ENTOMOLOGICAL CABINET. 



X1T1DULA GRISEA. Mar sham. 



Reddish yellow : head small and exerted, jaws 

 projecting and curved : eyes moderate, but the 

 hemispheres very large : antennae reddish yellow, 

 the basal joint large, globular, and in size equalling 

 the club, which is composed of three joints, two 

 deep cup-shaped, and the third nearly globular : 

 thorax convex, broader than long, with a wide 

 margin, a large brownish black spot in the centre, 

 and an angulated line between the middle and the 

 margin which increases in width and reaches the 

 posterior margin, it then turns and terminates in a 

 laige spot near the central one : elytra twice the 

 length of the thorax, slightly convex; margined with 

 three interrupted lines of black, and elevated stria: : 

 legs and the whole of the under part reddish yellow. 



Length of the body 2 to 2§ lines. 



The Nitidulidce follow in a most natural manner 

 the SilphideSy both in their appearance and ceco- 

 noray; the latter feed on carrion, and the former 

 on the more muscular and dried parts that may 

 adhere to bones when left by the Silphidce and other 

 carnivorous feeders. Nit/dula grisea is found be- 

 neath the bark of the willow, poplar and birch trees, 

 generally in the early spring months, and the wood 

 of those trees it is said they eat ; it is however cer- 

 tain that those places are their hibernating quarters, 



ir-;; 38 



