BEETLKS. 29 



here figured : Paussus Armafus, Westw., from Senegal, which is of 

 a reddish-brown colour ; and PlaUjrhopdus Mellyi, Westw., a dark 

 chestnut-coloured species from Malabar. These measure rather 

 less than one-third of an inch in length. 



Family II. — Scydmcenidce. 



Tarsi five-jointed ; antennae as long as the head and thorax, 

 clavate; maxillary palpi very long, four-jointed. 



A small family of very minute species, which are met with 

 under stones or bark, or in ants' nests. Cefhennium Thoracicum, 

 Miill., is about one-fifteenth of an inch in length, and is of a 

 shining pitchy-black colour, with reddish legs and antennae; it is 

 not a common species. 



Family ill.— Silphidm. 



Tarsi five-jointed; antennae ten- or eleven- jointed, the last four 

 or five forming a club ; head and body more or less depressed, 

 the former frequently narrowed behind into a neck. 



This family includes both large and small species, the former 

 being the largest of the Necropliaga. The genus Nccrophorus, Fabr., 

 includes the burying beetles. These are rather long black beetles, 

 from half an inch to an inch long, generally more or less banded 

 with red or orange, and often adorned with yellow hairs on the 

 sides or under-surface of the body. The tip of the abdomen 

 generally extends beyond the elytra. They generally hunt in 

 pairs, sometimes more than one pair together; and if they find 

 a dead bird or mouse, they hollow the earth below, and drag and 

 stamp it till it is sunk below the level of the soil, when they cover 

 it over, burying the females with it, when they lay their eggs in 

 the carcass, and then make their Avay up to tlie surface. 



Silpha, Linn., includes smaller and rounder species, not exceed- 

 ing half an inch in length. They are generally of a black colour, 

 often with raised ridges on the elytra ; but in *S'. Thonicica, Linn., 

 the thorax is reddish, and in S. Quadripundata, Linn., the elytra 

 are yellowish, with two black spots on each side. S. Peltata, 

 Catesby, is a conspicuous North American species, with the head 

 and thorax of a reddish-yellow (the latter with a large black spot 

 in the middle), and black elytra. The species of Silpha are often 

 to be seen running on paths, etc., in the day-time, and are almost 

 omnivorous, feeding on dung, carrion, insects, and vegetable matter 

 almost indiscriminately. 



