140 Dr. Sharp's Revision of the 



colour, pretty closely and distinctly but shallowly punc- 

 tured, and with a distinct yellowish pubescence. The 

 abdomen is black and shining, with the extremity yellow- 

 ish : segments two to four sparingly punctured, five and 

 six almost impunctate. Legs yellowish. 



In the male, the apex of the dorsal plate of the seventh 

 segment is not altogether rounded, but a little flattened on 

 each side, so that it is indistinctly and obtusely pointed 

 in the middle. The ventral plate of the same segment 

 is narrower, and its apex more rounded than in the 

 female ; but these characters are not easy to perceive. 



Common under sea- weed on the coasts of England and 

 Scotland. 



Obs. I. — Scotch specimens of this species are smaller 

 than the Southern ones, and have their elytra rather 

 shorter, the sides of the thorax more dilated and rounded 

 in front, so that it is more narrowed behind ; having 

 regard, however, to the great general resemblance in 

 other respects, these cannot be considered as a distinct 

 species. It was from such specimens, I should think, that 

 Thomson^s description oi H. flavipes was made. 



Ohs. II. — This species is said, by Herr Scriba, on the 

 authority of the type in the Museum at Turin, to be S. 

 atricilla, Er. (Gen. et Spec. Staph. 101) . It is quite 

 certain, however, I think, that Erichson's description 

 is in no way applicable to, or characteristic of, this 

 species ; and I do not believe it was made from speci- 

 mens of it. I have, therefore, not adopted his name ; 

 there may have been some mistake about the type, there 

 can be none as to the description. I have not adopted 

 Mr. Waterhouse's name of II. ma7'itima,as, according to 

 Harold's Catalogue, there is a prior luaritima. (I have 

 not, however, had any opportunity of verifying Harold's 

 quotation.) Hardy's name, H. algce, has also been pro- 

 posed for this species, but it cannot be used, as his de- 

 scription refers to H. inincticeps, of which he considered 

 this a variety. As there is already a well known Homa- 

 lota flavipes, I am obliged to find a new name for the 

 species. 



37. Homalota ptmcticeps. 



Subdepressa, subopaca, nigra, antennis pedibusque 

 piceis, pube flavescenti evidenter vestita ; capite confer- 



