372 CLAVICORNIA. [Simplocuria. 



the tarsi all free, and the fact that all the striae of the elytra, with the 

 exception of the sutural one, cease before middle. 



The larva of S. semistriata resembles in shape that of B. pilula, except that the 

 penultimate segment is not enlarged ; it is about 5 mm. in length, of a pule greenish- 

 yellow colour with the exception of the bend which is brown ; Ghapuis and Ciimleze 

 record its capture in the frass accumula'ed in an old willow trunk, where it probably 

 was feeding on decomposed vegetable matter. 



S. semistriata, F. Ovate, narrowed in front and behind, black 

 with bronze reflection, elytra yellowish-brown at apex, upper surface 

 moderately thickly clothed with somewhat erect greyish pubescence ; 

 antennaa rather long, reddish or brownish red ; thorax convex, finely and 

 not very closely punctured, much narrowed in front ; elytra with the 

 sutural stria entire, and with the other striae distinct towards base, but 

 ceasing before middle, interstices rather thickly and finely punctured ; 

 legs red. L. 2|-2| mm. 



Under stones, in flood refuse, by sweeping, &c. ; usually in damp places ; common 

 and generally distributed throughout the kingdom. 



LIMNICHUS, Latreille. 



This genus comprises between twenty and thirty species, of which nine 

 are found in Europe, and the rest are widely distributed, representatives 

 occurring in North America, Cape Verd Islands, Ceylon, &c. ; although 

 usually classed with the Byrrhidse, to which it is evidently closely related, 

 yet it must be admitted that its position is doubtful, and that its 10- 

 jointed antennae and habits seem to show that Reitter and others may be 

 right in placing it together with Pelochares and BothriopTiorus in a 

 separate family ; as far as position goes it is, however, just as well 

 placed here as it is between the Sphaeridiidae and Parnidse, where it is 

 inserted by Reitter ; the species are minute, oval, convex insects, and 

 at first sight somewhat closely resemble the small species of Syncalypta. 



! pygrmeeus, Sturm (sericeus, Steph.). Oval, convex, narrowed in 

 front and behind, black, rather shining, upper surface clothed with 

 exceedingly short brownish-grey or grey pubescence ; head and thorax 

 exceedingly finely and thickly punctured, antennae red, 10-jointed, with 

 the three last joints forming a distinct club, forehead separated from 

 clypeus by a distinct suture ; thorax narrowed towards apex, with the 

 posterior angles somewhat acute ; scutellum small, triangular ; elytra 

 finely and diffusely punctured j under-side thickly and finely punctured 

 and pubescent ; legs red ; in immature specimens the upper surface is 

 sometimes brown and the under surface reddish-brown. L. lj-l| mm. 



Sandy and chalky places, in moss, &c. ; usually at the sides of watercourses or in 

 damp places, and apparently somewhat subaquatic in its habits ; rare ; Higham, Kent ; 

 Sheppy ; Southend ; Deal ; Lyme Regis ; Isle of Wight, Luccombe Chine, &c. ; 

 Seaton, Devon ; Wicken and Burwell Pens. Stephens records it from Stockton, but 

 there are several places of this name. 



