HISTERIDJE. PLATYSOMA. 161 



found beneath the bark of trees. " In Boleti near Bristol, by Mr. 

 Miller."— Dr. Leach. « South Creek, Norfolk."— Rev. T. Skrim- 

 shire. " Coombe-wood." — Messrs. Waterhouse and Westwood. 



Sp. 7. picipes. Lineari-elongatus, convexus, niger, undique punctatus, antennis 



pedihusque rufescentibus. (Long. corp. 1 lin.) 

 Hi. picipes. Fabricius. — De. picipes. Steph. Catal. 103. No. 1081. 



Elongate-linear, convex, black ; head broad, finely punctate : thorax subquadrate, 

 somewhat truncate anteriorly and posteriorly, the lateral margins parallel, 

 convex above, and thickly punctate throughout : elytra very convex, black, 

 with the margin and apex piceous ; the surface delicately punctate through- 

 out : legs rufescent, with the anterior tibiae dilated and somewhat denticulated 

 anteriorly ; antennae rufescent. 



Var. /3. ? De. Milleri. Leach MSS.—Steph. Catal. 103. No. 1082.— Less elongate 

 in form, and somewhat more depressed, and of a piceous hue. 



More elongate and convex than the preceding species, and rather larger. 



Also rare in Britain ; and, like the preceding species, found be- 

 neath the bark of trees. " Near Norwich, by Mr. Paul."" — Dr. 

 Leach. " Occasionally found under stones, and among moss on 

 the sand-hills (near Swansea)." — L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. — Var. /3. 

 " Near Bristol, found in a Boletus by Mr. Miller.'' 1 — Dr. Leach. 



Genus CLXXXV. — Platysoma, Leach. 



Antennae with the basal joint very long, somewhat recurved at its apex, and 

 abruptly clavate ; second, short, straight, less robust, the six following very short, 

 rather slender, gradually increasing in diameter ; the seventh and eighth being 

 transverse ; the remaining three forming a solid subglobose club. Palpi very 

 short : head broad, small : thorax transverse or equally subquadrate : body 

 flat above : elytra rather long, truncate : the abdomen with its two terminal 

 segments exposed : legs short ; tibia compressed, the outer edge of the anterior 

 pair furnished with a double row of minute serrations, and of the four posterior 

 with small spines, with a groove to receive the tarsi, which are simple. 



Platysoma is distinguished by the great comparative width and 

 flatness of its form, the back being scarcely higher than the sides ; it 

 also differs by having the first joint of the antennse recurved and 

 remarkably clavate, the clava being dilated internally : the second 

 joint is not recurved as in Hister, and the six following are gradually 

 shorter, but broader; the eighth being scarcely less in diameter 



