JU'diut:.'] STAPHTLINID^. 373 



The niucli finer sculpture and niinuii^ly, altliongh distinctly, toothed 

 posterior angles of thorax, as well as the absence of spines on the sixth 

 ventral segment of hind body in male, will separate this species from 

 both the preceding ; the smooth central line on thorax will distinguish it 

 from all our other species. 



Sandy banks of streams, &c. ; Nortlinniberland district, rare ; " hcncatli stones in 

 the bed of the Irthiiig, when the water was low, at St. Mary's Huhne, near Lanercost" 

 (Bold). Mr. Theodore Wood records it from West Wickham, near London; 1 know 

 of uo other locality. 



PLATYSTETHUS, Mannerheim. 



This genus comprises between thirty and forty species, which occur 

 cliiefly in temperate or cold climates, although some are recorded from 

 South Africa, India, Cuba, &c. ; they much reseniljle Oxijtelus in general 

 appearance, but are, as a rule, more shining, and may be at once dis- 

 tinguished by the single very distinct longitudinal furrow on centre of 

 thorax, all the Oxyteli having three furrows which are, as a rule, more 

 or less irregular or obsolete : there are five British species oi Plafijstctlms ; 

 the first two of these are considerably larger insects than the other three, 

 but this character cannot always be depended upon, as they are extremely 

 variable in size. 



The larva of P. morsitans (arenarius) has been described and figured by Bouche, 

 Westwood, and Schiodte : it is rather convex and subcylindrical, smooth, shining, and 

 linear, with the abdomen slightly dilated to the sixth segment, and then narrowed ; 

 the colour is white with the head yellowish, and all the segments except the prothorax 

 {ire marked at base with two black spots ; the head is narrower than the ])rothorax, 

 which is larger than the succeeding segments; the ocelli are two in nnml)er; the 

 anteuuse and legs are short ; the cerci are very short, with the first joint not marked 

 and the anal appendage is short, thick, and clavate, and furnished at apex with 

 exsertile wart-like appendages. The pupa is of the ordinary shape, and has the 

 " styli motorii " distributed over the disc of body and thorax, as well as at the sides 

 and apex of the thoracic region ; the abdominal region terminates in two short cerci 

 (f. Schiiidte, Part II., p. 120, 121., PI. xi. 18, xii. 3.) 



I. Head plainly contracted at base; second joint of antenna3 



short and rather dilated ; male without spines on each 



side of forehead p. aeenaeius, Fourc. 



II. Head not contracted at base ; second joint of anteuujE 



longer, not dilated. 

 i. Elytra dull, finely shagrecned between punctures ; 

 forehead of male with a sharp projecting spine on each 



side ; size larger p. coenutus, Gyll 



ii. Elytra shiny, not shagrcened between punctures; 

 forehead of male without i^rojecting spines in front; 

 size smaller. 



1. Head, thorax, and elytra very strongly and coarsely 

 punctured; form somewhat contracted in middle'; 



hind body widened behind I> CAPITO Heer 



2. Head, thorax, and elytra moderately or sparingly 



punctured ; form subparallcl ; hind body not or 

 Scarcely widened beliiud. 



