LINNEAN SYSTEM. 
50 
Sp. 1. Gyr. Natator. Oval: elytra with punctured strke: the inflected 
margin testaceous. (PI. tl.fg. 2.) 
Inhabits stagnant waters, running swiftly in circles on the surface; 
and when it dives carrying along with it a bubble of air which appears 
like quicksilver. These insects live in society, and often in their brisk 
motions strike against one another. In the evenings they betake them' 
selves to still places under bridges, or under the roots of trees which 
grow at the water’s edge. 
Genus T. Byrriius. 
Antenna a little shorter than the thorax, with the four or five terminal 
joints gradually thicker, compressed (PI. 2. Jig. 3. a.): palpi short; 
the last joint longest; thick, somewhat ovate : body somewhat ovate; 
very convex above : scutellurn minute. 
When touched, they apply their antennae and feet so close to the 
body, remaining at the same time motionless, that they resemble a seed 
more than an animated being. They are found in sand-pits and road' 
ways in the spring months, and are very common. 
Sp. 1. Byr. Pilula. Brown; the elytra with black interrupted stria’’ 
(PI- Ms- 3 *) 
Genus 8. Antiirenus, Fabricius. 
Antenna shorter than the thorax, with the club solid (PI. "-Jig- 4. a.) : 
palpi filiform, short: body orbiculate, ovate : scutellurn very minute : 
maxilla: and lip bifid. 
These insects are found on flowers ; they are small, but in genera' 
prettily coloured. They contract on the appearance of danger, and ap| 
pear as if dead. Their larvae are found in carcases, skins, and dried 
animal substances. They pass nearly a year in that state before chan?' 
ing into a pupa; the perfect insects are found chiefly in spring. 
Sp. 1. Anth. Scroplmhma. Black; sides of the thorax and three Iran-' 
verse bands on the elytra, grey; suture and external margin of tb 1 
elytra and hinder margin of the thorax, red-lutesccnt. (PI. 2. jig. w 
Genus 9. Silpha. 
Antenna gradually" thickening towards their extremities (PI. H.fig. T.ad’ 
or terminated by a solid or perfoliated club (jig. 6. a.): elytra co'C r ' 
ing the greater portion of the abdomen and marginated : head pf 0 * 
jeeting: thorax flattish and margined: body oval or parallelepiped- J 
The Silphte feed on dead carcases and the excrements of anim»' s ' 
they have generally a fetid smell, and when taken they discharge 
the mouth or the anus a drop of black liquor of a very disgust 111 ? 
odour; this liquor serves to accelerate the putrefaction of the matt® 1 ’ 
on which they feed. The larva- live in the earth in dung-hills 
dead carcases; they have six short feet; the head is small, armed " 
strong jaws; they undergo their transformations underground 
