SILPHID^i. — NECROPHORUS. 17 



Si. germanica. Linns. — Ne. germanicus. Curtis, ii. pi. 71. — Steph. Catal. 74. 

 No. 799. 



Black, with a large triangular membranaceous testaceous-yellow spot on the fore- 

 head, and the outer margin of the elytra broadly rufo-ferruginous : the clava 

 of the antennae black. 



Towards the apex of the elytra is sometimes a rufous spot; probably imma- 

 ture. 



Known from Ne. Humator by the black club of the antennae, the rufous margin 

 to the elytra, the anteriorly dilated thorax, and by its superior size. 



Very rare in Britain ; but rather widely dispersed : I possess a 

 specimen from Moushold Heath, near Norwich. " Lord Abing- 

 don's woods, near Oxford." — Rev. F. W. Hope. " On the banks 

 of the Thames, above Windsor." — Dr. Leach. 



Sp. 2. Sepultor. Plate xvi. f. 1. Niger, antennarum capitulo elytrorumque 

 fascid duplici aurantiacis, posteriore interrupts, thoracis limbo land Jlavo- 

 aured tectd. (Long. corp. 7 — 10^ lin.) 



Ne. Sepultor. Gyllenhal.—Ne. anglicus. Steph. Catal. 74. No. 800. 



Black, head with a triangular luteous spot on the elytra : antennae with the 

 club orange: thorax densely clothed with a rich golden-yellow down, on its 

 margin, especially anteriorly: elytra with two orange fasciae, varying con- 

 siderably in different individuals ; the anterior one generally broad, and con- 

 tinuous; the posterior narrow, interrupted at the suture, and very frequently 

 divided into two very unequal parts by the black ground of the elytra, which 

 leaves a small spot between the outer portion and the suture. 



The width of the orange fasciae on the elytra varies considerably, as do also their 

 form and integrity. 



Ne. Vespillo is the only other species of the genus which has the anterior 

 margin of the thorax pubescent, but the straight posterior tibiae of Ne. Se- 

 pultor at once distinguish it from the aforementioned species, in which the 

 elytra also are pubescent. 



Rare ; found in Battersea-fields and on Hampstead-heath, and 

 other parts of the metropolitan district. " Twice taken at Ealing; 

 not uncommon at Netley." — Rev. F. W. Hope. " In carrion, not 

 uncommon (near Swansea)." — L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. 



b. With the thorax not much dilated anteriorly. 



Sp. 3. Humator. Niger, immaculatus, antennarum capitulo aurantiaco. (Long. 



corp. 9—14. lin.) 

 Si. Humator. Olivier.— Don. xv. pi. 537. f. 1.— Ne. Humator. Steph. Catal. 



74. No. 801. 



Entirely of a deep glossy-black, with the three terminal joints of the antennae 

 of an orange or testaceous-yellow, and the deflcxed margin of the elytra 



