¥ HNTOMOLOGY STATION UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OFAGRICULTURE LIBRARY Booknumber “andibulata, v.Z AR OA AY PRESENTED BY >’ > f Entomotozy > - cr DULreaw Of anny " > arer. A and Plant Quarantine f ‘ nN (Bernes Collection) 8% _. ILLUSTRATIONS ? OF BRITISH ENTOMOLOGY: OR, A Synopsts of indigenous tnsects; CONTAINING THEIR GENERIC AND SPECIFIC DISTINCTIONS; WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THEIR METAMORPHOSES, TIMES OF APPEARANCE, LOCALITIES, FOOD, AND ECONOMY, AS FAR AS PRACTICABLE. BY JAMES FRANCIS STEPHENS, F.L.S. MEMBER OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, ETC. EMBELLISHED WITH COLOURED FIGURES OF THE RARER AND MORE INTERESTING SPECIES. MANDIBULATA, VOL. III. ‘In his tam parvis tamque feré nullis que ratio! quanta yis! quam inextricabilis perfectio !”— Plin. “¢ Finis Creationis Telluris a gloria Dr, ex opera Nature, per Hominem solum.’’—Linné. LONDON? * PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR ; AND PUBLISHED BY BALDWIN AND CRADOCK. 1830. MAY 11 1960 LIGRAB LONDON: YRINTED BY THOMAS DAVISON, WHITEFRIARS. E6642 1 ILLUSTRATIONS OF BRITISH ENTOMOLOGY. Subsectio 4.—Nercropuaca, Mac Leay, IncLupEs such Rypophagous insects as have the Mandibles generally exserted and elongate: the mazillary palpi with the basal joint minute or evanescent, thence appearing three-jointed; the maville with a double membranaceous process, the outer lobe often slender, sublinear ; rarely articulated: the elytra frequently abbreviated; the body more or less elongate, depressed: the legs all gressorial: the tarst with the number of arti- culations various, but most frequently pentamerous : And the principal object of whose existence seems to be that of cleansing the surface of the earth from the remains of animal im- purities, as that of the preceding section appears to be from vegetable remains ; the conterminous genera in both sections subsisting upon putrid fungi or similar vegetable productions, while some few of the Silphide prey upon larvee and living terrestrial Mollusca. ad apicem plerumque bidentate: 17. ScarHipIn#. ( 4-vel 5-articulato. Mandibulce Antennarum capitulo < plerumque integre : . : 18. SILPHIDZ. (elongate, ad apicem sepissimé { articulo 3-0 plerumque (_2-vel3-arti- | emarginate- | dilatato-bifido: 19. NiTIDULID&. culato. Tarst Mandibule + articulis omnibus | integris : 3 20. ENGID.* Lbreves, crass: : - 21. DERMESTID. * In some of the Engide, a family that probably requires subdivision, the capitulum of the antenne consists of more than three joints; while others’ Manpisutata. Vou. III. 30TH Aprit, 1830. B 2 MANDIBULATA.—COLEOPTERA. Famity XVIL—SCAPHIDID, Mac Leay. Antenne generally longer than the thorax, distinctly thickened towards their ex- tremities or somewhat abruptly clavate, the clava consisting of five joints, the second of which, or the eighth from the base, is generally smaller and frequently minute. Palpi, mazillary considerably exserted, subclavate or subulated. Mandibles generally bidentate at the apex. Body thick, subelliptic, much arched. Head immersed up to the eyes in the thorax, inflexed. Thorax trapeziform, convex, immarginate. Leg's elongated, posterior sometimes nearly as long as the body: tibie subcylindric, usually unarmed, but with two spurs at the apex ; tarsi pentamerous. The insects of this family, although at first sight they appear very dissimilar, are evidently closely allied; they feed upon putrid or decaying animal and vegetable substances, and are very active : the following genera have occurred in Britain, and may be re- cognised by the subjoined external characters: distinctum : : 116. ScaPHIDIUM. (truncata. Scutellum nullum: R a 117. SCAPHISOMA. Elyira { _Lintegra. (acutis. Antenne Thoracis | angulis posticis Lobtusis : : . : : 121. CHOLEVa. | he arcuate : 9 118. Myiacuus. Elytra~ plus minusve elongate. (haud striata: 119. PromaPHAGuUS. striata: 120. CaTops. Genus CX VI.—Scapnipium Auctorum. Palpi filiform. Antenne slender at the base, with an abrupt elongate club composed of five subhemispheric, nearly equal joints, the terminal one rounded at the tip: head produced anteriorly: thoraz large, its sides margined: body stout, acuminated at each extremity: elytra margined, truncate: scutellum distinct: legs with elongate, subcylindric, smooth ¢zdie. There is but one indigenous species of this genus, which is readily known from Scaphisoma by the exserted. scutellum, and its such as Triplax and its affinities, have the third joint of the tarsi dilated as in the Nitidulide, a gradual interchange of character usually observed on the confines of allied groups, where the series is tolerably perfect. SCAPHIDID/.—SCAPHISOMA. 3 rufo-maculated elytra; exclusively of its greater bulk, and other comparative characters :—it devours agarics and fungi. Sp. 1.4— maculatum. Nigrum, nitidum, elytris sepissimé maculis quatuor rufis. Long. corp. 2—23 lin.) Se. 4. maculatum. Olivier. Steph. Catal. p.71. No. 773. Glossy-black; thorax somewhat coarctate on each side behind, with a transverse series of large impressed dots behind, its disc thickly punctate: elytra coarsely punctured, with a single sutural stria, continued at the base past the scu- tellum to the shoulders ; on each two large red spots, the one at the shoulder curved, the other towards the apex and rounded: legs black; tibie striated ; tarsi rufo-piceous. 6. Entirely black. Not common near London, but more plentiful in the west of England; near Bristol it has occurred in considerable abundance ; I have occasionally found a specimen or two at Coombe-wood in June. “ Clingre, Glosters.”— Rev. F. W. Hope. “ Not uncommon (near Swansea) on a fungous-like excrescence, which spreads itself under the bark of decaying oaks.”——L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. Genus CXVII.—Scaruisoma*, Leach. Palpi filiform. Antenne pilose, the two basal joints robust, the rest very slender, with a slight club composed of five somewhat oval joints, the second smaller than the rest: head produced and narrowed anteriorly: thorax with its hinder margin produced into an angle in the middle: scutellum not visible: body robust, acuminated at each extremity: elytra truncate: legs very slender ; tibie simple. Scaphisoma is distinguished from Scaphidium by the apparent absence of a scutellum, and by having the hinder margin of the thorax produced into a lobe in place thereof; by the pilose antenne, the club of which is composed of slender, somewhat oval joints, the second of which is smallest, and by the minute size of the insects, which feed upon fungi:—from the following genera of the family, the truncate elytra and boat-shaped form readily distinguish them. Sp. 1. Agaricinum. Nigrum, nitidum, levissimum, antennis elytrorum apice pedibusque pallido-brunneis. (ong. corp. 2 — lin.) * T am unacquainted with the Scaphiosoma minuta, Curt.; it is probably a brachelytrous insect allied to Cypha. A MANDIBULATA.—COLEOPTERA. Si. Agaricina. Zinné.—Sc. Agaricinum. Steph. Catal. 71. No. 774. Black, shining, very smooth, antenne, apex of the elytra and legs pale-brown or rufescent ; elytra with a single stria near the suture, not produced an- teriorly; apex of the body rufo-piceous. Some specimens are of a paler hue than others. Frequently taken among rotten fungi in Battersea-fields and in other places near London. ‘ Wandsworth Common.’—Mr. Wa- terhouse. ‘* Boletus of the Ash, Netley." —Rev. F. W. Hope. Sp. 2. Boleti. Piceum leve glabrum, antennis pallidis, pedibus rufis. (Long. corp. ~— § lin.) Se. Boleti. Panzer.—Steph. Catal. 72. No. 775. Head, thorax, and elytra piceous, minutely punctured; the latter paler at the apex, with a single sutural stria: body beneath piceous; legs rufous; an- tenne pale. I very much doubt whether this be distinct from the last described, or that more than one species of the genus is found in Britain; the dissimilarity in the colour of the antenne (which may arise from immaturity), and the paler general hue, being the chief points of distinction between the two. Taken near Lendon, and in other parts of the country. “ With the preceding species."