COLEOPTERA. 379 



Those, in which the elytra are entire, but where the antennae are 

 similar to those of the preceding, constitute his Oiceptoma, 



S. thoracica, L. j Fab.; Oliv., Col. II, 11, i, 3, a, b. Black; tho- 

 rax red and silky; three flexuous elevated lines on each elytron, 

 the exterior shortest, forming a carina, and terminating near a 

 transverse tubercle; posterior extremity of the elytra, in the 

 males, terminating in a point at the suture. In the woods par- 

 ticularly. 



S. quadripunctata, L.; Fab.; Oliv., lb., I, 7, a, b. Black; 



margin of the thorax and elytra yellowish, each of the latter 



with two black dots, one at base and the other in the middle. 



Peculiar to forests, but usually remains on young Oaks, where 



it feeds on caterpillars(l). 



Those in which the extremity of the antennae is likewise perfo- 



liaceous, but where the club is formed gradually, according to Leach, 



alone retain the generic appellation of Silpha. They are usually 



found in fields, along the roads, &c. 



-S". laevigata, Fab.; Oliv., lb., I, i, a, b. Shining black; mul- 

 tipunctured; thorax much narrower than before; elytra with- 

 out elevated lines. 



S. obsmra,h.;Fdh.; Oliv., lb., II, 18. Dusky black; thorax 

 truncated anteriorly; elytra more deeply punctured; three raised 

 but slightly salient and short lines, the intermediate the longest, 

 on each of the latter. 



S. reticulata, L. ; Panz. , Faun. Insect. Germ., V, 9. Opaque 

 black; thorax truncated before; three raised lines on each ely- 

 tron, the exterior largest and forming a carina, terminated by a 

 tubercle, with transverse rugae in the intervals(2). 

 The antennae of some are not distinctly perfoliate at the extremity 

 the last joints being almost globular. They are the Phosphuga, 

 Id.(3) 



A species from Germany, which might form a separate subgenus 

 — NECROPHiLUSjLat. — is removed from the preceding ones by several 

 characters. It is the 



S. suhterranea, Illig., and others. The four anterior tarsi are 

 similar and dilated at base, the two first joints, at least in the 

 males, being evidently broader than the two following ones. 

 The third joint of the antennae is longer than the preceding 

 one, and the five last form abruptly a perfoliaceous club. The 



(1) Add, S. rugosa, Fab.; Oliv., II, lb , 17; — S. laponica. Fab. 



(2) Add, S. opaca, Fab.; Herbst., Col., LI, 16;— iS. tristis, Illig., &c. 



(3) S. atrata, Fab.; — S. pedemontana. Id., var.j Oliv., lb., I, 6. 



