316 STAPHTLiNiDj;. [Medon. 



unicoloroiis reddish-castaneous ; head a little wider than thorax, sub- 

 quadrate^ stronglj'^ and thickly punctured ; antennae short, reddish, 

 penultimate joints slightly transverse ; thorax subtransverse, or a little 

 longer than broad, slightly narrowed behind, strongly and thickly 

 punctured, with central line obsolete in front, but distinct in middle ; 

 elytra about as long as thorax, and more confusedly punctured ; hind 

 body rounded at sides and narrowed behind, very finely and thickly 

 punctured ; legs reddish testaceous. L. 3|-4 mm. 



Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply sinuate at 

 apex, sixth broadly and sHghtly emarginate in middle of apical margin, 

 with the sides of emargination produced at apex. 



In raoss, dead leaves, &c. ; local, but not uncommon in some localities ; Birch 

 Wood, Chatham, Cobham, Caterham, Mickleham, Sanderstead, Box Hill, Faygate, 

 Highgate, Bishops Wood ; Bognor ; Hastings ; Isle of Wight, Parkhurst Forest, &e. ; 

 Barmouth; Dudley; Bewdley ; Oxfordshire. 



V/i. fusculus, Mann, (rufus, Eey). Extremely like the preceding 

 in size, general appearance, and colour ; it may, however, be easily dis- 

 tinguished by having the elytra considerably longer than thorax, and 

 also by the much closer and more confused punctuation of the head ; the 

 thorax also is more closely punctured ; the antennae are slightly longer ; 

 in the male the sixth ventral segment of hind body is more deeply 

 emarginate, and the sides of the emargination are produced at apex on 

 each side in the form of a black tooth. L. 4 ram. 



In moss, vegetable refuse, dead leaves, &c. ; local ; Westerham, Dulwich, Forest 

 Hill, Caterham, Shirley, Mickleham, Bearsted, Purley, Blrdbrook, Tonbridge ; 

 Hastings ; Enstbourne ; Brighton ; recorded by Bold from South Shields, rare ; with 

 this exception there is no record that I can find from any place further north than the 

 London district. 



Tfl. ripicola, Kr. This species may be known by its colour and 

 general appearance ; head blackish, thickly and finely punctured, rather 

 dull ; thorax reddish castaneous, very shining, finely and thickly punc- 

 tured, with the smooth central line more or less distinct throughout, 

 sides scarcely narrowed behind ; elytra brownish-red, darker and duller 

 than thorax, and nearly half as long again, very thickly and finely 

 punctured ; hind body darker and duller than elytra ; antennae and legs 

 reddish yellow ; from M. fusculus and a fortiori from M. trunneus it 

 differs by its longer elytra and much finer punctuation ; it is also 

 narrower and more slender ; in the male the seventh ventral segment of 

 hind body is deeply sinuate at apex, and the sixth is very broadly 

 emarginate, the emargination itself being again slightly emarginate in 

 centre of margin. L. 4 mm. 



Five specimens were taken by Mr. Douglas, on May 19th, 1861, under 

 sea-weed on the shore near Southampton ; I know of no other recorded 

 capture ; according to Mulsant and Rey the species is common through- 

 out France in moss, vegetable refuse, under stones, &c., especially in 

 damp localities. 



