NECROPHAGA AND THEIR ALLIES. 
133 
larius lias -the two basal joints of the antennal much 
enlarged. 
The Carpopliilina have the abdomen exposed, as . in 
the last sub-family, but possess only one lobe to the 
maxilla;. One genus, Carpophilus, is found in Europe ; 
and we possess but three species; one of which, 
hemipterus, an oblong, depressed insect, with very 
short elytra, which are spotted with yellow at the 
apex, is probably imported, being cosmopolitan, and 
mostly occurring in houses; and the others rest on 
very slender grounds, as indigenous. 
The Nitidulina have the pygidium (or apical seg- 
ment) alone exposed, and that sometimes only in part ; 
a single lobe to the maxillae; and the base of the 
elytra not covered by the thorax. The genera from 
Epursea to Omosita (inclusive) have no elongation of 
the prosternum between the anterior coxae, which 
prolongation is found in the remainder of this sub- 
family ; the furrows for reception of the antennae are 
also different in certain of the genera. The species 
of Epursea, mostly yellowish in colour, chiefly frequent 
flowers and the exuding sap of trees, and also live 
under bark : whilst the Meligethes are exclusively to 
be found in flowers. The latter are very puzzling to 
determine, owing to their uniformity of size and build, 
and want of difference of colour and sculpture; they 
may, however, be separated by the variation in pat- 
tern and degreo of the toothing on the outer edge of 
the front tibiae, especially near the apex. Soronia 
punctatissima (Plate VI., Fig. 5) is found in and about 
the burrows of the larva of the goat-motli in willow- 
trees, feeding on the frass and exuding sap caused 
by the ravages of the latter in the solid wood. The 
