74 

 which are several very minute ones. Intermediate and posterior thighs and tibiae smaller than are 

 usually observed among those lamellicorn beetles which have no scutellum. 



The advantages resulting from the modern method of investigation adopted in Natural 

 History in general, and especially in Entomolog}-, are no where more conspicuous than in 

 the case of the present species of dung-rolling beetles or pUlularii, as they were aptly 

 termed by Pliny and other old vsriters; the present species inhabiting North America, 

 having been long confounded with an inhabitant of Southern Europe, which indeed pos- 

 sesses a similarity in general appearance and habits, but belongs to a distinct genus. 

 Linnaeus applied the term pilularius specifically to the species inhabiting Italy and Spain ; 

 referring, however, to Catesby's Carolina, pi. 11., so that it is evident that this writer had 

 never seen the North American insect. Schonher however remarks, " scarabseus pillularius 

 Linn, pertinet ad At. volvens Fabr ;"* whilst Fabricius, although quoting Drury and De 

 Geer (who both figure the North American species) has increased the confusion by giving 

 Southern Europe as its habitat. Under these circumstances I have done our author the 

 justice to revert to his specific name ; his being certainly the earliest systematic specific 

 reference to the American species, which may be distinguished from the European one by 

 the following particulars : — 



Genus. Coprobius, Latreille. 



(Elytra entire at the sides; intermediate tibiae 



with two spurs.) 

 Coprobius Igevis, Drury. (Scarab.) volvens, 



Fabr. 

 Habitat. North America. 



Genus. Gymnopleurus, Illiger. 



(Elytra with a deep lateral notch near the 



shoulders ; intermediate tibiae with one spur.) 

 Gymnopleurus pilularius, Linn. (Scarab.) Fabr. 



OUv. 

 Habitat. Southern Europe. 



ONITIS SPINIPES. 



Plate XXXV. fig. 8. 



Order: Coleoptera. Section: Lamellicomes. Family: Scarabaeidse, itfac ieaj/. 



Genus. Onitis, Fabr. Scarabseus, Linn. Drury. 



Onitis Spinipes. Exscutellatus niger opacus, capite subcornuto, pedibus intermediis tlilatatis et incisis. (Long. 

 Coq). fere 1 unc.) 



Syn. Scarabtpus Spinipes, Drury, App. vol. 2. (1773). 



Scarabajus Sphinx, Fabr. Ent. Syst. p. 25. No. 08. (1775.; Syst. Eleuih. 1. p. 29. 9. (Onitis Sp.) 

 Schonh. Syn. Ins. \.p. 31. 10. 



Habitat: China. 



Entirely black. Head margined and rough, having two small protuberances entirely surrounding 

 the eyes. Palpi rather long. Thorax convex, smooth, and margined, being as long as the elytra, and 

 having on each side near the lateral margin a small impression. On the posterior margin next the 

 suture are two more impressions, and a longer one between them. Scutellum obsolete. Elytra furrowed, 



* If this liad really been the case, the Fabriciau name ought surely to have yielded to that of Linuseus. 



