THE SILPHAS. 



87 



other leaping insect. This development is more conspieiioiis 

 when viewed from the under side of the insect, the polished 

 shining surface of those joints contrasting boldly with the dull 

 downy surface of the under side of the body. Just below the 

 bases of the hind legs are two large squared patches of dull 

 yellow, and a quantity of yellowish down is scattered sparingly 

 over tlie under surface. Like the preceding insect, it has the 

 tarsi of the front legs adorned with golden down, but the tarsi 

 are not spiked, and the down is neither so long nor so briglitly 

 coloured. 



There is another foreign species of tliis genus which seems as 

 if it w^ere made to show the connection which exists between 

 these insects and the Brachelytra. Its name is JVeovdcs oscic- 

 lans, and it is a native of India. The body of this insect is 

 very long and narrow, closely resembling that of a Ivove Beetle, 

 and the similitude is increased by the dull black of its long 

 body and the shining surface of its short elytra. The specific 

 name oscichins, i.e. " kissino;," refers to this rcsendilauce. 



EvEP.YONE who has })uid any atttntion to our own insects 

 knows the Silphas, those rounded flat-bodied lieetlcs wliiidi are 

 found in such abundance in dead and 

 decaying animals, old 'bones, and 

 similar substances. The banks of 

 tidal rivers are always sure haunts 

 of the Silphas, because the drowned 

 dogs and cats are invariably leit 

 ashore some time or other, and the 

 water has scarcely receded from them 

 before they are assailed by swarms 

 of Burying Beetles, Silphas, Histers, 

 Bove Beetles, and their kin, not to 

 mention the flesh-flies, blue, green, and 

 of similar habits. 



All our own s[)ecies are dull coloured, and, as a rule, so are 

 the foreign Silplias, with one exception, wliich will ])resently l)e 

 mentioned. 



The fine insect which has been selected as an example of 

 foreign Silphas is, as its name implies, an inhabitant of America, 

 being found in Georgia. The g(?neral colour of tlie Beetle is dull 



Fid 39. -Silpha Aniuiic 

 (Black, yellow thurax 



gi'oy, an 



i otlier insects 



