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742. 
SILPHA OPACA. 
Order Coleoptera. Fam. Silphidae. 
Type of the Genus , Silpha obscura Linn. 
Silpha Linn., Fab., Lat., Mars., Leach., Gyll., Curt. 
Antennae inserted close before the eyes at the base of the clypeus, 
scarcely so long as the thorax, clavate, pubescent, 11 -jointed, 
basal joint long and slender, 2nd and 3rd elongated, but much 
shorter, 4 following obovate, 6th and 7th a little stouter and 
truncated, the remainder forming a perfoliate compressed club 
of bowl- shaped joints, the last ovate (6). 
Labrum transverse, very short, deeply and widely notched, ci- 
liated with a densely pubescent margin (1). 
Mandibles long, curved and notched at the apex in one (2), with 
a 3rd tooth lower down, below which is a large hollow space 
filled with a dense mass of pubescence. 
Maxillae with a long internal lobe, densely pubescent, the apex 
terminating in a claw, with a large subovate and pilose lobe 
above. Palpi moderately long and 4 -jointed, basal joint small, 
2nd and 3rd longish and pear-shaped, 4th scarcely so long, sub- 
fusiform-truncate (3). 
. Mentum transverse, very short, narrowed and pilose before. 
Lip large, cordate and thickly ciliated. Palpi smaller than the 
maxillary, attached to large bristly scapes, triarticulate, 1st and 
2nd joints pear-shaped, the former bristly at the apex, the latter 
stoutest, 3rd rather shorter and ovate-conic (4). 
Head rather small and ovate, inflected, considerably retracted in re- 
pose : eyes rather small and oval. Thorax large, transverse, some- 
what semiorbicular, the sides and angles rounded, the base bisinuated : 
scutel large and triangular. Elytra not produced at the apex in 
either sex, not broader than the thorax, ovate, margined: wings 
ample. Legs, hinder the longest : thighs stout, anterior short - 
tibiae dilated towards the apex, spurred, minutely pectinated exter- 
nally : tarsi 5- jointed , 4 anterior dilated in the males and densely 
pubescent beneath, 5th joint long and clavate : claws strong. 
Opaca Linn. — Curt. Guide, Gen. 181, 8. 
Black, head thorax and elytra densely clothed with short shining 
depressed ochreous hairs, giving them a brownish appearance : 
strongly punctured : thorax truncated before, with depressions 
on each side, and a few black denuded spots on the disc : elytra 
with 3 elevated striae on each, the central one nearly reaching 
the apex, where it is curved, the others shorter, the 3rd termi- 
nated by a slight tubercle : margin reflexed. 
In the Author s and other Cabinets. 
The Silphidae are generally found in putrid carcases: they 
are sometimes exceedingly abundant in such situations, where 
they are invaluable animals in causing the speedy decomposi- 
tion of bodies, being, as it has been truly observed, <c nature’s 
scavengers : ” they emit a drop of blackish liquor and a very 
