male 

 are more evenly dilated, and the tarsi in the female are almost simple ; 

 as a rule the punctuation of the elytra is a little less fine and thick^ and 

 that of the hind body a little stronger than in P. varians, but both 

 the species appear to vary somewhat in this respect. L. 5-5| mm. 



In moss, dunp^, haystack and flood refuse, old faggots, &c. ; not uncommon in some 

 loc;ilities, and very probably overlooked in many others ; Wliitstahle, Egham, Walton- 

 on-Tliames, Tottenham, Cuterham, Staines, Mickleham, Merton (Surrey) ; Tonbridge ; 

 VValton-on-Naze; Barmouth; Repton ; Stretford and Dunham Park, Manchester} 

 Scotland, in dung, very rare, Solway district. 



P. vernalis, Grav. {Gabrius vernalis, Thorns.). Shining pitch- 

 black, with the elytra often, and thorax sometimes, lighter, hind body 

 more dull than the fore parts ; head oblong oval, long^ a little narrower 

 than thorax, antenme black with base testaceous, sometimes testaceous, 

 Avith middle part darker, penultimate joints hardly transverse ; thorax 

 longer than broad, slightly narroAved in front; elytra shorter than thorax, 

 especially at suture, rather strongly punctured ; hind body thickly and 

 finely punctured, slightly iridescent (as in some of the similarly coloured 

 Qupilii), Avith fine and rather close grey pubescence; legs testaceous, 

 anterior tarsi simple in both sexes. L. 5-5| mm. 



Male with seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply and sharply 

 excised, Avith the lateral lobes prolonged and somcAvhat membranous. 



In marshy places, under stones, dead leaves, &c. ; rare ; Higham and Strood, Kent 

 (J. J. W^alker) ; Deal, and Lytham (L;mcashire), (Power) ; Hunstanton (Blateh) ; 

 Liverpool and Manchester districts; Scotland, Lowlands, extremely local, Forth 

 district. 



P. ventralis, Grav. Shining pitch-black Avith the elytra and 

 thorax sometimes slightly lighter, and the posterior margins of the 

 ventral segments of hind body reddish testaceous ; head somewhat 

 orbicular, antennae black Avitli the first joint reddish testaceous, penulti- 

 mate joints slightly transverse ; thorax slightly longer than broad at base, 

 with sides almost parallel in the male, and slightly contracted in the 

 female ; elytra about as long as thorax, rather strongly, thickly, and 

 someAvhat asperately punctured ; hind body rather thickly punctured on 

 the basal segments, more sparingly behind ; legs testaceous, Avith the 

 posterior femora darker, anterior tarsi almost simple in male, simple in 

 female, anterior tibiae distinctly spinose on their exterior margin. L. 4|— 

 5| mm. 



Male Avith the seventh A^entral segment of hind body scarcely sinuate 

 in middle of apical margin, with a triangular smooth space before the 

 sinuation. 



Damp places, in vege'able refuse, &c., also in dry dung-heaps; local; London 

 district, iM)t uncommon, Slieerness, Lee, Walton-on-Tbames, Shirley, Mickleham, 

 Ealing, Tonbridge ; Dover; Hastings; The Holt, Farnham ; Devon; Whitsand Bay 



