SPHiERIDIIDiE. 



135 



Sp. 23. aeneus. Ovalis, convcxus, ceneus, punctatissimus, palpis tarsisque ferru- 



gineis. (Long. corp. 1^ lin.) 

 Hy. aeneus. Steven. Steph. Catal. Appendix. 

 Rather narrower than the following, oval, convex, above densely and rather 



deeply punctured, of an obscure greenish-brass, rather glossy, beneath black : 



the femora piceous, the tibiae and tarsi ferruginous; the palpi the same; 



antennae piceous. 



Apparently rare. I have one specimen, found I believe near 

 Ripley, in the summer of 1827 : — two specimens are also said to 

 have been obtained from the New Forest. 



Sp. 24. globulus. Convexus, fusco-nigricans, subtilissims punctulatus, thoracis 

 laterihus pallidis, elytris unistriatis. (Long. corp. 1^ — 14 lin.) 



Hy. globulus. Paykul— Steph. Catal. p. 61. No. 625. 



More convex than the foregoing ; of a very glossy black : head very finely punc- 

 tulated, immaculate: thorax delicately punctured, very convex, the disc black, 

 the lateral margins broadly pale griseous : elytra black, nearly gibbous, thickly 

 and finely punctulated throughout, with a single stria on each near the suture, 

 the lateral margins and apex sometimes piceous: legs brownish-red, or pitchy. 



Very distinct from the authentic Marshamian specimens of Hydrobius minutus, 

 before described. 



Not uncommon near London, " In ponds on Hampstead-heath, 

 Wandsworth-common," &c. — Mr. Ingpen. " Bottisham." — Rev. 

 L. Jenyns. 



Sp. 25. Seminulum. Niger nitidus, l&vis 3 elytris strid suturali unicd, pedibus 



rufo-piceis. (Long. corp. f lin.) 

 Hy. Seminulum. Paykul— Steph. Catal. p. 61. No. 626. 



The smallest insect of the genus ; of a very glossy black, very gibbous : head 

 convex, obtuse : thorax very convex, with the lateral and posterior margins 

 rounded, smooth : elytra very convex, with a single stria on each near the 

 suture, not touching the base ; very smooth, with some obsolete impressions 

 towards the apex, that are only visible with a powerful lens ; the apex rather 

 acute, and dull pitchy: body beneath pitchy-black: legs pitchy-red; tibise 

 compressed, ciliated with spines. 



Rare : I possess specimens taken near London ; and I believe 

 the insect occurs also in Norfolk. 



Family XV.-— SPH^ERIDIIDiE, Leach. 



Antenna scarcely as long as the thorax, nine-jointed, the basal joint very long, 

 nearly straight, the four following small, the remainder forming a compressed 

 perforated club. Maxillary palpi as long as the antennae ; the second joint 



