322 



COLEOPTERA OF THE LIVERPOOL DISTRICT. 



Bv JOHN W. ELLIS, L.R.C.P., L R.C.S.E., 



Live7'pool ; Hov.. Sec. Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society. 



PART VI. 

 LAMELLICORlsriA. 



(Read before the Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society, November 24th, 1S84.) 



The species of this group are distinguished from all other beetles 

 by having the terminal joints of the antennae more or less flattened 

 and hinged together so as to open and shut like the leaves of a 

 book. Though the group is represented in Britain by only about 

 90 species, the specimens are mostly conspicuous, and are con- 

 sequently favourites with collectors. Many of them are onthophagus 

 (feeders on dung), such as the genera Geot7'upes and Aphodius, and 

 of these I may point out that our district can scarcely be surpassed, 

 if indeed it can be equalled, for the number of species, most of those 

 I have recorded being inhabitants of the Wallasey sandhills, where 

 they revel in the dung of the New Brighton donkeys. Of the whole 

 90 species recognised as British, I have to record just one half (45) 

 as occurring or having occurred in our district, while of the genus 

 Aphodius, comprising 44 British species, 28 occur with us. 



LUCANIDy^. 

 SINODENDRON, Fab. 



S. cylindricum, L. 



Mr. Archer records this species (probably in. a decayed ash) 

 from Childwall. 



SCARAB^IDyE. 

 ONTHOPHAGUS, Latr. 



0. fracticornis. Preys. 



Common on the sandhills, especially about Crosby. 



APHODIUS, 111. 



A. subterraneus, L. 



Common on the sandhills at Wallasey, in June. 

 A. fossor, L. 



Abundant about Wallasey and Spital. 

 A. hsemorrhoidalis, L. 



Frequent at Wallasey. 

 A. scybalarius, Fab. 



Very abundant at Wallasey in spring, and very variable in 

 colour. 



Naturalist, 



