ORDER I. COLEOPTERA. 51 



Sp. 1. Sllpha VespiUo. {PI. 2.fg. 6.) Oblong and black : the clypeus or- 

 bicular and unequal ; the elytra marked with two ferruginous fascia". 

 This species is subject to great variety in size. It is infested with 

 Acari; it flies very swiftly with its elytra erect. The elytra are shorter 

 than the abdomen. It feeds on carrion, and a small dead anim;il is 

 soon visited by a number of this species, which join in burying it after 

 they have deposited their eggs in its body. Thus a mole or a mouse is 

 often buried by the industry of four or five of them in the space of 

 four-and- twenty hours. They scoop out the earth all round and be- 

 low the animal, which gradually sinks down ; and while tlie ag<:nts are 

 invisible, we see the etiect by the disappearance oi" the carcase. 



Sp. 2. Silplia quadripunctuta. {PL 2. fig. 7.) Black: elytra and thorax 

 yellow, with two black spots on each elytron : head, antennae and legs 

 black. 

 Found at the roots of oak trees in the winter, and in the foliage in 



the months of May, June, and July. 



Genus 10. Nitidula, Fair. 



Antcnn/e clavated : the club solid : elytra murginated : head prominent : 



thorav flattish and marginated. 



In the former editions of the Systema ]>iatu?\e the insects of tliis ge- 

 nus were included in the genus Si/pJia, the habits of which they greatly 

 resemble, being found in decayed animal substances, under the bark 

 of trees, bones, &c. 



Sp. 1. Nit.discoidca. Black: the thorax marginated: the disk of the 



elytra ferruginous: length 1| lin. {PL Q.fig. 5.) 



The species of this genus are numerous, subject to great variety, and 

 require a minute examination. 



Genus 11. Opatrum, Fdhr. 

 Antenna: moniliform, growing thicker at the end : clj/tru marginated : 



/lea^ prominent : thorax Saltish, and marginated. 



The insects of this genus are foimd in sandy situations in May, June, 

 and July. — They were arranged with the Si/phu: by Linne. 

 Sp. 1. Opat. sabulosum. Brown : thorax emarginate : elytra dentated, 



with three elevated lines. {PL 2. fig. 3. a. antenna magnified.) 



Genus 12. Tritoma, Fahr. 

 Antenna; clavated: club pcrfoliated {PL 1. fiig. 9. a.): lip emarginate: 



anterior palpi sccm'ii'onn: bodj/ much elevated: thora.r Adt. 



Of this genus we have but one species at present known in this 

 coiuitry, which inhabits fungi : I once took them in profusion atCoombe 

 Wood in the month of Alarch. 



Sp. 1. Trit.bipustulaium. Black: the elytra with a scarlet ?pot on ihc 

 shoulder, in which is a ^niall black dot. {PL Q.fig. 9.) 



B 2 



