1872 ] 39 



and more acute behind than in C. pllostis, but the posterior denticle is broader and 

 not so sharp, and the lateral margins more evidently crenulated that in that species : 

 in general outline, this segment perhaps more resembles the thorax of C. umbratus. 



Of species not as yet recorded as British, C. dorsalis, Sahib., of which a color 

 Tariety might possibly be supposed to resemble C. ruficornis, is readily distinguish- 

 able by its smaller size, finer and closer punctuation, more depressed build, sharper 

 thoracic posterior denticle, &c. ; and its ally, C. nlger, Bris., though more nearly 

 resembling C. ruficornis by being darker in color, with a stronger antennal club, and 

 with its thorax straighter at the sides, seems abundantly distinct through its close 

 and delicate punctuation, slight and obtuse anterior thoracic denticle, &c. 



Baudi (Berlin, ent. Zeitschr., xiv, p. 56) has recorded a black yar. of C. pilosus 

 from Piedmont. 



Aphodius NiaER, Panz. — Baron Yon Harold (Berlin, ent. Zeitschr., xt, p. 266), 

 noticing the universal confusion between the black forms of A. jplagiatus and this 

 species, which is much rarer than is supposed, only five specimens of it having come 

 to his possession, remarks that it may be known by the basal joint of its posterior 

 tarsi being longer than the upper apical spine (these are, when evenly flattened, of 

 the same length in plagiatus), its metasternum being smooth in both sexes, and its 

 invariably non-metallic color. 



I think it probable that the insects on which this species has been recorded as 

 British, and declared to be " abundant at Deal," are only immaculate and non- 

 metallic forms of plagiatus ; but I have never yet seen a supposed British exponent 

 of A. niger. 



ZErGOPHORA EUFOTESTACEA. — The insect recently described in Berlin, ent. 

 Zeitschr., xv, p. 162, under this name by Dr. Kraatz seems without doubt to be our 

 well-known Scotch Z. Turneri, described by Dr. Power in the ' Zoologist ' for 1863 

 (p. 8735), and subsequently more fully by myself in the ' Entomologist's Annual ' 

 for 1864, p. 70, on the frontispiece of which it is figiired (f. 8). Tliis has erroneously 

 been considered a var. of Z. scuteUaris. — E. C. E.YE, 10, Lower Park Field, Putney, 

 S.W. : June, 1872. 



Note on the food-plant of Magdalinus carhonarius. — When in Braemar last 

 year, I discovered what I had been unable previously to ascertain, viz., that 31. 

 carbonarius in the larval state feeds upon the common birch. I found a decayed 

 branch of this tree, about an inch and a-lialf in diameter, in which there were three 

 mines close together. At the termination of each of these was the beetle — dead. 

 The course of the larva had been between the bark and the wood, the latter of which 

 was very irregularly, and rather deeply, engraved. — Robt. Hislop, Blair Bank, Fal- 

 kirk : Mag, 1872. * 



Natural History of Anchocelis litura. — I owe my acquaintance with this species, 

 as wey. as several others, to the great kindness of Mr. George Norman, of Forres, 

 who sent me a batch of eggs on October 2nd, 1869 ; they were mostly laid thickly 

 together in a flattish mass on a piece of paper, though there were some few loose and 

 separate from eacli other : they began to hatch with Mr. Hellins at Exefcr on the 

 5th of April, 1870 ; by the 22rd, the larva? were ^-iiich long ; by May 15th they had 



