• NECROPHAGA AND THEIR ALLIES. 
129 
found in moss, is sometimes associated with the Coc- 
cinellidce, and at others eliminated from all com- 
panionship, as an insect whose true position cannot 
be ascertained. 
The Erotylid* have the tarsi either distinctly five- 
jointed, or apparently four-jointed (the fourth joint 
being very small and connate with the fifth ) ; their 
antennso have a large three-jointed flattened club, 
and their maxillary palpi terminate in a very large 
clavate joint, from which latter structure they were 
termed Clavipalpi by Latreille. 
We possess three genera, Engis, Triplax, and Tri- 
toma ; all the species of which feed in fungi. These, 
with Endomychus and Lycoperdina, are placed by 
Thomson between the Cnjptophagidat and Myceto- 
phagidw in the Necrophaga. 
Our species of Engis are found in profusion in fungi 
on trees ; they are shining, somewhat quadrate- 
elongate and convex, polished, dark, and ( humeralis ) 
with either the thorax and shoulders of the elytra 
reddish-yellow, or (ruffrons) with only the shoulders 
of that colour. Individuals are often found entirely 
testaceous or brown. 
Triplax, — the largest species of which (missions) is 
not uncommon, — is very like Tetratoma, having a red 
thorax and blue-black elytra, being of the same build, 
and occurring in similar places : the three-jointed club 
to its antennae will, however, readily distinguish it. 
Tritoma Upustulata (Plate XV., Fig. 4), not uncom- 
mon in fungoid growth under bark, or on the rotten 
stumps of felled trees, is more rounded and convex 
than its allies. 
The Colydiidje are composed of a somewhat hete- 
K 