— Rev. F. W. Hope. Genus CXVIII.—Myuacuus, Latreille. Palpi, mazillary with the basal joint subulate ; Jabzal with the terminal joint obtuse. Antenne incurved, rather shorter than the thorax, the two basal joints distinctly stouter than the following, cylindric; the third a little elon- gate, obconic, the three following least, the fourth being cylindric, the fifth and sixth somewhat transverse; the remainder forming a five-jointed club, with the articulations transverse, the eighth, ninth, and tenth, being nearly equal, and the eleventh largest, with its apex rounded: thorax subtrapezi- form: tarsi in the male with the three first joints dilated; posterior femora of the male with a small triangular acute tooth beneath. The subincurved antenne, with the two basal joints manifestly thicker than the three next, the eighth not in the slightest degree less than the other joints of the club, and the last obtuse at the apex, are the chief points of distinction between Mylechus and the three following genera. Sp. 1. brunneus. Oblongo-ovatus, castaneo-brunneus subtilitér vagéque punctu- latus, breviter pubescens. (Long. corp. 1 lin.) My. brunneus. Latreille.—Steph. Catal. 72. No. 776. SCAPHIDIDE.—PTOMAPHAGUS. 5 Castaneous-brown, clothed with short flavescent-griseous down, finely but irregu- larly punctulate ; head black; thorax slightly compressed anteriorly, dilated and nearly as wide again, with a straight margin, posteriorly: elytra twice as long as the thorax, rather narrow, and perceptibly narrowed from the base to the apex, which is rounded; near the suture is a single stria, and an- other on the margin ; legs pitchy-brown. A rare species, which has been only three or four times met with in the north of England, whence I have recently obtained a specimen, among some minute insects taken at hazard by a friend. Genus CXIX.—Promapnacus, Ilhger. Palpi, maxillary with the last joint subulate, conic; Jabial with the last joint obtuse; antenne straight, clavate, not longer than the thorax, with a five- | jointed club; thorax with the hinder angles acute; elytra not striated ; anterior femora in both sexes similar and short; the intermediate farsi with the first joint rarely dilated. This and the two following genera are perhaps rather too finely discriminated ; but nevertheless, as there are several species of each, and their numbers are daily becoming augmented, it is far better to keep them separated than to reunite them notwithstanding their trifling distinctions, which are perhaps of equal value with those existing amongst several other groups of Coleoptera, especially amongst the Bembidiide: the present genus may be known from the following by the absence of striz on the elytra, and from Choleva by the acute posterior angles of the thorax, and shorter and more distinetly thickened antenne. Sp. 1. truncatus. Quadrato-oblongus, supra striis levissimis transverse acuductus ; elytris apice subtruncatis. (Long. corp. ?—1 4 lin.) Ph. truncatus.—Jiliger. Steph. Catal. 72. No. 777. Somewhat quadrate-oblong, rather broadest anteriorly, black, and clothed with a dense grisescent down, upon the removal of which the surface appears transversely, but finely acuducted: antenne with the base ferrugineous, the eighth joint three times shorter and more slender than the adjoining ones, the terminal ovate-acute : elytra black or pitchy, sometimes luteous or reddish ; the acuducted striz rather oblique, with a sutural and marginal stria, the apex obliquely truncate: legs black, the tibie and tarsi generally blackish-brown or pitchy. The parallel sided body, transversely acuducted surface and subtruncate elytra distinguish this variable species from its congeners. The most abundant species of the family; frequenting dry bones, 6 MANDIBULATA.—COLEOPTERA. putrid fungi and vegetable remains: throughout the metropolitan district. “ Bottisham.”—Rev. L. Jenyns. “ Norwich.’—A. H. Davis, Esq. “Netley.”—Rev. F. W. Hope. “Glanvilles Wootton.” —J. C. Dale, Esq.—‘ Taken by Dr. Leach on the Craig, and by | Mr. Jeffreys on Kilvey-hill” (near Swansea).—L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. Sp. 2. velox. Ovalis, fusco-cinnamomeus, capite nigro, antennis subclavatis, thoracis longitudine, pedibusque dilutioribus. (Long. corp. 13 lin.) Ch. velox. Spence.—Pt. velox. Steph. Catal. 72. No. 778. Body oval, the sides being a little rounded, above of a rusty-brown or cinnamon colour, beneath darker, with a yellow-grisescent down: head black: antennz ferrugineous, as long as the thorax, subclavate, the eighth joint scarcely differing either in length or breadth from the rest of the club, the terminal subovate: thorax with the disc sometimes black: elytra rounded at the apex: legs, labrum, and palpi ferrugineous. The rounded apex of the elytra and body distinguish this from the foregoing species, and the scarcely clavate antenne with equal eighth joint from the following. Rare: found in the metropolitan district ; Norfolk, Devonshire, _ and Yorkshire. Sp. 3. fumatus. Oblongo-ovalis, niger, antennis thoracis longitudine, hast, elytris, pedibusque obscuré rufo-ferrugineis. (Long. corp. 13 lin.) Ch. fumata. Sypence—Pt. fumatus. Steph. Catal. 72. No. 779. Oblong-oval, black, clothed with a dense fusco-griseous down : antenne fuscous ; with the two or three first joints rufo-ferrugineous, the eighth shorter than the adjoining: thorax transversely subquadrate: elytra obscure fusco-ru- fescent, the apex rounded ; legs and palpi rufo-ferrugineous. More frequent than the preceding; but nevertheless somewhat uncommon: found in the neighbourhood of London, in Yorkshire, Norfolk, &c. ‘In moss from Humby, Lincolnshire.”— 4. H. Davis, Esq. “In putrid fungi in the woods about Penllergare.”—L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. Sp. 4. Watsoni. Oblongo-ovalis, niger, antennis crassis thorace brevioribus, basi, elytris, pedibusque rufo-brunneis; thorace brevissimo. (Long. corp. 14 lin.) Ch. Watsoni. Spence.—Pt. Watsoni. Steph. Catal. 72. No. 780. Oblong-oval, black, clothed with a slightly dense griseo-fulvescent down: labrum rusty-brown ; palpi ferrugineous ; antenne brown, with their three basal joints reddish-brown, the terminal pale; thorax black, the posterior angles reddish ; elytra red-brown, the apex somewhat acute ; legs red-brown, anterior, except the cox, palest. SCAPHIDIDA.—PTOMAPHAGUS. 7 The shorter and thicker antenne and more acute apex to the elytra distinguish this species from Ph. fumata. Also an uncommon species: found near Hull, and in the me- tropolitan district. ‘* Bottisham.”—Rev. L. Jenyns. Sp. 5. anisotomoides. Ovalis, convexus, nitidus, subpilosus, fusco-piceus, antennis pedibusque pallidée ferrugineis; thorace posticé recto. (Long. corp. 3—{ lin.) Ch. anisotomoides. Spence.—Pt. anisotomoides. Steph. Catal. 72. No. 781. Glossy, oval, pitchy-black, clothed with very short grisescent down ; labrum and palpi ferruginous ; antenne pale flavescent, as long as the thorax, some- _what capitate-clavate, the eighth joint much less than the adjoining, the ter- minal large, subglobose and somewhat mucronate ; thorax with the hinder margin generally palest, and straight: elytra ovate-convex ; legs pale-ferru- ginous. Sometimes entirely of a pale testaceous. The great convexity of the body, and straightly truncate hinder margin of the thorax, distinguish this species from the rest of the genus. Not very abundant; found near London, Hull, in Devonshire, Norfolk, &e. ‘* Bottisham.”—Rev. L. Jenyns. “ Moss from Humby.”—A. H. Davis, Esq.‘ Shropshire.”—C. Darwin, Esq. Sp. 6. Wilkinii. Oblongus, fusco-piceus, antennis pedibusque flavo-ferrugineis ; thorace postic? recto. (Long. corp. 1+ lin.) Ch. Wilkinii. Spence.—Pt. Wilkinii. Steph. Catal. 