92 THE NECROPHAGA. 



and flour, both in the larva and perfect state, and are 

 in consequence very destructive in granaries where 

 they abound. They also appear to feed indifferently 

 upon dry animal and vegetable substances, and often 

 do some damage to skins and similar objects. But 

 in this respect they are completely outdone by the 

 species of the genus Dermestes and their allies. 

 Nothing seems to come amiss to those little de- 

 stroyers, furs, skins, feathers, and even hoofs and 

 horns, dried meats and bacon, suffer severely from 

 their ravages, nay, even the entomologist's collection 

 is not secure, notwithstanding the warning that we 

 might suppose to be held out to any insect intruder, 

 by the prospect of so many of his brethren ruthlessly 

 impaled upon pins. It is principally in the larva 

 state that these creatures are so destructive, and the 

 larvae of many species are exceedingly curious, from 

 their being clothed with long hairs, of which there 

 are usually several bundles of a very peculiar con- 

 struction situated at the hinder extremity of the body. 



In our supposed invasion of the unsavoury homes 

 of the Sphteridia, and carrion-eating Necrophaga, 

 we can scarcely fail to observe some elongated 

 flexible insects, which at the first glance might be 

 taken for horny larvse, as they glide about amongst 

 the ruins of their residence, and disappear through 

 small holes and crevices. A very little examination, 

 however, will suffice to show us that these are really 

 perfect insects, belonging to the group of beetles, 

 although their elytra are so short as to leave the 

 greater part of the abdomen uncovered ; and this part 

 of the body being deprived of the protection which in 



