cr\SS V. TNSECTA. 167 



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

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

 sea. 



Genus 87. OICEOPTOMA. Leach. 

 Body oval : thorax nearly semicircular, transverse, omarginate before : 

 untenruB with the club abrupt, distinct : elytra whole (female in ge- 

 neral emarginate). 



* Elytra whole in both sexes. 

 Sp. 1. Ok. thorucica. Black: thorax unequal, ferruginous, somewhat 



silky : each elytron with three elevated lines. 

 Silpha thoracica. Linn., Fair., Latr., ]\Iarsh. 

 Inhabits Europe, in dead animals and putrid fungi. 



** Elytra of the female zcith the apex cmarginated. 

 Genus Thanatopuilus. Leach. 

 Sp. 1. sinunta — Silpha sinuata. Fabr., &c. 



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



" * Elytra with elevated lines." 

 Body oval : thorax nearly semicircular, truncate in front : urdcnnm with 



a gradually formed club. 

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



thorax smoothly punctate, the punctures small and close. Each 



elytron with three elevated straight lines. 

 Silpha obscura. Linn., Latr., Marsh. 

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



the spring and summer. 

 Sp. 2. iS'(7. quadrimnculuta. {PL 2.JiiS. 7. a. antenna magnified.) 

 Inhabits oaks. 



" ** Elytra smooth:' 



Sp. 3. Silpha lavigata. Fabr. 

 Inhabits pathways in sandy situations. 



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



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

 cated: elytrawhole: antcnme with the three last joints abruptly in- 

 creasing towards their apex. 



Sp. 1. Phos. atrata. 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 round and black : elytra rough, and 

 punctured with three elevated lines. 



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



Inhabits Ireland, beneath stones j is very rare. 



