Megatoma may be distinguished from Attagenus, to which 

 it is closely related, by the peculiar form of the underside of 

 the thorax (called the antepectus or prosternuni), which gene- 

 rally covers the mouth : the antennae are lodged in two cavi- 

 ties beneath the sides of the thorax ; and there are many other 

 characters which will be pointed out when the genus Attage- 

 nus is illustrated. 



Megatoma contains only two species, and their antennae 

 vary so considerably in the males, that they may form two di- 

 visions. 



I. With the club simply perfoliate. 



1. M. undata Lirm. — undulatus Linn. Faim. Suec. p. 141. 



71. 410.— Pawz. 75. 13. 



Some specimens are larger and others smaller than M. Serra. 

 Black, shining, minutely punctured : posterior angles of the 

 thorax and a spot before the scutellum clothed with white 

 scales ; an interrupted and undulated fascia upon the elytra 

 before, and another beyond the middle, formed of white scales 

 also. Tarsi piceous. 



I have found this insect in June upon foaling in the Regent's 

 Park. Mr. Robinson informs me that they eat holes in, and 

 apparently live upon, the chrysalides of Noctuae, that change 

 beneath the bark of trees. Mr. Samouelle observes that they 

 inhabit Birch-trees (beneath the bark) in the months of March 

 and April : the larva spins a silken web in which it changes 

 to a pupa. It is also found on elm-trees, on flowers, and in 

 houses. 



2. M. Serra Fah., Curtis Brit. Ent. pi. 244. male. 



In the Entomological Transactions are the following ob- 

 servations by the late Rev. J. Burrell : — " The larva of Serra 

 is a curious ferrutjineous one, living under the bark ofElms and 

 Oaks, where it may be found almost all the year, particularly 

 in the early spring months." In the winter it feeds upon 

 Onisci or Wood-lice. 



The perfect insect is found in June under the bark of Oaks, 

 Elms, and Sallows ; also in Boleti. I have taken it off the 

 trunks of trees in Kensington Gardens, and upon old palings 

 near Battersea Bridge. The female may easily be mistaken 

 for the same sex of A. Pellio, from which the two white spots 

 had been rubbed oif. 



For the rare plant figured, Ophrys aranifera ( Spider Ophrys), 

 I am indebted to Sir John Tylden of Milsted, Kent. 



