KEEPERS' TREES. 81 



But the ' happy hunting grounds ' of any entomo- 

 logist who is looking after Necrophaga are the 

 ' keepers' trees,' those monuments of misguided energy. 

 The best keepers' trees, in an entomological point of 

 view, are those of the New Forest, and on them are 

 found the carcases of owls, weasels, stoats, hawks, 

 magpies, ravens, and now and then a rare bird or two, 

 such as the honey-buzzard. The suspended carcases 

 look quiet enough, but when the net is held under 

 one of them, and a series of taps administered, it is 

 wonderful to see how it swarms with animal life. 

 First, out come Beetles of various kinds, some trying 

 to fly away as soon as they reach the open air, but 

 most letting themselves fall into the net. Next 

 comes a whole swarm of larvae, and, when the bird is 

 a large one, it really seems as if the creatures never 

 would cease from pouring out. Those who wish to 

 collect and watch the habits of these Beetles cannot 

 do better than make a preserve for them by hanging 

 up the body of a rabbit, a puppy, a kitten, or some 

 such creature, so that it may be within reach of the 

 eye, and out of the reach of any except winged 

 devourers. 



The word SilpJia is Greek, and signifies an ill- 

 smelling insect, but the nomenclature of the ancient 

 writers is so uncertain that we cannot absolutely 

 identify the name with the insect. The specific name 

 thoracica refers to the very conspicuous colour and 

 the large size of the thorax. 



THE sub-family of the Cholevina are known by 

 their narrower bodies, and their heads being sunk in 



G 



