470 



THE INSECT WORLD. 



hind legs larger. Only one, Necrodes littoralis, occurs in England. 

 Fig. 459 represents the Necrodes lacrymosa, from Australia. The 



Fi S- 454- Hister rugosus. Fig. 455. Silpha quadripunctata. 



Fig. 456. Silpha 

 thoracica. 



Necrophori, or Grave-diggers, are honest undertakers, who carefully 

 bury carcases left on the soil. As soon as they smell a field-mouse, a 

 mole, or a fish in a state of decomposition, they come by troops to 



Fig. 457. Necrodes littoralis Fig. 458. Necrodes littoralis Fig. 459. Necrodes lacry- 

 (male). (female). mosa. 



bury it, getting under the carcase, hollowing out the ground with 

 their legs, and projecting the rubbish they dig out in all directions. 

 Little by little the carcase sinks ; at the end of twenty-four hours it 

 has generally disappeared into a hole five inches in depth, but the 



