320 CLAVicoRxiA. \_Cryptophagus. 



what in different specimens ; this may explain the discrepancy between 

 the descriptions of Erichson and Thomson, the former of whom says 

 that they are produced in a bkmt tootli behind, whereas the latter ex- 

 pressly says, " angulis anticis postice hand dentatis." 



C. badius, Sturm. Oblong, somewhat broad, slightly convex, 

 ferruginous or rufous, clothed with rather thick and short pale pubes- 

 cence ; head very thickly punctured, thorax thickly and deeply punc- 

 tured ; thorax not strongly transverse with the anterior angles strongly 

 reflexed and produced behind in rather a sharp tooth, lateral tooth 

 situated in middle of sides, which are from thence rather strongly 

 contracted to base, margins well marked, basal impression and fold 

 above scutellum distinct ; elytra of a long oval shape, moderately 

 strongly and very distinctly punctured towards base, more finely at 

 apex ; legs ferruginous, anterior tibiae and tarsi of male scarcely widened. 

 L. 2-2f mm. 



In haystack and vegetable refuse, flood rubbish, cut grass, &c. ; one of the less 

 common species. London district, generally distributed, Putney, Forest Hill, 

 Dulwich, Crystal Palace (in the glass corridors of which many species of Crypto- 

 phagus occur at times freely), Darenth, Lee, Gravcsend, Loughton ; Sheeniess; 

 Folkestone ; Hastings ; Glanvilles Wootton ; Isle of Wight ; Knowle ; Salforcl 

 Priors ; Montgomery ; Northumberland district, rare ; not recorded from Scotland or 

 Ireland. 



This species bears a somewhat close resemblance to C. pilosus, from 

 which it may be distinguished by its finer punctuation and the more 

 silky pubescence of the elytra ; the shape of the anterior angles of the 

 thorax, as well as its more distinct punctuation, will separate it from 

 C. saginatus, and its proportionally shorter and broader form from C. 

 dentatus and its allies. 



Section IV. 



The species belonging to this section are distinguished by having the 

 transverse impression at the base of the thorax shallow and the basal 

 fold before scutellum absent or obsolete ; these characters, however, are 

 in some cases more or less comparative, and the fact that there appear 

 to be no other more satisfactory ones serves to show the difficulty of 

 dividing the genus into practically workable sections. 



I. Anterior angles callosely reflexed but not distinctly 

 toothed behind. 

 i. Size larger and broader ; posterior angles of thorax 



obtuse; lateral teeth situated in middle of sides . C. validus, Kr. 

 ii. Size smaller and narrower; posterior angles of 

 thorax right angles. 



1. Elytra shorter in proportion to thorax ; form 

 less cylindrical ; lateral teeth of thorax distinct, 



situated before middle of sides C. DENTATUS, Eerbst. 



2. Elyti-a longer in proportion to thorax ; form very 

 cylindrical ; lateral teeth of thorax situated a 



little behind middle of sides C. cyiindrus, Kies. 