72. No. 782. Oblong or sublinear, pitchy-brown, clothed with very short grisescent down : palpi yellow ferruginous ; antenne the length of the thorax and of a yellow- ferruginous ; thorax with the hinder margin straight: elytra oblong, the sides nearly straight, the apex rounded: legs yellow-ferruginous. Resembles Pt. velox, but is “ distinguished from that by its proportionably much larger and narrower body,” which also well distinguishes it from the preceding (Pt. anisotomoides), with which it agrees in the structure of its antenne and thorax. Inhabits the county of Norfolk, and has been taken near London, and in other parts; but uncommon. “ Salop.”—C. Darwin, Esqi tSp. 7. Davisii. Oblongo-ovalis, postic? angustiori, subpubescens, fusco-brunneus, thorace magno, convexo, antennis rufo-testaceis, clayi magné. (Long. corp. 3 . a lin.) Pt. Davisii mzhi. Oblong-ovate, rather narrowed behind, slightly pubescent, of a fuscous-brown ; the thorax very large, convex, thickly but finely punctured, the hinder margin straight: elytra paler, and clothed with a longer protuberance than the thorax, rather acuminated at the apex, which is somewhat acute and paler than the Manpisutata, Vou. III. 31st May, 1830. ¢ 8 MANDIBULATA.—COLEOPTERA. base, near the suture is a single obscure stria; legs pitchy-brown, with the tarsi paler: palpi and antenn rufo-testaceous, the latter with the basal joint large, and the club very broad and distinct, the terminal joint obtuse. The great bulk and convexity of the thorax of this species, with its acuminated elytra and broad clava of the antenne, well distinguish it from its congeners. I have seen one specimen only of this species, which was found in moss, “ from near Humby in Lincolnshire, in December last.” — A, H. Davis, Esq. Genus CX X.—Cartops, Paykul. Palpi, maxillary with the last joint subulate, conic ; /abial with the last joint obtuse: antenne straight, clavate, not longer than the thorax, the club five- jointed: thorax with the hinder angles acute: elytra more or less striated ; anterior femora in the males generally somewhat incrassated towards the apex ; the intermediate farsi with the basal joint dilated. Catops is known from Ptomaphagus by the greater width of its body, the more or less evidently striated elytra, and other less visible characters ; and from Choleva by the abbreviated, more in- crassated, antenne, acute posterior angles of the thorax, &c. A. Thorax with the hinder margin cut out near the angles. Sp. 1. fornicatus. Oblongo-ovalis niger, antennis thorace longioribus, pedibusque ferrugineis. (Long. corp. 24 lin.) De. fornicatus. De Geer ?—Ca. fornicatus. Steph. Catal. 73. No. 783. Oblong-oval, black, clothed with a griseo-fulvescent down: palpi ferruginous: antenne ferruginous, with the apex sometimes brownish, subclavate, rather longer than the thorax, the eighth joint rather shorter and narrower than the adjoining, the terminal more robust than the rest, globose-ovate, with the apex obtusely mucronate: thorax transversely quadrate, the hinder margin a little dilated in the middle, and distinctly cut out near the angles on each side: elytra obsoletely striated, the strie running from the base to the apex: legs pitchy-ferruginous. Var. 6. Steph. Catal. I. c—Of a pitchy-brown, with the labrum, antenne, and legs ferruginous. Var. y. Yellow-luteous, with the head rather obscure. Body more oblong than in the rest of the genus. The most abundant species of the genus near London; and not uncommon in other parts of the country. ‘“* Bottisham, several specimens extracted from a decayed cheese.”—Rev. L. Jenyns. * Carfin, Scotland.”—Rev. F. W. Hope. SCAPHIDIDH.—CATOPS. 9 Sp. 2. sericeus. Ovatus, gibboso-convecus, fusco-piceus, antennis thorace paulo longioribus, pedibusque piceo-ferrugineis. (Long. corp. 2+ lin.) Ca. sericeus. Paykul.—Steph. Catal. 73. No. 784. Ovate, gibbous-convex, sparingly clothed with variable fulvescent, glaucous, or griseous down: palpi pitchy-ferruginous: antenne rather longer than the thorax, ferruginous, the base and apex paler: thorax quadrate-transverse, the basal excisions less evident than in the preceding insect: elytra very broad, obsoletely striated, the strie (beneath a lens) reaching from the base to the apex: legs pitchy-ferruginous. Sometimes entirely of a yellow-testaceous hue. Antenne rather shorter and more slender at the apex than in the preceding species: and the body much broader and more convex than in its congeners generally: the eighth joint of the antenne not very evidently less than the following. Found near London and in Devonshire. ‘ Southend.”—Rev. FW. Hope. ‘ Not uncommon (near Swansea).”—L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. “ Cambridge and Salop."—C. Darwin, Esq. Sp. 3. clavicornis. Oblongo-ovalis, niger, antennis basi, tibiis tarsisque fers rugineis ; capite anticé abbrevjato. (Long. corp. 1¢—2 lin.) Mo. clayicornis. Forster—Ca. clavicornis. Steph. Catal. 73. No. 785. Oblong-oval, black, ‘clothed with a fulvescent down: head rather short between the antenne: palpi ferruginous; antenne ferruginous at the base, the apex fuscous-black ; the eighth joint minute: thorax transversely subquadrate : elytra with very obsolete strie reaching from the base nearly to the apex, the latter rounded: legs rufo-ferruginous, sometimes pitchy-black; the tibie and tarsi rufo-ferruginous. Differs from Ca. sericeus by having the apex of the elytra more rounded than in that insect ; and from the other species of the genus by the shortness of the fore part of the head. Not uncommon near London, also found in Devonshire; near Bristol; the New Forest, &c. “ Bottisham.”-—Rev. L. Jenyns. “* Carfin, Scotland.”— Rev. F. W. Hope. Sp. 4. festinans. Oblongo-ovatus, niger, antennis basi, labro, elytris, pedibusque rufo-testaceis, thorace anticé angustiore. (Long. corp. 2 lin.) Ch. festinans. Spence.—Ca. festinans. Steph. Catal. 73. No. 786. Oblong-ovate, clothed with a rather dense pubescence; labrum and palpi fer- ruginous: antenne with the six basal joints ferruginous, the rest fuscous: thorax black-brown, fusco-testaceous at the edges ; rather short, the hinder margin with the excisions somewhat obsolete: elytra reddish, or rufo-testaceous, obsoletely striated, the strie reaching from the base nearly to the apex. “* From the preceding species this differs in colour, in having the thorax shorter Che 16 MANDIBULATA.— COLEOPTERA. in proportion to its width, narrower before, and in the incisions at the angles more obsolete, and the elytra more densely clothed with pubescence.”— Spence. Not common: I have a pair in my collection captured by myself near London. “ Netley.”—Rev. F. W. Hope. Sp. 5. affinis. Oblongo-ovatus, fuscus, elytris obsoletissime striatis, strid suturali profundiore, antennis pedibusque fusco-ferrugineis. (Long. corp. 13 lin.) Ca. affinis. Steph. Catal. 73. No. 787. Oblong-ovate, fuscous, clothed with fuscous-yellow pubescence; head dusky ; antenne and palpi dusky-ferruginous, with the apex of the former dusky ; thorax deep fuscous-brown, with its lateral margins rather testaceous: elytra yeddish-fuscous, with a deep stria near the suture, the rest of the surface with extremely obsolete strie, not reaching to the apex, the latter slightly rounded : legs fusco-ferruginous. More elongated than either of the foregoing, with the thorax considerably narrower than the coleoptera, the latter most obsoletely striated, and the antenne are rather stoutly clavate. One of my specimens I received from the Marshamian cabinet, captured near Bristol; the other was talten by myself near London. Sp. 6. elongatus. Hlongato-ovatus, piceo-niger, antennis thorace longioribus, pedibusyue rufo-ferrugineis, palpis nigris. (Long. corp. 24 lin.) Ca. elongatus. Steph. Catal. 