SPIDER BEETLES. 123 



thorax is smooth, whereas in Mezium it is covered 

 with longitudinal furrows, whence the name sulcatum, 

 or ' furrowed.' 



To my mind, these are the oddest-looking Beetles 

 that we have in England, and, indeed, at first sight 

 they much more resemble spiders than Beetles. 



The Mezium can generally be found in the cup- 

 boards and other recesses of old houses, and, indeed, 

 all three Beetles may be captured on the same pre- 

 mises. A very good trap for them is a deep and 

 steep-sided basin, with a little moist sugar at the 

 bottom, and a stick or two laid against the sides by 

 way of a ladder. The Mezium is very fond of sugar, 

 climbs up the ladder, lets itself tumble into the sugar, 

 and then cannot get out again, "not being able to 

 cling to the polished sides of the basin. It is thought 

 by many entomologists, that neither of these Beetles 

 is indigenous, but that all three have been imported 

 from abroad. 



