534 CLASS viii. 



bifid, with laciniae divergent, internally ciliated. Elytra shorter 

 than abdomen, truncated. Anterior tarsi broad, furnished with 

 fasciculi of hairs. 



Sp. Necrophorus vespillo FABR., Silpha vespillo L., RCESEL Ins. iv. Tab. i, 

 PANZER Deutschl. Ins. Heft 2, Tab. 2 1 ; the grave-digger ; 6"' 8'" long, 

 black, elytra with two orange- coloured transverse bands, the club of an- 

 termse brown. This beetle flies with elytra erect, the under-side turned 

 outwards ; it diffuses a strong smell resembling musk. Like Geotrupes 

 Stercorarius and vernalis it is sometimes infested by small acari. The 

 periods of larva and nymph together extend only to seven weeks. This 

 species, like the others of this genus, feeds on dead animal substances. By 

 an union of their forces these beetles dig away the ground from under the 

 carcases of small animals, moles, mice, &c. and so bury them beneath it. 

 They lay their eggs in the bodies thus interred, and the larvae feed on them. 

 Necrophorus humator FABR., PANZER Deutscld. Ins. Heft 41, Tab. 2, &c. 



Silpha L. (exclusive of some species, FABR.) Antennae longer 

 than head, with club elongate or gradually thicker towards the 

 apex. Maxillae armed internally with a horny hook. Head small. 

 Thorax broad, plane, marginate. 



Sub-genera : Necrodes WILKIN, Oiceoptoma LEACH, Thanatophilus 

 LEACH, Phosphaga LEACH. 



Sp. Silpha littoralis L. (Necrodes), SULZER Oesch. d. Ins. Tab. II. fig. 14, 

 (Silpha clavipes), PANZER Deutschl. Ins. Heft 40, Tab. 15 ; Silpha guadfi- 

 punctata L., VOET Coleopt. I. Tab. 41, fig. 5, PANZER Deutschl. Ins. Heft 

 40, Tab. 1 8. This beetle hunts after different kinds of caterpillars on oaks 

 and other trees. 



Necrophilus LATR. Maxillse unarmed, with two membranous 

 lacinise. Palps very short, thickish. Thorax broad, exsert an- 

 teriorly. 



Sp. Silpha subterranea, ILLIG., STURM Deutschl. Fauna, Ins. xm. Tab. 270. 



Agyrtes FROELICH. 



Consult FROELICH Naturforschcr, xxvin. 1799, s> T 5 J 9> '^ a ^' l > 

 fig. ii. 



Galops FABR. 



Cholera LATE., SPENCE. 



Consult Monography of this genus by SPENCE in Transact, of the Linn. 



Soc. xi. 1815, p. 123 160. 

 Sp. Catops chrysomeloldes, Helops chrysomeloides, PANZER Deutschl Ins. Heft 



57, Tab. i, &c., STURM Deutschl. Fauna, Ins. xiv. Tab. 275, fig. b, B. 



