354 CLAvicoRNiA. \Mycetophagus. 



Repton ; Ripou ; Northumberland district, "a fine series from ' corky fungus' oa 

 alder, ucar Wooler, iu September by Mr. J. Hardy " (Bold). 



m. fulvicollis, F. Elongate, narrow, almost parallel-sided, with 

 long pubescence ; head black with mouth parts red, thickly and strongly 

 punctured, antennae rather long, reddish-yellow with the penultimate 

 joints brownish, last five joints plainly broader ; thorax red, narrower 

 than elytra, with sides evenly rounded and narrowed in front and behind, 

 strongly and diffusely punctured ; elytra pitchy with two fascise on each, 

 and a spot near margin between them, yellowish, strite rather strong 

 and coarsely punctured, feebler towards apex, interstices smooth ; 

 presternum red, meso- and metasternum and abdomen black, legs reddish 

 or yeilowish-red. L. 4 mm. 



A single specimen was taken by Mr. J. Kay Hardy, in June 1865, 

 in a fungus near the saw-mill at Dall, Rmnoch, Perthshire : it is curious 

 that this should be the only Scotch specimen of Mycetophagus for 

 which a locality is recorded. 



DERMESTID^. 



This family, according to the Munich catalogue, contains nineteen 

 genera and about two hundred species ; the Byturidae, however, which 

 are included by Gemminger and. Harold, under the family, are now 

 divided oflf by most authors, and a considerable number of species 

 contained in several new genera {Perimegatoma, Acolpus, Axinocerus, 

 &c.) have since been added ; the members of the family are very widely 

 distributed, although they appear to be rather characteristic of tem- 

 perate than of tropical countries ; a considerable number of species are 

 almost cosmopolitan in their range, as might be expected from their 

 habits ; the following are some of the chief characteristics of the family : 

 — Head variable in size, deflexed, furnished, except in Dermestes, with a 

 frontal ocellus ; mentum quadrate, usually corneous, ligula simple ; 

 antennas inserted in front of the eyes, usually 1 1-jointed, but variable, 

 terminating in a distinct 3-jointed club; thorax short, excavated 

 beneath for the reception of the antennae, except in Attagenus and 

 Trinodes ; mesosternum prominent, metasternum short ; elytra covering 

 abdomen, not striate, except faintly in certain species of Dermestes ; 

 abdomen with five free ventral segments ; anterior coxal cavities open 

 behind ; legs short, somewhat contractile, tibias with distinct stout 

 spurs ; tarsi 5-jointed, pubescent, with the fifth joint always long, and 

 joints 1-4 as a rule short and equal, the first, however, being occasionally 

 longer ; claws simple. 



The members of the family are oblong-ovate or small oval insects, 

 and the greater part of them frequent furs and hides, and dried animal 

 remains generally, also articles of food such as bacon, cheese, &c, ; 

 some, however, appear to be found only on flowers ; even these, in the 



