SCARAB^IDAE. 255 



Group II. — MelolontheB. 



Large species, frequently ornainented with spots or strii)cs of 

 squuiiiiform liair, and distinguished by the broad side ])ieees of the 

 nietatliorax, the epimera of which are large. The fifth ventral 

 segment and the propygidium are connate by an angulatcd suture, 

 the spiracle is placed exactly at the angle; the thorax has no 

 anterior marginal line. 



The club of the antenna; of Polyphylla assumes an enormous 

 development in the male, and consists of six joints; in the female 

 it is snjaller. 



Two genera are in our fauna, both having a spur on the ante- 

 rior tibiffi; Polyphylla has universal distribution, Thycc is found 

 in New Mexico. 



Antennae with long third joint ; club many-jointed. Polyphylla. 



Antennae with short third joint; club small, 3-jointed. Thyce. 



Sub-Tribe 8. — Macropliylliiii. 



The genera of this sub- tribe were known only from Africa, 

 Australia, and Polynesia, until the discovery of Fhohetus Lee., 

 a Californian genus, allied, apparently, to the South African 

 Trr/ssits Er., the characters of which are very indefinitely made 

 known ; but, from the difference of locality, the two genera can- 

 not be supposed to be identical. 



The only character by which this sub-tribe is distinguished 

 from the preceding is that the ventral segments are not connate, 

 and the prothorax margined at apex with membrane. The an- 

 terior coxae are a little more prominent, and the side pieces of the 

 metathorax are equally wide. 



The generic characters of Phobetus are: antenna; 9- or 10- 

 jointed, varying according to individuals and not species; with 

 the club of the male 3-jointed, as long as the rest of the antenna; 

 labrum transverse, concave, somewhat cmarginate; prothorax 

 margined in front, and fringed with membrane ; claws with a broad 

 tooth near the tip, and an indistinct one near the base. 



The species, P. comafus, is robust in form, nearly seven-tenths 

 of an inch long, with the margins of the thorax and body, and 

 the whole of the breast, covered with very long hair; the elytra 

 are glabrous, nearly smooth, with a deep sutural stria. 



