6 KTJTELIN^. 



near the base of the front tarsus, normally pi'esent in all Lamelli- 

 cornia, is lost in AnopJanomala. The middle and hind tibia? are 

 fringed externally at the end with short rigid spines, in addition 

 to the two larger terminal spines at the inner edge of each. There 

 are also almost always two rows of spines crossing obliquely the 

 outer face of each of the four posterior tibiae. The structure of 

 the legs in fact is very constant, although their actual contour 

 varies very considerably. The hind tibiae, for instance, may be 

 very slender and taper at each end, or they may be extremely 

 short and triangular with their widest part at the extremity, but, 

 although for distinguishing the species it is important to observe 

 carefully the exact shape of these members, every gradation is 

 found in the same genus and some diii'erence is frequent in the 

 two sexes of the same species. 



The tarsi are slender and loosely articulated, except in the 

 Paiiastastini, in which they are closely articulated and compara- 

 tively short. No reduction occurs in the number (hve) of joints 

 as in the Cetoniin^ and other subfamilies. The posterior edge 

 of each joint is drawn out beneath into short processes, usnally 

 two in number, and these alternate with very stout articulated 

 but immovable spines, which are evidently important aids to pro- 

 gression. In the Pakastasitni these accessory structures seem 

 of less importance and the basal joints are not produced beneath, 

 but the penultimate joint is drawn out into a single strong process. 

 u addition to the locomotory spines referred to there are other 

 more slender spines and hairs, and in particular a pair at the end 

 of the penultimate joint and two pairs at the end of the claw 

 joint which are very long and delicate, the latter radiating out- 

 wards as a kind of circlet around the base of the claws, and as 

 long as, or even longer than, the claws themselves (see Atwrnala 

 ciliutipes). These delicate organs ai'e no doubt the terminals of 

 sensory nerves and provide the highly chitinous extremities with 

 the sense of touch. This is presumably also the function of the 

 pulvillus (or onychium ), the finger-like structure which arises 

 between and a little in front of the claws and bears at its 

 extremity a pair of fine hairs, sometimes diverging strongly 

 and sometimes in close apposition, so that they look like a single 

 hair. 



In the EuTELiN^ the claws assume a greater variety and 

 importance for systematic purposes than ni any other group, 

 except perhaps the Melolonthin^ and Hopliin^. The two 

 claws are always of unequal length, freely movable and capable 

 of being folded close against the foot, a faculty which, at least in 

 the four posterior legs, is not attained in any allied group. This 

 is an adaptation for an existence amongst foliage and perhaps of 

 special use in clinging to the edges of leaves. In those Lainelli- 

 cornia, like the CoprinvE and GeotrupinjE, which crawl upon the 

 ground, the claws are always simple, svmmetrical and immovable, 

 and this is also the case in those which are found upon trees and 

 flowers, but not upon foliage, as in the Lucanid.4), Passalid.i:, 