73. No. 788. Elongate-ovate, depressed: pitchy-black, clothed with a fine grisescent pubes- cence: labrum and palpi black: antenne longer than the thorax, dull fer- ruginous, at the base, dusky at the apex, the club rather slender, the eighth joint small, the terminal one short, acute: thorax rather small: elytra narrow, obsoletely striated, the strie reaching from the base to the apex ; the latter rounded: legs rufo-ferruginous ; the tibie and tarsi palest. The elongate depressed form of this species, with its slender antenne, well distinguish it from its congeners. A single specimen of this insect I obtained from the neighbour- hood of Bristol; and I have once captured it in the metropolitan district. B. Thorax with the hinder margin straight near the angles. a. With the sides of the thorax nearly straight at the hinder angle. Sp. 7. chrysomeloides. Oblongo-ovalis, niger, antennis hasi, tibiis tarsisque rufo- brunneis; antennis famines fusiformi-clavatis, crassis, articulo extimo ovato, an ae i; contiguis longiore. (Long. corp. 23 lin.) He. chrysomeloides. Panzer.—Ca. chrysomeloides. Steph. Catal. 73. No. 789. ; SCAPHIDIDE.—CATOPS, 1] Oblong-oval, black, clothed with a dense velvety down, of a griseo-fulvescent hue; palpi rufous-brown; antenne in the female subfusiform, stout, one- third shorter than the thorax, longer and more slender in the male, reddish- brown at the base, the eighth joint much shorter and smaller than the adjoining, the terminal twice as long as the tenth, ovate; thorax sub- quadrate, with the basal margin in the middle a little sinuated on each side; elytra oblong-ovate, slightly dilated in the middle, most obsoletely striated—the strix not visible without removing the pubescence; legs black, with the apex of the anterior femora, the tibie, and tarsi, reddish-brown. Found in Norfolk, Yorkshire, Devonshire, and in other parts of the country; not uncommon. “ Bottisham.”—Rev. L. Jenyns, «Taken on the sand-hills (near Swansea) by Mr. Jeffreys.”—Z. W. Dillwyn, Esq. “ Netley.”—Rev. F. W. Hope. Sp. 8. Leachii. Ovalis, niger, antennis basi, tibiis tarsisque rufo-brunneis ; antennis clavatis: articulo extimo brevi, mucronato; capite antice abbre- viato. (Long. corp. 24 lin.) Ch. Leachii. Spence.—Ca. Leachii. Steph. Catal. 73. No. 790. Very similar to the preceding, differing by having the antenne more slender, the base rufo-brunneous, the apex somewhat fuscescent, the six terminal joints turbinated; the terminal globose-ovate mucronate, subequal to the contiguous one; head less than in the preceding, shorter between the an- tenne ; elytra shorter than in the foregoing species. Found in the north of England and near Bristol. “In a common between Crosby and Carlisle.”—Dr. Leach. Sp. 9. Kirbii. Obovatus fuscus, pedibus dilutioribus, antennis bast ferrugineis, articulis ultimis transversis, elytris apice acutis. (Long. corp. 14 lin.) Ch. Kirbii. Spence.—Ca. Kirbii. Steph. Catal. 73. No. 791. Obovate, fuscous; clothed with a grisescent down: labrum and palpi fer- ruginous ; antenne nearly as long as the thorax, with the five basal joints ferruginous, the rest fuscous; thorax quadrate-subtransverse, obscurely sinuated on each side in the middle of the hinder margin ; elytra with very obsolete striz, the apex somewhat acute ; legs pale-fuscous. Var. 6. Black, elytra reddish, with the base of the antenne, the tibie, and tarsi, ferruginous. Similar to the foregoing: differs therefrom in colour, size, in having the thorax more distinctly narrowed behind, the elytra in proportion to the thorax broader, and somewhat more acute at the apex. Taken in plenty in a chalk-pit at Little Blakenham, in September, 1821. Netley.”—-Rev. F. W. Hope. Sp. 10. Spencii. Obovatus posticé subacuminatus, nigro-fuscus, elytris dilu- 12 MANDIBULATA.—COLEOPTERA. tioribus, antennis palpis pedibusque rufo-brunneis, articulo ultimo antennarum conico. (Long. corp. 14 lin.) Ca. Spencii. Steph. Catal. 73. No. 792. Rather less than the last; obovate, black-brown, with the elytra paler, clothed with a pale hoary fulvescent down; palpi rufo-brunneous; antenne rather slender, longer than the thorax, with the club not much thickened, the eighth joint very short and narrow, the terminal conic-acute ; elytra dilated a little way from the base, and then somewhat suddenly acuminated to the apex, which is a little rounded, and distinctly striated ; legs rufo-brunneous. Shorter and comparatively broader than the preceding, which it most resembles, the thorax more narrowed behind, and the base of the elytra also very narrow | the middle dilated, and the apex acuminated ; antenne more slender. A single specimen taken by myself near London, some years since. Sp. 11. ealiginosus. Chlongo-ovalis, atro-niger, antennarum basi apiceque, fe- moribus anticis, tibiis tarsisque rufo-testaceis. one: corp. 2 ? lin.) Ca. caliginosus. Steph. Catal. 73. No.793. — - Oblong-ovate, deep black, clothed with fusco-grisescent down; labrum, palpi, base of the antenne, and the terminal joint of the latter, with the anterior femora, tibia, and tarsi rufo-testaceous ; elytra obsoletely striated, the apex rounded ; antenne rather slender, longer than the thorax, the eighth joint not very much slighter, but shorter, than the adjoining. In form somewhat resembling Ca. chrysomeloides, but more elongate, of a deeper black, smaller, the antenne more attenuated in proportion, and with the eighth joint larger. Two specimens found near London. b. With the sides of the thorax rounded from the base to the apex: the hinder margin without excision. Sp. 12. Marshami. Oblongo-ovalis fuscus, antennis, thoracis longitudine, pedi- busque flavo-ferrugineis; elytris apicé obtusiusculis. (Long. corp. 2} lin.) Ch. Marshami. Spence.—Ca. Marshami. Steph. Catal. 73. No. 794. Oblong-oval, fuscous, clothed with a griseous-yellowish pubescence, labrum and palpi yellow-ferruginous, antenne the same, darker in the middle, sub- clavate, as long as or rather longer than the thorax, the eighth joint con- siderably less than the adjoining, the terminal ovate; thorax transversely- subquadrate ; elytra very obsoletely striated towards the apex, the latter somewhat obtuse ; legs yellow-ferruginous. Var. 6. Pitchy-black, with the antenne and legs ferruginous. Longer, with the thorax less transverse, than the following species, which is the only one of the genus with which it can be confounded, if due attention be paid to the form of the thorax, which in this genus is essential. I possess a pair of this insect: one from the Marshamian cabinet SCAPHIDID&.—CHOLEVA. 13 —the specimen described by Mr. Spence; the other taken near London. Sp. 13. dissimulator. Ovalis, niger, antennis, thoracis longitudine, bast apiceque tibiis tarsisque rufo-ferrugineis. (Long. corp. 2 lin.) Ch. dissimulator. Spence.—Ca. dissimulator. Steph. Catal. 73. No. 795. Oblong-oval, black, clothed with a dense fulvescent-griseous down ; palpi rufo- ferruginous: antenne as long as the thorax, fuscous, with the two basal joints and the terminal ferruginous: thorax subquadrate-transverse; elytra not striated, a single stria near the suture excepted: anterior legs rufo-ferruginous ; posterior black, with the tibie and tarsi rufo-ferruginous. “ This insect,” says Mr. Spence, from whose valuable monograph of this and the kindred genera I have extracted the leading characters of the species therein described, “ affords a striking example of the necessity of attending, in these obscure genera, to minute characters, such as those upon which the families (sections) are here separated. In colour and general appearance it so exactly resembles Ca. clavicornis, that an entomologist not versed in the genus would decidedly pronounce them the same.” The form of the thorax, and other characters, render the distinction very evident. One of my specimens was captured near London, the other I obtained from Bristol. Genus CX XI.—Cuo teva, Latreille Palpi, mazillary with the last joint subulate, conic; Jabal with the last joint obtuse: antenne straight subfiliform, longer than the thorax, the club five- jointed, the joints somewhat elongated: thorax with the hinder angles obtuse : elytra oblong, striated: legs rather long, posterior as long as the body; an- terior femora of similar form in both sexes; posterior trochanters of the male with a curved tooth on the lower margin, simple in the female; the intermediate tarsi with the basal joint filiform in both sexes; the anterior with the three basal joints dilated in the male. Choleva is distinguished externally from Catops by its more elongate form, and by the length and slenderness of its antennz and legs, the obtuse angles of the thorax, and in other less evident characters. Sp. 1. angustata. Angustato-oblonga, thorace posticé angustiore, medio sub- foveolato. (Long. corp. 23 lin.) Cistela angustata. Fabricius.