Mdiyetlies.'] CLAVICORNIA. 255 



north, aud seldom occurs inland; Caterham and Mickleham (Champion); Eshcr ; 

 Dorking; Repfcon (W. Garneys) ; Northumberland aud Durham district, rare; 

 Scotland, local, Forth district. 



V. planiusculu*, Er. This variety of M. murinus, which is considered 

 a separate species oy Erichson, is characterized by having the anterior 

 tibiae more regularly and less sharply toothed, and the entire base of 

 the antennae red ; some of the teeth in the type form almost invariably 

 point downwards towards apex, while in M. planinsculus they stand out 

 at right angles to the tibiae, and are smaller and blunter ; the colour of 

 the base of the antennae is not a very reliable character. 



There is a specimen in Dr. Power's collection, taken at Birch "Wood 

 in 1865, that agrees well with types of this variety sent to me by 

 Reitter. 



1ft. lug-ubris, Sturm. Oval, rather convex, deep shining black, 

 closely and finely punctured with the punctuation of elytra somewhat 

 plainer; on both thorax and elytra there are slight traces of cross 

 striation between the punctures, which are plainer on sides of thorax 

 pubescence scanty, greyish ; antennae pitchy-brown with second joint 

 reddish, and the club black ; thorax about one-third broader than long, 

 somewhat contracted in front ; legs black, anterior tibiae pitchy-brown 

 with two short outstanding teeth separated l?y two or more small teeth ; 

 forehead excised with a small sharp projection in the centre of the 

 emargination ; metasternum of male depressed behind with a strong 

 longitudinal cariniform projection on the front of the depression ; last 

 abdominal segment of male with a little raised keel before its extremity, 

 and behind this a smooth depressed space ; anterior tarsi of male strongly 

 dilated. 



There is a small variety of this species, which, according to Erisout, 

 has less strong and deep punctuation, and in which the keel on the last 

 abdominal segment of the male is often deeply divided so as to present 

 the appearance of two sharp tubercles placed side by side. L. If 

 2 mm. 



V. gagathimis, Er. This species of Erichson's is evidently nothing 

 more than a variety of M. lugubris ; it is larger and more convex, with 

 darker pubescence, and has the anterior tibiae more finely denticulate, 

 but is not really specifically distinct. L. 2| mm. 



On Thymus serpyllum, Mentha, Helianthemum, Origanum, &c. ; occasionally in 

 moss, in winter; very local; London district, not uncommon, Mickleham, Caterliam, 

 Shirley, Claygate, Coombe Wood, Esher, Bearstead, Buckland Hill, Chertsey, Chatham, 

 Sheerness, Maidstone, &c. ; Kingsdown ; Amberley ; it is apparently only found in the 

 south-eastern counties. 



M. obscurus, Er. (distinctus } W. C., wee Sturm : -palmatus, Er., $ ). 

 Kather broader and more oblong than M. erythropus, which it much 

 resembles ; dull black, leaden, with distinct cross reticulation between 

 punctures ; punctuation thick and close ; pubescence thick, greyish or 



