6218 



Insects. 



and Staphylinidge, had deposited eggs, which had hatched and their 

 maggots were feeding on the carcass, — it had become too putrid any- 

 longer to attract the Necrophori. I had thus obtained twenty-three 

 individuals of different species of Necrophorus, under a single bird. 

 A bird of the size of a sea gull is never buried, as would be the case 

 with a bullfinch or any small bird : the larvae of Necrophorus, when 

 full fed, leave the dead carcass and bury themselves in the earth. 



Following up the same system, with other baits of a similar kind, 

 enabled me to obtain fifty-seven burying-beelles, of species as 

 follows : — 



Necrophorus Vestigator 35 



Ruspator 10 



„ Humator 7 



,5 Vespillo 5 



It will be seen from this enumeration that of the rarest of our red and 

 black species I obtained the greatest number. The following is the 

 nomenclature adopted ; it may probably not prove eventually to be 

 correct, but it is in accordance with named specimens from Germany, 

 in the collection of the British Museum : — 



1. Necrophorus Vestigator, Herhst.^ IlUg, Mag, 



Sepultor, GylL^ Sleph 



2. Necrophorus Ruspator, Erichs. 



Vestigator, Sleph. 



3. Necrophorus Humator, Oliv,^ Sleph. ^ &c. 



4. Necrophorus Vespillo, Linn,^ Sleph. ^ &c. 



1 will now make a few observations on the species of the genus, and 

 point out such localities as have produced them of my own knowledge. 

 It is quite evident to me that the species, at least some of them, are 

 local, for although I have never lost an opportunity of laying traps or 

 baits when visiting any new locality, I have, during the present 

 season, for the first time, captured N. Vestigator. 



Necrophorus germanicus. In Stephens' ' Manual ' three localities 

 are given for this insect ; the only one where it has been captured, of 

 my own knowledge, is Hastings, where my friend, the late Mr. Heales, 

 himself took a specimen about twelve years ago. 



Necrophorus Humalor. Apparently generally distributed; I have 



