COLEOPTERA. 467 



putrefaction. The most remarkable insects of this tribe are the 

 Histers, the Silphas, properly so called, and the Necrophora. 



The Histers are small insects, to be recognised by their body being 

 almost round, smooth, and shining, with the elytra marked with striae, 



Fig. 450. Lucanus belli 



and their mandibles pretty well developed. They attain to a length 

 of about a fifth of an inch. The Silphce, thus named on account of 

 their broad and rounded form, are of a large size (about half to three- 

 quarters of an inch), of a dark colour, and exhale a sickly odour. 



