29-1: C'LAYicoRNiA. [^Mel'iiiopJithahna. 



Tft. transversalis, r. Wollastoni, "Wat. 31. i ranstersaUs differs 

 from the preceding in being larger, with the thorax a little broader, and 

 less closely piinctured, and with the fovea behind usually divided into 

 two ; the punctured striae of the elytra are also finer, and the interstices 

 broader and less raised ; it is a very variable insect, no less than seven 

 named varieties being mentioned in the European catalogue : the variety 

 w^hich we possess appears only to differ from the type in being rather 

 larger and darker. L. H-2 mm. 



In haystack refuse, moss, &c., and in and among rushes on sand-hills near the sea ; 

 very local ; Mabletliorpe, Lincolnshire, in which place it was first taken by Mr. 

 U'olhiston, and again found by myself in abundance in August, 1881 ; Sbeernesa, 

 Dareuth Wood, Chatham, Southend ; Kingsgate ; Weymouth ; Devonshire. 



IWf. fuscula, Humm. {Corticarina fuscula, Reitter). Very like M. 

 (jihhosa, but at once distinguished by the shape of the thorax, which is 

 liroad and not much narrower than the elytra, and has the sides strongly 

 rounded, and the posterior angles armed with a minute tooth, and so 

 more prominent ; the colour is fuscous as in 11. gilihosa, but is some- 

 what variable ; the thorax is strongly transverse, finely punctured, and 

 marked at base with a transverse fovea ; the elytra are not very strongly 

 sculptured, and the interstices are narrow, and not, or scarcely, raised. 

 L. 1|- mm. 



In moss, vegetable refuse, Ac; not so abundant as M.gihbosa, but common and 

 generally distributed throughout the kingdom. 



1*1. similata, Gyll. Yery like the preceding, but easily dis- 

 tinguished by the shape of the thorax, which is nearly as long as broad, 

 and usually has three fovese at base, of Avhich the lateral ones are more 

 or less obsolete ; the sculpture of the elytra is much stronger, and the 

 alternate interstices are raised and somewhat carinate, especially near 

 suture ; the colour of the type form is more or less ferruginous, but the 

 insect varies both in this point and in size. L. l|-lf mm. 



Apparently very rare ; in Dr. Sharp's collection there is a specimen 

 of the type form without locality, and another of the larger dark variety 

 from Braemar ; there is also a specimen in Dr. Power's collection from 

 Shirley, which appears to belong to this species, but has not the cha- 

 racters so well marked as in Dr. Sharp's specimens. 



M. fulvipes, Com. {fuscipennis, Mots. ; curia, Woll.). Entirely 

 ferruginous-red or reddish-brown, sometimes reddish-testaceous, with 

 the elytra darker, antennae and legs testaceous, club of former as a 

 rule not, or only slightly, darker ; thorax transverse, with a more or 

 less obsolete fovea at base ; elytra not much wider than thorax, short 

 oval or oval ; size smaljer than in the preceding species. L. 1-1 i mm. 



lu decaying sea-weed, at roots of grass, Ac, in sandy places on the coast; local, but 

 c luimon where it occurs; R;unham, Slieerness, Chatham, Vi'hitstable, .Southmd; 

 INiargatc, Kingsgatc, and Kent coast generally; Hastings, Brighton, Weymouth, 



