344 CLAVICORNIA. [AtomarM. 



punctured ; elytra convex, plainly and diffusely punctured at base, 

 obsoletely towards apex ; legs reddish-testaceous. L. If mm. 



In dung, especially of sheep; rare ; Mickleham, Shooter's Hill, Birdbrook, Dulwich ; 

 Arundel ; Launcestou, Cornwall ; Barmouth ; Gloucester ; Cotswold Hills, Glouces- 

 tershire, in some numbers ; Leicestershire ; Repton ; South Ferriby and Spridling- 

 tou, Lincolnshire ; Scarborough ; Scotland, rare, Solvvay and Clyde districts. 



This species is sometimes confused with A. apicalis, but is larger, less 

 ovate, and less narrowed in front and behind ; it is also brighter and less 

 pubescent, and as a rule more lightly coloured, and the thorax is a little 

 more rounded at sides. 



EPHISTEITCUS, Westwood. 



This genus comprises about half-a-dozen species from Europe, North 

 America, and the Canary Islands ; they are very minute, almost orbicular, 

 insects, and are so closely allied that, although their number is so small, 

 it is almost impossible to separate some of them satisfactorily, as may be 

 seen from the list of synonyms given in the Munich and other cata- 

 logues ; they occur in vegetable refuse, moss, at the bottoms of haystacks, 

 in hot-beds, &c. ; the best position of the genus appears to be after 

 Atomaria some authors, however, have placed them near the Aniso- 

 tomidre or Byrrhidae ; in form they most closely resemble Orthopenig ; 

 three species are probably British, but the question of the third species 

 appears to be by no means settled, and I have therefore only given two 

 in the accompanying table and added the third as a variety. 



I. L. l|-lf mm. ; form oval, longer ; punctuation of 



elytra very diffuse and fine, but distinct E. GtoBOStrs, Waltl. 



II. L. 1 mm.; form globose, very broad oval, almost 

 orbicular ; punctuation of elytra scarcely visible. . . E. OYBINOIDBS, Marsh. 



E. globosus, Waltl. (nigriclavis, Steph. ; pdlustris, Woll.). Oval, 

 globose, comparatively elongate, pitchy or pitchy-red, almost glabrous, 

 shining ; antennae moderately long, red, with distinct 3-jointed club ; 

 mouth parts testaceous ; thorax transverse, much narrowed in front, 

 forming an almost, if not quite, continuous outline with elytra, finely 

 and very diffusely punctured, posterior angles projecting ; elytra gradu- 

 ally narrowed from middle to apex, with very fine and scattered but 

 rather distinct punctures, interstices very feebly alutaceous under a high 

 magnifying power; legs reddish-testaceous. L. If mm. 



In haystack and other refuse, under bark, in dung, &c. ; rare ; Wimbledon, Clay- 

 gate, Lee, Cowley, Charlton, Mickleham, Hammersmith ; Holm Bush, Brighton ; 

 Buddon Wood, Leicestershire (under bark); Repton; Scarborough; Cheshire; 

 Manchester ; Northumberland district, very rare, Long Benton ; Scotland, rare, in 

 dung, Solway and Clyde districts. 



E. pryrinoides, Marsh, (ovulum, Er.). Broad oval, almost orbicular, 

 narrowed gradually in front and behind, pitchy-red, often almost black 



