150 



cause then to admire the preventive wisdom of the 

 Creator in endowing insects with such peculiar 

 instincts in the propagation of their species — in- 

 stincts which, however disregarded by the gene- 

 rality of mankind, can only lead, when properly 

 viewed by individuals, to the adoration of the all-wise 

 and beneficent Governor of the Universe. Instead 

 of commenting on the Fabrician species, I have 

 only one remark to make, and that is, that all the 

 Necrophori may be divided into two sections, those 

 with straight and those with curved tibiae ; if this 

 difference is allowed, I suggest the adoption of the 

 term Cyrtoscelis to include those species with bent 

 tibiae, the type of which I consider Necrophorus 

 Vespillo. 



Silpha, Fabricius. 



Silphid^:, Leach. 



Silphoidea, Hope. 





Genera. 



Country. 



Typical Species. 



1. 



Necrodes, Wilkin. 



England 



S. Littoralis, Linneus. 



2. 



Ptomaphila, Hope. 



New Holland 



Pto.Lachrymosa, Schreibers 



3. 



Oiceoptoma, Leach. 



England 



Oic. Thoracica, Fabricius. 



4. 



Necrobora, Hope. 



Pensylvania 



S. Americana, Fabricius. 



5, 



Thanatophilus, Leach. 



England 



S. Sinuata, Fabricius. 



6. 



Phosphuga, Leach. 



England 



S. Atrata, Fabricius. 



7. 



Necrophila, Latreille. 



Syria 



S. Subterranea, Eliger. 



8. 



Peltis, Fabricius. 



Sweden 



P. Grossa, Fabricius. 



9. 



Sphaerites, Duffschmidt. 



England 



S. Glabratus, Fabricius. 



10. 



Agyrtes, Frolich. 



England 



Myc. Castaneus, Fabricius. 



The genera of Silphidae will no doubt eventually 

 be considerably increased. In looking to the chief 



