314 STAPH YLiNiDiE. [^Medou. 



elytra; central smooth line of thorax 



only distinct behind ; apex of meso- . 



sternum without keel M, APlOALis, Kr. 



II. Temples separated beneath by a moderate in- 

 terval; thorax in our species bright testaceous red. 



(Sub-Gen. Hi/pomedon, Muls. et Rey.) 

 i. Head shiigreened between the punctures;* 



elytra evidently longer than thorax M. PKOPINQUUS, Sris. 



ii. Head smooth between the punctures; elytra 



about as long as or apparently a little shorter 



than thorax M. melanocephaius, F. 



III. Temples separated beneath by a broad interval. 

 Upper surface entirely dull black or pitchy black, 

 extremely finely and closely punctured ; thorax 

 without trace of central smooth line. (Sub-Gen. 



Fseudomedon, Muls. et Rfy.) M. OBSOLETUS, Nord. 



IMC. castaneus, Grav. (Ruddii, Steph., procerus, Per.). Elontrate, 

 somewhat depressed, castaneous, or reddish castaiieous, with the elytra 

 and apex of hind body ferruginous, clothed with fine greyish pubescence 

 which is closer on the hind body ; head oblong, a little longer than 

 broad, rather strongly, thickly, and somewhat rugosely punctured, with 

 a slight smooth central line ; antennae rather long, a little shorter than 

 head and thorax united, scarcely thickened, with the penultimate joints 

 oblong, ferruginous red ; thorax about as long as broad, with apical and 

 basal margins almost straight, narrowed behind, rather strongly, thickly, 

 and rugosely punctured, with a narrow smooth longitudinal central line ; 

 elytra plainly longer than thorax, finely, very thickly, and somewhat 

 rugosely punctured ; hind body subparallel, narrowed at apex, very 

 finely and thickly punctured ; legs ferruginous red, posterior tarsi very 

 long and slender, with the first four joints elongate. L. 5|-6 mm. 



Male with the seventh ventral segment excised at apex in a sharp 

 angle, sixth somewhat sinuate at sides, and broadly emarginate in middle 

 of apical margin. 



Sandy places in moss, under stones, &c. ; very rare ; New Forest (Rudd) ; 

 Wimbledon; Esher (E. Saunders) ; Deal (C. G. Hall, from whom I received a single 

 specimen among some other beetles sent me for names) ; it appears to be a very rare 

 species on the Continent. 



T/l. pocofer, Peyr. (maritimus, Aube). A somewhat depressed, 

 and proportionally broad, species ; shining pitch-black with the elytra 

 bright red (the scutellary region being more or less dark), and the apex 

 of hind body pitchy red ; head broad, somewhat transverse, rather 

 strongly and thickly punctured, with obsolete smooth central line ; 

 antennae moderate, reddish testaceous, with penultimate joints scarcely 

 transverse ; thorax about as long as broad, plainly narrowed behind, 

 rather strongly and thickly punctured, with broad and distinct smooth 

 central line ; elytra evidently longer than thorax, strongly and thickly 



* This character requires a compound microscope to show it properly, but it is 

 exceedingly reliable ; its use has been already pointed out iu the genus Laccolius 

 {ante. Vol. I. p. 228). 



