198 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



case of the males, for in them the trochanters exhibit differ- 

 ences ; whilst in the females they appear to be always simple 

 or shortly spinose. The diagnosis of the female is therefore 

 not so satisfactory. 



The genus Necrophorus will seem then to stand as fol- 

 lows : — 



Sec. 1. Elytra black. 



1. N. germanicKs, Linn. — Readily distinguished by its 

 large size, the black club of the antennae, the thorax being 

 more convex, and the reflected margin of the elytra fulvous. 

 The smaller specimens are about the same size as the larger 

 ones of N. humalor. This species is rare : I have myself 

 taken but one specimen, which I found in a rotten duck's 

 egg in the garden of the Rev. W. E. Scudamore, at Ditching- 

 ham, in Norfolk, some ten years ago. 



2. A'^. humator. Fab. — A common species, with black 

 elytra and an orange-coloured club. I have one specimen, 

 apparently not immature, which has the reflected border 

 somewhat fulvous. 



Sec. 2. Elytea orange, with black fascia. 



3. N. Vespillo, Linn. — Diagnosed from all the others by 

 the curved posterior tibia3. Common. 



4. N. Mortuorum, Fab. — Diagnosed from all the others 

 by the black club of the antennae. Common in rotten 

 Fungi, &c. 



5. A^. vestigator, Herschel. — Diagnosed by having straight 

 tibiae, and the thorax much dilated in front and clothed 

 densely with orange-coloured hairs. It seems to be rare : 

 Mr. F. Smith took a large quantity at Lowestoft some years 

 since. 



There remain two species — 



6. N. ruspator, Er. Kaf. i. 225 (1837), and 



7. N. interruptm, Stev. Mandib. iii. 18, pi. XVI. 2 (1830) j 

 fossor, Er. Kaf. i. 224 (1837). 



And it is from these respectively that we have to separate — 



8. N. microcephalus, Thoms. Sk. Col. iv. 9 (1862), and 



9. N. gallicus, Duval, Glas. ii. 139 (1860). 



N. interruptus and its ally may always be known by the 



