SCARAB^IDAE. 237 



Fam. LIII.-SCARABiEIDAE. 



Parts of the mouth variable in form. 



Antennas inserted under the sides of the front, before the 

 eyes, 7- to 11-jointed, usually 10-jointed, the external joints, 

 usually three in number (sometimes as many as seven), pro- 

 longed internally, forming a club of lamellaa, which may be 

 brought close together; first joint always elongated, second 

 thicker than the third. 



Prothorax with the side pieces not separate ; anterior cox: 1 

 cavities transverse, very large, closed behind. 



Mesosternum short, frequently very narrow; side pieces 

 attaining the cox£e, except in Trogini. 



Metasternum large; side pieces variable in form. 



Abdomen with six, rarely five, ventral segments. 



Legs fossorial ; anterior coxa3 large, transverse, sometimes 

 subconical and prominent, sometimes not prominent; middle 

 COX03 large, transverse, not prominent; posterior coxaa flat, 

 transverse; anterior tibiae palmate, toothed, with a single 

 terminal spur; middle and posterior tibiae variable in form, 

 with two spurs, except in Coprini, where there is a single one; 

 but in two species of Canthon the hind tibiae have two 

 spurs ; tarsi 5-jointed, the anterior ones sometimes want- 

 ing; claws generally equal, rarely wanting, usually with an 

 intermediate bisetose onychium. 



A very large and distinctly limited family of insects, the 

 members of which exhibit great variations in the form and 

 arrangement of the various organs of the body, while preserving 

 a cliaracteristic appearance, and, conjoined with it, the lamellate 

 antenna! club and the fossorial legs. 



For reasons mentioned in the prefatory remarks to Dr. Le 

 Conte's synopsis of the Melolonthidfe of the United States,* we 

 prefer dividing the family into three sub-families, according to the 

 position of the abdominal spiracles. Erichson and Lacordaire 

 establish but two sub-families, while Burnieister arranges the 

 genera in a totally different manner. 



I. AMominal spiracles situated in the membrane connecting the dorsal 

 and ventral corneous plates, the last one covered by the elytra. 

 Ligiila always separate from the mentiim (larvje with the lobes of 

 the maxillse separate). Lapakosticti. 



* Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci., 2d ser., iii. 225. 



