382 CLAVICORNIA. [Parnus. 



pubescence ; antennae placed very closely together, the space of the fore- 

 head between them somewhat laterally compressed and raised ; thorax a 

 little narrower than elytra, scarcely transverse, with sides rather strongly 

 rounded behind and narrowed in front, side margins distinct thickly 

 edged with whitish hairs ; elytra very finely punctured, sometimes 

 with traces of striae and larger punctures ; antennae and legs reddish or 

 pitchy-red ; in some varieties the body is clothed with white pubescence, 

 in others the antennae and legs are testaceous ; occasionally the thorax 

 is bifoveolate. L. 4|-5 mm. 



At the sides of ponds, also in damp places under stones j generally distributed 

 and common throughout the kingdom. 



P. auriculatus, Panz. Eather broader, shorter, and more oblong 

 than the preceding, and at once distinguished by its much darker 

 appearance, the upper surface being black and clothed with fuscous 

 pubescence and long black hairs ; the elytra are rather strongly punc- 

 tured, especially towards base, where they also present distinct traces of 

 striae ; the antennae are less approximate, of a dark brown colour with 

 yellowish-brown club ; the forehead is more even in front, and the 

 legs are much darker, being black or dark pitchy-brown with the tarsi 

 reddish- brown. L. 4-4 1 mm. 



At the sides of ponds, under stones in damp places, &c. ; iiot quite so common 

 as the preceding, but apparently quite as widely distributed throughout the 

 kingdom. 



P. alg-iricus, Lucas (striatellus, Fairm.). Much smaller on the 

 average than either of the preceding ; elongate and subcylindrical, 

 fuscous black, clothed with greyish pubescence ; in form it resembles 

 P. prolifericornis, but may at once be known from all our other species 

 by the strong and distinctly punctured striae which are continued to 

 apex ; the legs are black or fuscous black with the tarsi sometimes 

 lighter. L. 3-3 f mm. 



Pond sides, in damp places, &c. ; very local ; taken by Mr. Champion at Chobham, 

 and by Dr. Power at Chobham, Woking, Wimbledon, Boundstone, Horning Fen, 

 and St. Faith's, Norwich ; in one or two of these localities it has occurred very 

 freely. 



P. nitidulus, Heer. This species appears to resemble P. auriculatus 

 in form, but it is somewhat smaller and narrower, and may be dis- 

 tinguished by the character of its pubescence, which is golden yellow 

 with an intermixture of upright black hairs ; the antennae, moreover, 

 are reddish-brown and the legs red ; the species may also be known by 

 the lesser convexity of its thorax, and the want of any trace of striae on 

 the elytra. L. 3^-4 mm. 



Very rare ; one specimen has been taken by Dr. Sharp at Aberlady, Forth district, 

 Scotland. 



