S I L P H A, 219 
SILOS, a settlement of South America, in New Granada, 
and province of Pamplona. Population 200, Indians and 
Spaniards. 
SILOXERUS, [so named by Labillardiere, from $ v\o$, 
the style, and o'y/ojpo?, swelling, on account of the tumid 
base of that part], in Botany, a genus of the class syngenesia, 
order polygamia-segregata, natural order of composite, nu- 
camentacece (Linn.) Corymbiferse (, Juss.) 
SiloxCrus humifusus, is a small, diffuse, herbaceous plant, 
with a tapering, apparently annual root. Stems several, 
spreading, simple, leafy, an inch or two long. Leaves mostly 
opposite, simple, linear, obtuse, smooth, near an inch in 
length ; several of them crowded under the heads of flowers, 
which are terminal, solitary, ovate or nearly globular, scarcely 
an inch long. Nothing is mentioned concerning the colour, 
scent or properties of this little inconspicuous, but singular, 
plant. 
SILPHA, in Entomology, a genus of insects of the order 
Coleoptera, of which the generic character is, antennae cla- 
vate, the club perfoliate; shells margined ; head prominent; 
thorax somewhat flattened and margined. This genus of 
insects, from its habits, is known by the trivial name of the 
carrion-beetle. The several species are commonly found 
among decayed animal or vegetable substances, frequenting 
also dung-hills, carrion, and other offensive matter: they 
lay their eggs chiefly in the dead and putrid carcases of ani¬ 
mals. The larvae are of a lengthened shape, and of an un¬ 
pleasant appearance, being generally roughened with minute 
spines and protuberances. There are about 120 species, in 
eight separate divisions or sections. The following are most 
worthy of notice— 
I. is characterised by a dilated and bifid lip, and a one¬ 
toothed jaw; in which, among others, are the following: 
1. Silpha Surinamensis.—Black; shells with a yellow 
band behind; hind-thighs toothed.—It is found in South 
America. 
2. Silpha littoralis.-—This is a black insect; the shells are 
naked, with three raised lines; thorax rounded and polish¬ 
ed, —This is an European insect, and found in our own 
country. 
3. Silpha livida.—This is brown; thorax, shells and legs 
livid.—It is found in Germany. 
4. Silpha Indica.—-This, as its name imports, is an Indian 
insect; it is black; the shells are marked with two ferrugi¬ 
nous bands; thorax one-toothed before. 
5. Silpha micans.—Black, with a green polish; shells 
striate, truncate, one-toothed.—This is an inhabitant of the 
Cape of Good Hope. Tail rufous; shells black, with three 
elevated striae, one-toothed at the suture. 
6. Silpha Americana.—This, as its name shews, is found 
in divers parts of America. It is depressed and black; tho¬ 
rax is yellow and black in the centre. The shells art: rugged 
and immaculate. 
7. Silpha thoracica.—This is black; the shells are marked 
with a single elevated line; the thorax is testaceous.—This 
and the following are English insects. According to Mr. 
Donovan’s figure and description, the shells of this species 
have three raised lines. It is distinguishable by its red tho¬ 
rax, every other part being black. 
8. Silpha rugosa.—Blackish; the shells are ridged with 
three raised lines; the thorax is ridged and sinuate behind. 
This insect consumes dead carcases, fish, and flesh of all 
kinds: when caught it emits a very fetid humour. 
9. Silpha astrata.—'This is of a size similar to the thora- 
cici, but is totally black, and has the wing-sheaths marked 
by three rising lines ; its larva, which may be found in gar¬ 
dens, is of a lengthened shape, and of a black colour. 
10. ' Silpha levigata.—Black; shells smooth and sub-punc¬ 
tured. The shells are without raised lines. 
11. Silpha obscura.—Black; the shells are punctured, 
with three raised lines; the thorax is truncate before. This 
species is figured by Donovan. The thorax has a bluesh 
gloss, 
12. Silpha opaca.—This is brown; the shells have three 
raised lines; the thorax is truncate before. 
13. Silpha sinuate.-—-The thorax of this species is emar- 
ginate and rough; the shells have three raised lines, sinuate 
at the tip. This is a beautiful species: the thorax is brown, 
with a silvery gloss; it is rough, with raised dots. 
14. Silpha 4-punctata.—The thorax is yellow, with a large 
black spot; the shells are yellow with four black spots. 
15. Silpha grisea.—Grey; the shells are smooth; the tho¬ 
rax is emarginate. 
II. is distinguished by an entirely rounded lip, and a 
one-toothed jaw. 
16. Silpha 4-maculata.—-Thorax and shells black, the lat¬ 
ter with two rufous spots; the body is rufous; the antennae 
are ferruginous, brown before the tip; shells striate. 
17. Silpha multipunctata.-—Rufous; shells substriate, 
with numerous rufous dots.—This is chiefly found in Swe¬ 
den. 
18. Silpha picea.—Pitchy; sheik striate, black, the base 
and band behind are ferruginous.-—This is a very small in¬ 
sect, and is found in Germany. 
19. Silpha metallica.—-This is of a brassy colour; the legs 
are ferruginous.—It is found in divers parts of Saxony. 
III. —Lip horny, entire; the jaw is bifid. 
20. Silpha notata.—Black; the shells are truncate, with 
two rufous spots.—It is found in some parts of Germany. 
The antennae are long; the five last joints are perfoliate; 
the shells are a little shorter than the body; the abdomen is 
acute. 
21. Silpha pustulosa.—Black, polished; edge of the 
thorax and spots on the shells are sanguineous.—It is found 
in New Holland; the shells are truncate, shorter than the 
abdomen. 
22. Silpha agaricina.—This also is black and polished; 
the antennae and legs are yellow.—It is found in many parts 
of Europe, but not in our own country. The shells are 
truncate, shorter than the abdomen ; the body is black and 
immaculate; the abdomen pointed. 
IV. -—Lip emarginate, conic; jaw bifid. 
23. Silpha fasciata.—Black; the shells are marked with 
two rufous bauds, the fore-one spotted with black.—It in¬ 
habits North America, and is a rather large insect; though 
less than the 
24. Silpha grandis, which is an African insect, and so 
named on account of its size. This is black, and the shells 
are marked with two rufous spots. 
25. Silpha pustulata.—Black; the shells are marked 
with two ferruginous dots.—This is found in England, and 
in many other parts of Europe. The larva is long, hairy, 
and grey. 
26. Silpha pustulata.—-Black; shells striate, with three 
rufous spots.—This is found chiefly in the northern parts of 
Europe. It is reckoned a very beautiful species; the an¬ 
tennae are pitchy; the thorax is ferruginous at the edge; 
spot at the base of the shells sinuate, the middle one is uni¬ 
form ; that at the tip is small and round ; the body beneath 
is rufous. 
27. Silpha nigripennis.—-Rufous; the antenna, shells, and 
breast are black.— This is found chiefly on trees. 
28. Silpha rufipes.-—This is a black insect; the head, 
thorax, and legs are ferruginous. The abdomen is black. 
29. Silpha senea.—This is of a fine scarlet colour; the 
shells are brassy and immaculate. 
30. Silpha rufifrons.—Black ; but the front, two spots on 
the shells, and legs, are ferruginous.-r-This is found in divers 
parts of England, and is reckoned a small insect. 
V.—The insects of this section are characterised by a heart- 
shaped lip, emarginate and crenate. 
31. Silpha Germanica.-—Black; front and edge of the 
shells are ferruginous. Sometimes the shells are marked with 
a ferruginous 
