ANNULOSA JAVANICA. 39 



Ripiphorus, which last genus is not nearer in affinity to Mordella, than Scaphidium is to CJw- 

 leva. M. Latreille, however, in the Itbgne Animal, has sufficiently proved the very obvious and 

 close affinity of Scaphidium to Choleva, which it is rather surprising that so acute an en- 

 tomologist as Mr. Spence should ever have doubted. A more than sufficient recompense, 

 however, for the above error is, that Mr. Spence saw that Choleva had an affinity both with 

 Dermestes and Silpha. He has also shewn the relation between it and the genus Anisotoma of 

 Knoch, and thus proved his being no servile follower of the Tarsal system. In short, I would 

 recommend the study of his excellent Monograph on Choleva to all who may wish to understand 

 something of this family, which seems to be, as he observes, more common in Europe than in 

 the other quarters of the globe. Dr. Horsfield found none in Java. 



The external process of the maxillae in the genus Choleva, although not distinctly articulated, 

 is always linear or sublinear, and thus affords some ground for Herbst's describing one species 

 as a Carabus, if indeed Mr. Spence be correct in suspecting him to have done this. 



Fam. 2. SILPHID^. 



That Dr. Horsfield should have brought from Java none of the typical insects of this family, which 

 are also those of the stirps, I attribute rather to their rarity than to there being no Silpha ovNecro- 

 phori on the island. The disgusting nature of the substances in which such insects are to he found, 

 and their peculiar habits, give them often an opportunity of escaping the eye of an observer, even in 

 these temperate climes ; and we can easily conceive how the same habits should give them tenfold 

 security in tropical countries, where the putrid effluvia of dead carcases are as dangerous as 

 offensive. That Silpha may be found in the Indian Archipelago I conclude from their being 

 ascertained to exist in New Holland and on the continent of India. 



The larvae of Silphidce possess a flat elongate body, terminated laterally by a somewhat sharp 

 angle, and having the last segment provided with two conical appendages. They enjoy that 

 activity which is the general character of Chilopodiform larvae, and know how to search out 

 fresh food for themselves, when they have consumed that which the parent insect had provided 

 for them. When fully grown they bury themselves in the earth, and there undergo meta- 

 morphosis. 



Th« abbreviated elytra of Neerophorus mark the typical insects of the groupe, and shew the 

 strong relation of analogy which they bear to Creophilus, and the other corresponding genera of 

 the contiguous stirps of Brachelytra. 



Genus PELTIS. Fab. Thtmalus Lat. 

 76. Ovalis. P. ovata mstanea limbo dilutiore, thorace elytrisque punctis impressis. 



Long. corp. | 4 . 

 Insectum P.ferrugineee Fab. quodammodo affine, at corpore minus convexo minusque oblongo. Elytra 

 punctata lineis sex impressis punctulatis, serieque punctorum excavatorum in interstitiis disposita. 



Obs. This genus has certainly an affinity to Colobicus, and possibly therefore to Eledona. It is 



at the extremity of the family. 



Fam. 



