90 THE NECROPHAGA. 



The larvae of the Sllphce are flat, and of an elliptical 

 form, but broadest in front ; they are covered with a 

 firm skin on the back, and furnished with six legs of 

 moderate size, which enable them to run with facility. 

 Like their parents they feed upon carrion of all kinds. 

 Neither the perfect insects nor the larvae, however, 

 are entirely confined to this disgusting diet, — one of 

 our commonest species, the >S^. Icevigata, a smooth, 

 black beetle, feeds voraciously upon snails, which it 

 seizes with its strong jaws, and easily despatches. 

 The larvse of this species may often be found in the 

 interior of snail- shells, from which they have extracted 

 the legitimate inhabitants. The pale spotted species, 

 above described, also lives principally upon cater- 

 pillars, in pursuit of which he is constantly found 

 ascending oak-trees. He is often accompanied in this 

 chase by a species belonging to a closely allied ^'cnus, 

 the Oiceoptoma thoracica, a black, oval beetle, with a 

 bright red prothorax, which gives him very much the 

 appearance of one of the City Beadles in a black 

 cloak with a red cape. 



But the most interesting species of the tribe are 

 undoubtedly the Burying Beetles (Necroplioii), several 

 of which are common in this country. These beetles 

 receive their name from their constant habit of 

 burying any small dead animals they may meet with, 

 their object being to secure a plentiful supply of 

 food for their young. For this purpose, when they 

 find the body of some small dead mammal or bird, 

 they immediately set to work, usually four or five in 

 company, to dig away the earth from beneath it, and 

 in this way, by an incredible amount of labour, they 

 are said to bmy these little carcases to a depth of a 

 foot or more. 



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