StilicilS.'] STAPH\LlNIDiE. 309 



Chester ; Nortlmmbcrland district ; Scotland, local, Lowlands, Solway, Tweed, and 

 Forth districts ; Ireland, Dublin, Armagh, &e. 



S. simllis, Er. Intermediate in size between the two preceding ; 

 head somewhat orbicular plainly narrowed behind, almost as broad as 

 elytra, very thickly and somewhat riigosely punctured ; antennae sliort, 

 entirely red, with ])enultiniate joints plainly transverse ; tliorax rather 

 finely, very thickly, and rugosely punctured, with a distinct smooth 

 central line reaching from apex to base, channelled throughout almost its 

 entire length ; elytra a little longer than thorax, rather strongly, deeply, 

 and thickly punctured, with apical margin usually more or less testaceous; 

 hind body rather more strongly rounded at sides and dilated behind than 

 in some of the allied species, very finely and thickly punctured ; legs 

 testaceous or reddish-testaceous with the coxa? pitchy black. L. 5 mm. 



Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body rather sharply, 

 but not deeply, excised, sixth furnished Avith a broad semicircular depres- 

 sion, the edges of which are raised behind and project on each side in a 

 small tooth. 



In moss, cut grass, &c., also sometimes under stones ; often in dry and chalky 

 localities ; very local; Mickleham, Box Hill, Reigate ; Kidderminster ; Shirley Warren, 

 Southampton; Exeter; Ireland, near Waterford (Power). 



S. subtilis, Er. This is the largest British species with the excep- 

 tion of S. fragilis ; it is on the average a little longer than S. rufipes, 

 from which it may be easily distinguished by its much longer and 

 evidently narrower and more orbicular head, and by having the thorax 

 narrower and more gradually brought to a point in front ; the legs also 

 are lighter coloured and the knees (at all events the intermediate and 

 posterior ones) distinctly infuscate ; this point will also distinguish it 

 from S. similis ; it is much larger than S. gcniculatus and S. affinis, and 

 has the elytra evidently longer in proportion to thorax ; the smooth 

 central line of thorax is somewhat variable as in some of the other species. 

 L. 5^-6 mm. 



Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body rather broadly 

 emarginate at apex. 



In moss, dead leaves, decaying vegetable matter, damp twigs, &c., usually in chalky 

 places ; very local ; Chatham, Caterham, Reigate, Sanderstead, Warliugham, Godal- 

 ming, Tonbridge, Birdbrook ; Riddlesdown ; Boguor; Hastings. 



S. afflnis, Er. (fuscipes, Er., orhkulatus, Payk. et Fauvel, nee Er.). 

 Shining black, head and thorax duller ; head somewhat transversely 

 orbicular, a little variable, about as broad as elytra, very thickly and 

 rugosely punctured ; antennse short, pitchy red, with penultimate joints 

 subtransverse ; thorax rather strongly, very thickly, and rugosely punc- 

 tured with central smooth line rather broad, and at most channelled 

 behind ; elytra a little longer than thorax, finely and rather sparingly 

 punctured ; hind body very finely and thickly punctured ; legs testaceous, 

 with the coxae pitchy brown or red, the knees, tibioe, and sometimes the 



