382 STAPHYLiNiDiE. [Oxytelus. 



the punctuation for the most part taking the form of fine longitudinal 

 strite, with the three dorsal furrows^ especially the middle one, rather 

 plainly marked ; elytra a little longer than thorax and sculptured after 

 the same fashion, black or brownish ; hind body finely and rather 

 thickly punctured ; legs testaceous, with the femora a little darker. L. 

 2|-3 mm. 



Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body deeply, and 

 feebly bisinuately, emarginate, sixth furnished in middle of apical 

 margin with two large projecting tubercles (often reddish), which are 

 bounded by a semicircular ridge behind. 



In dung, hotbeds, decaying fungi, &c. ; often on the coast under seaweed. London 

 district, common ; Pegwell B ly, Hastings, Dover, Devonshire, and south coast 

 generally ; Tewkesbury, Birmingham district, Repton, and other Midland localities ; 

 Liverpool; Northumberldud district; Scotland, not common, Solway, Forth, and 

 Clyde districts ; it apparently becomes rarer towards the north. I have no record 

 from Ireland, but have no doubt that it occurs in that country. 



O. clypeonitens, Pand. {speculifrons, Rye, nee Kr. Anotylus 

 chjpeonitens, Thorns.). Dull black, with the hind body more shining, 

 and the elytra often brownish ; head more or less broad according to 

 sex, dull black, with the antennal projections and the whole space 

 between them smooth and very shining, middle of vertex with a fovea or 

 longitudinal furrow ; antennae moderate, thickened towards apex, black, 

 penultimate joints transverse ; thorax transverse, very finely and thickly 

 sculptu.red, central furrow very narrow and well marked, external furrows 

 broad ; elytra much longer than thorax, very finely sculptured with 

 longitudinal striae ; hind body very finely punctured ; legs testaceous. 

 L. 2 mm. 



Male with the seventh ventral segment of hind body broadly and 

 rather feebly bisinuate, with the centre of the emargination slightly pro- 

 duced, and furnished with a depression before apex, which is bounded 

 by a semicircular ridge. 



In dung, dead leaves, decaying fungi, &c. ; rare ; Sheerness, Shirley, Putney, 

 Mickleham, Tonbridge, Hampstead, Hammersmith, Plumstead ; Reptou, Burton-on- 

 Treutj Wallasey sandhills, Cheshire. 



This species is easily distinguished from 0. tetracarinatus by the 

 shining front part of the head, lighter coloured elytra, and pale testaceous 

 legs. 



^Q^ 



O. speculifrons, Kr. {Anotylus speculifrons, Thoms.). This species 

 closely resembles the preceding, but may be distinguished by the head, 

 which is dull, with the antennal projections, and two small spaces on 

 vertex, near one another, more smooth and shining ; the third joint of 

 the antennae is a little longer, and the elytra are darker, and shorter in 

 proportion to thorax ; the seventh ventral segment of hind bo.ly in more 

 is more distinctly bisinuate, with the central lobe more produced; the 

 sixth segment has no tubercles on apical margins. L. 2 mm. 



