416 ATTEMPTED DIVISION OF BRITISH INSECTS. 



Natural Order. — Scarab^ites, Dung-chafers. 

 Larva resembles the preceding. Inhabits and feeds on the excre- 

 ment of animals. Pupa changes in the ground. Imago, with 

 antennas composed of nine or ten joints, the terminal one forming 

 a compressed club ; labium generally concealed by the clypeus ; 

 mandibles sometimes corneous, sometimes membranaceous ; colour 

 brown, black, or metallic-tinted black ; form oval, convex above. 

 Inhabit and feed as in the larva state ; flight easy, rapid, mostly 

 nocturnal. Aphodius, Geotrupes, Bolhoceras, Onthophagus, Copris. 



Natural Order. — Lucanites, Stag-beetles. 

 Larva resembles the preceding ; feeding on decayed wood. Pupa 

 changes in the same situations. Imago, with ten-jointed antennae, 

 the basal joint very long, and the others bending forward from it 

 at a right angle, forming an elbow, the three apical joints forming 

 a club ; labrum concealed or obsolete ; mandibles very long, 

 strong, and toothed ; maxillae weak and pilose. Flight nocturnal. 

 Feed on the sap of plants. Sinodendron, Lucanus, Platycerus. 



Natural Order. — Histerites, Mlmick-beetles. 

 Larva rather more elongate than that of the Lucanites, in other 

 respects nearly similar in formation. Inhabits and feeds on 

 putrid substances. Pupa mostly changes in the ground. Imago, 

 with clavate antennae; strong corneous and projecting mandibles; 

 head retractile within the pro thorax ; fore-wings square and very 

 short; legs contractile ; form a long square ; covering excessively 

 hard, highly polished. Inhabits putrid substances ; mimics death 

 when disturbed ; flies occasionally in the sunshine. Hister, 

 DendropMlus, Onthophilus, Abrceus. 



Natural Order. — Byrrhites, Pill-hcetles. 

 Larva as in the Histerites, but somewhat pilose. Feeds on the 

 roots of vegetables and decaying wood. Pupa mostly changes in 

 the earth. Imago, with moniliform antennae incrassated towards 

 the extremity, but not clubbed ; mandibles corneous but not 

 projecting ; form nearly globular ; covering downy, not polished ; 

 head and legs contractile. Inhabits vegetables, mimicking death 

 if touched ; crawls in the day ; flies but seldom. Nosodendron, 

 Byrrhus, Aspidiphorus, Shnplocaria. 



StIRPS. SiLPHINA. 



Natural Order. — Dermestites. 

 Larva somewhat shuttle-shaped, very pilose. Inhabits and feeds 

 on decayed and dried animal substances. Pupa changes in the 



