Cholcva.'] cLAvicoRNU. G3 



longer and thinner and the chib not well defined, whereas in this latter 

 species the club is short, thick and well marked. 



C. tristis, Panz. Very closely resembling the preceding in size and 

 form anil apparently often mixed with it in collections ; black or brown- 

 ish ; antennte shorter and with more abrupt club than in C. nigrita, with 

 the first five or six joints reddish, and the apical joints more or less 

 fuscous, the last often reddish ; thorax not as broad as in the preceding 

 species, especially behind, and more transverse, broadest in or a little 

 before middle, posterior angles sharp right-angles ; elytra thickly punc- 

 tured, Avith very feeble traces of striae, and with the nsual purplish 

 bloom, and a yellowish pubescence at base ; in all cases this pubescence 

 must be observed in fresh specimens ; legs ferruginous or reddish-brown, 

 femora darker, and tarsi, as in many other species, often lighter. 

 L. 3^-4 mm. 



lu moss, haystack refuse, deeaj'ing vegetable matter, carcases, &c. ; often by sweep- 

 ing J generally distributed and common throughout the kingdom. 



C. Kirbyi, Spence {rotundicoUis, Kell.). This species is given by 

 IMurray (1. c. p. 43) as a variety of C. tristis, but he says that it is not 

 without hesitation that he removes it from the list of distinct species, 

 and he adds, " The characters, however, which distinguish it being all 

 variations in degree, and at times approaching more or less to the type of 

 tristis, I have come to look upon it as a variety of that species. It is well 

 known that carcass-feeding beetles are always more subject to variation 

 than others, owing to the chance of the food of the larvae becoming 

 exhausted before they are full fed. This species may be a starved 

 variety." These remarks are well worthy of note in considering allied 

 species of Necrophaga, whether we hold Murray's view regarding this 

 particular species or not, as a diminution of food must affect the size, 

 and also the development of the chitin, Avhich might cause some altera- 

 tion in the shape of thorax, &c. ; C. Kirhyi is smaller than C. tristis, and 

 has the sides of the thorax miich more strongly inflexed before base and 

 so more rounded and dilated in front ; the sculpture of the thorax is also 

 more strongly marked, a character which seems to preclude its being 

 considered a starved variety ; the antennae are not so much thickened, 

 and the elytra are shorter and more ovate. L. 3-3^ mm. 



In decaying animal and vegetable matter ; local, but not uncommon ; London dis- 

 trict, occasionally in profusion and apparently generally distributed throughout 

 ELgland ; Scotland, local, Solvvay, Forth, and Dee districts ; it is probably widely 

 distributed in Ireland. 



C. chrysomeloides, Panz. This species may very easily be dis- 

 tinguished by its large size taken in conjunction with its short stout 

 antennae ; the pul)escence also is blackish or of a grizzly grey colour, and 

 is rather thick and distinct ; form ovate, convex, colour deep brown or 

 black ; antennae shorter than head and thorax with a strong and abrupt 



