490 CLASS INSECTA. 



The sixth and last section of scarabeidae, that of Melito- 

 PHiLi, is composed of insects whose body is depressed, most 

 frequently oval, brilliant, without horns, with the corslet 

 trapeziform, or almost orbicular ; an axillary piece occupies, 

 in the greatest number, the space comprised between the 

 posterior angles and the exterior of the elytra. The anus is 

 uncovered. The sternum is often prolonged in the manner 

 of a point, or advanced horn. The hooks of the tarsi are 

 equal and simple. The antennse have ten articulations, the 

 last three of which form a knob, always foliated. The la- 

 brum and mandibles are concealed, in the form of flatted 

 laminae, entirely, or almost entirely, membranaceous. The 

 jaws are terminated by a silky lobe, in the form of a pencil, 

 without corneous teeth. The chin is usually ovoid, trun- 

 cated superiorly, or almost square, with the middle of the 

 superior edge more or less concave or emarginate. The 

 lingua is not projecting. 



Some anatomical observations made upon many of these 

 insects by M. Leon Dufour, lead us to the conclusion that 

 they are, of all the scarabeidae, those in which the alimentary 

 tube is the shortest. The chylific ventricle has, commonly, 

 its external tunic covered with very small superficial papillae, 

 in the form of projecting points. The inflation which ter- 

 minates the narrow intestine is not cavernose like that of 

 melolontha. The apparatus of generation in the males also 

 differs from that of these last. The spermatic capsules are 

 ten or twelve in number to each testicle. Their proper con- 

 duits do not all flow together to one point, for the formation 

 of the deferential canal, but they communicate among them- 

 selves in divers manners. The number of vesiculae seminales 

 is one, or three pair. The ejaculatory conduit is turbinated, 

 and swelled much before it penetrates into the copvdatory 

 apparatus. (See Annal. des Sciences Natur., torn. III. p. 235, 

 and IV. p. 178.) 



