Silvanus.] CLAVICORNIA. 305 



distinguished by having the elytra much broader in proportion to the 

 thorax, which has the anterior angles more strongly and distinctly pro- 

 duced, and the posterior angles not denticulate ; the elytra also are 

 slightly ovate ; the colour is usually reddish-brown, but occasionally the 

 disc of the elytra is darker. L. 2f mm. 



In dead branches of the Scotch fir ; first taken by Dr. Power near Eaher, and after- 

 wards in numbers by Mr. Champion, who says " there can be no mistaking the habits 

 of this species here its only recorded British locality although it has been stated to 

 occur in sugar." Dr. Power appears also to have found the species at Cobham Park. 



CATHARTUS, Eeiche. 



Four species belonging to this genus are mentioned in the last Euro- 

 pean catalogue, three of which are regarded as doubtful ; the fourth also, 

 C. advena, must be considered an importation, although, like S. Surinam' 

 ensis, it has been found at some distance from habitations ; it has usually 

 been classed with Silvanus, but is smaller and very different in appear- 

 ance, and has the central joint of the club of antennae larger than the 

 others. 



C. advena, Waltl. More convex, less parallel, and smaller than 

 either of our other species belonging to the Silvanina ; reddish-testaceous 

 or brownish-red, rather shiny, clothed with fine short yellowish pubes- 

 cence ; head subtriangular, very finely punctured, antennae moderately 

 long with the first joint of club much smaller than second, and the second 

 larger than the apical joint ; thorax transversely subquadrate, with sides 

 almost straight, very finely punctured, anterior angles forming a small 

 blunt tooth, posterior angles right angles ; elytra long oval, with fine 

 punctured striae, which become obsolete towards apex ; legs ferruginous 

 or testaceous ; the insect bears a very strong resemblance to certain 

 species of Cryptopliagus. L. 2 mm. 



In rice, &c. ; very rarely found out of doors ; an introduced species ; London, no> 

 uncommon ; I have also received it from Scotland ; Mr. Waterhouse has found thre 

 specimens at Wandsworth under cut grass. 



The position of this family has been, and still is, much disputed. 

 Erichson classed it with the Melyridae, Stephens with the Engidae, 

 Du Val with the Telmatophilidse, Kiesen wetter with the Nitidulidae, 

 and Eedtenbacher and Lacordaire with the Dermestidae ; others again 

 place it under the Mycetophagidce, from which it appears to be separated 

 by the number of tarsal joints, the closed anterior coxal cavities, and 

 the toothed claws ; the 5-jointed tarsi, of which the second and third 

 joints are lobed beneath, seem to bring it into close connection with 

 the Telmatophilina ; as, however, Professor Westwood observes (Classif. 

 Ins. vol. i. p. 142), in its habit of frequenting flowers, and in the bilobed 

 form of the third and minute size of the fourth joints of the tarsi, it 



VOL. III. X 



