182 FATUEAL HISTORY OF 



SILPHA QUADRIPUNCTATA. 

 PLATE IX. FIG. 3. 



Linn Donovan Marsham Silpha 4-maculata, Samou- 

 die's Useful Compend. pi. 2, fig. 7. 



This genus, as originally constituted by Linnaeus, 

 was of great extent, and included both the preced- 

 ing genera, besides several others. In its modern 

 application it comprehends such insects as have the 

 antennae slightly compressed, and thickening gradu- 

 ally from the seventh joint to the apex. The body 

 is nearly in the form of a shield, depressed or very 

 slightly convex, and the thorax is semicircular, with 

 the anterior part truncated or very obtuse. The 

 species feed chiefly on decaying animal matter, and 

 are of great service in freeing the surface of the 

 earth from putrid substances which might otherwise 

 infect the air. Owing to the reason formerly as- 

 signed, few or none of these creatures are found in 

 tropical countries.* They are chiefly confined to the 

 temperate regions of America, and to Europe. Up- 

 wards of thirty kinds are named in our entomologi- 

 cal catalogues, and about a dozen of these inhabit 

 Britain. S. quadripunctata, one of the most orna- 

 mental of the tribe, is not unfrequent in France and 

 England and has been found in Scotland as far 



* Page 96. 



