274 INSECTS. COLEOPTEKA. 



four upon the exterior part of each elytrum. 4 lines long. In- 

 habits Europe, in dung. Shaw, vi. pi. 10. 



Gen. HISTER, Lin. Lat. 



Body thick, slightly depressed ; exterior lobe of the jaws and 

 their palpi slightly elongated ; chin deeply notched ; ante- 

 rior extremity of the pre-sternum covering part of the mouth ; 

 antennae shorter than the thorax, with the third and fourth 

 joints of equal length ; elytra truncated. 



This genus has been divided into sections by M. Paykull, and several of these 

 have been proposed as genera by Dr Leach ; but M. Latreille seems to think that 

 this minute subdivision is not necessary. Those which have the body of a square 

 form and much flattened form the genus Platysomus of Dr Leach ; with the body 

 cylindrical or linear, the genus Dendrophilus ; those with the antennae lodged in a 

 cavity of the pre-sternum the genus Onophilus of the same author ; and those with 

 the antenna free his genus Abrceus. 



H. bimaculatus, Lin. Body black, with a red spot on each elytrum ; 

 anterior legs with four dentations. Inhabits Europe. Nouv. 

 Diet. x. 433. 



TRIBE II. PELTOIDES. 



Head generally sunk in the thorax, or inclined under it ; max- 

 illary palpi shorter than the head ; abdomen not covered en- 

 tirely by the elytra. 



Gen. SPILERITES, Duftschmid, Lat. 



Maxillary palpi filiform, or thickest at their extremity ; man- 

 dibles entire ; antennae in a solid club. 



S. glabratus, Lat. Body almost square ; legs spinous, of a shining 

 black bronze-colour, with points disposed in lines on the elytra. 

 Inhabits Sweden and Germany. Nouv. Diet, xxxii. 11. 



Gen. NECROPHORUS, Lat. Silpha, Lin. 

 Head separated from the thorax by a strangulation ; antennae 

 short, terminated in a perfoliated club ; elytra truncated ; 

 feet strong ; body oblong. 



The species of this genus feed on dead animal matter ; and it has been observed, 

 that, when a dead mole or field-mouse comes in their way, they dig away the earth 

 with much industry around the animal till it falls into the hollow, cover the body 

 with earth, and feed on or deposit their ova in the carcass. 



N. vespillo, Lat. Black ; the elytra short, with two waved ferrugi- 

 nous bands, f inch long. Europe. Shaw, vi. pi. 14. 



N. Germamcus, Lat. Black, with the exterior border of the elytra 

 and a triangular spot on the forehead ferruginous yellow. 1 inch 

 long. Inhabits Europe. Shaw, vi. pi. 14. 



Gen. NECRODES, Lat. Silpha, Lin. 



Body elongate-ovate ; thorax orbicular ; the elytra truncated 

 obliquely at their extremity ; and the antennae thickening to- 

 wards the point. 



N. liUoralis, Lat. Black; last three joints of the antennae ferru- 



