Leptinidce.] CLAVICORNIA. 



IEPTINIDJE. 



This family contains two genera Leptinus and Leptinillus, the latter 

 of which, from North America, was at first included with the former ; 

 they differ from the Silphidee in their transverse mentum, very long 

 filiform antennae, the very short metasternum, and the fact that the 

 sternal epipleurye of the elytra are almost obsolete, or very little pro- 

 nounced ; the eyes are entirely wanting, or represented by translucent eye 

 spots. 



LEPTINUS, Miiller. 



This genus at present contains one or two species from Europe, 

 the Caucasus district, and North America ; they are found living with 

 various small rodents and birds, sometimes on their bodies and sometimes 

 in their nests, but, as Dr. Horn observes, it has not been yet determined 

 whether they are true parasites or merely guests ; our single species, L. 

 testaceus, is also occasionally found in numbers in the nests of humble-bees. 



Ii. testaceus, Mull. Oval, much depressed, of a dull, testaceous 

 colour, clothed with rather strong yellowish pubescence ; head projecting, 

 almost semicircular, much narrower than thorax, antennae very long, 

 filiform ; thorax transverse, crescent-shaped, rounded and narrowed in 

 front, broadest behind, with the posterior angles prominent and acute, 

 very closely punctured, fully as broad at base as elytra ; scutellurn 

 ralher large, triangular; elytra about twice as long as thorax, and of 

 about the same breadth, with sides subparallel, obtusely rounded at 

 apex, very obsoletely striated, and very finely and somewhat rugosely 

 punctured ; legs testaceous, femora rather stout, tibiae sparingly spinose ; 

 posterior tarsi with the first joint almost three times as long as second. 

 L. 2 mm. 



In dead leaves, rotten wood mould, birds' nests, on small rodents, &c. ; also in the 

 nests of Bombi ; very rarely in nests of Formica fuliginosa ; rare; Chatham (J. J. 

 Walker, in numbers), Tilgate Forest, Caterham, Cobham Park, Chatham, Purley 

 oaks ; Guestling near Hastings ; Needwood, Burton-on-Trent, in large numbers in a 

 humble-bee's nest (Rev. H. S. Gorham) ; Ripon (Waterhouse), three specimens one 

 on mouse in a trnp, one on leg of trousers, and one behind some old ivy ; Scotland, 

 very rare, about the nests of Bornbi, Clyde and Forth districts. 



SILPHID^l. 



This family contains a large number of genera which are widely 

 distributed over the surface of the world, but, as at present known, 

 are chiefly characteristic of colder and temperate, rather than of tropical 

 regions ; some of these are very large and conspicuous insects, while 

 others are obscure and minute ; the members of the family differ very 

 much in size, shape, and general appearance, and by many authors are 

 divided up into three or four separate families ; they are, as a whole, 

 distinguished by their large quadrate mentum, large and prominent 



