430 STAPHTLiNiD^. [MejarlJirtis. 



m. affinis, Mill. {BeUevoyei, Sanlcy, smuafocolUs, Kr, 7iec Lac). 

 This species is very closely allied to the preceding, but may be distin- 

 guished by having the first joint of the antennae black and by the shape 

 of the thorax, in which the sides are a little more evidently, although 

 slightly, angled in middle, and the posterior angles are less broadly and 

 acutely emarginate ; the head is not so strongly raised longitudinally in 

 centre ; the margins of the thorax are reddish as in M. denticolUs ; the 

 elytra in Saulcy's description are said to be a little longer and the 

 shoulders less projecting, but this character is not very evident ; the 

 male characters at first sight are not distinct, but the intermediate femora 

 are slightly thickened, and the intermediate tibiae very slightly curved, 

 and the seventh ventral segment of hind body is semicircularly emar- 

 ginate. L. l|-2 mm. 



In cut grass, haystack refuse, &c. ; not uncommon in England, but not recorded 

 from Scotland ; London district, generally distributed ; The Holt, Farnham ; Lit- 

 tlington, Sussex ; Bath ; Birmingham district ; Pvepton ; Liverpool ; Northumberland 

 district. 



T/l. depressus, Lac. This species is easily distinguished from the 

 others by having the sides of the thorax evenly rounded from the emar- 

 gination of the posterior angles (which is slight and obtuse) to apex, and 

 without a trace of an angle in the middle of sides, and also by its finer 

 sculpture ; the thorax is short, entirely black, finely sculptured, with 

 central line distinct ; the elytra are black, sometimes dark brown, rather 

 finely but plainly sculptured ; hind body very finely shagreened, lighter 

 at apex, L. 2 mm. 



Male with the posterior femora thickened and the tibiae slightly 

 sinuate. 



In haystack refuse, dung-heaps, &c. ; generally distributed throughout England 

 and Scotland, and probably common in Ireland. 



I^. sinuatocollis, Lac. Distinguished from the preceding by the 

 strongly angled and sinuate sides of the thorax, of which the posterior 

 angles are rather strongly emarginate almost in a right angle, and also 

 by its evidently stronger sculpture ; the unicolorous black thorax, 

 together with the shape of the thorax, will distinguish it from the first 

 two species ; in the latter character it somewhat resembles M. hemipterus, 

 but may of course be at once known by its colour. L. 2 mm. 



Male Avith the last ventral segment of hind body semicircularly emar- 

 ginate, sixth not emarginate ; posterior femora thickened, intermediate 

 tibiae slightly and posterior strongly sinuate. 



In haystack refuse, cut grass, &c. ; generally distributed and common throughout 

 England and Scotland, and probably common in Ireland. 



IW. hemipterus, 111. (rufescens, Steph., nitiduloides, Lac). En- 

 tirely ferruginous red, with the head black, antennae red Avitli apex 

 darker, and the legs reddish testaceous ; head rather strongly raised 

 longitudinally in front ; thorax double as broad as long, with sides 



