CLASS V. IMSECTA. 167 



Silpha littoralis. Linn., Fabr., Latr., Oliv., Marsh. 

 Inhabits dead bodies, on the banks of rivers or on the shores of the 

 sea. 



Genus 87. OICEOPTOMA. Leach. 

 Bodi/ ova.\: ^//(>7-«r nearly semicircular, transverse, emarginate before : 

 antenncB with the club abrupt, distinct : eli/tra whole (female in ge- 

 neral emarginate). 



* FJi/tra whole in both sexes. 



Sp. 1. Oic. thoracica. Black : thorax unequal, ferruginous, somewhat 



silky : each elytron with three elevated lines. 

 Silpha thoracical Linn., Fabr., Latr., Marslt. 

 Inhabits Europe, in dead animals and putrid fungi. 



** Elytra of tlie female tcith the apex cmarginated. 



Genus Thanatophilus. Leach. 

 Sp. 1. sinuata — Silpha sinuata. Fa])r., Sec. 



Genus 88. SILPHA. Linn., Leach, Fabr., Latr., Marsh. 



" * Elt/tra with elevuted lines." 

 Borb/ oval : thorax nearly semicircular, truncate in front : antennct with 



a gradually formed club. 

 Sp. 1. Sil.obscura. Black, dull above, finely punctate, shining beneath: 



thorax smoothly punctate, the punctures small and close. Each 



elytron witli three elevated straight lines. 

 Silpha ol)scura. Linn., Latr., Marsh. 

 Inhabits Europe. Is very common under stones and on pathways in 



the spring and summer. 

 Sp. 2. Sil. quadrintaculata. (P/. 2.fg. 7. a. antenncs magnified.) 

 Inhabits oaks. 



" ** Elijtru smooth." 



Sp. 3. Silpha laevigata. Fabr. 



Inhabits pathways in sandy situations. 



Genus 89. PIIOSPIIUGA. Leach's Zool. Misc. vol. iii. 



Body oval or nearly rounded : thorax semicircular, anterior part trim- 

 cated: elytra whoXe: antcnme with the three last joints abruptly in- 

 creasing towards their apex. 



Sp. 1. Phos. atrafa. Oval and black : elytra rough and punctured, with 

 three elevated lines. 



Inhabits beneath the bark of trees and under moss in winter, sandy si- 

 tuations and pathways in spring. 



Sp. 2. Phos.subrotundata. Nearly roimd and black : elytra rough, and 

 punctured with three elevated lines. 



Phosphuga subrotundata. Leach, Zool. Misc. vol. iii. 75. 



Inhabits Ireland, beneath stones; is very rare. 



