41 [ STAPHTLiNiDiE. [_Homalium. 



quite, excln?ivcly maritime ; I have, however, records from Dulwich and Glanvilles 

 Woottou, Dorset, but it is possible that mistakes may arise among these closely allied 

 insects. 



ZE. Allardi, Fairm. Pitchy black or pitchy brown with the shoulders 

 of the elytra and the apex and margins of hind body lighter ; the colour, 

 however, is variable, the sides of thorax and hind body (and occasionally 

 almost the entire elytra) being reddish testaceous in some specimens ; 

 head thickly punctured, smoother in front, with a distinct deep impres- 

 sion before ocelli ; anteimEe dark with more or less of the basal joints 

 red, penultimate joints slightly transverse ; thorax transverse evidently 

 although slightly widened in front and contracted behind, closely but 

 variably punctured, with depressions on disc distinct ; elytra at least 

 twice as long as thorax, closely and moderately strongly and somewhat 

 longitudinally punctured, more closely at apex ; hind body very finely 

 punctured or shagreened, dull ; legs testaceous. L. 2|- mm. 



In haystack refuse, in carcases, under old bones, &c. ; also in bird-cages and pigeon- 

 cotes ; local and not common ; precincts of Guy's Hospital, London (Sharp) ; Eltliam, 

 Kent; Margate; Smallheath, Birmingham, under bones (Blatcli) ; Manchester; 

 Northumberland district, " of occasional occurrence in several localities ; often crawl- 

 ing on the top of old walls" (Bold); Scotland, local, in carcases, Sol way, Tweed, 

 and Clyde districts ; Ireland, near Waterford (Power). 



In shape this species much resembles 77. rivulare, but may be at once 

 distinguished by its smaller and narrower form, closer punctuation, and 

 duller appearance ; mature and normal specimens may be at once known 

 by the distinct light yellowish-testaceous patch at the shoulders of 

 elytra, but, as said before, the colour is very variable in many of the 

 Homalia. 



H. exigruum, Gyll. The smallest species of this section, and one of 

 the smallest of the genus ; deep black, moderately shining ; head thickly 

 and deeply punctured, with strong and deep impressions before ocelli 

 and a strong oblong depression on each side near antennae nearly meet- 

 ing these ; antennae entirely pitchy black, moderately long, somewhat 

 thickened towards apex, with penultimate joints scarcely transverse ; 

 thorax transverse, one and a half times as broad as long, narrower than 

 elytra, a little rounded in front and narrowed behind, posterior angles 

 right angles, upper surface thickly and deeply punctured, depressions 

 on disc strong ; elytra more than double as long as thorax, very thickly 

 and strongly and slightly rugosely punctured ; hind body almost impunc- 

 tate, unicolorous black ; legs testaceous, with femora more or less pitchy. 

 L. l|-2 mm. 



In dead leaves, carcases, &c. ; rare ; Cobham, Richmond Park, Loughton, Shirley, 

 Lpe ; Sherwood Forest ; Lincoln ; Scarborough ; Northumberland district, rare ; 

 Scotland, rare, Solway district. 



H. oxyacanthae, Grav. A little larger on the average than the 

 preceding, and easily distinguished from it by the evidently less close 



