Carrion-beetle, in natural history; a genus of animals belonging to the class of insects, and to the order of coleoptera. The antennae are clavate; the elytra are perforated; the elytra margined; the head is prominent; and the thorax marginated. There are 94 species, of which seven only are natives of Britain and Ireland.

1. The vespillo. The margin of the thorax broad. The shells abbreviated, black, with two yellow belts. The thighs of the hind legs large, with a spine near their origin. Length near one inch. It infests dead bodies.

2. The bispunctata, is black; the antennae are long and small, and there are two red spots on the middle of each shell. The length is one-third of an inch.

3. The pygulata, is black and oblong; there are four brown spots on the shells: the length is one-fifth of an inch. It lives on trees.

4. The quadrupunctata. The head, antennae, and legs black. The margin of the thorax and shells are of a pale yellow, with four black spots. The length half an inch. It is found in Cainwood, near Hampstead.

5. The fulvula, is black; the antennae are short and globular; there are five striae on each shell. The shells and wings are short. There are five joints on the two first feet, four on the rest. It lives in sand.

6. The aquatica, is brown, with a green bronze tinge. There are four ribs on the thorax. On each shell there are 10 striae. The length is one-fifth of an inch.

7. The pulicaria, is black and oblong; the shells are abbreviated; the abdomen is rounded at the extremity; the thorax and shells are scarce margined; the length is one line. It is found frequently running on flowers.