LAMELLTCOUN DtJNG-BEETLES. 81 



ill wbicli to bury it. Mr. Riley informs me tliat the coiniiiou iiotiou 

 that the egg is rolled up in the center of this ball is an erroneous one, 

 and that the egg is in reality deposited in a cavity at one side, made 

 for the purpose after the ball is sunk. The young feed upon the half 

 decomposed matter of which the ball is composed. The species are 

 generally black, but some have rich metallic hues. The Copris [Flia- 

 nmis) carni/ex, with its tints of burnished copper and green, is one of 

 our richest insects. 



A. Middle and hind tibi;n slender. Size medium ; color black Canthon, 17 sp. 



A A. Middle and hind tlbiit enlarged at the end. 

 B. Labial palpi 3-jointed. 



C. Anterior CO xaj strongly tranverse and depressed. Size small ; color brown Choeridium, 3. 



C C. Acterior coxse large, conical and prominent. Size large or medium ; color black or metallic : 



COPKIS, 10. 

 B B. Labial palpi 2-jointed. Anterior coxae large and conical ; size small ; color black: 



Onthophagus, 10. 



Family XXVII. APHODIID^. 



These are small beetles found in great abundance in the fresh ma- 

 nure of horses and cows, into which they burrow almost as soon as 

 dropped from the animals. They never much exceed a quarter of an 

 inch in length, and are usually black, but sometimes with red or brown 

 elytra. Nearly a hundred N. A. species have been described, and divi- 

 ded into a number of sub-genera, but they may all be included in the 

 genus Aphodius of Illiger. 



The following are among our most common species : The 

 A. Jimetarius, Fab., nearly three-tenths of an inch long ; head 

 and thorax shining black, and elytra red ; the A. ohlongus, 

 Say, is equally long, rather more slender, and wholly black; 

 the A. terminaUs is less than two-tenths of an inch long, black 

 with the tip of the elytra and legs reddish ; the A. servalj 

 Say, is of the same size, black, with the elytra dirty white, 

 with three sub-quadrate black spots and a lateral double or 



Aphodius:-!, . ■, i i i j_ - i 



beetle ; 2, an- triple irregular interrupted black stripe on each. 



tenna — after 

 Westwood. 



Family XXVIII. GEOTRUPID.E. 



These are distinguished from the two preceding families by their ro- 

 bust horny mandibles which project visibly beyond the upper lip. Their 

 average size is above medium, but the Bolboceri fall considerably below 

 it. The Geotrupes (more correctly spelled Geotrypes) are very common 

 insects, found under cow dung in pastures, often burrowing into the 

 ground beneath. 



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