28 MANDIBULATA. COLEOPTERA. 



Very abundant throughout the metropolitan district, especially- 

 near Hertford ; also found in Norfolk, and in several parts of the 

 north of England. " Common throughout Cambs." — Rev. L. 

 Jenyns. " Abundant on the coasts of England and Wales." — 

 Rev. F. W. Hope. " Kew."— Rev. T. F. Haver field. " Parley." 

 J. C. Dale, Esq. " On the sand hills, and in grass fields (near 

 Swansea), common." — L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. " Scarborough." — 

 T. Bean, Esq. 



Genus CXXVI. — Phosphuga, Leach. 



Antennae longer than the thorax, slender, gradually increasing from the base to 

 the apex, which terminates in a distinct Particulate club, composed of nearly 

 equal joints, the terminal one ovate : head narrow ; eyes small : thorax semi- 

 circular; abruptly truncate posteriorly: elytra entire; carinated, with a deep 

 marginal canal : body oval or subrounded : legs rather slender, simple ; the 

 anterior tarsi dilated in the males. 



The genus Phosphuga may be known from Silpha by the tenuity 

 and length of the antennas, the capitulum of which is distinctly tri- 

 articulate, and composed of nearly equal joints : the head is narrow: 

 the thorax and elytra very deeply margined, the latter entire at the 

 apex ; the body rather broadly ovate, or nearly rounded ; the legs 

 somewhat slender. 



Sp. 1. atrata. Ovata, nigra, elytris rugoso-punctatis lineis tribus elevatis, in~ 



terioribus longioribus. (Long. corp. 4| — 6^ lin.) 

 Si. atrata. LinnS.— Ph. atrata. Steph. Catal. 77. No. 820. 



Ovate, glossy black, head thickly punctate; thorax thickly punctate on the disc, 

 which is slightly convex, and rugose-punctate on the sides, which are de- 

 pressed : elytra throughout closely rugose-punctate, the disc slightly convex, 

 with three abbreviated elevated shining lines, the interior of which, on each 

 elytron, or that next the suture, is longest. 



Var. /3. With the margins of the thorax and the elytra pale testaceous. 



Var. y. Entirely of a pale testaceous, with the apex of the antennae fuscous. 



Extremely variable both in size and colour. 



A very common species : abundant in fields, pathways, the borders 

 of woods, &c, and hybernating beneath mosses, dead leaves, and 

 stones. " Common in Cambs." — Rev. L. Jenyns. " Abundant in 

 alder coppices, Salop." — Rev. F. W. Hope. " Epping."-r-Mr. 

 Doubleday. " Kew."— Rev. T. T. Haverfield. " Glanvilles 

 Wootton." — J. C. Dale, Esq. " Not uncommon (near Swansea), 

 under bark and moss in winter, and is often plentiful in summer on 

 the sand hills." — /.. W. Dittwyn, Esq. 



