dA INSECTS AT HOME. 



liow the fliil, black larvae come scurrying out, luukiirg very 

 much like black wood-lice, and perfectly well able to take care 

 of themselves ; while the larvae of Necrophorus are utterly help- 

 less on the surface of the ground. 



Silphie m;iy be found in much the same localities as the 

 preceding- insects. The best places to tind tliem are, however, 

 the moles that are too often seen suspended on twigs, and the 

 more moles there are near each other, tlie richer will be the 

 harvest of Silphoe. I have found that ten moles on one branch 

 contain many more Silphoe than double the number scattered 

 over a wide area. 



But, tlie ' happy hunting groimds' of any entomologist who 

 is looking after Necrophaga are tlie ' keepers' trees,' those 

 monuments of misguided energy. The best keepers' trees, in 

 an entomological point of view, are those of the New Forest, and 

 on them are found the carcases of owls, weasels, stoats, hawks, 

 magpies, ravens, and now and then a rare bird or two, such as 

 the honey-buzzard. The suspended carcases look quiet enough, 

 but when the net is held under one of them, and a series of 

 taps administered, it is wonderful to see how it swarms with 

 animal life. First, out come Beetl<is of various kinds, some 

 trying to fly away as soon as they reach the open air, but most 

 letting themselves fall into the net. Next comes a whole 

 swarm pf larvae, and, when the bird is a large one, it really 

 seems as if the creatures never would cease from pouring out. 

 Those who wish to collect and watch the habits of these 

 Beetles cannot do better than make a preserve for them by 

 hanging up the body of a rabbit, a puppy, a kitten, or some 

 such creature, so that it may be within the reach of the eye, 

 and out of the reach of any except winged devourers. 



The word Silpha is Greek, and signifies an ill-smelling 

 insect, but the nomenclature of the ancient writers is so uncer- 

 tain that we cannot absolutely identify the name with the 

 insect. The specific name thoraclca refers to the very con- 

 spicuous colour and the large size of the thorax. The larva 

 of this Beetle is shown on Plate IV. Fig. 12, first appearing 

 from under the wing of the bird. 



The sub-family of the Cholevina are known by their nar- 

 rower bodies, and their heads being sunk in the thorax. One 



