J. W. ELLIS: LIVERPOOL COLEOPTERA. 



167 



CORYNETES, Herbst. (NECROBIA, Latr.) 



Corynetes rufipes, F. Common in decaying animal matters. 

 Corynetes violaceus, L. I once took several of this species in a 

 dead gull on the shore at Aigburth. 



The following species of the group are frequently separated as 

 distinct, under the title of Teredilia — the habits of the members 

 being essentially to bore holes in dead or living wood. Some of 

 them, the ' death-watch ' (Anobium domesticum), for instance, 

 often do great damage to wood-work, the result of their drilling 

 habits causing the well-known * worm-eaten ' appearance fre- 

 quently seen in old articles of furniture. The ticking sound, 

 from which the insect has received its popular name, and which 

 has caused it to be a terror to the midnight watcher by the 

 sick bed, is believed to be a signal or call to its mate, produced 

 by striking the head against the timber floor of its ' run.' 



PTINUS, L. 



Ptinus fur, L. I have only once taken this species, among rubbish 

 from a garden, at Wallasey. 



NIPTUS, Boield. 



Niptus hololeucus, Fald. A common insect in cupboards, where 

 when seen, generally in glass vessels into which it has fallen, it is 

 frequently mistaken for a golden spider. 



PRIOEIUM, Mots. 



Priobium castaneum, F. Once taken by Mr. Wilding in dead 

 timber in Eastham Wood. 



ANOBIUM, Fab. 



Anobium domesticum, Four. Common in houses, where it lives in 

 wood-work. 



Anobium paniceum, L. Common in druggists' shops in the neigh- 

 bourhood, where it lives on dried roots, &c. No matter how 

 poisonous to man — belladonna and hellebore, for instance — no 

 root comes amiss to this marauder. 



CIS, Latr. 



Cis boleti, Scop. Abundant under bark, and in fungi, and often so 

 variable in size and colour as to lead one to believe one has 

 taken several species of the genus. 



Cis villosulus, Marsh. Taken near Child wall, in November 1862, 

 by Mr. F. Archer (Diary). 



June 1886. 



