Nitidula.~\ CLAVICORNIA. 235 



is finer in the latter sex than in the former ; elytra very finely and some- 

 what rugosely punctured ; legs red ; occasionally the margins of the thorax 

 and elytra are reddish-brown, and sometimes the whole body-colour is 

 brownish. L. 3-4^ mm. 



Under dead birds and animals, old bones, &c. ; common and generally distributed 

 throughout the kingdom. 



N. quadripustulata, F. (carnaria, Schall.). This species at first 

 sight resembles in size and colouring some species of Epurcea ; the head 

 and thorax are dull black, and the elytra dull black or brownish with 

 four irregular light spots, which are often confluent and form bands ; the 

 antennae are reddish with dark club ; thorax as broad as elytra, scarcely 

 narrowed in front, finely but distinctly punctured, with anterior margin 

 straight ; legs red or ferruginous. L. 2-2| mm. 



In carcases of birds and animals, under bones, &c. ; not common ; Darenth, B!ack- 

 licath, Shirley, .Weybridge, Wimbledon, Sheeruess, Chatham, Whitstable; Coombe 

 Wood; Hastings; Devon; Hunstanton, Norfolk. 



N. rufipes, L. (obscura, F.). Entirely dull black, with very fine, 

 almost invisible punctuation ; antennae red with black club ; thorax a 

 little more narrowed in front in the female than in the male, about as 

 broad as elytra, with anterior margin emarginate ; elytra very finely 

 punctured, but a little less closely than thorax; legs red. L. 2j-4| 

 mm. 



Found under the same circumstances as the two preceding species; rare ; Darenth 

 Wood (found in some numbers by Dr. Power) ; Esher, Sheerness, Chatham, Graves- 

 end, Ashtead; .Stephens gives as localities, Norfolk, Suffolk, Devonshire, Netley, 

 Glanvilles Wootton, and Swansea. 



There seems to be no good reason why the preference should be given 

 to Fabricius' name for this species, as is now generally the case, as tho 

 insects in the Linneean collection standing under Silplia rufipes are our 

 Nitidula rufipes; it is certainly true that the description given by 

 Linnaeus does not accord with them, yet neither does it agree with 

 Meligethes rufipes, which his insect is generally supposed to have been. 



(N. flexuosa, F. (fiavomacMlata, Rossi). Head black, thorax black 

 with margins broadly yellow, elytra black with two very variable spots 

 on each, one at base, and one in middle close to suture ; the four spots 

 are often confluent, and enclose a dark space round scutellum ; the 

 upper surface is very finely punctured, and is a little more shining than 

 in the other species ; antennae rather long, yellowish with dark club ; 

 thorax scarcely narrowed in front in male, distinctly narrowed in female, 

 with anterior margin somewhat emarginate ; legs yellow or reddish-yellow. 

 L. 3-4| mm. 



Very rare, and doubtfully indigenous ; Scarborough (Lawson) ; sands at South 

 Shields (Bold) ; in all probability imported with hides or bones ; Mr. Bold himself 

 regarded his specimens as probable introductions. 



