210 Necuophaga. INSE 
may be brought in an allusion to those miscroscopic 
wonders, the Trichopterygid(S, or those which have 
wings ciliated most beautifully with hairs. Some of 
Fig 73. 
a The underside. b The antenna. 
them are the smallest of insects. There are forty-two 
British species as yet recorded. Our figure shows one 
of these greatly magnified — a the underside; h the 
antenna. 
Group— NECROPHAGA. 
These are necrophagous beetles, which are so called 
from their feeding on dead animal substances. The 
antennae are generally more or less suddenly thickened 
at the tips. The mandibles are strong, the maxillae end 
in two lobes, the outer one of which is not palpiform. 
In this group the elytra frequently do not entirely cover 
the abdomen. The legs are strong, and formed for 
running. Although the chief food of this group con- 
sists of decaying animal matter, yet some of them live 
on fungi and other vegetable remains. The Silpha 
quadripunctata, lives exclusively upon trees, feeding 
greedily on caterpillars. 
In this group is placed the curious genus Leptode- 
KUS, characterized by its oval elytra, closely united at 
the suture, and by the very long, slender, cylindrical 
thorax, from which its name is derived. There are 
three species known, which live exclusively in the 
innermost recesses of some of the Carinthian caverns. 
They are quite blind, and are of an uniform brown or 
ferruginous hue. 
Family — SILPHID^E {Carrion Beetles). 
The most characteristic family of the group is that 
named by authors Silphid^. In these islands are 
found many species (forty-nine) of this family, some 
such as the Necropiliori, of considerable size. The body 
is depressed; the thorax is more or less circular, its 
sides being expanded, while the head can be drawn down 
under it. The larvae of these insects have a great general 
resemblance to those of the Staphylinida;. They have 
four jointed antennae, and two styliform appendages 
on the last segment of the abdomen, and an anal pro- 
longation which assists them in progression. They 
iCTS. SiLPHIDAi. 
possess a labrum, which is wanting in the Staphy- 
linidae. They have the power of emitting a most 
disgusting smell. 
The Necrophori have been named Sexton beetles 
from the wonderful instinct they have been endowed 
with, and which is thus described by Mr. Westwood : — 
“ No sooner,” says he, “ is any small dead animal, bird, 
or bit of flesh exposed in the open air, than the 
Sexton beetles make their appearance ; and after 
rigorously inspecting the object, as it were for the 
purpose of taking its dimensions, several of them com- 
mence operations by creeping beneath the carcase, 
where, by digging away the earth with their fore-legs 
beneath and around the animal, it by degrees descends 
into the ground, although many times larger than the 
insects engaged in burying it.” 
On Plate 4, fig. 11, is figured the Necrodes littoralis, 
another common dark species, with the femora of hind 
legs often enormously thickened in the males. The 
Silpha lapponica is often a great nuisance in the huts 
of the Laplanders, consuming much food when it 
abounds. 
The Silpha thoracica is black, but distinguished by 
its orange-coloured thorax. 
The Cholevce and Colons are an interesting group, 
once studied by Mr. Spence. 
The strange genus Adelops, found originally in 
the caves of Carniolia, has been found in this country 
by that talented entomologist, Mr. Janson. He also 
found and described a new species, naming it .4. Wol- 
lastoni. A delops is supposed to be blind, as is the 
curious pale Leptinus testaceus, also a very rare British 
insect. Spheerites glahratus is a rare Scottish beetle 
belonging to this group. 
Family— SCYDM.®NID^. 
Of the beautiful family Scydmjenida5, little well- 
defined insects, there are sixteen British species. The 
Fig. 74. Fig. 75. 
Pylailes Caquereli. Leptomastax liypogeum. 
figure, 74, represents a most remarkable form in this 
family {Pylades Caquereli)^ found by M. Caquerel. 
