Our genus having been separated from Ips by Fabricius as 
early as the year 1792, the name he has applied to it of Myce - 
tophagus has a prior claim to that of Tritoma published by 
Geoffrey five years after, which, it is to be regretted, Fabricius 
has misapplied, by designating a tetramerous insect by it. 
We cannot help expressing some surprise, that out of the 
many systems that have been proposed, none should have re- 
leased Mycetophagus from its present unnatural situation : viz. 
from the Xylophagi or Trogossitarii of Latreille; for, admitting 
that the 3-jointed tarsus of the male is a mere exception (there 
is not a rudiment even of a 4th, indeed the length of the basal 
joint is equivalent to the first 2 in the other sex), it surely 
would better associate with Tritoma and Triplax at the end 
of the same section. Upon comparing, however, the trophi 
and antennae of our genus with those of Tetratoma (plate 123), 
we trust that it will be admitted that there is not only a great 
resemblance but an absolute affinity, which must conduct My- 
cetophagus to Tetratoma , and both probably to the Silphadce 
of Leach, according to our view given in the folio accompa- 
nying the plate above alluded to; for my opinion is daily 
strengthened that the organs of manducation, in the Coleo - 
ptera at least, will form the most natural divisions for families, 
and that the antennae alone will frequently supply the best 
generic characters. 
The following are indigenous insects, and have been all 
illustrated by Panzer ; we have therefore selected the one that 
has not been figured in any British work : it is a variety of 
the female. All the species are found in dry boleti from 
March to October. 
1. M. 4-pustulatus j Linn., Don . 6. 185. 2. — 4-maculatus 
Fab., Panz. 12. 9. 
2. piceus Fab. 
3. atomarius Fab., Don. 15. 538. 2. Panz. 12. 10. 
4. multipunctatus Fab., Don. 15. 538. 1 . Panz. 12. 11. 
— varia & similis Marsh, are varieties. 
The following have only 3 joints of the antennae incrassated, 
tarsi the same as the others : they form the genus 
Triphyllus Meg., Dej. 
5. bifasciatus Lat ., Gyl., Panz. 2. 24. — signatus Panz. 
57. 20. 
6. fumatus — DermestesZzVm. — Cryptophagus variabilis 
Paylc. 
7. ferrugineus Marsh. 125. 31. 
8. punctatus Fab., Panz. 12. 12. — humeralis Marsh., 
Don. 15. 538. 3. 
The plant appears to be Boletus ( Leccinum Micheli) subto- 
mentosus Linn. 
