ANNULOSA JAVANICA. 39 
Ripiphorus, which last genus is not nearer in affinity to Mordella, than Scaphidium is to Cho- 
leva. M. Latreille, however, in the Regne Animal, has sufficiently proved the very obvious and 
close affinity of Scaphidium to Choleva, which it is rather surprising that’so acute an en- 
tomologist as Mr. Spence shonid ever have doubted. A more than sufficient recompense, 
however, for the above error is, that Mr. Spence saw that Cho/eva had an affinity both with 
Dermestes and Silpha. He has also shewn the relation between it and the genus Anisotoma of 
Knoch, and thus proved his being no servile follower of the Tarsal system. In short, I would 
recommend the study of his excellent Monograph on Choleva to all who may wish to understand 
something of this family, which seems to be, as he observes, more common in Europe than in 
the other quarters of the globe. Dr. Horsfield found none in Java. 
The external process of the maxille in the genus Choleva, although not distinctly articulated, 
is always linear or sublinear, and thus affords some ground for Herbst’s describing one species 
as a Carabus, if indeed Mr. Spence be correct in suspecting him to have done this. 
Fam. 2. SILPHID/. 
That Dr. Horsfield should have brought from Java none of the typical insects of this family, which 
are also those of the stirps, lattribute rather to their rarity than to there being no Silphe or Necro- 
phori on the island. The disgusting nature of the substances in which such insects are to be found, 
and their peculiar habits, give them often an opportunity of escaping the eye of an observer, even in 
these temperate climes ; and we can easily conceive how the same habits should give them tenfold 
security in tropical countries, where the putrid effluvia of dead carcases are as dangerous as 
offensive. That Siljphe may be found in the Indian Archipelago I conclude from their being 
ascertained to exist in New Holland and on the continent of India. 
The larvee of Si/phide possess a flat elongate body, terminated laterally by a somewhat sharp 
angle, and having the last segment provided with two conical appendages. They enjoy that 
activity which is the general character of Chilopodiform larvee, and know how to search out 
fresh food for themselves, when they have consumed that which the parent insect had provided 
fur them. When fully grown they bury themselves in the earth, and there undergo meta- 
morphosis. 
The abbreviated elytra of Necrophorus mark the typical insects of the groupe, and shew the 
strong relation of analogy which they bear to Creophilus, and the other corresponding genera of 
the contiguous stirps of Brachelytra. 
Genus PELTIS. Fab. Taymaxus Lat. 
76. Ovatis. P. ovata castanea limbo dilutiore, thorace elytrisque punctis impressis. 
Long. corp. 74. 
Insectum P. ferruginee Fab. quodammodo affine, at corpore minus convexo minusque oblongo. Elytra 
punctata lineis sex impressis punctulatis, serieque punctorum excavatorum in interstitiis disposita. 
Oss. This genus has certainly an affinity to Colobicus, and possibly therefore to Eledona. It is 
at the extvemity of the family. 
Fam. 
