ENTOMOLOGICAL CABINET, 



MEZIUM. Leach. 

 Family PTINWJE. Leach. 



Antennce approximating at their base, subfiliform, 

 robust and covered with coarse scales, the first or 

 basal joint the largest, the remainder of near an 

 equal size, the last or apical joint black and pointed : 

 head moderate, partially retractile within the thorax : 

 eyes small and placed above the insertion of the an- 

 tennae : thorax covered with coarse scales : scutellum 

 none : elytra gibbous, shining and semi-transparent : 

 legs long, the femora clavate. 



Sp. 1. M. sulcatum. Thorax tawny, being co- 

 vered with long hair and coarse scales : elytra red- 

 dish-brown and transparent, very shining. 



Ptinus sulcatus. Marsham. 



Length 1§ to 1^ lines. 



Inhabits old houses and paper-warehouses. 



This pretty and singular insect has more the ap- 

 pearance of a small spider than of a coleopterous 

 insect, and is not common. They are generally 

 found in closets amongst old paper. The motions 

 of this species are slow, and the antennae constantly 

 used alternately in touching the surface of the object 

 it may be walking on. This is the case also with 

 many of the Cerambycidae, and other simple and 

 long horned insects, apparently thus seeking a pro- 

 per situation by the females for depositing their eggs, 

 as in butterflies and moths. 

 26-2 



