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NATURAL HISTORY OP 
SILPHA QUADRIPUN CTATA. 
PLATE IX. Fig. 3. 
Linn. — Donovan. — Mar sham . — Silpha 4-maculata, Samoa, 
die's Useful Compend. pi. 2, fig. 7* 
This genus, as originally constituted by Linnaeus, 
was of great extent, and included both the preced- 
ing genera, besides several others. In its modern 
application it comprehends such insects as have the 
antennae slightly compressed, and thickening gradu- 
ally from the seventh joint to the apex. The body 
is nearly in the form of a shield, depressed or very 
slightly convex, and the thorax is semicircular, with 
the anterior part truncated or very obtuse. The 
species feed chiefly on decaying animal matter, and 
are of great sendee in freeing the surface of the 
earth from putrid substances which might otherwise 
infect the air. Owing to the reason formerly as- 
signed, few or none of these creatures are found in 
tropical countries.* They are chiefly confined to the 
temperate regions of America, and to Europe. Up- 
wards of thirty kinds are named in our entomologi- 
cal catalogues, and about a dozen of these inhabit 
Britain. S . quadripunctata y one of the most orna- 
mental of the tribe, is not unfrequent in France and 
England and has been found in Scotland as far 
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