—Steph. Catal. 74. No. 796.—Ch. oblonga. Sa- mouelle, pl. 4. f. 9. Narrow-oblong, with an obscure fulvescent pubescence: head black, shining, 14 MANDIBULATA.—COLEOPTERA. - smooth: labrum and palpi pale-ferruginous: antenne ferruginous, the joints of nearly equal length, the second and eighth shortest: thorax piceous, with the sides and posterior angles paler, sometimes black, or pitchy-black ; quadrate-orbicular, the base and apex of nearly equal width; the middle broader: elytra generally obscure-reddish, or black, or pitchy-black, or piceous, oblong, the apex obtusely rounded, each with seven obsolete strie: legs fer- ruginous: abdomen black, with the terminal segments rather pale at the apex. Very variable in colour; when recently emerged from the pupa, it is entirely of a pale-testaceous or yellow. Extremely common throughout the metropolitan district, and in other parts adjacent thereto. ‘ Bottisham, very common.”-—Kev. L. Jenyns. * Carfin, Scotland.”—Rev. F. W. Hope. “ Epping.” —Mr. Doubleday. ‘ Under stones on Crwmlyn Burrows and elsewhere.”—L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. “ Carlisle.” —T. C. Heysham, Esq. ‘ Leamington.”—Mr. Westwood. “ Netley.”"—Rev. F. W. Hope. “ North Wales.”—C. Darwin, Esq. Sp. 2. agilis. Oblongo-ovalis, nigra, supra piceo-brunnea, antennis pedibusque ferrugineis ; thorace posticé latiore. (Long. corp. 24 lin.) Pt. agilis. Jlliger.—Ch. agilis. Steph. Catal. 74. No. 797. Body shorter and broader than in the preceding ; clothed with a denser griseo- fulvescent pubescence: head pitchy-black, smooth: labrum, mandibles, and palpi yellow: antenne ferruginous, with the apex darker: thorax pitchy- brown, with the disc darker, subconvex, transverse-quadrate, the base rather broader than the apex, the hinder margin straight: elytra ovate-oblong, pitchy-brown, with seven very obsolete striae: body beneath pitchy-black ; legs ferruginous. Like the preceding, this species varies considerably in colour, and the immature specimens are of a testaceous-yellow. Less common than the last, but occasionally found not only throughout the metropolitan district, but in other parts. ‘* Moss from Humby, Dec. 1829.”—4. H. Davis, Esq. “ Netley.”— Rev. F. W. Hope. ‘ North Wales.”—C. Darwin, Esq. Sp. 3. gausapata. Oblongo-ovalis, piceo-nigra pube densiori vestito, antennis pedibusque piceo-ferrugineis, thorace posticé latiore. (Long. corp. 2} lin.) Cl. gausapata. Spence MSS.2—Cl. gomphosata. Steph. Catal. 74. No. 798. Size of the last; oblong-oval, above deep pitchy-black, clothed with a dense changeable fulvescent pubescence: labrum and palpi pitchy-fulvous; thorax with its margins slightly testaceous, the disc pitchy-black ; slightly convex, ‘SILPHIDE. 15 _ transyerse-quadrate, the hinder margin rather broader than the apex, the sides gradually rounded: elytra oblong-ovate, with very obsolete striz: body beneath pitchy-black ; legs and antenne ferruginous. Whether this be the true Ch. gausapata, Spence’s MSS. (inadvertently called gomphosata in my Catalogue), I am unable to determine—the insect above described is clearly distinct from either of its congeners, and may be known by the greater density of the pubescence with which it is clothed, and its ‘darker hue. Found near London; in Devonshire, and, I believe, in Yorkshire and Norfolk. Famity X VIIJ.—SILPHIDA, Leach. Antenne about as long as the thorax, gradually thickening towards their ex- tremities, or terminated by a perfoliate club, the latter generally 4 or 5-jointed, rarely 3-jointed. Palpi filiform, the mazillary rather longer than the labial : the terminal joint rather slender, cylindric: mandibles with their apex en- tire: body ovate, depressed: head inflected, much narrower than the body, contracted posteriorly, and forming a neck; thoraz large, peltate, more or less semicircular or orbicular: elytra covering the greater portion of the abdomen, or truncated, with the outer margin generally channelled: abdomen with its apex rather acute, especially in the female: legs not much elongated: tarsi five-jointed, the anterior more or less dilated in the males. The Silphidz, which form the typical group of the Necrophaga, delight in prowling amongst carrion, carcasses, or any putrefying animal matter, upon which they subsist (whence they contract a most disagreeable foetid odour), but some few attack living cater- pillars or terrestrial mollusca ; they are consequently of great utility in the economy of nature, by thus removing those animal nuisances which would otherwise tend to infect the atmosphere and render it unwholesome. The larve inhabit the same materials, and are frequently observed in company with the perfect insect: the body is elongate, very much depressed, generally black, composed of twelve segments, terminating on the sides in a sharp angle; the anterior segment is largest: the head is small, furnished with two strong jaws; the antenne short, filiform, triarticulate: the legs six in number, short, three-jointed, the terminal one with a hook at its tip; the last seg- ment of the body has two conical appendages: they are very active, and change to pupa beneath the ground. 16 MANDIBULATA.—COLEOPTERA. The genera which are reputed to inhabit Britain may be de- tected by the following concise characters ; { truncata. {capitulo subgloboso, 4-articulato: 122. NECROPHORUS. An- tenne. Elytra + peas extrorsum crassiores : . 123. NECRODEsS. (graciliore. ( abrupteé clavate : ° 124. OICEOPTOMA. haud Antenne truncata. | gradatim cla- ( 4-articulato: 125. S1LPHa. Palpi ar- vate, cpt) ticulo ul- 3-articulato: 126. PHosPpHUGA. timo ; Lerassiore. 9-articulato: 127. AGYRTES. Antennarum capitulo 3-articulato = 128. PELTIS. - Genus CX XIJ.—Necroruorus, Fabricius. Antenne rather longer than the head, slender at the base, and terminating sud- denly in a large ovate perfoliate club, composed of four coarctate joints, the last of which is acuminated: head with a distinct neck : thorax suborbiculate, rounded behind, transversely truncate anteriorly: elytra truncated in a slight line, with a marginal channel, not carinated ; body oblong, much longer than broad: ¢ibie short, robust; posterior trochanters sometimes with a spine at the apex ; anterior tarsi dilated and furnished with long cilia in the males. This conspicuous genus may be readily known by the large sub- globose quadriarticulate clava of the antenne, combined with the truncate elytra, irregular suborbicular thorax, short robust legs, oblong body, and distinct neck:—their wings are exceedingly long, and during flight the insects carry their elytra erect, the upper surfaces being opposed to each other. The species frequent the same haunts as the rest of the family, but, unlike their allies, they bury the animals upon which they, or rather their progeny, subsist — whence the names of several of the species—three or four specimens sufficing for the interment of a small quadruped, bird, &c., which they will perform in an incredible short space of time, by digging away the earth around and under the animal till it falls into the prepared hollow, and covering the body with the displaced mould: —some of the species are found also in fungi: they are very subject to be infested with acari. A. With the posterior tibie straight; the trochanters simple. a. With the thorax very much dilated anteriorly. Sp. 1. germanicus. Miger, clypeo medio membranaceo flavo, elytrorum margine . be A . rufo, antennarum clava atré. (Long. corp. 13—16 lin.) TERM SILPHIDA.—NECROPHORUS. 17% Si. germanica. Linné.—Ne. germanicus. Curtis, ii. pl..71.—Steph. Catal. 