COLEOPTERA, 9 



distinct scutellum. The labial palpi are glabrous or but slightly pi- 

 lose, and their third and last joint is larger, or at least longer than 

 the preceding ones. The elytra completely envelope the contour of 

 the abdomen, or form an arched roof to it, a character which approxi- 

 mates them to the Scarabaeides of the following section. Indepen- 

 dently of this, these Insects, with respect to their antennre and legs, 

 are closely allied to those of the preceding subgenus ; but the sexual 

 variations are less strongly marked, and frequently consist of mere 

 tubercles. They arc all small. Several species appear in the very 

 beginning of Spring. They form two subgenera. 



Aphoditjs, Illig., Fab. — Scarab/EUs, Lin., Geoff. — Copris, Oliv. 

 In which the last joint of the palpi is cylindrical, and that of those 

 attached to the labiuiu somewhat more slender than the preceding 

 ones, or at least not thicker. There is no appendage or corneous 

 and dentated lobe to the inner side of the maxillae. The body is 

 rarely short, with the abdomen arched, and when these characters are 

 present, the thorax is not transversely sulcated. 



A. fivietarius ; S. Jimetarms, L. ; Panz., Faun. Insect. Germ., 

 XXXI, 2. Three lines in length; black; elytra and a spot on 

 each side of the thorax fulvous ; three tubercles on the head ; 

 elytra with punctured striae *. 



PsAMMODIUS, Gyll. 



Where the last joint of the palpi is oval and the thickest and long- 

 est of the Avhole number, and in wliich the internal lobe of the 

 maxillae is corneous and bidentated. The body is short, the thorax 

 transversely sulcated, and the abdomen inflated f. 



This subgenus conducts us naturally to the first of the following 

 section, that of the Arenicoli. These Scarabaeides, with the Apho- 

 dii and Psammodii, are the only ones whose elytra entirely cover the 

 posterior extremity of the abdomen, so that the abdomen is com- 

 pletely concealed ; but they are distinguished from the latter by seve- 

 ral characters. The labrum is coriaceous, and most frequently juts 

 out beyond the epistoma. The mandibles are corneous, and usually 

 salient and arcuated. The terminal lobe of the maxillae is straight, 

 and has no inward curve. The third and last joint of the labial palpi 

 is always very distinct, and at least almost as long as the preceding 

 one. With some few exceptions their antennae are composed of ten 

 or eleven joints. 



These Insects are also coprophagous, make deep holes in the 



* See SchoenheiT, Synon. Insect., I, 1, p. 66 ; Panz,, Tnd. Entom., p. 7. 



\ The only one I refer to it is the Psammodius sulcicolUs, Gyll., Insect. Suec. I, 

 p. 9. Tlie other species are true Aphodii. SeeEncyc. Method., article Psammodie. 



The genus Euparia, established in' the Encyc. Method., by MM. Lcpeletier and 

 Serville, belongs to this section, but as they have not completely described it, and I 

 have never seen the Insect on which it is founded, I cannot assign its place. Accord- 

 ing to those gentlemen, the sides of the head are dilated and form a triangle. The 

 posterior angles of the thorax are emarginated, and the humeral angles of the elytra 

 are prolonged anteriorly into a point. The only species quoted is the castanea. 

 These characters, and even the colour, induce me to suspect that this genus is 

 closely allied to the Eurysterne of Dalman, Tvhich we have already mentioaed. 

 VOL. IV. C 



