168 MANDIBULATA. — COLEOPTERA. 



a little narrowed anteriorly : elytra entire, slightly attenuated behind, rounded 

 at the apex : body elongate-ovate, acuminate at each end, somewhat convex : 

 legs short; tibiae slender, not spinose; tarsi very slender, all five-jointed, 

 the penultimate joint simple. 



This genus, which consists of very minute species, may be at 

 once known from Phalacrus, by the approximation of the antennae 

 at the base, which in that genus are remote; there are other 

 essential distinctions, as may be observed by the above characters. 

 In several respects, Ephistemus approaches towards the genus 

 Atomaria, especially in the structure and insertion of the antennae ; 

 but the ovate, subconvex body, exclusively of other characters, 

 appear to point out the present family as its proper station ; as 

 amongst the Necrophaga (to which group Atomaria belongs) the 

 body is generally more or less linear : the affinity therefore ap- 

 pears to me to result from the peculiar situation of the two genera 

 in their respective circles. 



Sp. 1. Gyrinoides. Niger, nitidus, glaber, antennis pedihusque testaceis. (Long, 

 corp. ^ lin.) 



De. Gyrinoides. Marsham. — Steph. Catal. p. 68. No. 723. 



Shining, glabrous : head black, impunctate, with the mouth testaceous : thorax 

 black, without punctures; the anterior margin slightly castaneous: elytra 

 also black, very convex, and rather wide anteriorly, impunctate, the apex 

 obscurely margined with piceous : antennae and legs pale testaceous. 



Less than the following species, and known by the uniformity of the colouring 

 of the antennae and legs: and differs from Ep. confinis, by wanting the 

 castaneous apex to the elytra. 



The generic peculiarity of form is well pointed out by Marsham in his con- 

 cise description of the species : " De. niger, nitidus, utrinque acutiusculus, 

 antennis pedibusque testaceis." 



I possess a pair of this insect ; one of which I obtained from the 

 Marshamian cabinet ; the other I received from Glamorganshire ; 

 and Mr. Westwood has captured two near London. 



Sp. 2. nigriclavis. Niger, nitidus, glaber, pedibus testaceis, antennarum capitido 



nigricanti. (Long. corp. l 2 — f lin.) 

 Ep. nigriclavis mihi. — Steph. Catal. p. 68. No. 724. 



Shining, glabrous: head black, impunctate, mouth pitchy-testaceous, thorax 

 black, the anterior margin concolorous : elytra deep pitchy-black, with the 

 apex somewhat paler: legs rufo-testaceous : antennae pale-testaceous at the 

 base, with the club dusky. 



The superior bulk and dusky capitulum of the antennae at once distinguish this 

 species. 



