GENERA OF SCARAB.EIN-E. 227 



observer ; and, although these characters have actually 

 been overlooked, yet they are the only ones of a tan- 

 gible nature which can establish the differences in 

 question. 



(^99-) This division comprises considerably the 

 greatest number of forms exhibited by the circle of which 

 they constitute a chief component. We have here the de- 

 pressed Scarabceus, Gymopleurus, and Pachysoma, — the 

 latter resembling a couple of conjoined semicircles, and 

 further curious from its very hairy legs. Then we have, 

 next, the very convex Circellium, Chalconotus, Coprobis, 

 Copris, and PhancBus, the last distinguished for the 

 armature of their head and thorax ; the latter usually 

 retuse in front : we have then the irregularly gibbous 

 Sisyphus and Hyboma, — which form merges in the flatter 

 Onthophagus and Coprobices; and this passes through the 

 more elongated Onites and Oniticellus, which terminates 

 in the elongate, parallel, and completely flattened surface 

 of Eurysternus. There is as much diversity in the 

 proportion and structure of the legs of these insects, as 

 in their general form. Thus, the convex forms are the 

 most essentially fossorial in the structure of these limbs, 

 — exhibited in the dilatation, concavo-convex, and ex- 

 ternally considerably denticulated edge of their anterior 

 tibiae ; and in all the legs of these, there is a greater 

 uniformity of size and length. The depressed series 

 makes an easy transition in the comparative slenderness 

 of these limbs, and the increasing length of the posterior 

 pair to the gibbous group, where the latter are very 

 lengthy and considerably curved. In the Onthophagi 

 and their allies, we find a great resemblance to the 

 pre-eminently fossorial structure ; but in Eurysternus 

 we have a third type of structure, where the intermediate 

 legs are the longest. Considering the substances that 

 these creatures frequent, and whence they have been 

 termed the " scavengers of nature," we, of course, ex- 

 pect to see obscurity of tint prevail ; but when we ob- 

 serve the metallic brilliancy of many of the Coprohii, 

 Onthophagi, and Phancei, the splendour of whose co- 

 il 2 



