SILPHAf 
Genus VIII. — Silpla. 
The infefts belonging to this clafs are very voracious 
of carrion, upon which they depofite their ova in vaft 
numbers. Thirty-five different fpecies of this fertile race 
have already been difcovered ; and it is probable that ma- 
ny have hitherto efcaped all notice from naturalifts. The 
amennte grow gradually thick towards their extremeiies, 
the elytra are marginated ; the head is prominent ; and 
the thorax flattened, and furrounded with a border. 
The different fpecies of filphse vary but little from each 
other, either in form or colour : In Britain, many of 
them are feen early in the fpring, under the loofe bark 
of trees. The filpha vefpillo is one of the mofl remark- 
able of this genus, from which it differs confiderably in 
the form of its antennas. They have at their extremity 
a reddifh knob, formed by four imall plates ftrung 
through the middle, one upon the other ; the laft being 
thicker, forms a fmall fliarp pointed knob. The head, 
thorax, and body are black, charged with a few hairs of 
a yellowifh hue. The thorax is of a rounded form, mark- 
ed by feveral protuberances, and has the circumference 
terminated by a broad, flat, margin. The elytra are 
fhort, and as it were, cut acrofs, leaving about one third 
of the body uncovered. Their colour is black, and va« 
jiegated with two yellow tranfverfe llripes. 
