86 



b. Species with the thorax narrower at the base than the elytra, the latter 

 being brilliant green or coppery - - P. cupreus, P. versicolor ; P. dimi- 

 datus, and P. lepidus. 



c. Species with the thorax narrower at the base than the elytra, the latter 

 being dark or pitchy, and with the anterior tibiae distinctly thickened towards 



the apex... : the remaining seventeen species, which may be further 



sub -divided, as follows : — 



A. Colour pitchy black or pitchy red - - P. picimanus. 



B. Colour shining black. 



1. Length exceeding \ of an inch. 



a. Posterior angles of the thorax distinct - . - P. niger, P. vul- 

 garis, P. parumpunctatus , P. anthracinus, P. nigrita, P. 

 gracilis , P. oblongo-punctatus, and P. vitreus. 



b. Posterior angles of the thorax rounded - - P. aterrimus, P. 



madidus, and P. cethiops. 



2. Length not exceeding \ of an inch - - P. vernalis, P. incequalis, 



P. minor, P m strenuus, and P. diligens 



Group A. (Genus Abax of Bonelli). 

 P. striola, the largest species of the genus, is easily recognised by the 

 characters above given. The elytra are nearly flat, with deep striae ; the 

 length is generally | of an inch. Common everywhere, under stones, clods 

 of earth in fields, and garden refuse. 



Group B. (Genus Pcecilus of Bonelli). 



First two joints of the antennaee red, the elytra ovate, coppery, or green ; 

 length from 4 J to 6 lines - - P. cupreus. 



\_P. versicolor, by some authors thought to be only a variety of P. cupreus, 

 seems to differ in being somewhat smaller and narrower, and in having the 

 middle of the base of the thorax not ptmctured, as in the case with cupreus. 

 The variety of cupreus known as P. affinis (of Sturm) has the legs entirely 

 red, whereas they are black in the type.] 



First two joints of the antennae reddish beneath ; the elytra brilliant green, 

 and more or less oblong and parallel sided ; length generally slightly over 

 half-an-inch - - P. dimidiatus. 



First two joints of antennae entirely black, colour and shape of elytra as in 

 dimidiatus. Length half-an-inch - - P. lepidus. 

 P. cupreus and P. versicolor seem to be common and generally distributed ; 

 I have taken both on dry heathy ground, 



