278 STAPHYLiNiD^, [PMlonthus. 



elytra rather longer than thorax, somewhat widened behind^ finely, 

 thickly, and somewhat asperately punctured ; hind body very finely and 

 thickly punctured ; legs testaceous or reddish testaceous, with the pos- 

 terior coxiiB dark, anterior tarsi rather strongly dilated in male, almost 

 simple in female. L. 5-5| mm. 



Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body plainly and 

 angularly sinuate in middle of apical margin, with a smooth space before 

 the sinuation. 



Marshy places ; at roots of grass, in moss, flood refuse, &c. ; local ; London district, 

 not uncommon; Wimbledon, Lee, Penge, Walton-on-Tharaes, Birch Wood, Toubridge, 

 &c. ; Hastings ; Worthing ; Dorset ; Sohara and Wicken Fen ; Coleshill and Knowle, 

 near Birmingham ; Bevvdley Forest ; Cheshire; Manchester'district ; Northumberland 

 district, rare ; Scotland, in marshes, very local, Solway and Forth districts. 



P. astutus, Er. (Gahrms astutus, Muls. et Key). Black, with the 

 elytra sometimes castaneous or reddish (in somewhat immature specimens), 

 apex of hind body usually lighter; head large, subovate or subquadrate, 

 as broad, or almost as broad as thorax, antenna3 rather long, dark, with 

 the first joint pitchy brown or reddish, penultimate joints about as long 

 as broad ; thorax longer than broad with sides subparallel, slightly 

 narrowed behind; elytra rather longer than thorax finely and thickly 

 punctured; hind body very finely and thickly punctured throughout; 

 legs reddish testaceous with the posterior femora sometimes darker, an- 

 terior tarsi simple in both sexes. L. 5-5^ mm. 



Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body feebly and 

 narrowly sinuate in middle of apical margin, with a long, triangular, 

 smooth space before the sinuation. 



Very rare : M. Fauvel sent me a specimen labelled " L-eland," taken by M. Javet 

 some years ago, and one or two specimens have been taken by Mr. A. C. Horner near 



Sandgate. 



This species resembles P. trossulus in build, but is larger, and has the 

 elytra much more closely and finely punctured. 



P. nigritulus, Grav. (Gahrius nigrituhis, Muls. et Eey). A small 

 species; shining black; head subovate or slightly subquadrate, nearly as 

 broad as thorax, antennae black with the basal joints sometimes lighter 

 underneath, penultimate joints slightly transverse ; thorax longer than 

 broad, parallel-sided, evidently narrower than elytra; elytra usually a 

 little longer than thorax, but variable in this respect, "rather coarsely and 

 not closely punctured ; hind body moderately finely and thickly punc- 

 tured with the seventh segment smoother ; legs pitchy black or dark 

 pitchy-brown^ anterior tarsi simple in both sexes. L. 3^ mm. 



Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body very slightly 

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

 the sinuation. 



In dung-heaps, finigi, dead leaves, &c. ; not common ; the only specimens I have 

 seen were taken by Dr. Pouer at Horsell and Mickleham, and by Mr. Brewer on or 

 near Suowdon. 



