Gibbium.] SERRICORNIA. 185 
GIBBIUM, Scopoli. 
This genus, which bears a very close resemblance to the preceding, 
may at once be distinguished by its glabrous thorax, more laterally 
compressed elytra, and the longer and more acuminate last joint of the 
antenne; four species have been described, two from Europe, and one 
each from Columbia and Cuba; one of these has been found in Britain, 
but. it occurs very rarely, and is very probably an importation ; the 
species are found under the same circumstances as the preceding, in 
dried decaying animal and vegetable substances ; Westwood mentions 
the discovery by M. Audouin of a large quantity of Gibbiwm scotias in 
a small antique vase, dug up at Thebes in Egypt, in which a small 
quantity of semi-fluid resinous matter was also contained ; M. Audouin 
was, however, of the opinion that the insects had been attracted to the 
matter at a subsequent period, rather than that they had been em- 
balmed in it by the Egyptians. 
G. scotias, F. (psylloides, Czemp.). Of a dark shining brownish 
or reddish-brown colour, with the thorax and elytra glabrous, smooth 
and very shiny; form strongly swollen and gibbose, somewhat com- 
pressed laterally ; head rather long, furrowed between antenne, which 
are long and rather stout, and strongly pubescent, with the last joint 
long and acuminate; thorax short; scutellum wanting ; elytra narrowed 
towards base and much widened behind, strongly inflated; legs clothed 
with strong yellowish pubescence, long and rather stout, with the 
femora clavate at apex, last joint of tarsi narrower than the preceding. 
L. 2-3 mm. 
In seeds, and decaying animal and vegetable refuse ; rare ; old houses in London ; 
Esher; Bristol ; Newcastle-on-Tyne ; Scotland, not indigenous, ‘‘ Arlary in Kinross- 
shire, among dried plants from India,”’ Murray’s Cat. 
ANOBIIDE, 
The members of this family differ from the Ptinide chiefly in the 
formation of the antenne, which are either serrate or pectinate (occa- 
sionally flabellate), or have the three terminal joints elongate and thick- 
ened, forming a more or less distinct loose club; in one genus however, 
Dryophilus, the last three joints in the male are very long and slender ; 
they are inserted immediately in front of the eyes, and are more or less 
distant at base, whereas in the Ptinide they are inserted upon the front, 
and are nearly always contiguous at base; the posterior femora when 
in repose are received by the hind coxe, which have their hind margin 
excavated for that purpose; the thorax is not or scarcely narrower 
than the elytra, and is nearly always margined; the tarsi are all 
5-jointed ; the species, as a rule, are more or less cylindrical, except in 
the Dorcatomina; the tibial spurs are wanting or obsolete, a character 
that separates the family from the Bostrichide and Lyctide. 
