NITIDULIDvE. NITIDULA. 41 



thorax short, broad, thickly punctured, deeply and broadly eraarginate an- 

 teriorly, truncate posteriorly, with the sides rounded, the margins considerably 

 expanded and rufo-ferruginous ; the disc convex, dusky, with a transverse im- 

 pression behind : scutellum short, ferruginous : elytra broad, ovate, the apex 

 rounded, the margin broad, reflexed ; the disc convex, punctured, fuscous- 

 black, with the limb broadly rufo-ferruginous : body pitchy-black beneath, 

 with the apex rufescent : legs rufo-ferruginous. 



Variable : in some examples the disc of the thorax and of the elytra are nearly 

 concolorous: others have the latter with a dusky cloud towards the apex 

 only. 



The great width of the insect, with its clouded and rounded apex to the elytra, 

 distinguish this insect. 



Rather uncommon ; found in grassy banks near Hertford and 

 elsewhere : also in Norfolk and Suffolk. " Netley, in moss during 

 winter."" — Rev. F. W. Hope. " Taken by Mr. Spence, near Hull, 

 in 1805."— Marsham MSS. " North Wales."— C. Darwin, Esq. 



f Sp. 24. rufomarginata. Ovata, subconvexa, nigra, thoracis elytror unique mar- 



ginibus rufis. (Long. corp. 1 lin.) 

 Ni. rufomarginata. Davis MSS. 



Ovate, subconvex, black, with the margins of the thorax and of the elytra rufous. 

 Closely allied to the last, but of a deeper hue and broader in proportion. I have 



had but a casual inspection of the only example that has hitherto occurred ; 



but the above short characters will be sufficient to recognize the insect, which 



was kindly submitted to my notice by its active and zealous possessor, A. H. 



Davis, Esq. 



A single example taken near " Seven Oaks." — A. H. Davis, 

 Esq. 



Sp. 25. decemguttata. Oblongo-ovata, subconvexa, fusco-ferruginea, thoracis 



margine elytrorumque guttis decent pallidis. (Long. corp. 1 — if lin.) 

 Ni. decemguttata. Fabricius. — Steph. Catal. 79. No. 849. 



Oblong-ovate, somewhat convex, fusco-ferruginous : head deeply punctured : 

 eyes black, prominent : thorax short, deeply emarginate anteriorly, truncate 

 posteriorly, above thickly and rather deeply punctured, with the lateral mar- 

 gins and a dorsal line, the latter expanded posteriorly, pale griseo-ferruginous : 

 elytra oblong-ovate, with the tip obtuse, rather obliquely truncate, the sutural 

 angle rounded ; the disc of each elytron with five pale spots, placed, one on the 

 shoulder, the second large ovate, near the scutellum, the third, angulated, in 

 the middle of the lateral margin, the fourth, slightly wedge-shaped, a little 

 behind the middle near the suture, and the fifth, oblong, near the apex of the 

 margin and frequently confluent with the third : body beneath fusco-testa- 

 ceous: legs pale testaceous. 



The male has the posterior femora slightly dentate. 



E 2 



