104 COMMON BRITISH INSECTS. 



Considering that the Typhoeus is a very common 

 insect, it is surprisingly little known, and I have often 

 found that entomologists who restricted themselves 

 to the Lepidoptera alone have been totally ignorant 

 of its existence, and expressed much surprise when I 

 showed them a fine male Typhoeus. This insect is 

 in one sense an extremely interesting one, inasmuch 

 as it is one of our few British examples of the strange 

 and almost grotesque forms assumed by male 

 Lamellicornes, but which are seldom seen except in 

 exotic Beetles. 



This insect may be found in all parts of England, 

 being generally plentiful enough. The end of May 

 and beginning of August are the times when it is in 

 best condition, and at the latter season it may often 

 be seen lying dead in roads or pathways. Like the 

 Dor Beetle, it is a burrower, and has been taken while 

 making its tunnel in sand. 



THERE is a large family of small Beetles which 

 must not be passed over without a brief notice. This 

 is known by the name of Aphodiidae, a name formed 

 from two Greek words which refer to the habits of 

 the different species, which are always to be found in 

 cowdung. They are rather oblong and cylindrical in 

 shape, and the elytra cover nearly the whole of the 

 body. Many species are among the commonest of 

 our British insects, and they must be sought in their 

 accustomed haunts if the beetle-hunter wishes to 

 obtain a good series of specimens. A stick will 

 generally suffice to eject them from their hiding- 

 places, but the * digger ' which has been already 



