470 



THE INSECT WORLD. 



hind legs larger. Only one, Necrodes litforalis, occurs in England. 

 459 represents the Necrodes lacry?nosa, from Australia. The 



Fig 



Fig. 454.— Hister rugosus. Fig. 455.— Silpha quadripunctata. 



Fig. 456. — Silpha 

 thoracica. 



Necrophori, or Grave-diggers, are honest undertakers, who carefully 

 bury carcases left on the soil. As soon as they smell a field-mouse, a 

 mole, or a fish in a state of decomposition, they come by troops to , . 



Fig. 457.— Necrodes littoralis Fig. 458.— Necrodes littoralis Fig. 459.— Necrodes lacry- 

 (male). (female). mosa. 



bury it, getting under the carcase, hollowing out the ground with 

 their legs, and projecting the rubbish they dig out in all directions. 

 Little by little the carcase sinks ; at the end of twenty-four hours it 

 has ,generally disappeared into a hole five inches in depth, but the 



