NEW BRITISH SPECIES, ETC., IN 1868. 27 



of veiy larf^e material will be requisite before regarding them 

 as specifically distinct. 



Thomson's species (described in Skand. Col., ix, p. 159ct 

 seq.) are as follows :— 



1. Quedius {3Iic?'osaurus) 4-punctafus. This he distin- 

 guishes from the others by the two oblique punctures on 

 each side of the disc of the thorax, by its elytra not being 

 longer than the thorax, and by the 6th ventral segment of 

 its abdomen having four setigerous punctures on each side 

 before the apex. It is always black, with red elytra ; and 

 has the basal joint of its posterior tarsi almost as long as the 

 apical joint ; and, according to Thomson, is not lare in 

 cellars and stables. As far as my limited experience 

 goes, it occurs about trees, and never in such situations 

 as those last mentioned ; and I certainly consider it a good 

 species. 



2. Q. (M.) temporalis. This is the most common form, 

 universally abundant in rubbish heaps, gardens, &c.. Thom- 

 son adds "woods'^ {skogar) to his localities for it. It is 

 very variable in colour, being often more or less pitchy, 

 pitchy red, or even rufo- testaceous in the head, thorax and 

 abdomen, but never seems to exhibit the deep black body 

 and bright I'ed elytra of 4-punctatuSf from which it is sepa- 

 rable by its thorax being shorter and more narrowed towards 

 the apex, and with its disc unpunctured on each side; the 

 basal joint of its posterior tarsi being evidently shorter than 

 the apical joint; its elytra being longer than its thorax; the 

 6tli ventral segment having only three setae on each side, 

 and the temples (behind the eyes) not so pubescent. 



3. Q. (ii/.) fageti. This is entirely deep black, with 

 pitchy-red tarsi, and is distinguished from temporalis by its 

 shorter antennffi and elytra, the punctuation of which is more 

 sparing but deeper, and by its abdomen not being versi- 



