130 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



in tropical regions requires the presence of such stercorarious in- 

 sects as these, although it is certain that the smaller Coprides abound 

 in such countries, which probably perform the offices assigned to 

 the Sphaeridiidae in regions where the Coprides are but few in 

 number. 



Mr. MacLeay adopts the idea of Fabricius, that this family may 

 possibly include such genera as Phalacrus, Agathidium, &c. That 

 an affinity exists between these insects, cannot be denied ; but there 

 are other characters besides the numerical variation in the tai'sal joints 

 sufficient to warrant their separation. I have already alluded to the 

 relationship between these insects and the Laraellicornes ; and may 

 here add, that Mr. MacLeay, as well as Mr. Kirby, considers that it is 

 from these insects that the transition is effected to that tribe of beetles. 

 It is impossible, however, in a linear series, to exhibit all their com- 

 binations of relationship. By Linnaeus these insects were arranged 

 with Dermestes, and by De Geer with Hister. The species of 

 Sphasridium are the largest in the family, not, however, exceeding a 

 quarter of an inch in length ; they are generally of a shining black 

 colour, with the elytra variegated with large patches of red or dirty 

 yellow. 



The family AgathidiidjE* Westw. (Anisotomidae Sieph.f) com- 

 prises a small group of insects placed by Latreille amongst the Trime- 

 rous and Heteromerous Coleoptera, with which, however, they offer no 

 other relationship than that of having the tarsi composed of a reduced 

 number of joints. In their habits, indeed, as well as their general 

 structure, they appear to approach much nearer to some of the aberrant 

 Sphaeridiidffi, forming, probably, the connecting link between them and 

 the smaller Necrophaga, to which they are still more nearly allied. 

 That this is one of the groups in which the numerical variation in the 



* BiBLioGR. Refer, to the Agathidiid/e. 



Sturm's Deutchslands Fauna, vol. ii. 



The works of Stephens, Curtis, FlUger, Gyllenhal, &c. 



\ The generic name Anisotoma being regarded as a synonytne of Leiodes, ought 

 not to be employed to designate the family. 



