378 STAPHYLiNiDiE. \_Oxytelus. 



other species, tho seventh ventral segment is bisinuate, the central lobe 

 being prolonged beyond the sides, and projecting in an obtuse angle. 



In dung', deciding seaweed, haystack and vegetable refuse, at roots of grass, &c. ; 

 very common, and generally distributed throughout the greater part of the kingdom ; 

 it has been recorded as local from Dublin. 



V. terrestris, Lac. {Oxytelus pulcher, Grav., terrcsfris, Lac). In this 

 variety the thorax is lighter or darker pitchy brown, and the antennae and 

 elytra red ; it occurs with the type in the London district and elsewhere, 

 but is much less common. 



O. insecatus, Grav. NarroAver and more elongate than 0. rugosus, 

 shining black, Avith the elytra bright red, the scutellary region being a 

 little darkened ; the thorax is often more or less distinctly pitchy red ; 

 although this species at first sight seems perfectly different to the pre- 

 ceding, yet it rather closely resembles small specimens of the var. ter- 

 restris ; doubtful specimens, however, may be distinguished by having 

 the forehead more convex and shining and not shagreened, by the elytra 

 being a little shorter, and the second and third joints of antennae a little 

 less elongate. L. 3|-4 mm. 



Male characters of seventh ventral segment of hind body very much as 

 in the preceding ; sixth segment furnished at apex with two shining 

 red granules placed near one another in centre, and also with a tubercle 

 at base. 



In dung, haystack refuse, seaweed, &c. ; often by sweeping ; rather local, but 

 ■widely distributed from Lincolnshire and Lancashire southwards ; it has not however 

 been recorded from the northern counties; D.irentb, Faversham, Chatham, Sheeruess, 

 Peckham, Mickleham, Shirley, Tonbridge, &c. ; St. Peter's, Kent (in decaying seed 

 potatoes) ; Hastings, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, Devonshire and southern counties 

 generally ; Midland counties, general ; Lincoln (one specimen on a doorstep) ; Liver- 

 pool ; it is a species that never seems to occur abundantly, and can by no means be 

 called common. 



O. fulvipes, Er. Allied to 0. rugosus l)ut of a deeper and much 

 more shining black colour, and shorter and proportionately broader in 

 form ; the distinct and rather coarse punctuation of the forehead, and 

 tlie much coarser punctuation of the thorax and elytra will at once dis- 

 tinguish it; the thorax is shorter in proportion and has the sides more 

 obsoletely crenulatcj and the first joint of the posterior tarsi is more 

 elongate ; the legs are clear testaceous-yellow ; in the male the central 

 lobe of the bisinuate emargination of the seventh ventral segment is 

 itself subemarginate at apex. L. 4 mm. 



Under dead leaves, &c. ; very local ; first discovered by Mr. Gorham at Needwood, 

 near Burton-on-Trent, and afterwards taken in the same locality by Mr. Harris, Mr. 

 Champion and others, by the side of a pond, and almost in the water; Mr. Blatch 

 has subsequently found it in numbers at Sutton Park, Birmingham, and Mr. A. C. 

 Horner has recently taken it at Tonbridge. 



O. sculptus, Grav. {Icmgicornis, Mannh., Epamntijlus sculptus, 

 Thoms.). Pitchy black, with the thorax sometimes pitchy red, and the 



