318 rnvToi'iiACA. [7V/ ///Wee/a. 



P. vitellinae, L. Oblong-oval, a little less parallel than either of the 

 two preceding species, of a bronze or greenish-bronze colour, sometimes 

 with the elytra coppery, and rarely entirely black ; the regular striae on the 

 elytra will at om-e separate it from P. vitellince, and from P. cavifrons it 

 may be known by the characters given above ; in the male the first joint 

 of the tarsi is only a little narrower than the third joint. L. 3|-4| mm. 



On willows, hazels, poplars, &c. ; often found in great numbers under bark in 

 winter; very abundant throughout the kingdom. 



HYDROTHASSA, Thomson. 



The species belonging to this and the succeeding genus have been by 

 many authors included together under Prassocuris, Latreille; they appear, 

 however, to he quite distinct ; in the present genus the form is oval or 

 oblong-oval with the under-side almost without pubescence ; the thorax 

 is transverse and not margined at base ; the elytra are furnished with 

 eight punctured striae, and have an irregular accessory series near sides, 

 and the prosternum is not broad between the coxae, and has the process 

 margined ; the two genera together contain fifteen species, which are 

 found in Europe, Algeria, South Africa, and North America ; three of 

 the six European species occur in Britain. 



T. Thorax unicolorous, without reddish-yellow side border. H. AUCTA, F. 

 II. Thorax with broad reddish-yellow side border. 



i. Form oblong ; elytra without longitudinal yellow 



bands on disc H. MABGINRLLA, L. 



ii. Form ovate ; elytra with a longitudinal yellow bnnd 

 on disc of each, joining the yellow side border at 



apex- H. HANNOVEBA.KA, F. 



B. aucta, F. Short oblong oval, convex, of a deep bronze-green or 

 bluish colour, sometimes almost black, elytra with the sides broadly 

 reddish-yellow ; head and thorax closely and distinctly punctured, 

 antennae moderately long, black ; elytra with rather strong punctured 

 striae, interstices very finely punctured ; prosternal process strongly mar- 

 gined ; legs black, rather stout. L. 2|-4 mm. 



Male with the anterior tibias slightly curved, and the first joint of the 

 tarsi moderately dilated. 



Damp places by sweeping herbage ; somewhat local, but generally distributed 

 throughout England ; it does not appear, however, to be common in tlie midland 

 counties ; Scotland, Solway, Tweed, Forth, Clyde, and Dee districts ; Ireland, Dublin, 

 Ac. 



B. marerinella, L. Very like the preceding, but of slightly nar- 

 rower and longer form, and less convex ; it may at once be known by the 

 broad reddish-yellow side margins of thorax ; the punctuation of the he.-ul 

 and thorax is evidently more diffuse, and the latter is much less trans- 

 verse, and not much broader than long ; the prosternal process is feebly 

 margined. L. 3-4 mm. 



