50 CLAVICORNIA. [^SilpJia. 



Aclijx'ea contains three European species, of which one is found rarely in 

 Britain. 



S. reticulata, R {undaia, Miilh). Oblong, somewhat depressed, 

 black ; head not narrowed behind eyes, thickly and rugosely punctured, 

 nntennte rather short with very gradual club, second joint much longer 

 than third ; thorax transverse, with sides moderately rounded, apical 

 border straight, narrower than basal border, which is sinuate, posterior 

 angles rounded, upper surface very thickly and comparatively finely 

 punctured, depressed obscurely on each side towards posterior angles ; 

 scutellum large, pointed behind, thickly punctured ; elytra with sides 

 subparallel, with three raised lines on each, of which the external one 

 is considerably the strongest, interstices coarsely punctured, with irre- 

 gular transverse elevations, but with no marked tubercle behind middle ; 

 legs black, L. 11-13 mm. 



Male with the first four joints of anterior tarsi dilated. 



In carcases, &c. ; rare ; Battersea Fields, Loudon ; Swansea, Crymlyn Burrows ; 

 Cambridge ; Nottinghamshire ; Dr. Power has also taken it at a phice called " King's 

 Ledges," but I do not know the locality. 



(Sub-Gen. Blitophagra, Keitter.) 



Three European species are contained in this sub-genus, of which one 

 is found in Biitain ; in general appearance it is closely connected with 

 >S'. diapar and its allies, but may at once be separated by the formation 

 of the head, and the deep emargination of the labium. 



S. opaca, L. Oblong-oval, almost quadrangular, somewhat de- 

 pressed, black, clothed with close yellowish or yellowish-red pubescence ; 

 head not contracted behind eyes, antennte moderately long, with club 

 well marked ; thorax transverse, with sides rounded, anterior margin 

 feebly sinuate at sides, posterior margin strongly sinuate, disc with 

 evident depressions, finely and closely punctured ; scutellum pointed, 

 thickly punctured ; elytra parallel-sided, rounded at apex, with three 

 distinct raised keels on each, interstices finely punctured, the third with 

 a strong tubercle behind middle ; legs moderately stout. L. 10 mm. 



Male with the first four joints of anterior tarsi dilated. 



In carcases, moss, &c. ; local in England ; London district, not common, Woking 

 and Coombe Wood, Surrey; Suffolk; Sheerness ; Whitstable; Deal; Exmouth ; 

 Devon ; Swansea ; Knowle ; Cannock Chase ; Nottinghamshire ; Chat Moss ; Ripon ; 

 Northumberland district ; Scotland, rather common, Sohvay, Tweed, Clyde, Forth, 

 Tay, Dee, and Moray districts ; Ireland, Portmarnock. 



(Sub-Gen. Thanatophilus, Leach. (Pseiidopelfa, Reitter.) 



This sub-genus contains about eight European species, of which four 

 are found in Biitain ; the first is easily distinguished from all our 

 other species of Sdplia by its red thorax and black elytra; the other three 

 are dark, obscure-looking insects. 



