72 CLAVicoRNiA. [Bathi/scki, 



female with the anterior tarsi 4-jointecl, tibiae in Loth sexes, especially 

 the middle ones, moderately spinulose. L. l|-2 mm. 



Beneath vegetable refuse, rhubarb and lettuce-leaves in gardens, rarely in the 

 nests of humble-bees ; common in seed potatoes in some localities in the summer ; 

 local, but probably overlooked ; first takeu by Mr. E. W. Jauson near Fincbley, in 

 August, 1854; Hammersmith; Staple, Keut (Gorham) ; VVingham, Kent (Hamlet 

 Chirk); Eastry, Kent; 'St. Peter's and Kiugsgate, Kent (T. Wood in great 

 numbers) . 



SPH^RITINA. 



This tribe contains one genus SjjJuentes, which is included by some 

 authors with the Silphina., but is perhaps more correctly separated by 

 reason of its truncate elytra, and the fact that the abdomen has only 

 five segments, whereas in all the members of the Silphina it consists of 

 six segments. 



SPHSIRZTSS, Duftschmidt. 



This genus contains one species, *S^. glabratus, Avhich is common to 

 Northern Europe, Alaska, and Vancouver's Island, and a second, S. 

 jwJifus, described from Sitkha, N"orthern Asia^ Avliich may perhaps be a 

 fijrni of the first ; S. glabratus has an appearance very similar to Hider ; 

 it is very rare in Britain, and has only occurred in Scotland, and once 

 in the Northumberland district. 



S. grlabratus, F. Oblong, somewhat ovate, shining black, glabrous, 

 with a more or less distinct metallic reflection ; head small, thickly 

 punctured, mandibles strongly developed ; antennee short with a long 

 scape and a solid 3-jointed club ; thorax fitting closely to base of elytra, 

 transverse, with sides narrowed slightly in front, posterior angles almost 

 right angles, upper surface very finely and scarcely visibly punctured ; 

 scutellum large, triangular ; elytra as broad as thorax and long in com- 

 parison, sides subparallel, apex truncate, upper surface with fine punctured 

 striae, interstices almost smooth; legs pitchy, tibise spinose externally, 

 tarsi all 5-jointed. L. Q-Q\ mm. 



Under bark of dead trees, in decaying fungi, and at oozing sap, also in dung ; rare; 

 Scotland, Tweed, Tay, and Dee districts ; one specimen has also been taken at Wooler, 

 in the Northumberland district, by Mr. J. Hardy. 



SCYDM^NID-ffi. 



This family difi'ers from the Pselaphidaj in having the tarsi 5-jointed, 

 and the elytra not or scarcely abbreviated ; as a rule they entirely cover the 

 abdomen, but are occasionally, as in Eutlda, truncate and leave the 

 jiygidium exposed ; the posterior coxre are conical and distant ; in the 

 tribes represented in our fauna^ the maxillary palpi are 4-jointed, with 

 the last joint small and often obsolete ; the members of the family are 

 small, shining insects, usually ovate, but sometimes rather slender, of a 

 unicolorous black, dark broAvn, or reddish colour, more or less clothed 



