XVII. 
reduces this number to twelve, placing littovalis in a separate genus— 
Necvodes. Sharp’s 1883 Catalogue still retains the original number. 
In the “ Coleoptera of the British Isles ” Canon Fowler clearly sets 
forth a reason for separating littovalis from the other members of the 
genus, the thorax of the latter being sub-orbicular in shape, and in 
the remainder of the species more or less semicircular. Moreover, the 
posterior legs of the male littovalis are much longer, the femora strongly 
thickened, and the tibiae decidedly rounded or curved, while it is not 
so with other members of the group. The twelve species in the genus 
proper might, with advantage, be placed in sub-genera in a manner 
similar to Dr. Chapman's tabulation of the genus Acvonycta , although 
it can hardly be done on the same lines. Without a thorough know¬ 
ledge of the whole group it is impossible to attempt this, therefore we 
must confine our observations to the divisions as suggested by Canon 
Fowler. In his work the species are tabulated in two groups. The 
first has the thorax truncate or emarginate in front, and includes ten 
species, viz. : tvistis, nigvita , obscuva , quadvi-punctata, veticulata , opaca , 
thovacica , vugosa, sinuata , and dispav. In the second group the thorax is 
semicircular; the two species included being Icevigata and atvata. 
The first group is sub-divided into five other divisions. The second 
group is also divided. So that we have seven sub-divisions of the 
whole genus, which will be dealt with seriatim. Discarding Necvodes 
littovalis , our first species are—1. Silpha tvistis , Ill., S. nigvita , Creutz., 
and S. obscuva , Z. In these species the second joint of the antennae is 
nearly as long as the third. In S. nigvita , however, the antennae are 
comparatively shorter and more bead-like than that of 5 . tvistis and 
S. obscuva. 
In placing S. nigvita second in this division, Canon Fowler has 
departed from the order laid down in both of Sharp’s Catalogues and 
that of his own of 1883. It is difficult to understand the reason for 
this alteration. Some stress is placed on the fact that S. tvistis has 
three very distinct raised keels on each elytron, while in 5 . nigvita and 
S’, obscuva the keels, although present, are not so distinct. But then 
S. tvistis and S. obscuva agree both in shape of antennae and in each 
having the interstices of the elytra evenly punctured ; whereas in 
S. nigvita the punctures are decidedly coarser, very uneven, and in 
some cases confluent. 
1. S. tvistis. —Oblong, and rather shiny. Occurs at several localities 
in Kent, and may frequently be found running by tides and pathways. 
Several specimens, principally from Deal, have been exhibited at City 
of London Society. Mr. Newbery obtained the species from Merton ; 
the late Mr. Flail took it at Dover ; Mr. A. J. Chitty, one from sea 
coast, North Wales, and one from Luccombe Chine, Isle of Wight; 
