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XII. On a new genus and some new species of Copridae 

 (Coleoptera-Lamellicornia) . By H. W. Bates, 

 F.Z.S., V.-P. Ent. Soc. 



[Bead 2nd May, 1870.] 



A REMARKABLE Coprophagous Lamellicorn from Pern, 

 which has long been known in the larger collections of 

 London and Paris under the manuscript name of Orus- 

 catus rngicoUis of Reiche, has recently been the subject 

 of some remarks by M. de Harold, who is known for his 

 great special knowledge of this group of insects. The 

 insect had previously been ascertained to be the Phanceus 

 Davus of Erichson, who placed it in a distinct section of 

 the genus, and noted the elongate fore-legs of the male. 

 In fact, its facies differs considerably from that of 

 Phanceus, and I was not a little surprised when so able 

 an observer as M. de Harold, on examining specimens, 

 came to the conclusion that it should not be separated 

 from that homogeneous and well-defined genus. He 

 cited in support of his view, the funnel-shaped club of 

 the antennge, and the absence of claws from the hinder 

 tarsi, both of which are characteristic of Phancetis. The 

 elongation of the anterior legs of the male he does not 

 notice, but this feature is significant, taken with other 

 characters, and shows that we have here to deal with a 

 form quite foreign to Phananis, and of the greatest pos- 

 sible interest, as supplying another link between that 

 representative genus of the New World, and Ostitis, an 

 equally characteristic genus of the Old. 



On an examination of four fresh specimens, I find that 

 the antennal club of Oruscatus is not funnel-shaped in the 

 sense understood when applied to Phamceus : the apical 

 joint is as perfectly formed as the penultimate, is convex 

 on its upper and concave on it lower surface, and the 

 two are not immersed in the concavity of the first joint 

 of the club. The club, in fact, is less funnel-shaped than 

 in Onitis. The observation regarding the tarsal claws 

 is correct. Oruscatus has no tarsal claws to the hinder 

 legs, and the tarsi are wholly wanting in the fore-legs. 

 A character of great value, as distinguishing the genus 

 from Phanceus, is the shape and artnature of the middle 

 tibiae ; these are gradually dilated from base to apex, 

 straight and dentate on the outer edge, similar to the 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. 1870. PART II. (jUNE.) O 



