Insects. 



5975 



The cylindrical depressed form, dilated thorax and attennated elytra 

 will separate this species, at the first glance, from the two following. 



Mortisaga appears to be exclusively a northern species : my speci- 

 mens, two males and two females, were taken near Elgin, in Moray- 

 shire. 



3. B. Chevrolatii, Solier ; Mulsantj Coleop. de France^ Latigenes, 



119, 3. 



Blaps mortisaga, Marsh. Ent. Brit. i. 479, 1 ; Steph. Ilhist. 



Maud. v. 23, 2 ; Id. Manual^ 326, 2558 ; IVestw. Mod. Class. 



Ins. i. 319. fig, 39, 7. 

 Blaps obtusa, Sturm, Deulsch. Faun. ii. 206, 4, pi. 44. 



This species, the B. mortisaga of British collections, may easily be 

 known by its small subquadrate depressed thorax, which has the disk 

 more or less uneven, and which gives it a foveolated appearance in 

 most specimens : the elytra are greatly dilated, widest at about two- 

 thirds their length ; * convex above, almost gibbous behind, and with 

 the apical processes very short : when viewed in certain lights the 

 elytra appear slightly ribbed. 



Male. — More elongate, thorax proportionately wider, elytra not so 

 gibbous, and legs longer than in the female. 



Mulsant appears to be of opinion that these narrow individuals are 

 females; but T think that the dilation of the thorax, narrowing of the 

 elytra and elongation of the legs are indicative of the male sex in this 

 genus. 



Common everywhere. I found it very abundant in September, 

 1857, at Tain, Ross-shire. 



4. ^. {ixU^xcdi, Sturm, Deutsch. Faun. ii. 205, pi. 45; Spry Shuck. 



48, pi. 57, fig. 1 ; Mulsant, Coleop, de France, Latigenes, 

 121, 4. 



Blaps obtusa, Curtis, Brit. Ent. pi. 148; Steph. Illust. Mand. 

 V. 23, 2; Id. Manual, 326, 2559 ; SamoueVs Ent. Cal. 20, 1. 



The very broad thick form and short legs of this insect will at once 

 lead to its identification. Mulsant remarks that it is a more southern 

 species than Chevrolatii, being found in the middle and South of 

 France. Stephens and Curtis represent it as not uncommon in the 



* Mr. Westwood's figure, cited above, is a very correct outline of the female of 

 this species. 



