4fo 



THE INSECT WORLD, 



hind legs larger. One, Necrodes littoralis (Figs. 457 and 458), occurs 

 in England. Fig. 459 represents N. lacrymosa^ from Australia. The 



/t 



Fig. 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 



