the British Atomarice. 73 



Sp. 1 1 . Atomaria Berolinensis. 

 Alomaria Berolinensis, Kraatz, Ent. Zeit. p. 94 (1853). 



castanea {^.), Steph., 111. Brit. Ent. iii. p. 66 (1830). 



A species which may be known by its oblong, subcylindrical 

 body, broad head, deeply punctured, pubescent surface, and by its 

 subventricose elytra and prothorax, — the line of separation be- 

 tween the two being, consequently, somewhat depressed. In its 

 normal state it is rufo-testaceous, with its head, prothorax, scutel- 

 lary region, and the outer margin of its elytra (especially towards 

 the shoulders), more or less dusky, or obscured : but when imma- 

 ture it is wholly testaceous, — under which circumstances it might 

 almost be mistaken, at first sight, for the A. atricapilla. lis more 

 strongly sculptured surface, however, longer limbs, and more ven- 

 tricose prothorax and elytra (the former of which is squarer and 

 more largely developed, and is especially convex upon its hinder 

 disk), will serve to distinguish it readily from that common insect. 

 It appears to be somewhat scarce ; I have, however, captured it 

 at Danes Dyke (near Flamborough), in Yorkshire ; at Lea, South 

 Ferriby, and Scawby, in Lincolnshire ; at Cransley, in North- 

 amptonshire ; at Withington, in Gloucestershire ; and at Tintern, 

 in Monmouth. It has been also taken by Mr. Waterhouse at 

 Gosport, Northampton, and Reigate ; and by Mr. Morris Young, 

 in Scotland. There is but a single specimen of it in the Stephen- 

 sian cabinet, — mixed up (probably through an oversight) with the 

 A, castanea. 



Sp. 12. Atomaria fuscata. 



Cryptophagus fuscalus, Schon. Syn. Ins. ii. p. 100 (1808). 

 Alomaria castanea (p.), testacea (p.), et rufipes (p.), Steph. 111. 

 Brit. Ent. iii. pp.66, 68 (1830). 



fuscata, Erich. Nat. der Ins. Deuts. iii. p. 394(1848). 



Dark examples of this species are not always easily separable, 

 at first sight, from the A. atra. It is, however, rather larger, on 

 the average, than that insect, somewhat less deeply punctured, 

 and with its prothorax narrower and much less convex, — the ex- 

 treme hinder margin, moreover, being more distinctly siniiated, 

 and elevated in the centre. In its normal state, it may be easily 

 recognized by its dull surface and clouded-castaneous hue, — its 

 tendency being to be more or less infuscated about its anterior 

 region, and to become gradually paler as we approach its posterior 

 one. Its legs, also, are rather longer, and more dusky, than is the 



