COLOUR OF BURYING BEETLES. 85 



very extensive one, numbering a vast number of species, of 

 which this is the largest. In the British Museum is a very- 

 line series of these Beetles, and the observer is immediately 

 struck with their great similarity in shape, colour, and in fact 

 in almost every point except size, which, as has already been 

 explained, lias very little to do with distinction of species 

 in Beetles. 



In this insect the general colour is black, relieved by a red 

 patch on the middle of the head and another on the middle of 

 the thorax. There are also two orange patches on each of the 

 elytra, one near the shoulder and the other at the tip. The 

 powerful jaws are black, and so is the thorax on the edges, 

 which are very boldly flattened, much like the brim of a hat, 

 the middle of the thorax being much elevated and rounded. An 

 orange line runs along the edge of the elytra. 



Fig. 37. — Necrophoms grandis. 

 (Biat;k, with orange-red marks.) 



One of the most striking points in this insect is the preva- 

 lence of a beautiful golden down. Between the head and the 

 thorax there is a sort of downy collar, but the greatest develop- 

 ment in this respect is on the tarsi of the fore-legs. The limb 

 itself is quite black, and is armed with a number of sharp 

 spikes. The chief point of interest, however, lies in the 

 abundant gold-coloured down with which the tarsi are thickly 

 clad, and which have a sort of sheen as if made of spun glass 

 or the glossiest of silks. 



