BRITISH INSECTS 



by the unfortunate recipient. Carrion-feeding beetles 

 next engage attention, and these belong to the Silphida, 

 which includes Necrophorus vespillo, or the Burying 

 Beetle (Fig. 14). This species, and its kindred, have the 





curious habit of burying dead birds, mice, shrews, voles, 

 and other animals by digging the earth away beneath 

 them. This accompHshed, the beetle deposits her 

 eggs upon the dead carcase, and when the larvae, or 

 grubs, hatch they find an abundant food-supply near at 

 hand. These insect-scavengers perform useful work, 

 and it is largely owing to their efforts that so few dead 

 bodies of wild creatures are discovered. These Carrion 

 Beetles also devour some of the decomposing flesh of the 

 carcase, and seem to relish the bad odour that is given 

 off. They may be known by the possession of a knob 

 at the tip of the antenna. The Burying Beetle is rarely 

 seen, unless close watch is kept over a dead rodent, 

 bird, or other animal, and they seem to fly about on their 

 44 



