( 187 ) 
V. Notes on some British species of Oxypoda, with de- 
scriptions of new species. By Davin Suarp, M.B. 
[Read 6th March, 1871.] 
In offering some descriptions of new species of Oxypoda 
to the Society, I feel that some words of apology are due; 
the species of this genus being already in such a state 
of confusion, that it will certainly be correctly considered 
that an entire revision of the genus is required, rather 
than descriptions of isolated species. The difficulty, but 
at the same time, the absolute necessity, of inspecting 
the actual types of the authors of species in this genus, 
prevents me from undertaking the former task. And as 
all the efforts to identify the species here described, of 
myself and other British Entomologists, have failed, I feel 
myself entitled to describe, and so furnish them with 
names (perhaps temporary in some cases) . 
O. specTaBrLis. This was founded by Mirkel on a colour- 
variety of Aleochara ruficornis, Gyll.; as, however, there 
was a prior and different Aleochara ruficornis, Grav., Gyl- 
lenhal’s name cannot be adopted, and Miirkel’s name 
had better be taken for that of the species. 
O. umprata, Grav. Much confusion has existed as to 
this, the name having been applied by Erichson to a 
different species from that recognized by Gyllenhal as 
the O. wmbrata of Grav. Kraatz has already cleared this 
up, by giving another name (humidula) to the Hrichso- 
nian wumbrata. But still another error remains, for 
Erichson described the true wmbrata, under the name of 
cuniculina, and, moreover, under this name, it appears to 
me, that he confounded two species. I give herewith a 
description of the one I suppose to be new. 
O.rrctTiTa, nov. sp. Elongata, sericeo-pubescens, opaca 
fusco-nigra, elytris paulo dilutioribus, antennarum basi, 
palpisque obscure testaceis, pedibus testaceis; dense 
subtilissimeque punctato, thorace obsolete canaliculato. 
Long. 14 lin. 
O. cuniculina, Er., ex parte (forte). 
Allied to O. umbrata, Grav. (Gyll., Th.), and about 
the same size, but as broad in the middle, with the 
TRANS. ENT. soc. 1871.—rarrT 1. (MAY.) 
