18 MANDIBULATA. — COLEOPTERA. 



sometimes of a dusky or obscure brown ; the cilia on the tarsi are also of an 



orange hue. 

 Var. /3. Ne. bimaculatus. Entomological Transactions, i. 82. pi. 2. Jig. sup. — 

 Black, with a patch on the forehead, the outer margin of the elytra and two 



spots towards the apex ferruginous. 

 Very variable both in size and colour ; in some examples the elytra are entirely 



brown, arising doubtless from immaturity. 



The most abundant species of the genus in Britain, occurring in 

 plenty throughout the metropolitan district. " Bottisham, common 

 in the spring ; appearing by the end of March." — Rev. L. Jenyns. 

 " Netley, Barmouth, &C. 11 — Rev. F. W. Hope. " Epping. 11 — Mr. 

 Doubleday. " Glanville's Wootton. 11 — /. C. Dale, Esq. " Com- 

 mon (near Swansea)."— L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. « Carlisle. "-T. C. 

 Heysham, Esq. 



Sp. 4. vestigator. Niger, antennarum capitulo elytrorumque fascid duplici 

 aurantiacis, posterior e subinterruptd, thorace supra nudo. (Long. corp. 7 lin. 

 — 1 unc.) 



Ne. vestigator. Herschel. — Steph. Catal. 15. No. 802. 



Black ; the antennae with the three last joints orange ; the elytra with two 

 transverse fulvous-orange bands, the anterior of which is continuous and in 

 general nearly of an uniform width, or slightly narrowed towards the suture, 

 and its edges sinuate-dentate ; the posterior one is abbreviated and irregularly 

 sinuated towards the suture, and is connected to the anterior one by the 

 luteous reflexed margin of the elytra ; the tarsal cilia are also orange or fla- 

 vescent; thorax naked. 

 Also very variable, with regard to size and the width of the orange fascia? on 

 the elytra, but of the latter the anterior one is generally much wider than the 

 posterior. 

 The naked thorax and straight hinder tibiae distinguish this insect from Ne. 

 Vespillo, and the former character from Ne. Sepultor ; from the following 

 the continuous anterior fascia on the elytra and their greater width distin- 

 guish it. 



Less common than Ne. Vespillo ; found throughout the metro- 

 politan district, in Norfolk, &c. " Bottisham and elsewhere, 

 common; chiefly in the carcasses of the larger animals about mid- 

 summer." — Rev. L. Jenyns. " Very abundant at Netley." — Rev. 

 F. W. Hope. — " Milford Haven and Dartmoor." — Dr. Leach. 

 " Common (near Swansea). 11 — L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. " Carlisle. 11 

 — T. C. Heysham, Esq. 



Sp. 5. interruptus. Plate xvi. f. 2. Niger, antennarum capitulo elytro- 

 rumque fasciis duahus interruptis aurantiacis, thorace supra nudo. (Long, 

 corp. 8 — 9^ lin.) 



