Bryaxis.'] clavicounia. 95 



togother somewhat transversa, wideueil l)eliin(l, impnnctatc ; abdnmou 

 longer tlian elytra, with reflexed margins, first visible segment very long, 

 sinijile in both sexes ; legs ferruginons or fusco-testaceous, anterior 

 trochanters simple in both sexes. L. 2 mm. 



Male characters very slight, the sex being only distinguished b^' a 

 small spine at the apex of the intermediate tibire. 



Salt miiralies at roots of gras=', under stones, t'uliil I'of use, &c ; also under stones on 

 or near the shore ; local, hut sonietiuies not uncommon where it occurs ; Rochester, 

 Rainham. Strood, Southend, Sheerness, Whitstahle ; \\sc ; Newhaven ; I'orLsmouth ; 

 Isle of Wight, Veutnor, Luccombe, Covves, &c. ; Weymouth ; it has not occurred 

 further uorth than the Loudon district. 



S. fossulata, Eeich. (Brachyfjlutafossulafa, Thorns.). This species 

 is easily distinguished from all our others by its colour, which is entirely 

 ]iitchy-brown or dark chestnut-brown, the elytra being som(;times a little 

 lighter ; head narrower than thorax, with large prominent eyes, sub- 

 triangular; antennae and palpi ferruginous, last joint of former large, oval ; 

 thorax shining^ smooth, dilated in middle, Avith three large fovero of oiiual 

 size at base ; elytra nearly quadrate shorter than abdomen ; abdomen 

 with reflexed margin smooth and shining, first visible dorsal segment the 

 largest, simple in both sexes ; legs ferruginous. L. 2 mm. 



Male with the anterior trochanters with a short tooth, and the anterior 

 and intermediate tibiie with short apical spurs. 



In moss, haystack refuse, &c., and often by sweeping in woods; generally dis- 

 tributed and couimnn in the Loudon, Southern, and Midland districts of England ; 

 rarer further north ; Northumberland district, banks of the Irthing, rare ; 

 Scotland, Lowlands, local in marshes, Sohvay and Clyde districts; Ireland, Armagh. 



V. ri'fesrejis, Keitter. This variety is more or less rufescent in 

 colour and appears to be very rare ; Denny (1. c. p. 38), records the fact 

 that he has one in his possession : there is also a bright shining black 

 variety (B. aterrima, Ileitter), but I do not know whether it occurs in 

 Britain. , 



B. Kelferi, Schmidt. Black or pitch-black with the elytra red, 

 darker at margins, antenna?, palpi, and legs pitchy, sometimes aliuost 

 black ; form rather short and broad ; head large, together with eyes 

 scarcely narrower than thorax ; antennae rather long, last joint large, oval ; 

 thorax slightl}' broader than long, broadest a little before middle, with 

 three large equal foveas at base ; elytra much broader than thorax, widened 

 towards apex, about as long as together broad, obsoletely punctured ; 

 abdomen shorter than elytra, margined, closely punctured. L. 1^1| mm. 



Male with the first visible dorsal segment with a tubercle in centre 

 of apex, surrounded behind with a semicircular fovea ; anterior trochan- 

 ters armed with long and very sharp spines, intermediate tibiae with 

 long spurs just before apex on their inner side. 



Salt marshes, in tidal refuse, under stones, &c. ; local but sometimes in profusion 

 where it occurs; Gravesend, Whitstahle, Chatham, Shcerness, Southend, Strood, 



