210 CLAVIOORNIA. 



temperate regions ; there are about eighty European species, of which 

 eight only are found in Britain ; they closely resemble Hister in general 

 appearance, and are chiefly distinguished by the fact that the prosternum 

 is not lobed in front ; in our species of Hister the elytra are impunctate 

 or almost impunctate behind, whereas all our species of Saprinus are 

 more or less distinctly punctured from about middle to apex, and in 

 many cases at the sides also ; the Saprini are found in dung or carcases, 

 and like Hister retract their legs and remain motionless at the approach 

 of danger. 



I. Forehead without a raised ridge, separated only by 

 a deep stria from the clypeus; prosternum rather 



broad and flat. 

 i. Disc of thorax impunctate ; colour black. 



1. Size larger ; elytra only punctured towards apex 



and at margins, punctuation rather diffuse . . S. NITIDFLTTS, Payk. 



2. Size smaller ; elytra closely and rugosely punc- 

 tured with a smooth space towards base tra- 

 versed by fourth dorsal stria. 



A. Smooth part of elytra outside dorsal stria 

 extending as far longitudinally as smooth 

 part inside stria ; punctuation of elytra close 



and rugose ; sutural stria, as a rule, entire . S. .2ESEUS, F. 



B. Smooth part of elytra outside stria small ; 

 punctuation of elytra very close and rugose ; 

 sutural stria of elytra, as a rule (but by no 



means always), interrupted S. IMMTTNDTTS, Gyll. 



ii. Disc of thorax punctured ; colour metallic green . S. VIBESCENS, Payk. 



II. Thorax separated from clypeus by a slightly raised 

 ridge. 



i. Elytra dull, closely and rugosely punctured, with 



a common smooth round space towards base not 



traversed by fourth dorsal stria S. QUADBISTBIATUS, Ho/. 



ii. Elytra punctured towards apex, with no definite 

 smooth space towards base. 



1. Thorax plainly punctured at sides. 



A. Anterior tibise strongly dilated, with four 

 rather large blunt teeth (a trace of a fifth 

 being sometimes visible) ; elytra rather finely 

 punctured, the punctuation reaching scarcely 



to middle S. METALLICUS, Herlst. 



B. Anterior tibiae slightly dilated, with six 

 rather sharp and distinct teeth ; elytra rather 

 strongly punctured, the punctuation reaching 



beyond middle S. BTJGIFBONS, Payk. 



2. Thorax impunctate at sides ; anterior tibiffi 



with three large and three small teeth . . . S. MABITIMUS, Steph. 



S. nitidulus, Payk. Black, shining ; the largest of our species of 

 Sajjrimts, resembling in size and general appearance Hister carbonarius ; 

 head rather thickly punctured ; thorax strongly punctured at sides, 

 disc almost smooth, base with two or three rows of large punctures in- 

 terrupted above scutellum, anterior margin with two impressions behind 

 eyes ; elytra punctured at extreme margins and towards apex, punctua- 



