NEW BRITISH SPECIES, ETC., IN 1868. 33 



contracted just before the apex, as in that species, but com- 

 mencing to be contracted almost at its base, and having its 

 apex comparatively acuminate. The antennae, also, are darker 

 at the base, and the whole insect is rather more shining. 



29. HOMALIUM PUSILLUM, Auct. 



Mr. Crotch, 1. c, p. 68, notes that the insect hitherto 

 known to us by this name is split by Thomson into two 

 species, both of which, as he says, occur in this country. 



They form Thomson's genus Pliloionomus, and are (Sk. 

 Col., ix, pp. 317 — 8) thus named and characterized. 



1. P. punctipennis ; distinguished by its slightly shining 

 appeai'ance and yellow antennae (of which the apical joints 

 are distinctly more incrassate), the rotundate anterior angles 

 of its thorax, which is impressed with larger and deeper 

 dorsal fove^, and the evident though delicate punctuation of 

 its elytra. 



Mr. Crotch states that it occurs under bark of birch. 

 Thomson gives the bark of ^' loftrad" (literally, *' leaf-tree," 

 and by which he means any but trees having needle-leaves, 

 like firs, &c.) as its habitat. ^' Bjork" is the Swedish for 

 birch; but, in a locality where the only " leaf-trees" growing 

 amongst the pine forests are birch trees, the expression 

 " loftrdd " would be synonymous with birch. 



2. P. abietinus; very hke the preceding, but darker in 

 colour, opaque, with the antennce brownish at the apex, less 

 strongly incrassate, and with the third joint longer; the 

 thoracic dorsal foYe^ less deep, the elytra very delicately 

 alutaceous, and scarcely visibly punctate. 



It appears to be found under bark of various pines, 

 especially the spruce. 



1869. D 



