374 



NATURAL HISTORY OF ARTHROPODS. 



The species of Phaiueus are sometimes of considerable size, and are often of metallic 

 or bronzed coloration. They have V)road three-jointed labial palpi, the anterior coxw 

 short Init prominent, and the first joint of the antennal club is hollowed out to receive 

 the other two joints. P. carnifex, from eastern North America, frequents human 

 excrement, especially when left in sandy ])laces. Its jn'othorax is coj)pery bronze, its 

 elytra metallic green ; both are roughened, the latter being also striate. In the males 

 the head supports a horn, which curves gently backwards, and, when long, rests be- 

 tween two slight elevations on each side of the prothorax. In P. damon, from Mexico, 

 these elevations on the prothorax are prolonged into wing-like processes, while the 

 cephalic horn is largely develoj)ed. 



Copris differs from Phanmus in having the lamellse of the antennal club alike. 



Fig. 435. — Atcachus variulostts, surrounded by Hcaraba'i. 



The species are black, with densely punctate prothorax and striate elytra, and the cly- 

 peus is broadly exj)anded and covers the mouth-parts. The males generally have a horn 

 upon the head and tubercles upon tlie ])rothorax. C. caroHiid, a sjiecies aliout an inch 

 long and 0.7 of an incli wide, is found alung tlu' Atlantic coast of the United States as 

 far north as Massachusetts. (_'. a/iiiff/i/ptieus, a species aljout 0.(3 of an inch long, and 

 0. minutns, about 0.4 of an inch long, are found in the eastern United States. 



Species of Canthon, Atenchus, and allied genera are remarkable for their peculiar 

 mode of rolling about a globular mass of dung, in which they finally dejiosit an egg, 

 and then bury in the ground. Canthon is distinguished from Cojjris by its having 

 slender curved middle and hindtibine; the head and prothorax are hornless in both 

 sexes ; the e])i]3leura3 are narrow. C. Icevis is a common species in parts of the United 

 States. It is from 0.5 to 0.6 of an inch long, nearly smooth when examined only with 

 the nakt'd eve, and of a ilull-bla<'k color. 



