﻿182 [January, 



Observations on Necrophorus microcephalus, Thorns. — Herr Michow (Berlin. 

 Enfc. Zeit., X, p. 411) makes some remarks upon this species, entirely in accordance 

 with my observations upon the subject in the " Entomologist's Annual " for I860, 

 and of which I add a translation, as likely to interest British Coleopterists. 



" Among a great number of Necrophorus ruspator, Er., taken by me in 

 Pomerania, is a S exactly agreeing with the diagnosis of microcephalus, Thorns. ; 

 moreover, amongst these same N. ruspator, are two ? , noticeable for their small 

 and delicate build of body (analogous to microcephalus, $ ). These ? had the apex 

 of the trochanter, as in the larger ruspator ? , thin, pointed or obtuse ; but I 

 believed that I found a constant differential character for the small 9 hi the 

 structure of the clypeus, whereby I referred them to the microcephalus of Thomson, 

 whose diagnosis (clypeus of the <? with a membranous depression in the middle) I 

 was inclined to complete thus : — " clypeus of the ? with a membranous depression 

 near the anterior margin." But, after having examined my other species of 

 Necrophorus, I am inclined to doubt the value of this as a diagnostic for $ as well 

 as $ . Large and small examples of N. sepultor, Charp., exhibit characters similar 

 to those of ruspator ; thus, — in large <? sepultor the inner apex of the trochanter is 

 strongly developed, and projects laterally, whilst in small specimens it does not 

 project laterally, and the projection sometimes entirely disappears, thus ap- 

 proximating to the ? ; the clypeus, also, in the larger <J has a deep membranous 

 depression, reaching to the posterior margin, whilst in the smaller specimens the 

 depression only reaches the middle. I have, moreover, &$ which forms a transition 

 from the largest to the smallest $ sepultor, in the structure of the apex of its 

 trochanters and of its clypeus. In the commoner species of Necrophorus, this 

 structure of the clypeus and trochanters generally varies too much (as well in the 

 6* as the ? ) for those parts to afford valid differential characters. Moreover, as in 

 that genus the $ universally exhibits a preponderance of development in build of 

 body, it is evident to me that our species individually exhibit in their smaller males 

 a form which, whilst approximating very closely to the female type in general 

 structure, also comes very near that type in the slighter development of individual 

 organs, without thereby forming a sepai'ate species. In this view I am materially 

 assisted by the fact that these smaller varieties exactly agree, as to pattern of the 

 elytra, with the larger forms to which they specifically belong ; whilst all the species 

 of Necrophorus that are acknowledged to be good, and exhibit other constant and 

 differential characters, are very distinctly separable by the elytral markings. 

 If it be possible to indicate a like connexion, through intermediate forms, 

 between N. gallicits and N. fossor (for which I have not sufficient material), 

 then the former will constitute the type and the latter the less developed form of 

 the same species." — E. C. Rye, 10, Lower Park Fields, Putney, S.W., November, 

 1869. 



Note on Microptinus (Nitpus) gonospermi. — Referring to my remarks upon the 

 Bupposcd British origin of certain examples of this insect in the Annual for 1870, 

 I may observe that I have just received a letter from Mr. Syme (too late for in- 

 corporation in that publication), wherein he says that M. gonospermi must not be 

 put in tho British lists on his authority, for he has no idea when he took it, 

 certainly not in Orkney, where he took Niptus crenatus and no other of the Ptinidce. 



