280 STAPH YLINID^. [PldlolltkuS. 



tibiae, with the first joint evidently longer than the last, anterior tarsi 

 strongly dilated in male, slightly in female. L. 4|-5 mm. 



Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body plainly and angu- 

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

 before the sinuatiou. 



In vegetable refuse, &c. ; very rare; Portsoa (Dr. Power), one specimen taken many 

 years ago ; VVithington, Cheshire (Chappell). 



This species is placed by Mulsant and Eey in their genus RaJngus, 

 which is distinguished from Plulonthus by the fact that the last joint of 

 the maxillary palpi is exactly conical, and about as long as the preced- 

 ing ; in all the species of Phllonfhus and Gahrius the last joint is longer 

 than the preceding and more or less fusiform ; there are fourteen 

 European species that belong to the sub-genus Gahrius and three to 

 Rabigus. 



Section V. 



Dorsal series of thorax consisting of more than six punctures ; more or 

 less irregular. 



1. Anterior tibiae straight ; thorax with two rather irregular 

 dorsal series consisting of about twelve or more punctures, 

 often doubled, and the sides also irregularly and thickly punc- 

 tured P. PUNCTTTS, Grav. 



2. Anterior tibise slightly curved ; thorax with two irregular 

 dorsal series consisting of about eight punctures, and the sides 



also punctured . . . i P. puella, Nord. 



P. punctus, Grav. {multijmndatus, Mann.). Shining black; head sub- 

 quadrate, rather strongly and moderately thickly punctured at the sides, an- 

 tennae black, with the insertion of the first joints sometimes reddish, scarcely 

 thickened towards apex, penultimate joints not transverse ; thorax sub- 

 quadrate, very slightly narrowed in front, with a smooth space in centre 

 bounded by two irregular rows of rather large punctures (about twelve in 

 number), some of which are usually double ; the sides also are rather thickly 

 covered with punctures of the same character ; elytra deep black, some- 

 times obscurely metallic, rather thickly and strongly punctured; hind 

 body moderate!}'' strongly, and not thickly punctured ; legs black, with 

 the tarsi sometimes jjitchy red, anterior tarsi rather strongly dilated in 

 male, feebly dilated in female. L. 9-10 mm. 



Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body plainly sinuate 

 in middle of apical margin, with a small smooth space before the sinua- 

 tion, sixth often slightly emarginate. 



Muddy places near the coast; rarej Sheerness and Gravesend (Dr. Power and 

 others); Slapton Ley, Devon (taken by Mr. Wollaston in some numbers, and recently 

 by Mr. Bridgman, of Burton-on-Trent). 



P. puella, Nord. (pa7'um2JU7icfatvs,'Ev.). Smaller than the preced- 

 ing, shining black with the elytra somewhat metallic ; head very large in 

 male, transverse, and subrectangular, and often broader than thorax, 



