SILPHA. INSECTS. 275 



ginous ; elytra with three elevated lines on each. Inhabits Eu- 

 rope, on carcasses. Lat. Gen. ii. 6. 



Gen. SILPHA, Fab. 



Antennae slightly compressed, thickening gradually, almost the 

 length of the thorax, the club composed of distinct joints ; 

 elytra not truncated ; palpi filiform. 



This genus has been divided by Dr Leach into three, according as the antennae 

 are gradually or abruptly thickened at their termination. This group feeds on dead 

 animal or excrementitious matters. 



S. ^-punctata, Lin. Black, with the sides of the thorax and elytra 

 pale reddish-brown ; two black points upon each elytrum, the 

 four forming a square. 6 lines long. Europe. Shaw, vi. pi. 14. 



S. obscura, Lin. Black ; thorax truncated before ; three elevated 

 straight lines upon each elytrum, the intervals dotted. Inhabits 

 Europe, on carcasses Lat. Gen. ii. 7- 



Gen. AGYRTES, Frollich. MycetopJiagus, Fab. 

 Antennas in a perforated elongated club of five joints ; mandi- 

 bles hooked, without dentations ; palpi thickest at the extre- 

 mity ; body oval ; legs spinous. 



A. castaneus, Lat. Black, with the elytra and feet chestnut-brown ; 

 elytra with dotted striae. 2^ lines long. Found near Paris. 

 Lat. Gen. ii. 26. 



Gen. THYMALUS, Lat. Silpha, Lin. Peltis, Fab. 

 Body elliptical, with the two extremities pointed ; mandibles 

 terminated in a bifid point ; joints of the tarsi entire ; palpi 

 thickest at the extremity ; jaws armed on their internal side 

 with a corneous tooth. 



T.ferrugitieus. Ferruginous, with six elevated lines on each ely- 

 trum, and two rows of hollow points in the intervals. Inhabits 

 Northern Europe, under the bark of trees. Lat. Gen. ii. 9. 



Gen. COLOBICUS, Lat. Dermestes, Fab. 

 Antennae terminated in a solid orbicular club of two joints ; 

 mouth covered by a rounded prolongation of the anterior ex- 

 tremity of the head ; body oval and depressed ; elytra cover- 

 ing entirely the upper part of the abdomen. 



C. marginatus, Lat. .Oblong oval, blackish, with the antennae, ex- 

 terior margin of the head, and thorax, ferruginous-yellow ; under 

 part of the body with small gray scales ; elytra with dotted striae. 

 2 lines long. Inhabits Europe, under the bark of the elm. Lat. 

 Gew.pl. 16, fig..l. 



Gen. NITIDULA, Fab. Silpha, Lin. 



Extremity of the mandibles notched ; antennae terminated in a 

 perfoliated club, short, and inserted before the eyes ; thorax 

 as broad as the elytra, notched anteriorly ; tarsi short, hairy, 



