336 STAPHYLINID^. [Stejius. 



maxillary palpi black with first joint testaceous ; head wider than thorax 

 with two shallow grooves ; thorax oblong, narrower than eljtra with 

 sides rounded slightly before middle and somewhat contracted behind, 

 strongly, thickly, and somewhat rugosely punctured, with an obsolete 

 central channel and a feeble depression on each side behind middle ; 

 elytra shortj very little, if at all, longer than thorax, strongly, deeply, 

 and rugosely punctured, somewhat uneven ; hind body rather finely and 

 thickly piuictured, front segments with four small longitudinal keels at 

 base of each ; legs black, tarsi short, with penultimate joint a little 

 thickened and cordiform. L. 3^-4 mm. 



Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly, slightly, 

 and somewhat angularly emarginate at apex. 



Damp places ; at roots of grass, iu moss, &e. ; generally distributed and common 

 throughout the kingdom. 



This species varies considerably in size and to some extent in general 

 appearance, biit may be distinguished by its rather robust build and 

 stout legs, and also by its dull appearance, and the obscure depressions 

 at sides and near base of thorax, which are, as Mr. Eye observes 

 (I.e. p. 38), best seen by using a glass of low power ; it is one of the 

 commonest of the Steni, and therefore its variations cause more mistakes 

 than would be the case if it were less common. 



S. melanopus, Marsh {nitidus, Lac, capitatus, Epp.). Deep 

 black, very shining; head with two deep furrows between eyes meeting 

 in front, the space between rather strongly aud sharply raised ; antennge 

 rather short, black, maxillary palpi black with first joint testaceous ; 

 thorax scarcely longer than broad with sides strongly dilated and rounded 

 in front and narrowed behind, strongly but not closely punctured, with a 

 distinct central furrow, which is, however, usually very short and does 

 not extend much beyond middle towards apex, and is evanescent before 

 base ; elytra a little longer than thorax, impressed at suture, and between 

 suture and shoulders, strongly and not closely or rugosely punctured ; 

 legs black. L. 3 mm. 



Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body slightly emar- 

 ginate at apex. 



Damp phices, especially wet muddy banks ; also in haystack refuse, &e. ; I once 

 found it plentifully on a damp place on the shore at Bridlington, Yorkshire, in company 

 with Bledius arenariits and Dyschirius thoracicus ; it is common and generally dis. 

 tributed in the London district and the south of Kngland, and also in the Midlands 

 and the mid-northern counties; it becomes, however, rarer further north; " North- 

 umberhind district, rather uncommon" (B'Md) ; Scotland, rare. Forth district only 

 (Sharp) ; Rye records it as " common at Falkirk." 



S. isicrassatus, Er. This species is about the size of S. hupthalmus, 

 but is broader, with the elytra evidently wider, and the head distinctly 

 narrower, the latter being only about as broad as the middle of thorax ; 

 the hind body also is thicker ; antennae short, black, palpi black with 



