44 LAMELLICORNIA. [ Geotrupes. 
as in the latter species the abdomen is entirely punctured and pubescent; 
it is therefore plainly intermediate between the two species; according to 
Marsham the species is most like G. spiniger, but has four excavated 
punctures on the thorax, the disc of which is more remotely and the 
sides more thickly punctured; the seutellum is violet, the margins of 
the sulcate elytra and thorax blackish-blue; the posterior femora are 
furnished with one or two small teeth, and the anterior tibize with six 
teeth; the length is 14 mm. Mr. Rye confesses that he is unable to 
determine the species from any of his specimens, nor have I heard of any 
other person who has been able to do so; the question must therefore 
still be left in abeyance. Dr. Sharp in his Catalogue of Scottish 
Coleoptera mentions G. fuveatus as occurring throughout Scotland, but he 
omits G. spiniger altogether, which appears to be the most common and 
widely distributed species of the genus; he obviously therefore regards 
them as synonymous.) 
G. mutator, Marsh. Closely allied to the preceding in size and 
general appearance, but at once distinguished by having nine strie 
instead of seven between the suture and humeral prominence of the 
elytra; the upper surface, as a rule, appears to be slightly violaceous, but 
is sometimes bluish or greenish as in the preceding species; the under- 
side is metallic, sparingly punctured and pubescent, especially in middle ; 
the mandibles are strongly rounded externally and slightly sinuate at 
apex; the thorax in both sexes is finely and diffusely punctured at sides 
and smooth in the middle, and in the middle is furnished with a fine 
central line, which is abbreviated in front, and is marked with a few 
punctures or almost impunctate ; posterior tibie with three carine on 
their outer side; the general form is somewhat more oblong than in the 
two preceding species. L. 15-22 mm. 
Male with the posterior femora near base, and the trochanters at apex, 
armed with a sharp tooth; anterior tibize with a keel underneath which 
is serrate and terminated in two teeth at apex. 
In dung; generally distributed and more or less common in the London district 
and the south of England ; Burnham, Somerset ; Bath; Bristol; Swansea; Tewkes- 
bury ; Needwood Forest, Staffordshire ; I do not, however, know of any locality 
further north than those here mentioned. 
G. sylvaticus, Panz. Smaller and rounder than either of the pre- 
ceding species, upper surface without pubescence, of a shining blue-black 
colour with the margins more distinctly blue, under-side clothed with 
blackish pubescence, shining blue or violet-blue, closely punctured ; 
head rugose with a distinct prominence in centre, antenne reddish, with 
the exception of the first joint, which is dark; thorax as broad as elytra, 
broadest behind middle, narrowed in front, diffusely punctured on dise, 
more closely at sides, with a trace of a longitudinal furrow at base ; 
scutellum with a few coarse punctures arranged longitudinally in middle; 
elytra with feeble and obsoletely punctured striz, the interstices with 
