COLEOPTERA. — SCARABiEID^. 203 



only species of Geotrupes found in the other parts of Asia is one 

 brought from the Himalaya Mountains by J. F. Royle, Esq., and 

 figured in his work upon the botany and natural history of that region. 



The Geotrupidae are distinguished from the Scarabseidai and Apho- 

 diidaj by their robust horny mandibles, and from the Trogidaj and 

 Dynastidae by the membranaceous lobes of the maxillae. They are 

 generally of a moderate size, when compared with some of the other 

 Saprophaga, although the typical species found in this country may be 

 considered as sufficiently conspicuous. 



The species of Geotrupes (respecting the number and variations of 

 which considerable differences of opinion exist) are distinguished by 

 the splendid metallic tints with which the under side of the body is 

 adorned. The Bolboceri are of small size : they have been found, 

 according to M. Le Vaillant, in considerable numbers in the stomachs 

 of frogs and toads. They fly in the twilight. 



The second family, ScAUABiEiDiE, as restricted by Mr. MacLeay, is 

 an extensive and important group, distinguished by the large, advanced, 

 and generally notched clypeus, which conceals not only the membran- 

 ous labrum, but also the mandibles, which are corneous at the base, 

 but terminating in a long, lanceolate, compressed, membranaceous 

 plate {Jig. 20. ic), having its internal margin and apex ciliated ; the 

 antennae are 8 or 9-jointed, with a 3-jointed club ; the body is ge- 

 nerally broad and depressed [Jig. 9.0. 9. Scarabaeus (Heliocantharus) 

 puncticollis, from the south of Europe) ; the legs are long, the inter- 

 mediate legs being inserted more widely apart than the others, 

 and having the coxae elongated, and more or less longitudinal, 

 causing the metasternum to appear as a wide plate between the base 

 of these legs (^fig. 20. 13. underside of meso and metathorax and ab- 

 domen of Chalconotus cuprous) ; the posterior legs are also placed 

 far back, so that the abdomen is reduced to a small size ; the maxillae 

 are terminated by two membranous lobes (^g.20. li.); the labial 

 palpi are very pilose, with the last joint much smaller than the pre- 

 ceding {^g. 20. 12.) ; the scutellum is not exposed ; the elytra are ge- 

 nerally somewhat square behind, exposing the extremity of the abdo- 

 men ; the anterior tarsi, in some species, are entirely wanting * ; the 

 claws are minute; the anterior tibiae are externally 3-dcntate, with a 



* See BruUe in Ann. Scienc. Nat,, 1837. 



