ON THE CLAVICORNES. 415 



sion, since, in proportion as it is dried up, it immediately 

 reappears, until its source is entirely exhausted. It doubt- 

 less serves to accelerate the putrefaction of flesh, and to 

 prepare for these insects the nutriment which Nature has 

 intended as most suitable for their support. 



The larvae of the silphas live in the earth, in dunghills, 

 but more especially in carcases. Here they are frequently to 

 be found along with the perfect insects ; they are also some- 

 times seen to run along the ground. The body is more or less 

 elongated in the different species, flatted, and composed of 

 twelve rings or segments, terminated laterally by an angle 

 tolerably acute, and the last of which is furnished with two 

 conical appendages. They have six short feet composed of 

 three pieces only. The last, which appears to enclose the 

 tarsi, is terminated by a single crook. The head is small, 

 and armed with two strong jaws. It has filiform antennae, 

 a little longer than the jaws, and composed of three articu- 

 lations only. These larvae run with tolerable quickness, and 

 are not attached to their prey like many larvae, which, when 

 they have consumed their provision, perish. They, on the 

 contrary, seek for fresh food, and know how to provide for 

 their new wants. They bury themselves under ground, for 

 the purpose of undergoing their metamorphosis. 



If this genus does not furnish a very great number of 

 foreign species, although the known species are sufficiently 

 great, it is, doubtless, because in the warm climates, where 

 such insects must more especially abound, the naturalist has 

 not been tempted to proceed in search of them, to the in- 

 fectious and dangerous places which they inhabit. 



The Necrophori are insects of a tolerably large size. 

 The name was bestowed upon them by Fabricius, in refer- 

 ence to their peculiar habits of burying the carcases which 

 they meet with to serve as food to their young. 



The strong and disagreeable odour emitted by these insects, 



