BEETLES. 51 



of which is the smallest. The last joint of the maxillary 

 palpi is conically tapering. They are agile insects, which 

 are found under moss, dead leaves and stones, as well as in 

 decomposing animal and vegetable substances. 



* C. tristis, Panz. Pitchy-black, with the antennse much 

 thickened, the first six joints being reddish -brown, and the 

 remainder (which are broader than they are long) brown. 

 The pronotum is short with rounded sides, and the wing- 

 cases are brown and indistinctly striated. The legs are 

 brown, and the tarsi rusty -yellow. Length, 4-5 mm. It is 

 common in carrion. 



Genus Necropiiilus, Illig. 



Oval, convex beetles, with the five last joints of the antennae 

 enlarged. The last joint of the maxillary palpi is cylindrical. 

 The wing-cases have a broad, raised border and truncated tips, 

 and are dentated at the sutural angle. 



iV. suhta-raneus, Illig. This is the only European species. 

 It is pitchy-black, with the wing-cases punctate-striate. It 

 is found in damp, dark places and under stones, and often in 

 snail-shells. It is common in some mountainous districts in 

 Central Europe, but is not a British species. Length, 5-8 mm. 



Genus Necrophorus, Fabr. (Burying Beetles). 

 Elytra truncated. Antennae with ten joints, with a very 

 large foliated club at the end, formed of four joints. They 

 are common in carrion in the summer, to which they often fly 

 from a considerable distance. They bury it, and lay their 

 eggs in it. 



* N. germanicus, Linn. (Plate Y., Fig. 11). This large 



species has reddish-brown elytra, and a rusty-yellow spot on 



the front of the head. It lives less on carrion than on other 



E 



