u*.] IIKTEROMERA. 51 



margin of elytra very narrow from b.ise of abdo- 

 men. 



1. Colour bronze ; legs more or less red ; average 



size larger S. .T^iTrs. Muls. 



(ceneus, Steph.) 



2. Colour deep black ; egs black, tarsi often 



pitcby; average size smaller S. ATE3, P*tyk. 



II. Mandibles long and mucb exserted. 



i. Size smaller ; labrum shorter, reddish-testaceous ; 



frontal region flattened S. MCTTILATUS, Beck. 



ii. Size larger ; labrum longer, ferruginous or pitchy 



red; frontal region not flattened S. FOVEOLATUS, Ljangh. 



S. castaneus, Panz. (pice&, Germ.). Elongate, subparallel, ctsta- 

 neous-brown or ferruginous, glabrous and shining ; head triangularly 

 produced in front, coarsely punctured, labrum short, eyes black, promi- 

 nent, antennae moderately long, gradually thickened towards apes, 

 ferruginous with base often paler; thorax subcordiform, about as broad 

 in front as head, gra lually narrowed behind, thickly and rather coarsely 

 punctured, with an indistinct impression before middle of sides, and a 

 more or less distinct transverse impression at base; elytra with not very 

 regular rows of rather strong punctures, more or less confusedly punc- 

 tured at base ; legs ferruginous or reddish-testaceous. L. 3i-4 

 mm. 



In decaying fir branches : occasionally by sweeping under fir trees ; local, but 

 rather common where it occurs: Esher, Shirley, Xorwo.id, Weybridge, Mickleham, 

 West Wickham, Chatham, Crohamhurst ; Hastings ; Leominster ; Coleshill, near 

 Birmingham; Cannock Chase ; Repton ; Manchester district (general in pine trees) ; 

 Northumberland and Durham district, rare ; Scotland, on dead branches of Scotch 

 fir, Solway, Tweed, Forth, Tay, Dee, and Moray districts. 



S. aeratus, Muls. (ceneus, Steph.). Brassy black, or lighter or 

 darker bronze, shining and glabrous; head rather finely punctured, eyes 

 prominent, antennae red, with the last joints thickened and forming a 

 club which is dark ; thorax subcordiform, closely and distinctly, but 

 somewhat variably punctured, with an impression on each side before 

 and behind middle, which are not always distinct; elytra subparallel, 

 somewhat confusedly punctured at base, with rather regular rows of 

 moderately strong punctures, interstices very finely alutaceous, shining ; 

 legs more or less red or ferruginous ; there is usually an impression on 

 each elytron towards base ; Stephens, however, expressly says that his 

 S. teneushas the elytra without foveae. L. 2|-3 mm. 



Under bark and in dead twigs of fir trees ; it has also been captured on wails and 

 palings; not common; Forest Hill (Marsh) ; Southgate ; Duhvich (Stephens); West 

 Wickham; Gravesend ; Sheppy and Sittinubou ne, Kent (Champion); Polegate 

 (\Vaterhouse) ; New Forest (Champion) ; Dawlish ; Plymouth, Whitsand Bay 

 (Walker); Norfolk; Knowle, near Birmingham (Blatch) ; Holy IsLmd (Walker); 

 Northumberland and Durham district (S. ater, not common; S. ceratus, Yetholin 

 (Crotch)); Scotland, rare ; iS. ater, Solway. Tweed, Civile,! Forth, Tay, Dee, and 

 Moray districts ; S. ceratus, very rare, Tweed district, found at Giuich by Mr. Hislop ; 

 Lelaud, near Dublin (Power) ; with tlu- exception of those specially mentioned as 



E 2 



