STAPHYLINID^. 



43 



1908. It is smaller and less convex than 0. maura, Er., from which 

 it may further be known by the distinctly transverse fourth joint of 

 the antennae, the less apparent dorsal depressions of the hind body, and 

 the shape of the thorax. It has occurred very rarely in Provence and 

 Corsica. Mulsant and Rev. {I.e. 427) had only seen one specimen and 

 were doubtful, when they described it, whether it really belonged to 

 the genus Ocijusa. 



Mr. E. A. Newbery (Ent. Mo. Mag. xl. (2 Ser. v.) 1904, 251) pro- 

 poses the following table for distinguishing the species, and has kindly 

 modified it for me to include 0. defecta : 



I. Elytra (with head and thorax) distinctly and 

 roughly alutaceous ; thorax broader than 

 long, with shallow central furrow 



II. Elytra not alutaceous ; thorax at most with 

 a basal depression. 



i. Hind tarsi shorter than tibise, first joint 

 subequal to the two following united, and not 

 longer than iifth. 



A. Thorax with a rather deep depression in 

 front of scutellum, as long as broad, dis- 

 tinctly narrowed in front .... 



B. Thorax without a depression. 



a. Foui'th joint of antennj^j broader than 

 long ; thorax transverse, narrowed in 

 fi'ont, with the sides scarcely rounded . 



b. Fourth joint of antennas longer than 

 broad ; thorax not transverse, scarcely 

 narrowed in front, with the sides evi- 

 dently rounded. 



a.* Antennfe more robust, usually entirely 

 red-yellow, as are the legs ; av^erage 

 size larger ...... 



b.* Antennse less robust, usually infuscate 

 at apex ; femora infuscate ; average 

 size smaller ..... 



ii. Hind tarsi subequal in length to the tibice, 

 first joint very long, subequal to the thx^ee 

 following joints united, and plainly longer 

 than the fifth ; legs entirely testaceous 



0. INCRASSATA, Muls. 



O. NiGRATA, Fairm. 



0. DEFECTA, Key. 



O. PiciNA, Auhe. 



O. MAURA, Er. 



0. HiBERNicA, Bye. 



With regard to 0. Mhernica, Rye, in describing it as an Aleochara 

 (Ent. Mo. Mag. xii., 175), admits that it is not an Aleochara at all, and 

 it certainly is not an Ocyusa. It must probably be referred to a new 

 genus, but a closer examination of further specimens is necessary before 

 any certain conclusion can be come to. The British species of Ocyusa 

 probably belong to three or four separate genera. 



