160 Dr. Sharp's Revision of the 



H. ccesula, Er, Gen. et Spec. Staph. 97 ; Kr. Ins. 

 Deutsch. ii. 328 ; Wat. Cat. Sipalia hrachyptera, Th. 

 Sk. Col. iii. 105. 



The small size and short elytra of this species distin- 

 guish it from all others. It is pitchy-black, with the 

 elytra a little paler. The antennaa are pitchy or obscurely 

 testaceous, a little thickened towards the apex ; joint 

 three shorter than two, six to ten transverse ; eleventh 

 joint rather large, nearly twice as long as the tenth. 

 Head shining, almost impunctate, but little narrower 

 than the thorax, narrowed towards the front. Thorax 

 almost wider than the elytra, about a fourth broader than 

 long, scarcely narrowed behind, very finely and rather 

 sparingly punctured. Elytra shorter than the thorax, 

 and rather more distinctly punctured. Abdomen shining, 

 a little narrowed at the base, segments two to four spar- 

 ingly and very obsoletely punctured, sixth and seventh 

 impunctate. Legs yellowish. 



In the male, the ventral plate of the seventh segment 

 of the abdomen is very distinctly prodviced, its apex 

 truncate, with the angles rounded ; in this sex also there 

 is sometimes to be seen an indistinct, broad, longitudinal 

 impression on the thorax. 



Very local. At the roots of grass in sandy places. 

 Deal, Thetford. 



Section C. 



Group VIII. Co7ivex, or but little depressed species. 



(Species 55 — 59) . 



The species of this group are all peculiar, and by no 

 means closely allied. H. circellaris is found everywhere, 

 among moss, &c. The other species are all so rare that 

 I can give no sufficient information as to their habits. 



55. Homalota circellaris. 



Rufescens, abdomine piceo, antennis pedibusque tes- 

 taceis ; capite ovato, thorace subquadrato, elytris hoc 

 brevioribus ; abdomine supra segmentis 2-4 subtiliter 

 crebre punctatis, 5 et 6 fere Isevigatis. Long. 1^ lin. 



Mas ; elytris basi utrinque prope suturam tuberculatis ; 

 abdomine segmento 6° supra, medio ante apicem, tuber- 



