120 BRITISH BEETLES. 



a broad thin horn, bent backwards ; of which there are, 

 as usual, modifications in size. 



The APHODIID^E are all small, oblong,, and cylin- 

 drical ; with the organs of the mouth (except the apex 

 of the palpi) hidden by the clypeus ; the antennae nine- 

 jointed ; the abdomen with six free ventral segments ; 

 the scutellum visible ; the metasternum of ordinary 

 size ; the intermediate coxae oblique, and approximated 

 behind ; two spurs to the apex of the tibiae ; and the 

 club of the antennae flat. Their eyes are only slightly 

 divided by the side of the head, and their elytra almost 

 always entirely cover the apex of the body. 



The males differ from the females in the greater de- 

 velopment of certain tubercles on the clypeus ; in the 

 greater bulk and lesser amount of punctuation of the 

 thorax; in the longer spine at the apex of the front 

 tibiae ; or in the presence of a more decided channel in 

 the middle of the metasternum. 



The species of Aphodius are very abundant, especially 

 in spring and autumn ; flying readily, and occurring in 

 profusion in the droppings of our domestic animals. 

 They are usually black and shining, but sometimes livid 

 yellow or red, or spotted. A. inquinatus (Plate VIII, 

 Fig. 3), one df the prettiest, is found in profusion on the 

 Lancashire sandhills. In this genus the anterior margin 

 of the eyes is visible, when viewed from above, and the lobes 

 of the maxillae are leathery or membraneous, and un- 

 armed ; in Ammoecius (more globose behind) no part of 

 the eye is to be seen from above in repose ; in Psammo- 

 dius (of which the thorax is strongly transversely fur- 

 rowed) the outer lobe of the maxillae is horny and hooked ; 

 and in jffigialia (found in sandy places) the mandibles 

 and labrum project slightly beyond the clypeus. 



