48 CLA.V1C0RNIA. [S/'lpJia. 



(Sub-Gen. Silpha, i. sp. (Parasiljiha, Reitter). 



This sub-genus contains about eight European species, of which three 

 are British ; they are rather large, and are of a unicolorous black colour ; 

 they are chiefly distinguished by the sculpture of the elytra. 



I. Elytra with three very distinct raised keels on each ; upper 



surface rather shiuiug; interstices evenly punctured . . S. tristis, J/Z. 



II. Elytra with three less distinct raised lines on each, the 



outer one being the strongest. 

 i. Upper surface rather shining ; interstices of elytra coarsely 



and unevenly punctured, with slightly raised irregulnr 



smooth spaces, which are more or less conriuent . . . S. niqbita, Creutz. 

 ii. Upper surface very dull ; interstices of elytra evenly and 



rather strongly punctured S. OBSCURA, L. 



S. tristis, 111. A rather large, oblong, or elliptical species, some- 

 what depressed, black, rather shining ; head contracted behind eyes, 

 antennae ratlier long, with second and third joints of about equal length, 

 and a rather gradual four-jointed club ; thorax transverse, with anterior 

 margin truncate, and posterior margin rather strongly sinuate, impressed 

 at base, more closely punctured at sides than on disc, posterior angles 

 rounded ; ^scutellum acuminate, thickly punctured ; elytra subparallel, 

 with three strongly raised smooth keels on each, interstices very closely 

 but evenly, distinctly and rather coarsely punctured ; legs moderately 

 stout. L. 13-15 mm. 



Male Avith the first four joints of the anterior tarsi dilated and 

 furnished beneath with brush-like hairs, intermediate tarsi feebly 

 dilated. 



In carcases, moss, &c. ; often found on pathways; not uncommon in some districts, 

 but very local ; Southend, Sheerness, Chatham, Deal, Dover; Isle of Wight ; Alver- 

 stoke ; Swansea; Barmouth; Sutton Park; Repton ; Nottinghamshire ; Crosby near 

 Liverpool; Lancaster; Northumberland district; Carlisle; Scotland, rare, Solway 

 and Forth districts. 



S nigrita, Creutz. (tyrolensis, var. Laich., alinna, Germ.). In size 

 and shape very like the preceding, but easily distinguished by the 

 sculpture of the elytra, which have the inner two lines very indistinctly 

 raised, and the third only moderately raised, and the interstices coarsely, 

 unevenly and rugosely punctured, the punctures being separated by more 

 or less distinct smooth and somewhat raised spaces, which are confluent. 

 L. 12-14 mm. 



In carcases, &c.; London district, very rare, and apparently not found in the south 

 of England ; not uncommon further north in some localities ; Smallbeath near Bir- 

 mingh.im ; Erdington ; Repton; Matlock; Bala, N. Wales; Shropshire; Nottingham- 

 shire ; York ; Lake district ; Northumberland and Cumberland ; Scotland, not 

 eommon, Solway, 'I'ay and Dee districts. 



S. obscura, L. Of the same size and general shape as the tAvo 

 preceding, but easily distinguished from IS. tristis by its much duller 



