202 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



which they make. Such are especially the habits of the typical spe- 

 cies of which our English shard-borne beetle (Scarabeeus stercorarius 

 Linn.) may be cited as one of the best known examples. 



Commentators have been at variance respecting the name of this 

 insect*; some considering that it ought to be named the shard-io/v^ 

 (that is, born in shard, or dung) beetle ; and others, that the name 

 should be written shard-^'ome (that is, borne, during flight, upon its 

 shards, or scaly wing-covers). 



Some of the extreme genera of the family are said to feed upon 

 roots, and may often be considered as even lignivorous. They fly 

 after sunset, and in the twilight, and counterfeit death, when alarmed, 

 in a manner quite unlike that practised by the Byrrhidte, &zc. ; namely, 

 by rigidly extending the legs. 



The New Holland genus Elephastomus MacL. is distinguished by 

 having the clypeus produced in front into a long and narrow deflexed 

 horn ; furnished, on its under surface, near the base, with a second and 

 shorter perpendicular horn, immediately in front of, and extending far 

 below, the mouth. 



The Brazilian Hybosori frequent human excrement, without, how- 

 ever, burying themselves in it. The Athyrei and Odontaji resemble 

 the Coprides in their habits, although some of the latter are found in 

 grass and rotten wood (Perty, Del. An., art. Braz., and Lacordaire). 



The genus Lethrus Scop, consists of several curious species, inha- 

 biting the south-eastern parts of Europe ; having the club of the an- 

 tennae triangular, the two terminal joints being concealed within the 

 extremity of the basal joint of the club ; the mandibles are very large, 

 and furnished with a strong horn on the under side. They burrow 

 in the ground, and do great mischief by gnawing off the young shoots 

 of the vines, upon which they feed. Each burrow is inhabited by a 

 pair ; and violent battles sometimes occur between the male and an 

 intruder of its own sex. (Fischer, Ent. Russ. v. i.) 



The insects of this family are chiefly inhabitants of moderate cli- 

 mates ; the numbers found in the temperate zone, as compared with 

 those from the tropics, and from latitudes higher than 60°, being in the 

 proportions of 10, 2, 1 ; the greater number of known species being 

 found in Russia, Siberia, Central Europe, and North America. The 



* See Heineken, in Zool. Journ., No. ] 8. p. 197. ; Kirby and Spence, vol. i. 

 p. 392.; Brit. Ci/clopwd. vol. ii. art. Geotnipidw ; and Patterson's Letters. 



