90 BRITISH BEETLES. 



The Megarthri, living in fungi, under bark, and in 

 vegetable refuse, have the thorax deeply channelled and 

 notched at the sides and hinder angles ; the hinder and 

 intermediate femora and tibiae are also more or less 

 curved, thickened or toothed in the males. 



Phlosobium clypeatum (Plate V, Fig. 4), found in tufts 

 of grass, etc., has similar sexual differences, and is worthy 

 of remark on account of its possessing a single ocellus on 

 the back of the head. 



The PHLCEOCHARID^E have the pro thoracic spiracles 

 hidden ; the antennae inserted under the lateral margin 

 of the forehead ; no ocelli ; the anterior coxae conic and 

 prominent, the posterior transverse and the tarsi five- 

 jointed; the thorax membraneous beneath, behind the 

 anterior coxae ; and the abdomen widely margined. 



We posses but two genera, each containing a single 

 species. Phlosocharis subtilissima, a very small dark- 

 brown, dull-looking insect, with the maxillary palpi subu- 

 late, found in dry dead sticks and wood ; and Pseu- 

 dopsis sulcatus, occurring rarely in haystacks and vege- 

 table refuse near London, and conspicuous on account of 

 its elongate shape, dull black colour, and very strong 

 longitudinal furrows and elevations. 



The PIESTID.E, represented in England by one genus 

 and species, Prognatha quadricornis, have the prothoracic 

 spiracles hidden ; the thorax entirely horny below ; the 

 anterior coxae globose, not prominent, and the posterior 

 transverse ; the tarsi five-jointed ; and the apical seg- 

 ment of the abdomen inconspicuous. 



P. quadricornis (Plate V, Fig. 5) is found under bark, 

 sometimes in considerable numbers ; it is elongate, flat, 

 and narrow, pitchy-black and shining, with the elytra, 

 antennae, legs, and apex of abdomen reddish. In the 



