630 Mr. D. Sharp and Mr. F. Muir on the Comparative 



highly peculiar Passalidae with the other divisions of 

 Scarabaeidae. 



In the Passalidae the median lobe is large and globular, 

 membranous around the median orifice, which is large ; 

 small median struts are sometimes attached to its base. 

 The lateral lobes are consolidated, have not the character 

 of lobes, but form a plate. The basal-piece is distinct, 

 except in Aulacocyclus (fig. 13), where it is lost or entirely 

 consolidated to the lateral lobes. The internal sac is 

 large. All these characters are approached in Trox 

 omacanthus, but in neither Lucanidae nor in Scarabaeidae 

 do we find any suggestion of a direct connection with 

 Passalidae. 



SINODENDRIDAE 

 LAMPRIMIDAE 



LUCANIDAE 



SCARABAEIDAE 



PASSALIDAE 



TROGIDAE 



AFFINITIES OF THE 5CARABAEI0ID FAMILIES 



The great importance of the Trogidae in this division 

 is evident, but becomes singularly significant when we 

 realise that it also approximates greatly to the Byrrhoidea 

 series. 



In concluding our scattered remarks as to the Scara- 

 baeoidea we may say that we think that the taxonomy of 

 this division is still very imperfect. We greatly regret 

 that we have not been able to examine some of its most 

 enigmatic forms (e.g. Nicagits),* but we feel that it would 



* Thanks to Mr. E. A. Schwarz, F. Muir has since been able to 

 examine the long disputed Nicagus. It has a well defined median 

 lobe, with median orifice on dorsal aspect of tip ; well defined lateral 

 lobes a little longer than the median lobe, broad at the base and 

 gradually tapering to a pointed tip, the bases meeting on the ventral 



