NTTIDULID.E. NITIDULA. 35 



B. Thorax with the disc equal, smooth. 



Sp. 7. bipustulata. Ovata, subdepressa, nigra subohscura, elytris puncto medio 

 rubro, jjedibus ferrugineis. (Long. corp. 1£ — 2j lin.) 



Si. bipustulata. Linnc'.—Ni. bipustulata. Steph. Catal. 78. iVo. 831. 



Ovate, slightly depressed, deep nearly obscure black, thickly punctulate : thorax 

 slightly emarginate anteriorly, the disc convex, not foveolated : elytra a little 

 convex, the apex very obtuse, or punctured ; on each, rather behind the 

 middle, is an ovate, small, rufous spot : legs rufo-ferruginous : antennae with 

 a large black club. 



The red spots are sometimes nearly obliterated. 



Less common than either of the two last, and apparently more 

 local : I have taken it in several places within the metropolitan 

 district, in dead carcases, at Hornsey, Gravesend, Ripley, Hert- 

 ford, &c. " Bottisham." — Rev. L. Jenyns. " Riverhead, Kent." 

 — Mr. Ingpen. " Netley." — Rev. F. W. Hope. " Plaistow and 

 East Ham marshes." — A. Cooper, Esq. " Glanvilles Wootton."" — 

 J. C. Dale, Esq. — " Common (near Swansea)." — L. W. Dillwyn, 

 Esq. 



Sp. 8. rufipes. Ovata, subdepressa, nigra obscura, vix punctulata, antennarum 



basi, ore, pedibusque rufo-ferrugineis. (Long. corp. 1 — 2 lin.) 

 Si. rufipes. Linne.—Ni. obscura. Steph. Catal. 78. JVo. 832. 



Rather elongate-ovate, somewhat depressed : dull obscure black, faintly punc- 

 tured : head depressed ; mouth rufo-piceous : thorax slightly notched in 

 front, the disc subconvex, the lateral margins rounded, and sometimes 

 rufescent: elytra broad, rather convex, obscure immaculate black, clothed 

 with a very short fuscous pubescence : legs short, robust, rufo-ferruginous : 

 antennae rufo-ferruginous, with a large black club. 



Extremely variable in size, but known from all the rest of the genus by its 

 uniform obscure dull black hue. 



Rather abundant, occurring in dead carcases, putrid fungi, be- 

 neath dead leaves, in flowers, &c, throughout the metropolitan 

 district; in Norfolk, Suifolk, Devonshire, &c. " Dead mice, 

 "Netley."— Rev. F. W. Hope.—" Glanvilles Wootton."— J. C. 

 Dale, Esq. " Near Swansea." — L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. 



Sp. 9. quadripustulata. Plvte xvi. f. 4. Oblongo-ovata, nigro-fusca, elytris 

 maculis duabus testae eo-flavis. (Long. corp. if lin.) 



Ni. quadripustulata. Fabriciusf— Steph. Catal. 79. No. 833. 



Oblong-ovate, dull fuscous-black; thorax obscurely margined with rufescent; 

 elytra with two testaceous-yellow spots, one on the disc a little behind the 

 middle, the other towards the angle of the shoulder : legs and antennae fer- 

 ruginous, the club of the latter obscure. 



Rather variable in size and colour. 



