SERRICORNIA. 185 



GXBBXUXIX, Scopoli. 



This genus, which bears a very close resemblance to the preceding, 

 may at once be distinguished by its glabrous thorax, more laterally 

 compressed elytra, and the longer and more acuminate last joint of the 

 antennae; four species have been described, two from Europe, and one 

 each from Columbia and Cuba ; one of these has been found in Britain, 

 but it occurs very rarely, and is very probably an importation ; the 

 species are found under the same circumstances as the preceding, in 

 dried decaying animal and vegetable substances ; Westwood mentions 

 the discovery by M. Audouin of a large quantity of Gibbium scotias in 

 a small antique vase, dug up at Thebes in Egypt, in which a small 

 quantity of semi-fluid resinous matter was also contained ; M. Audouin 

 was, however, of the opinion that the insects had been attracted to the 

 matter at a subsequent period, rather than that they had been em- 

 balmed in it by the Egyptians. 



Cr. scotias, F. (psylloides, Czemp.). Of a dark shining brownish 

 or reddish-brown colour, with the thorax and elytra glabrous, smooth 

 and very shiny; form strongly swollen and gibbose, somewhat com- 

 pressed laterally ; head rather long, furrowed between antennae, which 

 are long and rather stout, and strongly pubescent, with the last joint 

 long and acuminate; thorax short; scutellum wanting ; elytra narrowed 

 towards base and much widened behind, strongly inflated; legs clothed 

 with strong yellowish pubescence, long and rather stout, with the 

 femora clavate at apex, last joint of tarsi narrower than the preceding. 

 L. 2-3 mm. 



In seeds, and decaying animal and vegetable refuse ; rare ; old booses in London ; 

 Esher; Bristol; Newcastle-on-Tyne ; Scotland, not indigenous, " Arlary in Kinross- 

 shire, among dried plants from India," Murray's Cat. 



ANOBIIDJE. 



The members of this family differ from the Ptinidae chiefly in the 

 formation of the antennae, which are either serrate or pectinate (occa- 

 sionally flabellate), or have the three terminal joints elongate and thick- 

 ened, forming a more or less distinct loose club ; in one genus however, 

 Dryophilus, the last three joints in the male are very loug and slender ; 

 they are inserted immediately in front of the eyes, and are more or less 

 distant at base, whereas in the Ptinidae they are inserted upon the front, 

 and are nearly always contiguous at base ; the posterior femora when 

 in repose are received by the hind coxae, which have their hind margin 

 excavated for that purpose ; the thorax is not or scarcely narrower 

 than the elytra, and is nearly always margined ; the tarsi are all 

 5-jointed ; the species, as a rule, are more or less cylindrical, except in 

 the Dorcatomina ; the tibial spurs are wanting or obsolete, a character 

 that separates the family from the Bostrichidw and Lyctidae. 



