322 STAPHYLiNiD^. \_Pcederus. 



moss, under stones, at roots of grass, &c., in damp and marshy places ; 

 only one species, as niiglit perliaps be expected, is found in Scotland, 

 and this onl}' very locally in the extreme south. 



I. Mandibles black ; tibiae testaceous ; elytra about as long 



as thorax ; species apterous P, littoealis, Grav. 



II. Mandibles testaceous ; elytra longer than thorax ; 

 species winged. 



i. TihijB more or less testaceous, at most partially 

 fuscous. 



1. Size larger ; thorax broader in proportion to elytra ; 



elytra not much longer than thorax P. eipaeius, L. 



2. Size smaller ; thorax narrower in proportion to 



elytra ; elytra half as long again as thorax .... P. fuscipes, Curt. 

 ii. All the tibise black; elytra not much longer than 

 thorax P. caligattts, Er. 



P. littoralis, Grav. (gref/arkis, Scop., vulgaris, Mill, J ceplialotes. 

 Mots.). Of a brilliant red colour, with the elytra metallic blue, and the 

 head and sixth and seventh segments of hind body black ; head rather 

 large, subtransverse and broader than thorax in male, somewhat orbicular 

 and narrower in female, rather strongly and sparingly punctured Avith 

 the centre of disc smooth ; antennae rather long, testaceous, with more 

 or less of the apical joints fuscous, sometimes infuscate with base testa- 

 ceous, penultimate joints longer than broad ; thorax convex, somewhat 

 globose, almost as broad as long in front, strongly narrowed behind, where 

 it is narrower than the base of the elytra, with two series of fine punc- 

 tures on disc and the sides diffusely punctured ; scutellum dark red ; 

 elytra about as long as thorax, rather strongly and not closely punctured, 

 punctuation somewhat variable ; hind body subparallel, narrowed sharply 

 at apex, finely and rather sparingly punctured, rather- strongly pubescent ; 

 legs reddish testaceous, with the apex of femora broadly, and the pos- 

 terior coxDe, black. L. 7 mm. 



In moss.atrootsof grass, under stones, &c.; common and generally distributed in Eng- 

 land from the north-midland counties southwards ; rarer further north and not recorded 

 from the Northumberland and Durham district ; it has been stated to occur near 

 Edinburgh, but Dr. Sharp (Scot. Nat. vol. iii., p. 35) considers that the record was 

 probably erroneous; it has not been recorded as yet from Ireland, but most likely 

 occurs in the south at all events; the insect is exceedingly common in the south of 

 England, and by its striking appearance often attracts the notice of the casual observer. 



P. riparius, L. (longicolUs, Gaut.). About the same length as the pre- 

 ceding, but a little narrower ; it may be easily distinguished by the shape of 

 the thorax, which is considerably narrower and less convex, and is con- 

 siderably longer than broad at its widest part; the elytra are longer, and 

 the insect is winged ; the mandibles and the posterior cox£e are reddish 

 testaceous and not black as in P. litturalis, and the mesosternum also is 

 red, and has the apical process less prolonged and less evidently keeled ; 

 the tibiae, especially the posterior ones, are often a little fuscous ; the 

 colour of the elytra is variable, being bluish, violet, and sometimes greenish ; 

 all the species, however, vary more or le^s in this respect. L, 7 mm. 



