90 SILPHID^. 



CATOPS, Paykull. 

 C. fuliginosa, Er., Kf. Mk. Brandbg., i. 239. Closely related 

 to 7iigricans, but differs from it by its much smaller size, much less 

 convex form, and shorter antennae, Avhich are nearly alwa5's blackish 

 towards apex, and whose eight joint is mvich shorter in both sexes, 

 being transverse even in the male. The posterior angles of the thorax 

 are less produced posteriorly, and the base of the thorax is more weakly 

 sinuate on each side. The elytra are flatter. The anterior tibia? of 

 the male have a much more distinct hump-like dilatation in the middle 

 of their inner sides. The species closely resembles specimens of nigrita, 

 in which the apical joint of the antenna? is tiot lighter, and difiers from 

 these only by the somewhat acutely produced posterior angles of the 

 thorax, by the presence of faint longitudinal strife on the anterior half 

 of the elytra, and by the hump-like dilatation on the middle of the 

 inner sides of the anterior tibiae of the male. L. 3|-4^ mm. 



This species was introduced by Dr. G. W. Nicholson upon specimens 

 taken by himself (males and females) at Alphington in Devonshire 

 under dead leaves (Ent. Record 1911, p. 67). He points out that Mr. 

 Donisthorpe has taken it in carrion at Hartlepool, and Mr. Dollman 

 in moles' nests in the Harrow district, and that it is probably widely 

 distributed in this country. Captain Sainte Claire Deville, who takes 

 it in rabbit-burrows, sa3\s it is common in France. 



Dr. Nicholson also gives the folloAving very useful table, partly taken 

 from Ganglbauer's Kiifer v. Mitteleuropa : 



1. Outline of body elliptical. Thorax at base 



as broad as, or hardly narrower than elytra, 

 only narrowed and rounded in front (Subg. 

 Sciodrejya, Th.) ...... Watsoni, Sjjence, 



FUMATA, Spence^ 

 Body with an angular constriction between 

 thorax and elytra. Thorax plainly nar- 

 rowed towards base, at base narrower than 

 base of elytra ..... 2 



2. Thorax finely, and very closely, granulate, 



without punctures Kirbyi, SjKiice, 



Thorax finely punctured, the punctures 

 impref-sed obliquely from behind forwards. 3 



3. Antennfe more or less slender, with feebly 



maiked club, sixth joint never transverse. 4 

 Antennae with strong club, sixth joint 

 transverse . . . , ,10 



4. Thorax broadest in posterior third . . fusca, Pz^ 



Thorax broadest at, or just behind, middle. 5 



5. Body short and broad. Thorax of male 

 broader, or at least as broad as elytra, very 



strongly rounded at sides .... grandicollis, Er; 



