British species of Homalota. 231 



former, considerably narrower, and not so closely and 

 finely punctured, so that it is not so dull. It is con- 

 siderably larger than inquinula, and much darker in 

 colour. Its punctuation is peculiar, being fine but dis- 

 tinctly rough. * 



122. Homalota inquinula. 



Linearis, nigra, subnitida, elytris fuscis, pedibus fusco- 

 testaceis ; thorace transverso, basin versus subangustato ; 

 abdomine supra segmentis 2-4 sat crebre subtiliter punc- 

 tatis, 5° parce punctato. Long. ^ lin. 



Mas; abdomine segment© 7° dorsali apice truncato. 



Aleochara inquinula, Grav. Micr. 78 ; H. inquinula, 

 Er. Kaf. Brand, i. 334; Gen. et Spec. Staph. 116; Kr. 

 Ins. Deutsch. ii. 297 ; Wat. Cat. 



The smallest species of the genus ; narrow, and with 

 fine and pretty close punctuation and pubescence. The 

 antennae are short and comparatively stout, thickened to- 

 wards the apex, the three basal joints stout; joint two 

 stouter and much longer than three, this much narrowed 

 at the base, four to ten transverse, the first slightly, the 

 last distinctly so; eleventh joint stout and pointed, about 

 as long as the two preceding. The head is rather nar- 

 rower than the thorax, rather long in proportion to its 

 breadth, closely, finely, and indistinctly punctured, with 

 a distinct channel or impression on the middle. The 

 thorax is a little narrower than the elytra, its breadth 

 about one-third greater than its length, a little narrowed 

 behind, closely and finely punctured, and sometimes with 

 a longitudinal channel. The elytra are about one-third 

 longer than the thorax, of an obscure brownish or pitchy 

 colour, thickly and finely punctured. The abdomen is 

 black and shining, segments two to four finely and pretty 

 closely punctured, fifth segment finely and sparingly 

 punctured, sixth still more sparingly punctured. The 

 legs are dirty yellow, or pitchy in colour. 



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

 abdominal segment is a little truncate in the middle. 



Local; but common in dung in sandy places in the 

 centre and south of England. I have not found it in 

 Scotland. 



* I have only lately distinguished this species from the preceding one, 

 and have named many specimens of it as U. mortuorum, Th. I mention 

 this, that those for whom I have done so, may make the change of name 

 where necessary. 