74. No. 799. Black, with a large triangular membranaceous testaceous-yellow spot on the fore- head, and the outer margin of the elytra broadly rufo-ferruginous: the clava of the antenne black. Towards the apex of the elytra is sometimes a rufous spot; probably imma- ture. Known from Ne. Humator by the black club of the antenne, the rufous margin to the elytra, the anteriorly dilated thorax, and by its superior size. Very rare in Britain; but rather widely dispersed: I possess a specimen from Moushold Heath, near Norwich. “ Lord Abing- don’s woods, near Oxford.”—Rev. F. W. Hope. ‘On the banks of the Thames, above Windsor.” —Dr. Leach. Sp. 2. Sepultor. Prare xvi. f. 1. Niger, antennarum capitulo elytrorumque fascia duplict aurantiacis, posteriore interruptd, thoracis limbo land Jlavo- aured tectd. (Long. corp. 7—104 lin.) Ne. Sepultor. Gyllenhal.Ne. anglicus. Steph. Catal. 74. No. 800. Black, head with a triangular luteous spot on the elytra: antenne with the club orange: thorax densely clothed with a rich golden-yellow down, on its margin, especially anteriorly: elytra with two orange fascia, varying con siderably in different individuals ; the antericr one generally broad, and con- tinuous ; the posterior narrow, interrupted at the suture, and very frequently divided into two very unequal parts by the black ground of the elytra, which leaves a small spot between the outer portion and the suture. The width of the orange fascie on the elytra varies considerably, as do also their form and integrity. Ne. Vespillo is the only other species of the genus which has the anterior margin of the thorax pubescent, but the straight posterior tibie of Ne. Se- pultor at once distinguish it from the aforementioned species, in which the elytra also are pubescent. Rare; found in Battersea-fields and on Hampstead-heath, and other parts of the metropolitan district. ‘‘ Twice taken at Ealing; not uncommon at Netley.”—Rev. F. W. Hope. “ In carrion, not uncommon (near Swansea).”—L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. b. With the thorax not much dilated anteriorly. Sp. 3. Humator. Niger, immaculatus, antennarum capitulo aurantiaco. (Long. corp. 9—14. lin.) Si. Humator. Olivier.—Don. xy. pl. 537. f. 1—Ne. Humator. Steph. Catal. 74. IVo. 801. Entirely of a deep glossy-black, with the three terminal joints of the antenne of an orange or testaceous-yellow, and the deflexed margin of the elytra 18 MANDIBULATA.—COLEOPTERA. sometimes of a dusky or obscure brown; the cilia on the tarsi are also of an orange hue. Var. g. Ne. bimaculatus. Entomological Transactions, 1. 82. pl. 2. fig. sup.— Black, with a patch on the forehead, the outer margin of the elytra and two spots towards the apex ferruginous. Very variable both in size and colour ; in some examples the elytra are entirely brown, arising doubtless from immaturity. The most abundant species of the genus in Britain, occurring in plenty throughout the metropolitan district. “‘ Bottisham, common in the spring; appearing by the end of March.”—Rev. L. Jenyns. ‘‘ Netley, Barmouth, &c.”—Rev. F. W. Hope. “ Epping.”—Mr. Doubleday. “ Glanville’s Wootton.”—J. C. Dale, Esq. “ Com- mon (near Swansea).”—L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. % Carlisle."—T. C. Heysham, Esq. Sp. 4. vestigator. Niger, antennarum capitulo elytrorumque fascié duplici aurantiacis, posteriore subinterruptd, thorace supra nudo. (Long. corp. 7 lin. —1 unc.) Ne. vestigator. Herschel.—Steph. Catal. 75. No. 802. Black; the antenne with the three last joints orange; the elytra with two transverse fulvous-orange bands, the anterior of which is continuous and in general nearly of an uniform width, or slightly narrowed towards the suture, and its edges sinuate-dentate; the posterior one is abbreviated and irregularly sinuated towards the suture, and is connected to the anterior one by the luteous reflexed margin of the elytra; the tarsal cilia are also orange or fla- vescent; thorax naked. Also very variable, with regard to size and the width of the orange fascie on the elytra, but of the latter the anterior one is generally much wider than the posterior. The naked thorax and straight hinder tibie distinguish this insect from Ne. Vespillo, and the former character from Ne. Sepultor ; from the following the continuous anterior fascia on the elytra and their greater width distin- guish it. Less common than Ne. Vespillo; found throughout the metro- politan district, in Norfolk, &c. “ Bottisham and elsewhere, common; chiefly in the carcasses of the larger animals about mid- summer.”—Iev. L. Jenyns. “ Very abundant at Netley.”—Rev. F. W. Hope.—“ Milford Haven and Dartmoor.,°— Dr. Leach. «© Common (near Swansea).”—L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. “ Carlisle.” —T'. C. Heysham, Esq. Sp. 5. interruptus. Pare xvi. f 2. Niger, antennarum capitulo elytro-~ rumque fasciis duabus interruptis aurantiacis, thorace supra nudo. (Long. corp, 8—94 lin.) SILPHIDE.—NECROPHORUS. © 19 Ne. interruptus, mihi.—Ne. Sepultor. De Jean?—Steph. Catal. 75. No. 803.* Ne. Vespillo. Samouelle, pl. 2. f. 6. Glossy-black ; antenne with the terminal joints orange; the elytra with two irregular transverse bright fulvous-orange bands, interrupted at the suture, and united exteriorly by the luteo-fulvous margin of the elytra; thorax naked. The interrupted and clear fulvous-orange fascie on the elytra, with the usually smaller size of the insect, at once distinguish this species from the foregoing, with which it has hitherto been confounded. My friend Professor Henslow first called my attention to the point of its distinction from Ne. vestigator; and from an attentive examination of a numerous series of examples, I am satisfied that it is not a variety of that insect, from which, exclusively of the above characters, it also differs in having the interrupted fascie on the elytra either of a nearly similar width, or the posterior one the broadest, whereas the contrary is the case with the preceding species. Much less abundant than the last: found in various places within the metropolitan district; in Norfolk, the New Forest, &c. ‘Found with the preceding, but occurs much less frequently.” —Rev. L. Jenyns and C. Darwin, Esq. ‘ Once found at Ealing.” | —Rev. F. W. Hope. Sp. 6. Mortuorum. Niger, elytris fascia lataé crenulaté, maculdque reniformi apicis aurantiacis, antennarum clavd nigrd. (Long. corp. 5—9 lin.) Ne. Mortuorum. Fabricius.—Steph. Catal. 75. No. 804.—Si.. Mortuorum. Don. xv. pl. 537. f. 2. Black; the elytra with a broad crenulated orange fascia at the base, and a reni- form or lunate spot at the apex, not connected to the anterior, as in the two last-mentioned species, by a luteous margin to the elytra, the base and middle of the reflexed margin alone being of that colour: antenne with the capitu- lum black. The black club to the antenna, and the simple spot towards the apex of the elytra, are the most conspicuous marks of distinction between this and its fasciated congeners. Not so abundant as Ne. Vespillo, but found throughout the metropolitan district. ‘* Not yet observed by me in Cambridge- * During the progress of the early portion of my Systematic Catalogue through the press, I obtained a hasty view of Gyllenhal’s fourth volume, pre- viously to the receipt of my own copy, which did not arrive till nearly half the Catalogue was printed:—the references thereto are consequently less definite than they might otherwise have been; and in this, as in one or two other in- stances hereafter to be pointed out, appear to be erroneous. 20 MANDIBULATA.—COLEOPTERA. shire."— Rev. L. Jenyns. “ Epping.”—Mr. Doubleday. * Not very common (near Swansea), sometimes, though rarely, in fungi.” —L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. “ Carlisle.”—T. C. Heysham, Esq. B. With the posterior tibia curved; the trochanters with an acute spine. Sp. 7. Vespillo. Miger, antennarum capitulo elytrorumque fascia duplict auran- - tiacis, thorace anticé supra flavo-aureo pubescente. (Long. corp. 6—12 lin.) Si. Vespillo. Linné.—Don. i. pl. 23.?—Ne. Vespillo. Steph. Catal. 