354 STAPH YLINIDiE. [SteUUS. 



more convex, and there are other minor differences, but not enough to 

 raise it to the level of specific rank. L. 4 mm. 



Not uncominou in the Sohvay district of Scotlaud, but I know of no othei* locality. 

 Loch Arthur and Tliornhill, Dumfries (Sharp). 



S. bifoveolatus, Gyll. (nee Er.), {planeus, Er., nitidus, Steph., 

 pliceopus, Steph.) A species that is easily recognized by its very deep 

 black colour^ and shining appearance ; form almost cyUndrical ; head 

 wide with moderate frontal furrows separated by a rather Avide interval ; 

 antemise ferruginous or rufo-testaceous with the basal joint black, and the 

 club brownish, palpi testaceous at base more or less pitchy towards apex ; 

 thorax and elytra rather strongly and moderately closely punctured, the 

 former with a very obsolete impression on each side behind middle, and 

 an irregular smooth dorsal space in middle, the latter about as long as, or 

 very little longer than, thorax, slightly widened behind ; hind body long 

 and cylindrical, finely bordered, with the front segments furnished with 

 distinct keels in middle of base ; legs more or less pitchy. L. 3|-4 mm. 



Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly and angu- 

 larly excised at apex, fifth and sixth longitudinally impressed, the impres- 

 sions being more distinctly pubescent. 



Ill moss, dead leaves, &c. ; damp and marshy places ; rather common and generally 

 distributed tliroughout England ; Bold, however, records it as somewhat uncommon 

 in the Northumberland district; Scotland, common in the southern districts and pro- 

 bably further north also ; Ireland, near Wiiterford, &c. 



St nitidiusculus, Steph. {tempestinus, Er.). A somewhat depressed, 

 parallel-sided species, shining black, with a slight brassy reflection ; head, 

 thorax, and elytra finely and rather thickly punctured, the punctuation 

 being not so close on the elytra ; head broad, frontal furrows plain, with 

 the interval rather strongly raised ; antenncC testaceous, with the first 

 joint black, and the club a little darker, palpi testaceous ; thorax a little 

 longer than broad, with a well-marked oblique depression on each side 

 behind middle ; elytra about as long as or a little longer than thorax, as a 

 rule contracted at shoulders and widened behind, with several deep and 

 irregular depressions ; hind body broad, almost parallel until near apex, 

 where it is rather abruptly narrowed, with margins strong in front but 

 wanting on apical segments, finely and not thickly punctured ; legs tes- 

 taceous, with the coxte black, and the knees more or less broadly infuscate. 

 L. 4-4 1 mm. 



Male with the seventh ventral segment eraarginate at apex in a rounded 

 anrfle, fifth and sixth slightly sinuate and impressed at extreme apex. 



Marshy places, banks of rivers, &c. ; in moss, flood refuse, &c. ; rather common and 

 generally distributed throughout England ; Scotland, common in Lowland districts as 

 far north as the Shetlands; Ireland, Armagh, &c., and probably common. 



This insect has the elytra rather strongly contracted, as a rule, at the 

 shoulders, and consequently broader at apex than at base ; this is due to 

 the species being apterous ; in Dr. Power's collection, however, there is 



