From the tlissimilarity of form at first sight of Byrrhus and 

 Mister we are induced to inquire Latreille's reasons for placing 

 them in the same family, when we shall find that in the struc- 

 ture of the legs as well as in the mode of contracting them, in 

 the situation of the labial palpi and in the number of their 

 joints, there is considerable evidence of relationship : in con- 

 firmation we will refer to a comparison of the legs of Byrrhus 

 and o'i Dendrnphilus (PI. 131), of the labium &c. (fig. 4) of our 

 Plate, and the same part of Ulster in the Horce Ejitomologica 

 (fig. 1 F) ; and in Anthrenus, a genus of the same family, we 

 have an approach to the antennae of Hister. Dr. Leach very 

 judiciously formed the Histeri into a family, and placed it next 

 the Byrrhidce. Mr. MacLeay in his ingenious and learned 

 work has considered the Histeridce allied to the Lucayiida, 

 which will bring them nearer to the ScaribaidcE than we have 

 been accustomed to see them ; and the question now is, whether 

 the Byrrhidce are to accompany them. 



The following is a list of our British species and their sy- 

 nonyms. 



1 B. Dennii Kirby. Nob. 



2 pilula Linn., Panz. 4. 3. Sturm, tab. 33. — ater Panz. 



32. 2. 



3 fasciatus Fab., Oliv. tab. \.f. 2. — ornatus Panz. ? 24. 1. 



ferruginea Marsh. — undulata Marsh. 



4 oblongus Sturm, tab 34, A, a. 



5 ater Marsh. Ent. Brit. 



6 murinus Fab., Panz. 25. 1. — undulatus Panz. 37. 14. 



7 dorsalis Fab., Panz. 104, — , fasciatus Panz. 32. 1. — 



morio Panz. 37. 15. — bicolor Marsh. 



8 varius Fab., Panz. 32. 3. — sericea Marsh. 



9 fuscus Marsh. Etit. Brit. 



The beautiful species figured was found in a chalk pit in 

 Barham, Suffolk, in the spring of 1821 by Mr. H. Denny, 

 whose monographs upon the British Pselaphidce and Scydmce- 

 nidcE, with coloured figures, entitle him to the honour which 

 his patron has conferred upon him by calling this insect by 

 his name. 



The Byrrhi are found in sandy situations, gravel pits, at 

 the base of walls, and the roots of trees, amongst short grass 

 in pathways, &c. from March to July. 



The plant is Cynosurus cristatus (Crested Dog's-tail Grass.) 



