DIGGING LEGS. 191 



Our last example of this group of Beetles is Anomalipus 

 lineatus, which belongs to the family of the Opatridae. We have 

 two species of this family in England, the best known of which 

 is Opatrum sabulosum, a Beetle which is found on the sandy 

 shores of the southern coast. By some writers the word is 

 spelled H opatrum, but this is incorrect, as the Greek word, 

 which signifies " sprung from the same father," does not contain 

 the aspirate. 



The name of Anomalipus, i.e. " anomalous foot," is given to 

 the genus on account of the structure of the fore-legs. As the 

 reader may see by reference to the illustration, the tibiae of this 

 insect are very large, flattened, and armed with spikes. They 

 very much resemble the same members in the Scarabidas, and 

 are evidently used for the same purpose, i.e. digging. As if to 

 show that such is really the object of these powerful limbs, the 



Fig. 91. — Anomalipus lineatus. 

 (Black. ) 



specimens of the Anomalipus which are brought to this country 

 are generally so covered with the earth in which they have been 

 excavating, that they must be washed before the markings on the 

 body can be distinguished. 



The general colour of the species is black, and its form is 

 rather flattened. The thorax is widened, and on either side 

 of the centre there is a large depression or pit, shaped some- 

 thing like a pear, the large end of which is uppermost. The 

 elytra are really black, though at first sight they appear to be 

 lighter than the thorax. This is caused by a quantity of 

 brownish hairs, which are set in parallel rows between the boldly 



