214 MANDIBULATA. COLEOPTERA. 



Like Tasgius, Astrapaeus has the labial palpi securiform ; but the 

 smoothness of the thorax, and more elongate terminal joint of the 

 maxillary palpi, at once discriminate it : the articulations of the 

 antennae also differ in form and proportions. The species reside be- 

 neath the bark of trees. 



•j-Sp. 1. rufipennis. Niger, nitidus, antennariivi hasi, ore, elytris abdominisque 



segmcnto penultimo riifis. (Long. corp. 6 lin.) 

 Ast. rufipennis. Leacli MSS. — Steph. Cutal. 276. No. 2917. 



Black, shiuing- : head very smooth : labrum rufous : thorax also very smooth, 

 glossy ; with one or two larger impressions : elytra bright castaneous-red, 

 with a row of punctures placed longitudinally: abdomen rather glossy, 

 with the greater portion of the penultimate segment rufous: legs black, 

 with the tibia and anterior tarsi fuscescent: antenna with the two basal 

 joints rufous. 



This is also apparently a very rare species : I once took a specimen 

 at Coombe-wood, which is now in the collection at the British Mu- 

 seum, associated with a second, I believe, captured in Devonshire. 

 These are the only indigenous examples that I have inspected. 



Genus DIX. — Quedius, Leach. 



Antennae short, slender, filiform, the basal joint slightly elongate, second short, 

 obconic, third elongate, subclavate, fourth as long as the second, four fol- 

 lowing gradually decreasing in length, obturbinate, the remainder shorter, 

 with the last longest, and suddenly acuminated. Palpi slender, elongate, 

 with the apical joint elongate, subfusiform : mandibles short, slightly den- 

 tate within: head rather small, subovate: eyes sometimes large: thorax 

 anteriorly truncate, rounded, and generally compressed in front, the disc 

 very smooth, with a hw large impressed points: elytra rather short, some- 

 what rounded at the apex : abdomen slightly attenuated at the tip, the 

 margins a little elevated: Zeg-5 slender; tibioe otiose ', tarsi, anterior, consi- 

 derably dilated. 



The species of the extensive genus Quedius may be known by 

 having the palpi long, fihform, the mandibles dissimilarly dentate 

 within, the anterior tarsi very much dilated, and the thorax convex, 

 with its sides expanded and compressed; the head is generally 

 elongate-ovate, and the eyes are frequently very large, though not 

 very prominent. They mostly reside beneath stones or dung, under 

 the refuse materials of gardens, &c., in damp and sandy situations. 