75. No. - 805. Black: head with an obscure triangular luteous spot on the clypeus; thorax with its anterior margin above clothed with a golden-yellow pubescence: elytra pubescent, with two broad continuous sinuated orange fascie, the an- terior usually broadest, connected by the orange margin of the elytra; poste- rior tibie rather long and much incurved ; the posterior trochanters with an elongate, subacuminated spine at the apex; antenne with the tip orange. The incurved posterior tibie and spinose hinder trochanters at once point out this species from its congeners :—it varies much both in size and colour, and in some individuals the posterior fascia on the elytra is interrupted at the suture, and the elytra are glabrous:—probably a distinct species. Common in fields, pathways, lanes, &c. throughout the metro- politan district; also at Dover, Brighton, Shoreham; in Norfolk, Devonshire, &c. “ Bottisham, common in the spring; occurring mostly in dead birds and the smaller quadrupeds, which it buries.” —Rev. L. Jenyns. “ Epping.’”— Mr. Doubleday. ‘ Glanville’s Wootton.”—J. C. Dale, Esq. ‘“ Not uncommon (near Swan- sea).”’—L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. Genus CX XIII.—Necropts, Wilkin. Antenne distinctly longer than the head, rather slender, terminating gradually - in an elongate perfoliate club, composed of three joints, the terminal one obtuse: head oblong, with a distinct neck: eyes large, prominent: thorax - orbicular, with a narrow border: elytra-obliquely truncated at the apex, tri- carinated: body elongate-oval, scarcely longer than the elytra: legs elon- gate: dibie channelled, slightly spinose: posterior femora of the males more or less thickened and clavate, sometimes denticulated: anferior tarsi in the male more or less dilated. Necrodes differs from Necrophorus, which it resembles by having the elytra truncate, in the form of the clava of the antenne, which is elongate, not subglobose; the elytra are carinated, and the legs elongate; the head is rather small; eyes large; thorax orbicular; and in the males the posterior femora are frequently of great bulk SILPHIDZ.— OICEOPTOMA. 21 and thickness: by which characters and its elongate body this genus may be known from the rest of the family. Sp. 1. littoralis. Nigra, antennis apicé testaceis.. (Long. corp. 7—12} lin.) Si. littoralis. Linné.—Ne. littoralis. Steph. Catal. 75. No. 806. Oblong, depressed, black: eyes glaucous: antenne black, with the three ter- minal joints testaceous-yellow; thorax large, slightly convex: elytra elon- gate, a little dilated in the middle, finely and thickly punctulate, with three - smooth, elevated, lines, reaching to the apex, and a short one at the base between the two exterior ones, and towards the apex of the latter a transverse elevated tubercle: body deep glossy-black beneath. In some males the posterior femora are remarkably thickened and denticulated beneath ; while others have them very simple and unarmed ; the posterior tibie are also more or less arcuated; and the anterior tarsi dilated: in the females the legs are however always simple. The size of this species varies greatly, some examples (given as distinct by _ Dr. Leach in the Edinburgh Encyclopedia, under the name Ne. Curtisis) being only seven linesin length, while others exceed an inch. Again the elytra are sometimes of a livid brown or dull rufescent, but, in other points, similar to the above. Not uncommon on the banks of the Thames near Gravesend ; and in Battersea-fields; also on the shores of the Severn. ‘ Fre- quent at Bottisham, about midsummer; found chiefly in the larger carcasses.”—Rev. L. Jenyns. “ Netley.”.— Rev. F. W. Hope. “¢ Parley-heath.”—J. C. Dale, Esq. ‘ Var. 8. Loch Lomond.”— Dr. Leach. ‘ In carrion common (near Swansea), and sometimes under sea-weeds about high-water mark.” —L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. *¢ Carlisle."-—T". C. Heysham, Esq. “ Sidmouth.”—T. Marshall, Esq. ‘ Wandsworth Common.”—Mr. G. Waterhouse. GENUS CX XIV.—Orcroproma, Leach. Antenne nearly as long as the thorax, rather slender at the base, and termi- nating abruptly in a quadriarticulate club, the basal joint of which is small, and the terminal large, obconic: head small, inflected: eyes moderate: thorax nearly semicircular, transverse, emarginate anteriorly: elytra entire (of the females sometimes emarginated at the apex), carinated, with a deep marginal canal: body oval, depressed: legs rather short, slender: the an- terior tarsi of the males slightly dilated. Oiceoptoma may be known from the other genera of this family by the abrupt quadriarticulate club of the antennz, united to the depressed oval body, covered to the apex with the elytra, which are 22 MANDIBULATA.—COLEOPTERA. carinated, somewhat rugose and entire, or with the tip sometimes z little notched, but not abbreviated as in the two preceding genera. The species are very prone to monstrosity in the form of the thorax, which is sometimes deeply cut out on its lateral and posterior Margins. A. Both sexes with the elytra entire at the apex. Sp. 2. thoracica. Nigra sericeo-nitens, thorace rubro fulvo-villoso, elytris lines tribus elevatis flecuosis. (Long. corp. 64—73 lin.) Sec. thoracica. Linné.—Don. ii. pl. 63. f. 1—Oi. thoracica. Steph. Catal. 76. iNo. 808. Black: head punctured, clothed with pale sericeous down : thorax rufo-testaceous, with asilken golden-fulvous pubescence, finely punctured : elytra ovate, black, of a satiny texture, finely punctured, with three slightly flexuous clavated lines, of which the two interior are slenderest and united at the apex, the exterior one more short, considerably abbreviated, and terminates in a transverse tubercle. Var. g. Elytra with a rich fulvo-testaceous pubescence. ;+ Var. y. Thorax with its lateral margins deeply excised. Far from uncommon near London, and throughout the metro- politan district. ‘ Knockholt and Bexley, Kent.”—Mr. Ingpen. «© Bottisham, not uncommon in the spring.”—Rev. L. Jenyns. “ Lord Abingdon’s wood, in profusion.”—Rev. F. W. Hope. sé Epping.”—Mr. Doubleday. “ Enborne and Bristol.’—J. C. Dale, Esq. * Abounds about Penllergare or Phallus foetidus, and sometimes in dead birds.”—L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. Sp. 3. rugosa. Nigra pubescens, thorace tuberculato, elytris. trilineatis, trans= versim rugosis. (Long. corp. 33—é lin.) Si. rugosa. Linné.—Oi. rugosa. Steph. Catal. 76. No. 809. Somewhat oblong-oval: black: head clothed with a dense griseous pubescence; antenne black, with the capitulum obscure-fuscous: thorax truncate an- teriorly, sinuated posteriorly, the surface clothed with a very short ashy pu- {Sp. 1. marginalis. Atra, thoracis margine pallido, elytris fuscis. Si. marginalis. Fabricius.—Curtis (!)—Oi. marginalis. Steph. Catal. 75. INo. 807. note. Head black, rugose: thorax black, with its margin sinuated and pale; elytra fuscous, with three elevated lines: legs black. i An injured specimen of this insect was obtained by Mr. Wilkin from the late Mr. Tuther’s cabinet ; but as it is unquestionably a native of North America, it is not likely to be indigenous to Britain.—See Note, vol. ii. p. 68. SILPHIDH.—OICEOPTOMA. 23 bescence, with numerous elevated naked tubercles: elytra with three elevated flexuous longitudinal lines, with transverse slightly glossy wrinkles and tubercles between each, frequently united to the carine ; towards the apex of the elytra on the extreme carina is a larger transverse elevation, or tubercle; the apex of the elytra is obsoletely sinuated: body beneath black, with cinereous pu- bescence, the apex rufescent. Extremely variable in size ; and slightly so in form, some examples being more elongate than others. Abundant throughout the metropolitan district, also found near “Dover, Hastings, Brighton, Shoreham, the Isle of Wight, We. ‘«* Very common in Cambs.”—Rev. L. Jenyns. “ Riverhead, Kent.” Mr. Ingpen. “ Netley, Southend, &c.”—Rev. F. W. Hope. “< Epping.”—Mr. Doubleday. ‘ Abundant on the banks of the Thames, Plaistow marshes, and near Walthamstow.”