m 



P. di7nidiatus 'and P. lepidus are more local, the localities given by Mr. 

 Dawson for the former being Hampstead Heath, Wandsworth Common, and 

 Folkstone ; whilst the latter species seems to occur chiefly in the fen counties. 



Ghoup C. 



P . picimanus. — The only species of the genus of a reddish-brown colour. 

 Its thorax is much narrowed behind, and the elytra are very flat and parallell 

 sided. This insect reminds one somewhat of a small pitchy-red Broscus — 

 its length being about half-an-inch. It is a rather local species, but the 

 localities given by Mr. Dawson are widely separated. 



P. niger is easily recognised by its flat, dull, elytra, which have deep 

 striae. Next to s trio la this is the largest species of the genus, measuring 

 about f of an inch in length. Yery abundant everywhere. 



P. vulgaris ( melanarius ) is at first sight likely to be confounded with 

 the previous species, but, in addition to its smaller size (6 \ to 8 lines), it is 

 more shining, and the elytra are narrower and more convex • the the thorax 

 has a more distinct basal depression, and its sides are more rounded. 

 This species is also very abundant. 



P. parumpunctatusi — This species, which is apparently very local, might 

 easily be confounded with a specimen of P. niger, except that the sides of 

 the thorax which are nearly straight in niger are in parumpunctatus dis- 

 tinctly narrowed behind. I know no locality for the species, which I have 

 only once seen, viz., in the collection of Mr. Joseph Chappell, of Manchester. 



P. anthracinus and P. nigrita — -These species bear a very close resem- 

 blance to the common P. vulgaris except that they are smaller (about 4| to 

 6 lines). In both the thorax is somewhat narrowed behind, but in anthraci- 

 nus the posterior angles are right angles, the basal foveas are larger, and the 

 elytra longer with a little tooth at the extreme tip, next the suture, which is 

 absent in nigrita, in which the posterior angles of the thorax are somewhat 

 blunt. The males of both species may be easily distinguished, for whereas 

 in nigrita the last segment of the abdomen has a small tubercle on the under- 

 side, in anthracinus this tubercle is replaced by a large depression. P, 

 nigrita seems to be common everywhere, and very variable in size. P. 

 anthracinus is more scarce. Both species frequent marshy places. 



P. gracilis is easily distinguished by its length, being slightly over J inch 

 (4 lines) ; the elytra are narrow and paralled sided ; the thorax has a large 

 deep depression on each side, the legs and the apex of the antennae are more 

 or less red. It does not seem very common, and is taken, like the two 

 preceding species, in marshy places. 



