COLEOPTETIA. H 



into a kind of funnel and fitting- concentrically into each other, and 

 by their mandibles, the inner side of which is entirely scrriform, and 

 which present underneath, particularly in tlie inales, a projection or 

 horn. In these indiAaduals the thorax is deeply emarginated before, 

 and its angles project considerably forwards. The abdomen is very 

 short, almost semicircular, and the last legs near its extremity. The 

 labial palpi are a little longer than the others ; their second joint is 

 elongated, and the two others are almost equal in length. The inner 

 side of the maxillae is furnished with hairs and cilia, in the form of 

 little spines, and their terminal lobe is narrow and elongated. The 

 mentum is triangular, and transversely truncated at its extremity. 

 Such are those which form the 



Lethrus, Scop. Fab. 



The species, but few in number, are peculiar to Hungary and the 

 eastern part of Russia. 



L. cephalotes. Fab; Fisch., Entomog. Russ. Imp., I, p. 133, 

 XIII, 1. This Insect, distinguished from the other species by its 

 entirely black colour, and smooth thorax and elytra, according 

 to professor Gothelf Fischer, is extremely noxious in culti- 

 vated grounds, as it attacks the scarcely visible buds and leaves 

 of plants, and cuts them off with the trenchant forceps of its 

 mandibles, a liabit which in Hungary, where it does great injury 

 to the vines, has caused it to be styled the Schneider, or Cutter. 

 As the pectus projects greatly underneath the abdomen, and the 

 hind legs seem to be inserted very near the anus, it is a good 

 climber, and in descending moves backwards. After having 

 amputated the heart of a plant, it descends with its prey, which 

 it transports to its hole. Each of these holes, which are made in 

 the earth, is occupied by a pair, but in the nuptial season a 

 strange male frequently claims admittance. A furious combat 

 is the consequence, during which the female closes the entrance 

 of the domicil, and keeps continually pushing her companion for- 

 wards. The battle only ceases with the death or flight of the in- 

 truder. The same savant describes — Ibid., p. 136, 140 — three 

 other species hitherto unknown. 



In all the other Arenicoli the antennal club is composed of the ordi- 

 narily shaped leaflets, laid one on another, or like the leaves of a book. 

 They form our subgenus Geotrupes, or the Scarabceus, Fab., from 

 wliich the following subgenera have since been detached. 



Those, in which the antennal club is oval or ovoid, and of which 

 the edges of the leaflets are totally or partially exposed even when 

 contracted, form tAVO of them. In 



Geotrupes, Laf. 



Or Geotrupes properly so called, the labrum is a transverse square, 

 entire or simply dentated ; the mandibles are arcuated, highly com- 

 pressed, dentated at the extremity, and frequently sinuous on the ex- 

 terior side, and the maxillae furnished with a very thick fringe of 



c2 



