21 6 NATURAL ARRANGEMENT OF INSECTS. 



remarked, that the colours of the Megasomma are 

 sombre, being generally of a dull or livid green. 



(188.) This family is remarkably distinguished by. 

 besides their gigantic bulk, the processes which almost 

 universally, and with but rare exceptions, arm the head 

 and thorax of their males. The use of these append- 

 ages has not been ascertained, if use they have beyond 

 the sexual distinction, which we may scarcely doubt. 

 A similarity of structure in these frequently grotesque 

 excrescences is but rarely found to be identical, even in 

 cognate species ; and this circumstance has led to the 

 investigation of the character of the trophi, where as 

 remarkable differences have been discovered, as in their 

 external and more obvious distinctions. These, conse- 

 quently, have led to their subdivision into genera ; 

 perhaps upon quite as good grounds for separation, as 

 what are now so extensively adopted throughout the 

 animal kingdom. Nature, in her variety, has always 

 an object ; empty exhibition we should no where find, 

 could we follow her into her laboratory, and there 

 observe the recondite uses which mould form ; for she, 

 like the ancient philosophy, has her esoteric and her 

 exoteric doctrines ; and until we shall have become the 

 hierophants of her temple_, the mysteries of the former 

 will remain inexplicable to us. This family is still 

 called Scarabceus by the majority of Continental ento- 

 mologists; but the application of this name, Mr. 

 MacLeay very consistently restricted to those insects 

 which truly represented the Scarabs of the Ancients, 

 the object of worship to the Egyptians. He then gave 

 to the present the name of Dynastes, thus electing them 

 RULERS of the insect world ; as it was customary for 

 nations, before the sophistication of hereditary primo- 

 geniture, to select their princes from their most gigantic 

 and powerful compeers. To this name we have, how- 

 ever, given a still further restriction, beyond what it 

 receives by the separation of the following genera, and 

 many others into which it has recently been divided. 

 XylotrupeS; type Sc. Centaur us * Golopha, type So.. 



