Bryaxis.~\ CLAVICORNIA. 95 



together somewhat transverse, widened behind, imptmctate ; abdomen 

 longer than elytra, with reflexed margins, first visible segment very long, 

 simple in both sexes ; legs ferruginous or f usco-testaceous, anterior 

 trochanters simple in both sexes. L. 2 mm. 



Male characters very slight, the sex being only distinguished by a 

 small spine at the apex of the intermediate tibioe. 



Salt marshes at roots of grass under stones, tidal refuse, &c. ; also under stones on 

 or near the shore ; local, hut sometimes not uncommon where it occurs ; Rochester, 

 Riiiuham. Strood, Southend, Sheerness, Whitstable ; Rye ; Newhaven ; Portsmouth ; 

 Isle of Wight, Ventnor, Luccombe, Cowes, &c. ; Weymouth ; it has not occurred 

 further north than the London district. 



B. fossulata, Keich. (BracJiyijlnta fussulafa, Thorns.). This species 

 is easily distinguished from all our others by its colour, which is entirely 

 pitchy-brown or dark chestnut-brown, the elytra being sometimes a little 

 lighter ; head narrower than thorax, with large prominent eyes, sub- 

 triangular; antennse and palpi ferruginous, last joint of former large, oval ; 

 thorax shining, smooth, dilated in middle, with three large fcvese of equal 

 size at base ; elytra nearly quadrate shorter than abdomen ; abdomen 

 with reflexed margin smooth and shining, first visible dorsal segment the 

 largest, simple in both sexes ; legs ferruginous. L. 2 mm. 



Male with the anterior trochanters with a short tooth, and the anterior 

 and intermediate tibite with short apical spurs. 



In moss, haystack refuse, &c., and often hy sweeping in woods; generally dis- 

 tributed and common in the London, Southern, and Midland districts of England ; 

 rarer further north ; Northumberland district, banks of the Irthing, rare ; 

 Scotland, Lowlands, local in marshes, Solway and Clyde districts; Ireland, Armagh. 



V. rufescens, Eeitter. This variety is more or less rufescent in 

 colour and appears to be very rare ; Denny (1. c. p. 38), records the fact 

 that he has one in his possession : there is also a bright shining black 

 variety (B. aterrima, Keitter), but I do not know whether it occurs in 

 Britain. 



B. Helferi, Schmidt. Black or pitch-black with the elytra red, 

 darker at margins, antenn, palpi, and legs pitchy, sometimes almost 

 black ; form rather short and broad ; head large, together with eyes 

 scarcely narrower than thorax ; antennae rather long, last joint large, oval ; 

 thorax slightly broader than long, broadest a little before middle, with 

 three large equal f oveos at base ; elytra much broader than thorax, widened 

 towards apex, about as long as together broad, obsoletely punctured ; 

 abdomen shorter than elytra, margined, closely punctured. L. 1^-1| mm. 



Male with the first visible dorsal segment with a tubercle in centre 

 of apex, surrounded behind with a semicircular fovea ; anterior trochan- 

 ters armed with long and very sharp spines, intermediate tibise with 

 long spurs just before apex on their inner side. 



Salt marshes, in tidal refuse, under stones, &c. ; local but sometimes in profusion 

 where it occurs; Gravesend, Whitstable, Chatham, Sheerness, Southern), Strood, 



