1900.] (.'(ttdhnjnc nf lite Coh'opk'ni of So/itli Africa. 15 



laterally, and loavin<^' th(! mandibles iincovei'ed [Cli/roiiixo', Tixxjiiue, 

 [{//hosoriiue, Geotrupime, Orphnince, Dynastimc). 



Eyes. — The eyes ave lateral, large, divided by a canthus foi'nied 

 by the genae, except, however, in the Troglnce, where they are 

 inserted under a ledge formed by the genae, as in AtcucJins, but 

 not divided. 



Antennae. — Antenntc inserted in front of the eyes under a ledge, 

 and with joints varying from eight to ten in number ; the apical 

 ones are mobile, lamellate, and form a club consisting generally of 

 three more or less concave and convex joints, but which vary con- 

 siderably in number, shape, and size in the Meloloiitliiiue. 



Prothorax, Scutellum, and Elytra. — The prothorax varies con- 

 siderably in shape ; the scutellum is wanting in some Coprince, 

 l)ut is present in the other sub-families ; the elytra never overlap 

 the abdomen to any great extent. 



Abdomen. — The abdomen has six ventral segments, sometimes 

 reduced to five [Trofjiiue), and eight dorsal ones. The penultimate 

 dorsal segment (propygidium) is partly horny like the last one 

 (pygidium), but there are exceptions (Twx, Bolhoccras), and the 

 disposition of the seven pairs of spiracles affords a very good 

 character for the division of the family. 



Legs. — The legs are adapted for digging, the eggs being deposited 

 in the ground. The anterior are broad or very broad and strongly 

 digitate or dentate outwardly, but the four posterior ones vary 

 greatly ; in some Coprince the anterior tarsi are entirely wanting ; 

 they are, however, five-jointed normally, but in some myrme- 

 cobious Cctonince (Scaptobius, Trichoplus, Placodidiis) some of these 

 joints are fused and vary apparently in number ; the claws are 

 simple and equal in the Cetonuia>, and also in the Coprince, 

 ApJwdiince, Chironince, Trogiiue, Hijhosorincc, Orphnince and Geo- 

 trupince, which, with the exception of the Cctonince, form the first 

 section of the family (Laparosticti), and in which, with the exception 

 of the Trogince, the ligula is not soldered with the mentum ; they 

 are very variable, and not equal in the Msleimrt^mfce, liutelince, and ^'•^ f^vx^ 

 ,OTfii- Dijnastince, which, with the Cctonince, are included in the second 

 section of the family (Pleurosticti) ; but in both sections there 

 is on the apex of the last tarsal joint, and between the two claws, a 

 slender, rod-like process ending in two setie or penicillate at the tip, 

 {onycliium) and sometimes as long as the claws themselves {Rliizo- 

 platjjs in the Dynastince). 



Stridulation. — Some species of Coprince, Dynastince, Trogince have 

 organs of stridulation, consisting of transverse raised lines, generally 

 disposed in two rows on the penultimate dorsal segment ; the noise 



