British Species of the Genus Stenus. 143 



Sp. 48. Stenus contractus, Erichs. 

 basalis, Curtis. 



fornicatus, Kirby's collection. 

 New Forest — J. C. Colneyhatcli, in moss, February — E. W. J. 



Notes on the Species q/" Stenus described by Kirby ; and, iyi 

 the " Illustrations of British Entomology," by Mr. 

 Stephens; together with Observations upon the Specimens 

 in Mr. Stephens Collection. 



Dr. J. E. Gray, the present possessor of the Kirbyan Manuscripts 

 on the Staphyl'in'idce, having kindly lent one of us the three 

 volumes in which they are contained, we will venture to say a 

 word or two respecting them, before we proceed to the imme- 

 diate object of the present communication. The descriptions are 

 each written on separate slips of paper ; * and the number of 

 genera and species, described with considerable detail, is about six 

 hundred, or rather more, these comprising the greater portion of 

 the British Slaphylinida;, together with some Continental species 

 (often from Swedish specimens sent by Gyllenhal) and some 

 exotic. The generic characters are given in great detail, and not 

 unfrequently accompanied with drawings of parts of the mouth, 

 &c. As regards the descriptions of the British species, they 

 were drawn up from the specimens in the author's own collection, 

 and those of several other cabinets ; those most frequently re- 

 ferred to are the cabinets of Mr. Spence, Dr. Leach (now in the 

 British Museum), Messrs. Sheppard, Marsham and Simpson, and 

 Dr. Joseph Hooker. Mr. Wilkin's collection is also referred to. 

 This last mentioned collection became the property of Mr. 

 Vigors, and was presented by him, together with his collections 

 in other branches of Natural History, to the Zoological Society. 

 In it will be found a tolerably good series of British Staphylinidce, 

 with Kirby's names attached, and there are good grounds for 

 believing that many of them were examined and named by 

 Kirby.-j" 



• Evidently early in the present century. 



t It appears by notes attached to some of the species of Stenus, that Mr. Wilkin 

 was not satisfied, in all cases, with the names furnished him by Kirby. Of the 

 species named angtistaius there are three or four specimens, one of which has 