—A. Cooper, Esq. “ Parley.”"—J. C. Dale, Esq. ‘ Very common in carrion, particularly in dead rooks in the rookery at Penllergare.”—L. JW. Dillwyn, Esq. “ Carlisle.” — T. C. Heysham, Esq. “ Scarborough.” —T. Bean, Esq. B. Elytra of the females emarginate at the apex. Sp. 4. sinuata. Migra obscura, capite thoraceque pubescens, hoe suhemarginato tuberculato ; elytris glabris, trilineatis. (ong. corp. 4—d lin.) Si. sinuata, Fabricius.—Don. xv. pl. 539.—Oi. sinuata. Steph. Catal. 76. No. 810. Elongate-ovate ; obscure black ; head clothed with rufo-cinereous pubescence: thorax nearly as in the preceding, but the angles more rounded and the hinder margin less sinuated: the disc clothed with cinereous down, with numerous glabrous elevated spots; elytra glabrous, oblong-ovate, obscure black, finely punctured, with three acute elevated lines; the interior straight, the exterior arcuated beyond the ordinary tubercle towards the apex of the elytra: body beneath pubescent, with the apex piceous ; legs black ; tarsi picéous. In the male the elytra are subtruncate; and in the females they are produced at the apex of the suture into an elongate rounded lobe, exterior to which is a deep sinuated emargination. + Var. 6. With the lateral margins of the thorax deeply excised at the base, leaving an acute process, pointing backwards; the hinder margin also excised near the hinder angles, and sinuated in the middle. Very abundant near London and in other parts. “ Bottisham and elsewhere; but is much less plentiful than Oi. rugosa.” — Rev. L. Jenyns. “ Riverhead.”—Mr. Ingpen. ‘“‘ Netley, Southend, &e.”"—Rev. F. W. Hope. “ Epping.”—Mr. Doubleday. “ East Manprsutata. Vot. ITI. 3isr May, 1830. D 24. MANDIBULATA.—COLEOPTERA. Ham and Plaistow marshes, common.”——4. Cooper, Esq. “ In putrid birds (near Swansea).”—L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. Sp. 5. dispar. Fusca obscura, capite thoraceque pubescens, hoc subemarginato tuberculato, elytris trilineatis, pilosis. (Long. corp. 44 lin.) Si. dispar. Jlliger.—Oi. dispar. Steph. Catal. 76. No. 811. Rather less than the last ; obscure fuscous: head and thorax as in the preceding, but more densely pubescent ; elytra of the same form, but throughout clothed with depressed cinereous pubescence, with three elevated lines, of which the exterior are scarcely arcuated ; and the ordinary tubercle more elevated and larger than in Oi. sinuata. The male has the apex of the elytra obtusely truncate: the female has it slightly emarginate. The pubescent elytra (exclusively of other characters) at once discriminate this species from the preceding. Gyilenhal refers the Silpha opaca of Marsham to this species; in which par- ticular he has lately been followed by Mr. Dillwyn, but incorrectly; the Marshamian insect, which is in my possession, being evidently the female of the preceding species. Rare: four or five specimens have been captured, I believe, in Norfolk. Genus CX XV.—SinpeHa Auctorum. Antenne as long as the thorax, gradually increasing from the base to the apex, forming a quadriarticulate club, composed of nearly equal joints, the ter- minal one being rather the largest, and conic obtuse: head small, inflexed: eyes rather prominent: thorax semicircular, generally truncate anteriorly ; elytra entire, generally carinated, with a deep marginal canal: body oval, slightly convex: legs moderate, rather short; anterior tarsi dilated in the males. The gradually thickened antenne witha quadriarticulate capitulum of nearly equal joints, with the slightly convex body, generally di- vested of pubescence above, usually truncate anterior margin of the thorax, and less rugose surface, are the principal external marks of distinction between this and the preceding genus; and from Phos- phuga it is sufficiently distinguished by the quadriarticulate clava of the antenne. A. With the thorax emarginated anteriorly. Sp. 1. quadripunctata. Ovata, nigra glabra, thoracis limho elytrisque pallidis, puncto bhaseos medioque nigris. (Long. corp. 6—7 lin.) Si. 4-punctata. Linné.—Don. ii. pl. 86. f. 2. Steph. Catal. 76. No. $12. SILPHIDA.—SILPHA. 25 Black ; head thickly punctured: thorax with the sides rather flattened, pale testaceous, the disc somewhat convex, foveolated behind, glossy black, with a slender testaceous margin anteriorly, and a broader one posteriorly : scutellum black: elytra pale shining testaceous, thickly punctated ; the margin rather flattened, the disc slightly convex, with three somewhat elevated lines, and each with two large glossy black spots, the anterior at the base of the elytra and ovate, the posterior towards the apex and orbicular. Found in the woods about London, especially at Coombe-wood, frequenting the oaks, upon which it prowls about in search of the larvee of Lepidopterous insects, upon which it preys. ‘ Bagley- wood, Oxford.”— Rev. F. W. Hope, and Rev. W. T. Bree. “ Ep- ping.”— Mr. Doubleday. “ Enborne.”—J. C. Dale, Esq. ‘ Rare (near Swansea).”—L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. B. With the thorax entire anteriorly. a. Elytra with elevated lines (usually three). Sp. 2. obscura. Migra obscura, thorace anticé truncato, elytris profundius punctatis, lineis tribus elevatis obsoletis. (Long. corp. 6—8 lin.) Si. obscura. Linné.—Don. ii. pl. 63. f. 4. Steph. Catal. 76. No. 813. Dull black ; head thickly punctured, with an obsolete transverse carina between the eyes: thorax slightly convex, truncate anteriorly, closely and finely punc- tured: elytra oblong-ovate, a little convex, sparingly, but deeply punctured, with three obscure very obsolete elevated abbreviated lines, the central of which is longest:body thickly punctured beneath. Common in the vicinity of London, especially in the fields near Hackney, Walthamstow, &c.: also near Erith, Dartford, Ripley, &e. ‘ Common in Cambs.”—Rev. L. Jenyns. “ Southend, Ald- borough, &c.”—Rev. F. W. Hope. “ Parley.”—J. C. Dale, Esq. «* Frequent in the sand hills (near Swansea), and under dry rubbish near the sea-side.”—L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. Sp. 3. tristis. Migra subnitida, thorace anticé truncato, elytris subtilissimé punctulatis, lineis tribus elevatis nitidis. (Long. corp. 53—8 lin.) Si. tristis. Zlliger.—Steph. Catal. 76. No. 814. Oblong-ovate; deep, somewhat glossy black: thorax slightly convex, truncate anteriorly, obsoletely foveolated, with a rather distinct lunule on each side, the disc rather sparingly punctured; the punctures not. very deep; elytra rather deeply punctured, with three elevated, glabrous, shining lines, reaching nearly to the apex, where they are slightly flexuous, and towards the extremity of the outer one is a conspicuous, but not very large, tubercle ; body slightly glossy beneath, punctured. Rarely, if ever, found near London: but far from uncommon Dee 26 MANDIBULATA.—COLEOPTERA. in several places near the coast, especially towards the west of England, and in Wales. ‘“ Barmouth, in July last.”—Reo. F. W. Hope. “ Parley.” —J. C. Dale, Esq. “ On the sand hills (near Swansea) common; and in July is sometimes seen lying dead in great numbers."—L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. ‘“ Carlisle."—T. C. Heysham, Esq. + Sp. 4. Griesbachiana. Nigra subnitida, punctata, elytris creberrimé punctatis linets tribus elevatis nitidis, exteriores abbreviate. (Long. corp. 8 lin.) Si. Griesbachiana. Steph. Catal. 76. No. 815. Slightly glossy black, head and thorax finely and thickly punctured; elytra coarsely punctured with three elevated glossy carine, the sutural and marginal ones abbreviated, the central one reaching to the apex and curved inwardly. Larger than Si. tristis; from which it chiefly differs by the abbreviation of the exterior elevated lines on the elytra, and the different position of the central one at the apex: it may be the Silpha granulata of Olivier. “© Winchester." Mr. A. Griesbach. The only specimen I have yet seen: it is in the collection at the British Museum. Sp. 5. nigrita.