98 Proceedings of the 



Dark brown, short oval. Antenna? ferruginous brown, very 

 feebly thickened towards the extremity, not quite so long as the 

 head and thorax ; first joint longer than the succeeding joints ; 

 second very little shorter than third; third and fourth very 

 nearly equal ; fifth and sixth equal, both a little shorter than 

 fourth ; seventh not much if at all longer than sixth, but a good 

 deal broader ; eighth shorter than those on each side of it, but not 

 greatly narrower ; ninth and tenth about same size, and eleventh 

 acuminate and nearly twice as long as the tenth. Head and 

 thorax black, very densely punctate, with a yellowish grizzly 

 adpressed pubescence; mouth reddish ; edges of thorax ferrugi- 

 nous brown. Thorax rounded on the sides, broadest behind the 

 middle, at the base almost twice as broad as long, pj (r g 

 very slightly rounded in at the posterior angles, which 

 are right-angled and have a slight tendency to pro- 

 ject behind. Elytra reddish brown, covered with a 

 bluish-grey bloom ; a little widened in the middle, 

 apex almost acuminate ; densely punctate, and with 

 striae visible towards the apex, scarcely perceptible in front. 

 Legs reddish brown. 



This species is easily distinguished from the rest of the sec- 

 tion by the breadth of its thorax behind, which gives its outline 

 at first sight, and before the junction of the thorax and elytra is 

 examined, very much the appearance of being a continuous oval 

 slightly interrupted at the base of the elytra. 



It is widely distributed, being found both in England and Scot- 

 land, France, Germany, and most of Europe. Kraatz says that it 

 is seldom or never found under leaves or fungi, but in cellars, 

 stables, potato-heaps, &c. Fairmaire and Laboulbene mention 

 it as having been also taken in moss at the roots of trees. 

 Stephens gives "carcases" as its habitat, and rightly enough 

 so far as regards the species he has under this name (viz. a pale 

 variety of chrysomeloides), but incorrectly as regards the true 

 fuscus. It is, however, easy to predicate of each species by a 

 simple inspection of its antennas whether it is a carcase-feeder 

 or not. Those species with filiform or slightly thickened an- 

 tenna? are found among leaves and moss, &c. Those with heavy, 

 thick, clubbed antenna? are found under dead birds or small 

 mammals. In other words, those which have to seek out pu- 

 trescent matter for their food, or a nidus for their eggs, are fur- 

 nished with largely developed antenna? to enable them to smell 

 it out. 



