S4 ORDER COLEOPTERA. 



the LucANiDX, taking the family name as usual from one of the most imjwitant genera it 

 contains : in this instance it is the Lucanus dama, an elongated stout insect, and furnished 

 with strong and projecting mandibles, especially in the males. Their antennse are elbowed, 

 and the terminal knob is constructed alter the fashion of the teeth of a comb, or is pectinate : 

 they consist of only three terminal teeth, somewhat separated from ctich other, but near 

 enough to come within the definition o{ lamelliccrn beetles (See Plate xii, fig. 7, n, o). 



The second division of the Lamellicornes embraces all those beetles whose antennee 

 terminate in leaves or lamellw, consisting usually of three pieces, which fold together or 

 lie in contact like the leaves of a book. This division received the name of Pdaloccra from 

 DuMKRiL : it contains many insects which belonged to the genus Scarabaus of Linneis. 

 The antcnnse diflFer from those of the insects of the Family Lucanidje, inasmuch as they 

 are not elbowed ; and the number of joints is variable, eight, nine or ten. In some groups, 

 the males are remarkable for their appendages ujjon the head or thorax, either in the form 

 of horns or protuberances. Some of the largest insects belong to this division. 



The habits of the insects of this division are various : some, and probably the majority, 

 feed upon refuse matter, some upon excrement, some upon leaves, and others upon flowers. 

 Their larvse are conspicuous for their size : they are of a soft consistence, of a whitish 

 color, and furnished with strong mandibles. We find them in the vegetable mould, usually 

 coiled, or in decaying logs. They have fourteen rings, including the head, and the rings or 

 s^ments are transversely grooved. 



From the diversity of character which exists in this great division, it has been subdivided 

 into ten families. The first is the Geotrupid.s; : their maxillary lobes are membranous, the 

 mandibles are porrected, and the eljrtra cover the abdomen (Plate xii, figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 8). 

 Their antennae have ten or eleven joints ; and their bodies are globose, or thick and more 

 or less rounded and full. Their habits are peculiar : they feed upon excrement, though 

 some are said to feed upon roots. 



The ScARABjEiDJE coustitutc the second family of this great division. They are furnished 

 with a shieldlike extension in front, the clypeus, which extends over the mouth ; and their 

 antenna; are eight- or nine-jointed, with the end terminating in a three-leaved club. The 

 middle legs are inserted more widely apart than the others : the posterior legs are far 

 behind ; the scutellum is not present ; and the elytra are shortened behind, leaving the 

 abdomen exposed. The claws are minute, and the anterior tibise are expanded and tri- 

 dentate externally, armed with a single spur. The insects feed upon excrement, and the 

 the greater proportion of the family reside in warm climates. They are many of them ball- 

 rollers ; and to aid them in this work, their hindlegs are long and inserted far behind, 

 which gives them a grotesque appearance when walking. They fly mostly by day. ( Plate 

 xii, figs. 5, 7.) 



The third family of Macleav is called ApHomiDiE. They too are excrement-eaters : they 

 are oval and rounded at the posterior extremity. In this family we find the minute instead 



