COLEOPTEKA. — APHCDIID^:. 207 



the parts of the mouth, and by the membranous mandibles. There 

 are only two British genera (Copris and Onthophagus), of which the 

 species are found in the spring, especially frequenting cow-dung. I 

 have communicated a memoir, comprising observations on this familj^, 

 and the description of some remarkable exotic forms, to the Zoolo- 

 gical Society of London, and which is published in the last part of 

 the Transactions of that Society. 



The third family, AriioDiiDiE MacLeay., comprises those Copropha- 

 gous species which have the body of an oblong or oval shape, rounded 

 at the extremity, with the abdomen entirely concealed by the elj'tra 

 i^fig. 20. 14. Aphodius Fossor) ; the legs placed at equal distances 

 from each other ; the mandibles short, dilated, and coriaceous (^fig. 20. 

 l.j.) ; the scutellum is distinct and exposed ; the labial palpi are 

 glabrous, with the third and las«t joints often larger or longer than the 

 preceding (^Jig. 20. 17.) ; the clypeus is entire, and never dentate, 

 occasionally tubercular ; and the maxillee are terminated by two 

 membranous lobes (^^^r. 20. 16.) ; the antennae are 9-jointed {Jig. 20. 

 18.). These insects are nearly allied to the Scarabeeidae, both in 

 their antennae, organs of the mouth, and legs ; the sexual differences 

 are, however, less decided, the head never being armed with horns. 

 The chief difference between the two families consists in the more 

 elongated form of the body, the ordinary sized metastcrnum, and 

 the developed scutellum in the Aphodiidee. 



The species of this family are amongst the most minute of Lamel- 

 licorn beetles. They are far more abundant in this country than any 

 other Petalocera, especially during the spring months, swarming in 

 the dung of the larger herbivorous animals, or hovering over it as soon 

 as it is dropped. Their metropolis appears to be in the temperate 

 zones of the northern hemisphere, in which the proportion of species, 

 as compared to the tropical species, is stated by Mr. MacLeay as at 

 8:1; appearing to replace with us the want of the Scarabicidas. 

 Dejean gives a list of one hundred and fifty-two species of Aphodius, 

 from various quarters of the world, including the Cape, Madagascar, 

 California, and the Mauritius. None, however, have been received, 

 either by him or by Mr. MacLeay, from New Holland* ; a peculiarity 



* I have received two species from Van Dienien's Land, collected by II. II. 

 Lewis, Esq.; and the Rev. F. W. Hope has otliers. 



