THE CAKKION BEETLES. 27 ( 



541 (1709). SiLPHA NOVEBOEACENSis Forst, Cent. Ins., I, 1771, 17. 

 Oval, slightly oblong, depressed. Thorax plceous, broadly 



margined with reddish-yellow; elytra brownish to piceous. 

 Thorax about one-half wider than long, base truncate at mid- 

 dle, sinuate each side; elytra as broad as thorax, rounded be- 

 hind, the disk with three costse, the outer one the stronger; 

 surface distinctly and regularly punctate. Length 13-14 mm. j, j^^ 



(Fig. 137.) (After Comst'ock.) 



Clarion, Vigo and Posey eonnties ; frequent. April 10-Jiily 2. 

 Sometime.s found on decaying fungi; more often on carrion. 



542 (1710). SiLPiiA AMEBicANA Llnu., Syst. Nat, II, 17(;(;, 570. 



Broadly oval, depressed. Thorax yellow, with discal 

 black spot ; elytra brownish, with the elevations darker. 

 'J'liorax nearly twice as wide as long, much narrowed 

 in front, base broadly lobed at middle, surface densely 

 r.nd equally punctured. Elytra as wide or wider con- 

 jointly than long, the disk with three indistinct costie. 

 Ciiunected l)y numerous cross elevations; intervals rather 

 cl(jsely punctate. Length 16-20 mm. (Fig. 138.) 



Throughout the State ; frequent. April 18-Jul.\' 

 Fif 138 X u, 9. Taken iu coitu on June 4. Often found in de- 



(After Glover.) 



ca>'ing fungus as well as carrion. 



III. Nbceophilus Lat. 1829. (Gr., "a dead body + loving.") 



This genus is represented in the United States by only two spe- 

 cies, one of which occurs in Indiana. 



543 (1714). Necbophilus peti'itii Horn, Trans. Am. Kiit. Soc, VIII, IS^iO, 



243. 

 Broadly oval, narrower in front. Dark chestnut brown, shining, gla- 

 brous. Thorax nearly twice as wide at base as long at middle, sides curved, 

 apex emarginate, base truncate ; margin broadly flattened and recurved, 

 translucent; surface sparsely punctate, the disk nearly smooth. Elytra 

 suddenly sloping downward near apex, the surface with rows of cunrsc, 

 deep punctures. Length 10-11 mm. 



Two specimens ^\ere taken in very ill-smelling decaying fungi 

 beneath a log in woods near Grand Chain, Pasey County. April 

 10. Dury ha,s taken it in small numbers on several dceasions near 

 Cincinnati, but it seems to be everywhere scarce. 



Tribe II. PIKODYTIXI. 



This tribe is represented in North America by three small, blind, 

 oblong, chestnut-colored beetles. Om- of these, I'nuxhifcs (riiplo- 

 phagoi(lf>< Jlann., lives in the fine debris of rotten wood and has 



