ALEOCHAIIA. INSECTS. 261 



P. brachypterus, Lat. Shining black, finely dotted, depressed, with 

 the mandibles, the base of the antennae, and feet reddish brown. 

 1 line long. Inhabits Europe. Lat. Gen. i. 298. 



Gen. ALEOCHARA, Grav. 



Antennae inserted between the eyes or near their interior border, 

 with the first three joints longer than the following, perfoli- 

 ated, the last elongated and conical ; palpi subulate ; labrum 

 entire. 



A. canaliculata, Grav. Ferruginous, with the head and the an- 

 tepenult ring of the abdomen black j a longitudinal furrow in the 

 middle of the thorax. 2 lines long. Inhabits Europe, under 

 stones in moist places. Lat. Hist. ix. pi. 80, fig. 7- 



TRIBE IV. MICROCEPHALI. 



Head sunk in the thorax to near the eyes, without strangulation 

 at its base ; thorax trapezoidal and widening backwards. 



This tribe is distinguished by the body being less elongated than that of the 

 preceding, and approaching more to the elliptical form ; the head is much narrower 

 and advanced before ; the mandibles of medium size, without dentations, and arched 

 at the point. In many the elytra cover little more than half the length of the upper 

 part of the abdomen. They are found in mushrooms and dung. 



Gen. LOMECHUSA, Grav. and Aleochara, Grav. 

 Legs without spines ; palpi subulate ; antennae forming from 

 the fourth joint an elongated perfoliated club, and shorter than 

 the head and thorax. 



L. bipunctata, Grav. Shining black ; thorax convex ; elytra trans- 

 verse, with a blood-red spot on each ; margin of the last segment 

 of the abdomen reddish brown. Found in Europe, in horse and 

 cow dung. Lat. Gen. i. 301. 



Gen. TACHINUS, Grav. Oxyporus, Fab. 



Legs spinous ; antennae composed of pyriform joints, and thick- 

 ening gradually; palpifiliform; thoraxlarge; elytra very short. 



T. subterraneus, Grav. Brownish shining black, with a reddish elon- 

 gated spot at the exterior base of each elytrum ; feet reddish. 

 Inhabits Europe. Nouv. Diet, xxxii. 352. 



Gen. TAOHYPORUS, Grav. 



Legs spinous ; antennae composed of pyriform joints, thickening 

 insensibly ; palpi subulate. 



T. chrysomelinusj Grav. Body convex, shining, smooth, with the 

 base of the antennae, thorax, and feet of a reddish yellow, and 

 the elytra ferruginous red ; base and exterior border black. Eu- 

 rope, on flowers, leaves, &c. Lat. Hist. x. pi. 79. fig. 9. 

 These insects are of small size. The Oxyporus hypnorum, abdominalis, analis* 



cellaris, and bijjustulatus, belong to this genus. 



FAMILY III. SERRICORNES. 

 Antennae filiform or setaceous, those of the males generally tuft- 



