Reich enbach I believe was the first author who ever gave 
figures of the trophi of the Pselaphidae, and they were taken 
from a Bryaxis ; but since that short period such progress has 
been made in the physiological departments of Entomology, 
that any one who has the power to investigate insects, is able 
to understand their structure much more correctly now than 
formerly. From the dissections now given there can no longer 
be any doubt I think of the near relationship of the Psela- 
phidae and Staphylinidae, although the former are trimerous. 
These little beetles were scarcely known by Linnaeus and 
Fabricius, but the researches of later naturalists have increased 
their numbers sufficiently to warrant their becoming a family. 
Dr. Reichenbach’s excellent Monograph led the way to an 
investigation of our British species by Dr. Leach, and after- 
wards to an elegant and valuable little volume by Mr. Llenry 
Denny, in which all the indigenous species at that time known 
were figured and described. Two Bryaxes have been since 
discovered, and through the politeness of T. C. Heysham, 
Esq. I have the pleasure of representing one, and adding de- 
scriptions of both species. 
1. B. sulcicollis Reich. — Curtis's B. E. pi. 315. — Dresdensis III., Payk., Fab. 
“ Taken off the city walls (of Carlisle) contiguous to the 
deanery, on the 3rd of September, 1 ” by Mr. Heysham. 
2. B. Juncorum Leach. — Den. p. 40. pi. 8. f. 3. — In June, at Costessey, 
Norfolk; in moss, amongst rushes, and at the foot of trees at Bat- 
tersea ; in Devon, &c. 
3. B. haematicus Reich. — Lea. — Den. 39. pi. 8.f. 2. — Beginning of Septem- 
ber under stones Isle of Wight, and moss in woods near Ashbur- 
ton, Devon. 
4. B. fossulatus Reich. — Lea. — Den. 37. pi. 8. f. 1. — In May Copenhagen 
fields, sandy places Bexley, and moss on the stumps of trees, Nor- 
folk ; in moss in the winter at Southgate, Mr. F. Walker. 
5. B. assimilis Heysh. MSS. — insignis var. ? Reich, p. 60. pi. 2. f. 16. — 
Scarcely so large as B. Juncorum. Black, shining, very minutely 
punctured, clothed with short ochreous pubescence. Antennae as 
long as the thorax, very pilose and inclining to castaneous. Tro- 
phi testaceous. Head with 2foveae on the crown and another be- 
tween the antennae. Thorax a little broader than the head, a 
large fovea in the centre at the base, and one on each side. Ely- 
tra rusty ochre, with an arcuated stria on each side the suture. 
Abdomen shorter than the elytra; legs testaceous, the tips of the 
thighs and centre of the tibiae darker. Taken by Mr. Heysham 
“ under rejectamenta on the banks of the river Eden, not far from 
Ambrose Holme, the 22nd of October 1829.” 
6. B. impressus Reich. — Lea. — Den. 36. pi. 7.f. 4. — In “ moss on marshes, 
and at the stumps of trees, in damp woods,” Norfolk. 
7. B. sanguineus Linn. — Reich. — Den. 34. pi. 7. f. 3. — mucronatus Panz. 
89. 11. — April and summer, moss in damp woods, Norfolk; roots 
of grass on sloping banks, Battersea fields ; July, in a marsh near 
Southgate, Mr. Walker. 
8. B. longicornis Leach. — Den. 32. pi. 7 ./. 2. — Taken with the preceding 
species. 
9. B. nigriventris Den. 41. pi. 7 1. — I took a specimen on a felled tree 
in the New Forest; Mr. Kirby has taken it near Barham, and Mr. 
Hope at Shrewsbury. 
Splachnum ampullaceum (Bottle-shaped Glandmoss) accom- 
panies the insect. 
