Insects. 7067 



Ptenidium picipes, iiov. sp. L. c. -f lin. Ovatum, convexissimum, 

 laevissimura, nigrum, punctis remolis per totum corpus notatum ; 

 capite magno, oculis prominulis ; prothorace capite longiori, 

 lateribus valde rolundatis, angulis obtusis ; scutello magno, Iri- 

 an gulari ; elytris ovatis, prothorace parum latioribus, posterius 

 angustatis, apicibus obtusis, ad apicem dilutioribus ; antennis 

 ac pedibus piceis, aut piceo-nigris. 

 A P.punctato forma ovata et convexissima ad distingueudum valeat ; 

 ab aliis antem puncta per totum corpus dispersa, atque membra nigres- 

 centia banc speciem indicant. Exempla nonnulla capta in Muscis 

 prope Gumley vere novo. 



Deep black, ovate, very convex and shining, deeply but very 

 remotely punctured throughout ; head large, with the eyes rather 

 prominent ; thorax rather longer than the head, with the sides very 

 much rounded and the angles obtuse ; scutellum large, triangular ; 

 elytra rather wider than the thorax, ovate, narrowed posteriorly, with 

 the apex obtuse, rather paler towards the apex ; legs and antennae 

 piceous or pitchy black, the latter rather darkest. 



The curiously punctured surface of the body may, and I dare say 

 has, confounded this species with P. punctatura, but it may be easily 

 distinguished from that insect by its very great convexity and ovate 

 and wider form, and also by having the disk of the thorax punctured 

 throughout without the smooth space so conspicuous in P. punctatum. 

 From the rest of the genus it may be known by the deeply punctured 

 surface of the body and its dark limbs. It appears to be a very local 

 species ; I find it in moss in the early part of the spring, at one small 

 spot near this village, but not elsewhere. 



Besides the foregoing two other species were added to the British 

 list in the course of last year, viz. : — 



Ptilium ccBsum (Erich son). Found rather plentifully by Mr. Greg- 

 son in ants' nests sent from Scotland. 



Ptilium saxonicum (Gillmeister). Of this one pair were taken by 

 myself near this place in June. 



In order to give a more correct idea of the appearance and position 

 of the eyes in the wingless species of Ptinella, I send a sketch of the 

 under side of the head of P. aptera, as these organs are more con- 

 spicuous in that species than in the rest, but with a high power they 

 may easily be discerned in all that I have hitherto examined, viz., 

 P. britannica, P. aptera, P. denticoUis and P. angustula. I have also 



