i8 93 .] THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 133 



5. Four British species are included in this division, viz. : 5. 

 thoracica, S. nigosa, S. sinuata, and 5. dispar. The whole of these 

 species have the second joint of the antennae shorter than the third, 

 but this difference is scarcely apparent in 5. thoracica, which, from its 

 broad stucture and red thorax, might well form a sub-genus of itself. 



5. thoracica, L., can scarcely be confounded with any other British 

 species, as besides having a red thorax, the elytra is much depressed 

 and the ridges wrinkled, and, viewed at rest, has the appearance of 

 having been trodden on and crushed. The beetle is generally dis- 

 tributed, but is commoner in fir plantations than elsewhere. Sometimes 

 taken on the wing in hot sunshine, Oxshott and Farnham, Surrey ; 

 the larvae also can be taken at decaying fungus in same localities 

 (G.A.L.). Taken by Mr. Chaney at Esher, in putrid fungus. Mr. 

 A. J. Chitty finds it " usually in small numbers, but occurs at times 

 plentifully, as once in 1888 in New Forest under a dead pony; also 

 from Craigillachis Bansphin under a small dead bird ; Oxshott, South 

 Wales, and other localities." Not recorded from Ireland. 



5. mgosa, L., and two following, are of dull black, or brownish 

 colour. In the species under notice the elytra have in the interstices 

 a number of elevations or small tubercles arranged irregularly. The 

 beetle is generally the commonest of the genus, and occurs at every 

 part of the British Isles, and may be taken at any carrion. Ireland : 

 Very common all over the country ; in fact, I find it in every piece of 

 carrion (W.F.J.). 



5. smuata, F. Somewhat resembles the preceding, but the interstices 

 of the elytra are without the small tubercles, and the ridges are carried 

 to margin of elytra, the central interstices being prolonged at apex. 

 The beetle is very common at Rainham, Essex, and in 1888 could be 

 taken in hundreds at this locality ; also occurs at Loughton, Epping, 

 &c, Essex ; Oxshott, and other places in Surrey. " Not uncommon 

 in carcases, Chatham, Deal, Sheerness, Mickleham, &c." (G. C. 

 Champion, Kent and Surrey Coleoptera.) Common on sandhills in 

 Liverpool district (Dr. Ellis). Common at Hartlepool (J. E. Robson). 

 Ireland : Taken near Belfast by Haliday and Templeton. I have 

 taken it on shores of Lough Neagh, but never in numbers ; also under 

 rejectamenta on lake shores (W.F.J.). 



5. dispar, Herbst. Closely resembles the preceding, from which it 

 is distinguished by having the scutellum entirely covered with thick 

 pubescence, and the elytra also is plainly pubescent. The beetle is 

 certainly rare in South of England as well as in the north ; indeed we 

 have no authenticated record for the south. Several localities are 

 given by Canon Fowler, but it also appears rare in these. Ireland : 

 I have a specimen taken here, but it is always to be had, though very 

 sparingly, on the shores of Lough Neagh. I got several at Derryadd 



