Mltua^ J^j 



Genus VIII.— 5'/-^/^^, 



The infe£ls belonging to this clafs are very voracious 

 of carrion, upon which tl.cj depcfitc their ova in vaft 

 nuuibers. Thirty-five different fpecies of this fertile race 

 have already been difcovered ; and it is probable, that ma- 

 ny have hitherto cfcaped all notice from naturalifts. The 

 tin':ennce grov/ gradually thick towards their extreraeties; 

 tlie elytra are ir.arginated ; the head is prominent ; and 

 the thorax flattened, and furrounded with a border. 



The different fpecies of filphae vary but little from each 

 other, either in form or colour ; In Britain, many of 

 them are fecn early in the fpring, under the loofe bark, 

 of trees. The filpha vcfpillo is one of the mofl remark- 

 able of this genus, from which it differs con!idtra'5ly in 

 the form of its antennae. They have at their extremity 

 a reddifli knob, formed by four fmall plates ftrung 

 through the middle, one upon the other ; the lall being 

 thicker, forms a fmall {harp pointed knob. The head, 

 thorax, and body are blr.ck, charged with a few hairs of 

 a yellowiili hue. The thorax ia of a rounded form, mark- 

 ed by feveral protuberances, and has the circnmference 

 tcrm.inated by a broad, flat, marj^in. The elytra are 

 :iliort, and as it were, cut acrofs, leaving about one third 

 of the body unccvercd. Their colour is black, and va* 

 jfif gated with tv:o yellovv trnnfverfc flripcs. 



