0th ius.'] STAPHYLINlDiE. 295 



O. fulvipennis, F. Shining blade, with tlie elytra bright red, and 

 the apex of hind body reddish ; the head and thorax are often more or 

 less pitchy, and the apex of the segments of hind body, especially the 

 ventral ones, reddish brown ; head oval-oblong as broad as thorax, rather 

 large; forehead broad with two rather indistinct furi'ows in front ; an- 

 tenna? entirely red, with the penultimate joints not strongly transverse ; 

 thorax oblong, subparallel, smooth, with two or three large punctures on 

 each side of disc ; elytra rather shorter than thorax, sparingly punctured, 

 the punctures being rather large and shallow ; hind body finely and rather 

 thickly punctured at sides, more sparingly on disc and towards apex ; 

 legs red, L. 9-11 mm. 



Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body truncate or 

 scarcely emarginate, with a smooth space before apex, segment of arma- 

 ture projecting and deeply emarginate. 



In moss, dead leaves, &c. ; common and generally distributed throughout the country 

 as far as the northern counties, where it is more local ; Scotland, rather scarce, but 

 widely distributed, being found in the Slietland Islands, and occurring in most localities ; 

 Ireland, Dublin, Galway, Armagh, &c. 



O. Iseviusculus, Steph. (2mncfipe7im's, Lac). Very much smaller 

 than the preceding, black or pitch-black, very shining, with the elytra 

 often lighter; head rather long, oblong-ovate, a little narrower than 

 thorax, forehead with two furrows in front; antennae reddish with the 

 base darker, penultimate joints not strongly transverse ; thorax oblong, 

 emooth, and shining ; elytra a little longer than thorax, diffusely and 

 moderately strongly punctured, black or pitch-black, with apical margin 

 and sometimes suture lighter ; hind body very finely and sparingly 

 punctured, a little less so towards sides ; legs testaceous, femora more or 

 less pitchy. L. 5 mm. 



Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body prolonged slightly 

 less than the dorsal segment, feebly sinuate or truncate, with a very slight 

 depression before the sinuation. 



In moss, dead leaves, haystack refuse, &c. ; also by sweeping ; often in sandpits ; local ; 

 London district, not uncommon ; Hastings and southern counties ; B:irmouth ; ^Midland 

 districts, Tamworth, llepton, Knowle, Sherwood Forest, &c. ; Manchester ; Northum- 

 berland district, rare ; Scotland, Lowlands, scarce, Solway, Tweed, Forth, Clyde, Tay, 

 and Dee districts; Ireland, Dublin and near Waterford. 



O. melanocephalus, Grav. Shining pitch-brown, Avith the head 

 black, and the thorax and apex of hind body testaceous red ; occasionally 

 the disc of thorax is more or less obscurely darker ; head rather long, 

 oval-oblong, with two longitudinal furrows in front, antennae testaceous 

 red with the penultimate joints evidently transverse ; thorax oblong, 

 smooth ; elytra shorter than thorax, sj^aringly and rather strongly punc- 

 tured ; hind body very finely punctured, more sparingly behind ; legs 

 pale or reddish-testaceous. L. 5 mm. 



Sexual characters much as in the preceding species, presenting no 

 marked peculiarity. 



