248 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



broad mentum and distant labial palpi they come so close to the 

 Leptinidcs and Silphidce that they might easily, and perhaps more 

 naturally, be placed with them. Cercyons and Histers are usually 

 considered to be exceedingly hard to set, but if taken when 

 properly relaxed they are very easy; if any difficulty is found 

 they may be set on their back in thick gum-arabic, and, when 

 they have quite dried, their legs may be brushed out ; a 

 little jerk will then turn them over, and they may be gummed 

 down, and the gum-arabic that remains on their backs may be 

 washed off with benzine or spirits of wine. This applies to all 

 the small globular beetles. No forcing will set the legs of 

 Histers, but they may be easily coaxed, if their natural direction 

 is followed. 



The Aphodii are another group that are hardly ever unrepre- 

 sented. Some of the species are very common ; some, however, 

 are rare, but occasionally turn up plentifully. Mr. T. Wood and 

 Mr. Bedford Pim last year found the rare Aphodius porciis in 

 profusion near London ; the rarest species appears to be ^. 

 scrofa, of which one examj)le has occurred near Southport. 

 Among other rare species we may mention A. Zenkeri, taken in 

 numbers by Dr. Power at Mickleham; A. lividus, recorded from 

 Darenth Wood; A. consputus from. Kent; A. quadrimacidatus 

 from Coombe Wood; and A. nemoralis irom Eannoch. A.foetidus 

 has been taken in some numbers near Manchester by Mr. G. 

 Chappell and others ; and A. Lapponum is very common in Scot- 

 land. A, nitidulus, A. rufescens (with a curious dark variety), 

 and A. scyhalarvus are common near the sea-shore in some 

 localities. 



The Ontliophagi do not seem to be altogether dung-feeders, as 

 their name seems to imply, as they may also be found in dead 

 birds and animals ; the scarcest species, 0. taurus, is doubtfully 

 indigenous. Most of our species come from the Channel Islands ; 

 the other species, except perhaps 0. nutans, seem to be common 

 in many districts. 



The same remark applies to the Philonild, and in fact the 

 Stapliijlinidce in general ; it would take too long here to attempt 

 to discuss the species of this large group that are found in dung 

 or dead animals ; no collector can even pretend to get a collection 

 together without attending carefully to the species thus found. 



Of the Histeiidce, the Saprini are usually to be found under 



