336 CLAVICORNIA. [Atomaria. 



gined ; punctuation of thorax fine and very close, much closer than that 

 of elytra ; elytra long in proportion to thorax, with the sides slightly 

 rounded and somewhat strongly narrowed at apex, shoulders well marked 

 usually obscurely testaceous or brownish, punctuation distinct but not 

 close ; legs dark ferruginous, base of tibiae and tarsi lighter, sometimes 

 almost entirely reddish. L. 1| mm. 



In vegetable and haystack refuse; rare; Hampstead, Mickleham, Caterham, 

 Forest Hill, Sheerness, Chatham, Strood, Birdbrook ; Suffolk ; Folkestone ; Leicester- 

 shire ; Spridlington and South Ferriby, Lincolnshire ; Manchester district ; not 

 recorded from Northumberland; Scotland, very rare, Clyde district, Paisley (Morris 

 Young). 



The oblong depressed shape ; well-marked colour, and the shape of the 

 thorax, which is strongly dilated in the middle, will serve to distinguish 

 this species. 



SECTION III. 



This section contains the largest number of species, and it is very hard 

 to find any satisfactory characters by which to divide them ; some of 

 them are very closely allied, and require great care in their discrimina- 

 tion ; they are distinguished by having the posterior angles nearly right 

 angles, by the transverse basal impression being stronger in the middle, 

 and by the basal margin being almost always more or less strongly raised 

 in the centre ; the form is more oval and convex than in either of the pre- 

 ceding sections, and the elytra are usually more or less strongly dilated 

 at sides. I believe that a useful character might be found in this and 

 the preceding sections in the presence or absence of cross reticulation 

 between the punctures of thorax and elytra ; this is of very great im- 

 portance in the genus Meligethes, and is certainly present in some of the 

 species of Atomaria, although from the small size of the insect it re- 

 quires a very high magnifying power to distinguish it. I have not been 

 able to find time to work the question out, but some future student of 

 the group may perhaps be able to do so. 



I. Thorax truncate at base. 



i. Anterior angles of thorax more or less acute and 

 prominent. 



1. Thorax bright red, elytra black or pitchy- 

 black ; upper surface very shining, scantily 



pubescent. 



A. Thorax with a deep depression at base not 



bounded by a longitudinal fold on each side . A. NIGBIPENNIS, Payk. 



B. Thorax with depression at base scarcely 



visible ; form shorter and broader .... A. DIVISA, Rye. 



C. Thorax with a deep depression at base 



bounded by a fold on each side A. MUNDA, Er . 



2. Upper surface lighter or darker brown or red- 



dish-brown. 

 A. Size larger ; thorax not very transverse ; 



punctuation and pubescence more diffuse . . A. IMPKESSA, Er. 



