126 CLAVJCORNES. PALPICOBNES. 



books, &c., which they pierce with little round holes, like those 

 made by a drill. Other species feed upon flowers, wafers, pre- 

 served specimens of natural history, &c. The curious sound 

 made by them from which have arisen the superstitious ideas 

 that gave origin to their common name, has been elsewhere 

 noticed (ANIM. PHYSIOL. 677). The species is remarkable for 

 the pertinacity with which it feigns death when alarmed ; pre- 

 ferring, it is said, to suffer death under a slow fire, rather than 

 give the least sign of life. 



648. The succeeding family, that of CLAVICORNES, consists 

 of those Pentamerous Beetles, whose antennas end in a club- 

 shaped enlargement. These are partly terrestrial, and partly 

 aquatic. They feed for the most part on animal matter, at least 

 in the larva state ; but a large proportion of them prefer sub- 

 stances which are in a decaying or putrescent condition. One of 

 the most interesting genera is the Necrophorus or Burying Beetle; 

 so named from its habit of excavating the ground beneath the 

 dead bodies of small quadrupeds, such as Mice or Moles ; when 



they have interred the carcass, they deposit 

 their eggs in it, and the larvae, when hatched, 

 feed upon the flesh. Another genus, which 

 includes a large number of species, is the 

 Dermesles ; of which the larvae (whose bodies 

 are hairy) are very voracious, feeding on the 

 skins or carcasses of animals, often destroying 

 collections of insects, and committing great 

 ravages in fur- warehouses. 



649. The PALPICOBNES also possess antennae with a club-like 

 termination ; but these are never longer, and are usually shorter, 

 than one of the pairs of palpi. Nearly all of them are aquatic, 

 and have their legs adapted for swimming, somewhat in the 

 manner of those of the Dytiscus. The most remarkable genus 

 is the HydrophiluS) of which one large species, an inch and a 

 half long, oval, of a brown-black colour, and highly polished, is 

 common in the ponds and ditches of this country. It swims and 

 flies well, but walks badly. The eggs arc laid in a sort of cocoon, 

 spun by the female, and coated with a gummy matter that is 



