the British Atomarice. 71 



Sp. 8. Atomariafuscipes. 

 Crytophagiis fuscipes, Gyll., Ins. Suec. i. p. 182 (1808). 

 Atomaria fuscipes et carhonaria (p.)) Steph,, 111. Brit. Ent. iii. 



p. C8 (1830). 

 Erich., Nat. der Ins. Deuts. iii. p. 388 (1848). 



The totally black hue of this little species (even the limbs being 

 as dark, almost, as the body) renders it unnecessary for me to 

 call attention to any of its other diagnostic characters. It is 

 exceedingly abundant in many of the sub-northern counties, 

 especially towards the coast ; but it appears to be rarer near 

 London : Mr. Waterhouse has, however, taken it sparingly at 

 Highgate. I have brushed it in immense profusion from off the 

 grass at the edges of the cliffs at Bridlington and Flamborough, 

 in Yorkshire; and I have also captured it at Fleetwood, in Lan- 

 cashire ; at Spridlington, South Ferriby, and Scawby, in Lincoln- 

 shire ; at Whittlesea Mere, Hunts; at Cransley, in Northamp- 

 shire ; at Southend, in Essex; at Linton, in North Devon; at 

 Treneglos, in Cornwall; in Lundy Island; the Isle of Wight; 

 and at Holyhead, in North Wales. Mr. Morris Young, also, 

 has captured it in Scotland ; and Mr. Haliday records its occur- 

 rence in Ireland. It is remarkable that there are but two examples 

 of it in the Stephensian cabinet, — one of which is rightly identified, 

 and placed (alone) uadev fuscip)es ; whilst the other (which appears 

 to be a rather large specimen, and immature) forms the type of 

 Mr. Stephens's A. carbonaria, 



Sp. 9. Atomaria pusilla. 



Dermestes pusillus, Payk., Fna Suec. i. p. 295 (1798). 



Silpha phceogaster et evanescens, Mshm, Ent. Brit. i. pp. 125, 126 



(1802). 

 Atomaria fulvicollis, thoracica, evanescens, phceogaster, basella (p.) 

 et castanea (p.), Steph., 111. Brit. Ent. iii. pp. 

 64, 65, Q& (1830). 



pusilla, Erich., Nat. der Ins. Deuts. iii. p. 397 (1848). 



The very minute size, and oblong, subdepressed form of this 

 species will at once distinguish it from the remainder of the 

 Atomaria. In colour it is extremely variable, (which may account, 

 indeed, for the number of, so called, "species" into which it has 

 been separated) ; nevertheless, the more or less rufo-ferruginous 

 hue of its (laterally rounded) prothorax, and of the hinder 

 region of its elytra, is generally traceable. It is tolerably 



