142 



ELEMENTARY ENTOMOLOGY 



entirely on insects, snails, tadpoles, etc. Both middle and hind 

 legs are developed for swimming and are used alternately. 



. :,- ._ 



FIG. 199. Water-scavenger beetles (Hydrophilus sp.), larva, and peculiar 

 egg mass on leaf 



(After Brehm) 



Carrion-beetles (Silphidae). Wherever a dead animal has been 

 left exposed, the carrion- or burying-beetles may be found feeding 



upon it. The more com- 

 mon carrion-beetles of the 

 genus Silpha are of a 

 broad, oval shape, much 

 flattened, with small heads, 

 and feed beneath the car- 

 rion. The burying-beetles 

 (Necrophorus] are much 

 larger, from an inch to an 

 inch and a half long, with 

 thick, stout, rectangular 

 bodies, and with large 

 heads. The common spe- 



FIG. 200. A burymg-beetle (Necrophorus sp.). r 



(Slightly enlarged) cies are blackish, marked 



(After Linviiie and Kelly) with dull red. Their name 



