30 



ANT-BEETLES. 



usually many individuals are seen working together and in 

 harmony. If the carcass has been covered up, the females de- 

 posit their eggs upon this store of food, and now leave ; the 

 larva; feed upon the buried putrid material. The strength of 

 such beetles is remarkable, as is shown by the fact that two of 

 them have been observed to roll a large dead rat several feet, in 

 order to have it rest upon a soil fit for burying. The illustration 

 (Fig. 29), shows another of these interesting beetles, belong- 



Fig. 29. — Silpha and Hister. After Brehm. 



ing to the genus Silpha, the members of which are all very flat. 

 The full-page illustration shows many of the different kinds of 

 scavenger-insects upon a dead mole. 



FAMILIES SCYMAENIDAE AND PSELAPHIDAE. 



These comprise very small beetles which are usually found 

 in ant-nests. They resemble ants in shape and color, and are 



Fig. 30. — Claviger petted by ants. Afttr Brehm. 



