Silpha.'] cLAVicORNiA. 49 



appearance, and the much less distinctly raised lines on elytra, as well as 

 by the somewhat coarser pnnctnation of the interstices ; i'rom S. iiiijrif'i, 

 it may be known by having the interstices evenly punctured, as well as 

 by its less shining appearance and more even and broader thorax. L. 

 12-14 mm. 



In carcases, at roofs of grass, &c. ; frequently found on pathways ; not nnconnnon 

 in some ilistrict:^, but local ; liOnclon district, rather common, Box Hill, Morton, 

 Shecrness, Southend, Chatham, &c. ; Ilurne Hay; R.imsffate; Deal; Dover; Hastings; 

 J^riglitou; Glaiivilles Wootton ; Bournemouth j Isle of Wight; Devonshire; Nolting- 

 h.iuishire; Cambridgeshire; summit of Skiddavv in company with Leistus inontanus ; 

 Nortliniiihcrland district, rare ; Dr. Sharp considers tbc species to be dcubtful as 

 Scottisli ; Murray records it as " not common but generally distributed," but he must 

 Lave made a mistake as no other record appears to be known. 



(Sub-Gen. Dendroxena, Mots. (Xijlodrepa, Thorns.) 



The single European species belonging to this sub-genus is easily 

 distinguished by its coloUr, and also by its habitat ; it is found on trees 

 where it appears to devour the larvae of caterpillars ; it is local but not 

 at all uncommon in some localities. 



S. quadripunctata, L. Oblong-oval, slightly convex, smooth and 

 shining ; head, antemue, and legs black, thorax l)lack with margins 

 broadly reddish testaceous, scutellura black or pitchy, elytra reddish 

 testaceous witli two round black spots on each, one at base, and one 

 behind middle ; head narrowed behind eyes; antennse moderate, with 

 second joint longer than third, and with well-marked four-jointed club ; 

 thorax transverse, emarginate in front, posterior angles rounded, disc 

 less thickly punctured than sides, margined ; scutellum large, pointed 

 behind, thickly punctured ; elytra with rather broadly raised margins, 

 rugosely punctured, with three indistinctly raised lines ; legs moderately 

 stout, anterior tarsi with the first four joints clothed with yellowish 

 pubescence beneath. L. 12-14 mm. 



Male with the anterior tarsi somewhat dilated and the posterior tibiiB 

 strongly curved. 



On oaks and other trees ; not found in carcases ; it feeds on Lepidoptcrous and 

 other larvjE ; not uncommon in the Midland and Southern districts, but rarer further 

 north; Darenth Wood; Cooralie Wood; Loughton ; New Forest; Plymouth; 

 LlMugollen ; Sutton Park; Dean Forest; Burton-on-Trent ; Sherwood Forest; 

 Kocton, near Lincoln ; Northumberland district, rare ; Scotland, very i-are, Forth, 

 Tay, Moray, and Sutherland districts ; Ireland, the Dargle, near Dublin. 



(Sub-Gen. Aclypea, Reitter.) 



This sub-genus and the next have usually been regarded as one, under 

 the name of Oiceoptoma ; there are, however, considerable differences 

 between them, as regards the formation of the club of the antennae and 

 the relative length of the joints and also in the sculpture of the elytra. 



VOL. III. E 



