124 COLEOPTERA. 



is distinguished by having the antennae dilated to- 

 vv^ards their extremity or club-shaped, hence they 

 have received the name of Clavicornes.* They all, 

 in their larva condition, devour animal substances, 

 but the perfect insects seem to indulge in -a more 

 general diet. They are the living dust-carts of crea- 

 tion, and nothing is too despicable or too offensive 

 for their appetite. Among them we need only men- 

 tion 



The Carrion Beetles (Silplia),-\ which live exclusively 

 on putrefying carrion, and 



The Sexton Beetles (Necroiiliorus),\ whose duty is to 

 bury and get rid of anything that might pollute the air. 

 Urged by a remarkable instinct, no sooner do they find 

 the carcase of a bird, a mouse, a frog, a mole, or any 

 other small animal, than they glide beneath it, and pro- 

 ceed to dig away the earth until they make a grave for its 

 reception ; having accomplished this, they lay their eggs 

 upon the buried body, and covering up the little sepulchre 

 depart. When the eggs are hatched, the larvae, furnished 

 with strong jaws, devour the carcase which supplies their 

 food. When about to assume the nymph condition, they 

 bury themselves still more deeply in the earth, and there 

 construct a chamber lined with a tenacious sHme, in which 

 they undergo their final change. 



Other tribes, still faithful to their duty, eagerly 

 attack whatever they can find that is bereft of life. 



The Bacon Beetles (Dermestes lordarius) even invade 

 our larders to regale on rancid hams or bacon; furs, 

 woollen stuffs, tLe skins of birds, the treasured specimens 

 in our museums, all become their prey ; they make no 

 nice distinctions. What is dead they claim, and do not 

 wait for man's permission. 



The fifth section of Coleopterous Fentamerans in- 

 cludes the Palpicornes, which althougli nearly re- 

 lated to the preceding are principally aquatic in their 

 habits. 



* Olava, a club ; cornu, a horn ; i.e. antemm. 



f aiK(pr„ silphe, a black beetle. 



+ v€Kp6s, necros, dead body ; cpSpos, phoros, carrying. 



