Mr. A. Murray on the Genus Cercyon. 87 



Div. 2. Mesostemal blade appearing united to the metastemuui, which ap- 

 pears excised at its anterior end. 



C. anale, Payk., Erich. 



terminatum. Marsh., Steph. 

 fiavipes, Thunb. 

 apicale, Steph. 

 infuscatum, Steph. 



Oval oblong, diminishing almost uniformly for the last three- 

 fourths of the elytra, and terminated in a point. Head and pro- 

 thorax finely punctate, brilliant black. Elytra of the same co- 

 lour with a patch of testaceous red at the apex, stopping some- 

 what abruptly, and not covering the suture ; striae punctate ; the 

 intervals with a nearly double row of punctures on the anterior 

 half, and a single row on the posterior. 



Var. B. C. marginellum, Payk. Sides of prothorax, and some- 

 times also those of the elytra, reddish brown. 



Var. C. Body above reddish brown, or testaceous red, more or 

 less livid on the prothorax and elytra, with the apex of the 

 latter paler. Head blackish. 



Length 1 line ; breadth f of a hne. 



This species is recognized by the acute form of the hinder part 

 of the body, and by the shape of the mesosternal plate, which is 

 almost linear. 



Occasional. 



Pelosoma, Muls. 



Cercyon, Dej. 

 P. Lafertei, Muls. 

 bicolor, Dej. 



Oviform, convex, and covered with small punctures above ; 

 black or nut-brown, with the anterior part of the epistome 

 and the sides of the prothorax gradually reddish. Form of scu- 

 tellum a rectilinear triangle. Elytra broadest towards the third 

 of their length, with eleven striae slightly punctate and deepest 

 behind. 



Length 1 line. 



There is only one species of the genus, and the mesosternal 

 blade truncate behind is a sufficient distinction. I am not aware 

 that it has been found in Britain, but have added the description 

 to make this sketch more complete. 



The division of the Spharidiida, called by Mulsant Megaster- 

 nares, which comes next, has entirely the aspect of the Cercyons, 

 and, as already mentioned, is distinguished by having its meso- 



