l-t RHTNCHOPHORA. [Trochyphloeug. 



elytra, as a rule, appear to be darker and much less distinctly punctured; 

 the anterior tibiiu are unarmed in front in both sexes. L. 2|-3 mm. 



Sandy and chalky places, in moss and at roots of Lotus corniculatus ; very local 

 nnd, as a rule, not common ; Shirley, Mickleham, Caterham, Box Hill, Crohamhurst, 

 Chatham, Faversham ; Somhsea ; Portsmouth, common at roots of grass in spring; 

 Sandown, Isle of Wight; Scarborough; Ii eland, Waterford (Power) ; Waltou records 

 it as " rather rare, occasionally found on sandy banks on Windmill Hill, Graves nd ; 

 also near Birch Wood, and Bishops Wood, Hampstead, in June;" he appears, how- 

 ever, to have mixed this species and T. aristatus. 



T. scaber, L. (Mfoveolatus, Beck., squamosus, Gyll.). The largest of 

 our species, obovate, dull-brown, sometimes entirely covered with a 

 greyish or whitish crusted covering, antennae and legs pitchy or rufescent ; 

 scrobes plainly visible from above ; thorax very transverse, not con- 

 stricted at base, but broader at base than at apex ; elytra with rather 

 variable striae, interstices usually tessellated with fuscous and cinereous 

 scales, furnished behind with small outstanding scale-like setae ; the 

 thorax is, as a rule, compressed at each side with a fovea, but is vari- 

 able 1 oth as to impressions and sculpture and the distinctness of the 

 central channel, which is usually present ; according to Walton it may 

 be distinguished from every other species " by having the head invari- 

 ably with a transverse striga or constricted at the base, and by the 

 anterior tibiae being armed in both sexes at their apices, externally and 

 in front, with six minute spines." L. 3|-4| mm. 



In moss, &c. ; occasionally found in sand pits and by sweeping herbage ; also at the 

 roots of low plants in sandy places ; local ; London district, nnd south-eastern and 

 southern counties, common and generally distributed ; Somer.-et ; Bristol ; Barmouth ; 

 Malvern ; St. Faith's, Norwich ; Scarborough; Northumberland and Durham dis- 

 trict, rare, Hartlepool, South Shields, Hetton Hall, near Belford, and Tuiistall 

 Hill ; Scotland, rare, Tweed, Forth and Moray districts ; Ireland, near Waterford 

 (Power). 



T. scabriculus, L. (scaber, Schonh. ,' w?c L.). Much smaller than 

 the preceding, obovate, fuscous black or brownish, thickly clothed with 

 greyish scales, head depressed, thickly and rugosely punctured ; rostrum 

 rather broad with a deep central channel; thorax very transverse, with 

 an oblong fovea towards each side, finely and rugosely punctured, central 

 channel obsolete, disc and sides with a few whitish scattered setae ; 

 elytra with punctured striae, thickly clothed with narrow erect scale-like 

 setae ; in grey specimens the elytra are somewhat tessellated, and there 

 is a rather conspicuous white spot of scales on each elytron before middle 

 near suture; apex of anterior tibke with a strong tooth on outer-side and 

 another (bifid at apex) in front; teeth small in female. L. 3|-3 mm. 



In sandy and chalky places, in moss, at roots of grass and low plants ; common and 

 generally distributed in the London and southern districts, but does not apparently 

 occur in the midland counties or in Yorkshire, Lancashire, &c. ; Northumberland and 

 Durham district, very rare, "Marsden" Mr. J. Hardy; Scotland, rare, Solway and 

 Tweed districts; Ireland, near Dublin; according to Walton it is "certainly the 

 most abundant insect of the genus." 



