150 FATUEJLL HISTOET OF 



BOLITOBIUS AT1UCAPILLUS. 



PLATE V. Fig. 3. 



Staphylinus atricapillus, Fabricius, Olivier, iii. No. 42, pi. 

 4, fig. 39, a, 6 — Tachinus atricapillus, Gravenhorst, Mo. 

 nog. Microp. 



This generic group was first separated by Dr 

 Leach from the genus Tachinus of Gravenhorst. 

 It includes about twenty small species, which appear 

 to be found only in Europe and North America. 

 They are known by having the body narrowed at 

 both ends, the thorax nearly as long as wide, the 

 anterior part of the head rather produced, and the 

 four posterior tarsi considerably lengthened. They 

 are ornamented with strongly contrasted marks of 

 red, pale yellow, and blue black ; and the surface is 

 remarkable for its high polish. All the species feed 

 on mushrooms, boleti, &c, and seem most partial 

 to them when in a putrescent state. B. atricapillus, 

 of which we have given a magnified figure from 

 Olivier's Entomologie, inhabits Britain, France, and 

 most of the northern and middle countries of Europe. 

 It varies from three to four lines in length, and is of 

 a glossy black on the head, with the mouth and palpi 

 reddish. The thorax is glossy red, without punc- 

 tures, except on the sides : the elytra bright bluish 

 black, with a pale crescent-shaped mark at the base 

 of each, and three faint punctured lines along the 



