FAMILY DYTICID^. 57 



Necrophorus americanus (01,). ( Plate xxii, fig. 8.) 



Head, thorax and elytra black, shining ; forehead marked with a cordate yellowish brown 

 spot ; thorax brown, except a black dentate Ijorder : elytra marked with four ir- 

 regular yellowish brown spots, the anterior prolonged upon the anterior margin ; 

 margin grooved, and of the same color as the spots : club of the antenna yellowish 

 brown, black beneath : anterior tarsi ciliate ; cilia yellowish brown. 

 This large conspicuous beetle presents certain variations of color and marking, which 

 indicate a difference either in sex or species. The yellowish brown spots described above 

 are much darker in some individuals, while the forehead mark is rounded behind, square 

 in front, and behind and between the eyes there is a rufous spot which does not exist in 

 all. The thorax is curiously indented upon its border. Length IJ inch. 



Necrophorus tomentosos (Wb.). ( Plate x, fig. 2.) 



Black : elytra crossed by two rufous bands, black beneath ; thurax and sides pilose ; club 

 of the antennae black. Length about three-fourths of an inch. 

 This species is quite hairy, especially upon the thoracic plate : hairs greenish. 

 Common in July in New-England and New- York. 



Necrophorus pygmeus (Rich.). (Plate xxii, fig. 5.) 



Black : elytra marked with four angulai* bright red spots. Length rather more than half 

 an ineh. 

 The Necrophaga perform the part of scavengei-s in destroying and burying carrion. JV. 

 tomentosus takes its trivial name from the yellow hair upon the prothorax. The family 

 Dermistidje is also destructive to animal matter : they deposit their eggs in it ; and when 

 they are hatched, they feed upon it ; but the dermestes attack and devour any animal 

 food, whether in a state of decay or not. It is supposed that the perfect animal, however, 

 prefers flowers to meat, tliough we always find it busy in the latter. 



Genus SILPHA ( Linn.). 



^ Broadly oval, slightly convex ; antennae gradually thickened, club four-jointed ; thorax 

 ' often truncate anteriorly ' ( Westwood), 



SiLPHA cAUDATA (Say). ( Plate xxii, figs. 3, 7 ) 



Black. Elytra subquadrate, papillated ; papillae in about four rows, placed between sharp 

 ridges ; inner and posterior angle slightly prolonged ; outer angle rounded : thorax 

 tomentose. Length half an inch. 



SiLPHA iNEQUALis. (Plate xxii, fig. 6.) 



Insect depressed, black : elytra finely punctured, and traversed by three or four sharp 

 slightly raised ridges. Length half an inch. 

 { Agbicultubal Report — Vol. v.] 8 



