J3racJtysomus.] RHTNCHOPHORA. 193 



BRACK YSOMUS, Steph. (Platytars-us, Schonherr, pars). 



About a dozen species are contained in this genus which chiefly in- 

 habit Europe; one or two occur also in Algeria; they are small, sub- 

 globose, insects, with stout outstanding scale-like setae, the thorax 

 transverse, the scrobes not deflexed, and the third joint of the f unieulus of 

 the antennae short ; they are found in moss, and at roots of low plants ; 

 one of our British species is not uncommon, but the other is very rare. 



I. Eyes flat, contiguous to margin of thorax (Brackyso- 

 mus, Steph.) ; second joint of funiculus of antennae 

 considerably shorter than first ; form broader and more 



convex B. ECHINATUS, Bonsd. 



(hirsutulus, F.) 



II. Eyes convex, distant from the margin of thorax 

 (Platytarsus, Scliiin.) ; second joint of fnniculus of 

 antennae not mut.h" shorter than first ; form narrower 



and less convex B. HIRTTS, Boh. 



(stfalosus, Boh.) 



B. echinatus, Bonsd. (hirsutulns, F.). Fuscous-black or brown, 

 with the antennae and legs red, scantily clothed with ashy scales; head 

 flat, rostrum without central channel ; thorax strongly transverse, covered 

 with erect scale-like setie, scarcely rounded at sides, not channelled, 

 punctured ; elytra subglobose, with ashy scales on the interstices, and 

 erect coarse scale-like setre throughout ; underside clothed with ashy 

 scales ; legs moderately stout, tarsi short. L. 2-2| mm. 



By beatinp and sweeping herbage, in early summer ; also under dead leaves in 

 winter; locally common; London district, common, Shirley, Mickleham, Ciiterham, 

 Dareuth Wood, Chatham, Birch Wood, West Wickham, Reigate ; Bottishnm, Cam- 

 bridge ; Norfolk ; Swansea ; Hereford ; Llangollen ; Llundudno ; Knowle ; Bewdley ; 

 Rep' on ; Liverpool ; Northumberland and Durham district; Scotland, rare, Tweed 

 and Forth districts (Sharp) ; Balmuto, Fifeshire (Power). 



S. hirtus, Boh. (petvlotvs, Boh.). Allied to the preceding but dis- 

 tinguished by having the eyes convex and distant from the anterior 

 margin of the thorax, and the second joint of the funiculus of the 

 antennae not much shorter than first ; the form is narrower and less con- 

 vex, and the thorax is longer and more rounded at the sides ; the 

 margins of the thorax are furnished with a row of round whitish scales, 

 and the elytra are scantily clothed with narrow scales, and numerous 

 raised scale-like setae, which are not at all claviform ; the general colour 

 is darker. L. 2|-3 mm. 



Chalky hill sides, in moss, <fec., in early spring ; very rare ; Caterham, one example 

 in moss in April (Champion) ; Chatham (Walker) ; Tunbridge (Wollaston) ; Arundel, 

 in moss, February, 1842 (S. Stevens); Southampton (Walton); Henley-ou-Tbames 

 (Power) ; Mr. Douglas has found it in a primrose root from the London district 

 which he bought in one of the London markets. 



EUSOMUS, Germar. 



This genus contains about twenty species from Europe, Northern 

 VOL. v. o 



