COLEOPTERA. 141 



them ; this being done the female deposits her eggs in 

 the carrion, which supplies food for the larvae. It is 

 recorded that in fifty days four beetles buried four 

 frogs, three small birds, two fishes, one mole, two grass- 

 hoppers, the entrails of a fish, and two pieces of ox 

 liver ; so that they may be looked upon as useful sca- 

 vengers. The insects of the genus Necrophorus are of 

 rather a large size, and are often adorned with orange- 

 coloured bands. The woodcut represents the iV. 7nor~ 

 tiiorum, Sexton or Burying-beetle. 

 The Devil's Coach-horse must be fa- 

 miliar by sight to everyone ; it is a 

 long black creature, which has the 

 habit of turning up the tail and open- 

 ing its jaws m a m>)st threa'tening 

 way when disturbed. The elytra or 

 wing-cases are remarkably short ; 

 hence they belong to sub-division 

 called Brache-lytra (Short-Elytra). buryknu-beetle. 



They are active, voracious feeders, of an elongated 

 form ; reminding one, at first sight, of a large black 

 earwig, only the tail is not provided with a forceps. 

 The scientific name of this beetle is Goerius olens ; the 

 first word being the Greek word, meaning " mournful," 

 on account of the black sombre colouring ; but Ocypus 

 (" swift-footed ") is adopted by some Entomologists ; 

 olens refers to the foetid emanations from the tail 

 tubercles. 



The large Stag-beetle (Plate VI., Fig. 8,) belongs to 

 the sub-section Cordylocerata, and sub-division Lamelli- 

 cornes. The stag-like horns are the mandibles, which 

 in the male are CLormously enlarged. The Stag-horn 



