ORDER COLEOPTERA. 397 



might form a separate sub-genus, (Necrophih/s, Latr.) is 

 removed from the preceding by many characters. The four 

 anterior tarsi are similar, and dilated at their base, the first 

 two articulations being sensibly broader, at least in the males, 

 than the following two. The third articulation of the an- 

 tennse is longer than the preceding, and the last five form 

 abruptly a perfoliated knob. The last of the maxillary is 

 as long as the preceding two united. This species is the 

 Silpha suhterranea of Illiger, and several other entomologists. 



Agyrtes, Froeh. Mycetophagus, Fab. 



Have the body tolerably thick, convex or arched above, not 

 in the form of a shield, with the corslet almost squared, a 

 little broader than long, and a little more narrow in front, 

 the external margin of the elytra inclined and without canal, 

 and the last articulation of the maxillary palpi thicker and 

 ovoid.* 



Some clavicornes, which appear to us, from many charac- 

 ters, and from their habits, to approach the agyrtes, but 

 whose mandibles are cleft or bidenticulated at their extremity, 

 will compose a fourth tribe, that of Scaphidites. Their 

 tarsi have five very distinct and entire articulations. Their 

 body isovaliform, narrowed at the two ends, arched or convex 

 above, thick in the middle, with the head low, and received 

 posteriorly in a trapezoid corslet, not at all, or feebly edged, 

 and broader posteriorly. The antennas are in general as long 

 at least as the head and corslet, and terminated in an elon- 

 gated knob of five articulations. The last articulation of the 

 palpi is conical. The feet are elongated and slender. If we 

 except some species {choleva) the tarsi are almost identical 

 in the two sexes. 



* Agyrtes castaneus, Gyllenh. Insect. Suec. I. iii p, 682; MycetopJwgns 

 castaneus. Fab.; M. spinipes, Panz. Faun. Insect. Germ. XXIV. 20. I 

 suspect that the A. subniger of M. Dejean is only the female. 



