SCYDM^NID.E. — MASTIGUS SCYDM.«NUS. ^Q 



moss, at the roots of trees, or in hedges and damp situations ; and 

 may be occasionally taken flying during the summer : but of their 

 habits I believe nothing has yet been ascertained. The following 

 are the recorded British genera : 



Ulytra connata; ante/incB geniculatas: 477- Mastigus. 



libera; antennce xects: . » . . . . 478. ScYDMiENUS. 



Genus CCCCLXXVIII.— Scydm.enus, Latreille. 



Antennce rather long, clavate. the basal joint robust, slightly elongate, the 

 second also rather large, the three or four terminal ones gradually incras- 

 sate, with the last longest, acuminated, or ovate, the intermediate joints 

 smallest, and slightly variable in the different species. Palpi ntiaxillary 

 elongate, 4-jointed, the third joint large, pear-shaped, the fourth minute, 

 subulate : head ovate-orbicular ; eyes large, prominent : thorax narrower 

 than the elytra, attenuated behind: elytra ample, free, ovate, convex, 

 entire, the base mostly foveolated : femora clavate ; tibice slightly curved. 



There is evidently considerable affinity between the insects of this 

 genus and the Engidae, and I suspect the genus Eutheia forms the 

 bond of union between them. They are also allied to the Psela- 

 phidse, from which they, however, materially differ by having the 

 tarsi pentamerous and the elytra elongated. Of their habits nothing 

 is known ; they are found at the roots of grass and trees in damp or 

 gravelly and sandy places, nearly throughout the year, but most 

 abundantly in the spring. 



Genus CCCCLXXVII— Mastigus, Latreille. 



Antennce subfiliform, geniculated, with the basal and second joints longest, 

 conic, pilose ; third and following to the tenth subequal, conic-cylindric, 

 the eleventh elongate-ovate. Pa/p/ maxillary 4-jointed, the two last joints 

 forming an oval mass : head ovate, separated by a distinct neck from the 

 thorax, which is subcordate, and truncate behhid: abdomen oval-ovate: 

 elytra united : legs slender, 



+Sp. 1. palpalis. Ommino niger. (Long. corp. 2| lin.) 

 Ma. palpalis. Latreille. — Steph. Catal. 255. N'o. 2531. note. 



Entirely black. 



A pair of this insect, supposed to have been taken in England, are in the 

 British Museum. 



