72 CLAVICORNIA. [Bathi/scia. 



female with tho anterior tarsi 4-jointed, tibiae in both sexes, especially 

 the middle ones, moderately spinulose. L. If -2 mm. 



Beneath vegetable refuse, rhubarb and lettuce-leaves in gardens, rarely in the 

 nests of humble-bees ; common in seed potatoes iu some localities in the summer; 

 local, but probably overlooked ; first taken by Mr. E. W. Jauson near Finchley, iu 

 August, 185-4; Hammersmith; Staple, Kent (tiorharn) ; Wmgham, Kent (Hamlet 

 Clark); Eastry, Kent; 'St. Peter's and Kiugsgate, Kent (T. Wood iu great 

 numbers) . 



SPHJERITINA. 



This tribe contains one genus Sjihcerites, which is included by some 

 authors Avith tho Silphina, but is perhaps more correctly separated by 

 reason of its truncate elytra, and the fact that the abdomen has only 

 five segments, whereas in all the members of the Silphina it consists of 

 six segments. 



3PH2ERITES, Duftschmidt. 



This genus contains one species, S. glabratiis, which is common to 

 Northern Europe, Alaska, and Vancouver's Island, and a second, S. 

 politics, described from Sitkha, Northern Asia, which may perhaps be a 

 form of the first ; S. cjldbratus has an appearance very similar to Ulster ; 

 it is very rare in Britain, and has only occurred in Scotland, and once 

 in the Northumberland district. ' 



S. glafcratus, F. Oblong, somewhat ovate, shining black, glabrous, 

 with a more or less distinct metallic reflection; head small, thickly 

 punctured, mandibles strongly developed ; antennae short with a long 

 scape and a solid 3-jointed club ; thorax fitting closely to base of elytra, 

 transverse, Avith sides narrowed slightly in front, posterior angles almost 

 light angles, upper surface very finely and scarcely visibly punctured ; 

 scutellum large, triangular ; elytra as broad as thorax and long in com- 

 parison, sides subparallel, apex truncate, upper surface Avith fine punctured 

 striae, interstices almost smooth ; legs pitchy, tibiae spinose externally, 

 tarsi all 5-jointed. L. 6-6^ mm. 



Under bark of dead trees, in decaying fungi, and at oozing sap, also in dung ; rare ; 

 Scotland, Tweed, Tay, and Dee districts ; one specimen has also been taken at Wooler, 

 in the Northumberland district, by Mr. J. Hardy. 



SCYDMJENIDJE. 



This family differs from the Pselaphidas in having the tarsi 5-jointed, 

 and the elytra not or scarcely abbreviated ; as a rule they entirely cover the 

 abdomen, but are occasionally, as in Euthia, truncate and leave the 

 pygidium exposed ; the posterior coxae are conical and distant ; in the 

 tribes represented in our fauna, the maxillary palpi are 4-jointed, with 

 the last joint small and often obsolete ; the members of the family are 

 small, shining insects, usually ovate, but sometimes rather slender, of a 

 unicolorous black, dark brown, or reddish colour, more or less clothed 



