. PTEROSTICHUS. 109 



in different individuals, in some assuming the form of an oblong 

 impression, in others expanding considerably. Elytra oblong, 

 narrow, sides rather parallel, striated, the striae faintly punctured, 

 having three larger impressions on the third interstice and the 

 usual series on the margin ; body beneath smooth with the sides 

 of the breast alone punctured, tip of the abdomen testaceous red, 

 and furnished with a slightly elevated longitudinal line in the $ ; 

 legs pitchy red. Length 3^ lines. 



Argutor anthracinus and Omaseus l&vigatus, Steph., both be- 

 long to this species. It is found in marshy places, but is rather 

 local. I have taken it plentifully in the Bridge Woods near 

 Tunbridge Wells and in the Huntingdonshire and Cambridge- 

 shire fens ; it is abundant on the edges of Whittlesea Mere both 

 in spring and autumn. Mr. Haliday captured it also in Ireland. 



(ARGUTOR, Megerle.) 



18. P. vernalis : alatus, niger, nitidus ; thorace subquadrato, 

 postice utrinque punctato unistriatoque, angulis posticis 

 subrectis ; elytris oblongis, subparallelis, fortiter striatis, 

 striis obsolete punctatis ; antennis pedibusque piceis. 



Harpalus vernalis, Gyll. Ins. Suec. 2. 90. 



Feronia vernalis, Dej. Spec. 3. 240 ; Icon. 3. 32. pi. 129. 



Argutor vernalis, Steph. Mand. 1. 103, et Manual, p. 30. 



Platysma crenata, Sturm, D. F. 5. 73. 



Argutor rufomarginatus, Curtis, Ent. pi. 666. 



A. inquinatus, Steph. Mand. 1. 103, et Manual, p. 30. 



Winged, black and shining. Head smooth, with two transverse 

 striae in front, palpi and antennae pitchy black, base of the latter 

 pitchy red. Thorax subquadrate, sides very moderately and 

 equally rounded, so that the width before and behind is nearly 

 the same, posterior angles minute at the tip and not quite right 

 angles, disk convex, dorsal furrow very slight, base impunctate 

 in the middle, but strongly punctured on both sides, having also 

 an oblong impression or stria in the midst of a wide shallow 

 fovea in which the punctures are contained close to the hinder 

 angles. Elytra wide, oblong, sides almost parallel, apex rounded, 

 deeply striated, the striae finely punctured, the third interstice 

 with three more distinct impressions, the base without the short 

 stria next the scutellum ; sides of the breast strongly punctured, 

 legs pitchy black. Length 3 lines. 



A. inquinatus, Steph., is identical with this insect, of which 

 also A. rufomarginatus, Curtis, is an immature example. It is a 

 very abundant species in marshy places, on the banks of rivers, 

 &c., throughout the kingdom. 



