102 MANDIBULATA. — COLEOPTERA. 



stituting one genus only ; but there are several striking external 

 characters by wliich they may be advantageously separated. The 

 present genus may be known from its allies by the broad subqua- 

 drate depressed thorax, and flat body ; and from Calathus by having 

 simple claws. 



Sp. 1. ruficollis, Piceo-ferrugineus, thorace glaberrimo postice utrinque striold 



impressd. (Long. corp. 2f — 3^ lin.) 

 Ca. ruficollis. Marsham.—PL ruficollis. Steph. Catal. p. 21. No. 162. 



Head very glossy, smooth, dusky-ferruginous, with a transverse impression 

 between the antennas : thorax very glossy, bright ferruginous-red, with a 

 deep longitudinal dorsal channel, and a strong impressed line on each side at 

 the base : elytra dusky ferruginous, striated, the striae impunctate, with three 

 impressed dots on the third from the suture, and an interrupted series on 

 the margin : body beneath dusky-red : legs, palpi, and antennae ferruginous, 



Var. /3. Entirely ferruginous, with the legs paler., 



Var. 7. Very pale testaceous : immature ? 



Not uncommon in the neighbourhood of London, particularly in 

 Richmond-park, where I have repeatedly taken it during the w^inter 

 months, beneath moss at the roots of trees : it likewise occurs in 

 Norfolk and Suffolk. 



Genus XL. — Argutor, Megerle. 



Palpi with the ^rminal joint somewhat fusiform, truncate : labrum transverse, 

 entire : mandibles acute, with a tooth at the base internally : mentum with a 

 bifid central lobe. Antenncs filiform, the basal joint longest, second short; 

 third, fourth, and terminal of equal length, the rest gradually shorter from 

 the fourth, and with the latter pubescent : head subtrigonal: if/ioraa? truncate- 

 cordate, with the hinder angles acute: elijtra sUghtly convex, obsoletely 

 emarginate : tvings two or none : claws simple : anterior tarsi of the males 

 with three dilated joints. 



The species of this genus have been very much neglected in 

 Britain, owing, I presume, to their apparent similarity ; but when 

 submitted to the test of a rigid examination their diiferences are 

 manifest: the genus has not hitherto been characterized; it may 

 be readily known from the preceding by its subcordate-truncate 

 thorax, and the more acuminated terminal joint of its palpi, which 

 approaches towards that of Pogonus ; but its depressed body and 

 dusky colouring well distinguish it from that genus, exclusively of 

 the habits of the species, which usually reside beneath mosses and 

 stones in damp places, during the spring. 



