British Species of Homalota. 169 



A smallj narrow^ flat, and parallel species, distinguish- 

 ed from all others by the long sharp spine, projecting 

 backwards from the middle of the extremity of the upper 

 plate of the seventh abdominal segment. Antennee short, 

 thickened towards the apex, joints four to ten each dis- 

 tinctly transverse. Head about as broad as the thorax, 

 quadrate, flat, with the sides parallel, closely and dis- 

 tinctly punctured. Thorax a little narrower than the 

 elytra, about one-fourth broader than long ; its sides 

 nearly straight, finely and pretty densely punctured, with 

 an indistinct longitudinal channel. Elytra about half as 

 long again as the thorax, finely and pretty densely punc- 

 tured. Abdomen with the basal segments finely and not 

 densely punctured, the apical segments impunctate, the 

 sixth with an ill-defined broad transverse impression, 

 the apex of the seventh furnished in the middle with a 

 long spine projecting backwards, and on each side with a 

 smaller, easily overlooked, sharp spine. Legs yellow, 

 the tarsi short. 



In the male, the third, fourth, and fifth segments of 

 the abdomen have each on the upper side a pair of tuber- 

 cles, and the spines at the extremity of the seventh seg- 

 ment are larger and more distinct than in the female. 



Not uncommon in England, under the bark of decay- 

 ing oak trees. 



Section D. 



Group X. The sixth segment of the abdomen ])uncturecl 

 sparingly, or not at all j antennce moderately long, not stout. 



(Species 64—67) . 



The short thorax of the species of this group prevents 

 their being arranged with H. elongatida, while the struc- 

 ture of their antennae (thinner, and with a well developed 

 fourth joint) separates them from JJ. y^wf/ico/a. The four 

 species are all found amongst moss, and are apparently 

 gregarious. 



64. Homalota eremita. 



Piceo-nigra, antennis pedibusque obscure testaceis, 

 subtiliter sat crebre punctata ; antennis sat elongatis. 



