COLEOPTERA. 
451 
from other considerations, founded on their anatomy, they approxi- 
mate to the Silphae — such also is the opinion of M. Dufour, Ann. 
des Sc, Nat., Octob. 1824. The alimentary canal of the species he 
dissected — the sinuatus — is from four to five times the length of 
the body. The oesophagus is very short ; the oblong enlargement 
that immediately follows exhibits through its parietes certain 
brownish lines, which seem to indicate the existence of internal 
triturating appendages; if this be the case, the enlargement is 
entitled to the appellation of gizzard ; the chylific ventricle is very 
long, flexed, and studded with pointed and veiy salient papillae. 
The hepatic vessels have six distinct insertions round the chylific 
ventricle — Ibid. July, 1825. Randohr reduces their number to 
three, so that each of them would have two insertions : but such a 
disposition of their vessels is doubtful. 
These animals feed on cadaverous or stercoraceous matters and 
decomposing vegetable substances, such as dung, old mushrooms, &c. : 
some establish their domicil under the bark of trees. Their gait is 
slow, and their colour a brilliant black or bronze. Such of their larvae 
as have been observed — those of the merdarius, cadaverinus — feed 
on the same substances as the perfect Insect. Their body is glabrous, 
soft, and of a yellowish Avhite, the head and first segment excepted, 
the dermis of Avhich is broAvn or reddish; it is provided with six short 
legs, and is terminated posteriorly by two articulated appendages, and 
an anal and tubular prolongation; the squamous plate of the first 
segment is longitudinally canaliculated. 
This ti’ibe, as we have already stated, will consist exclusively of the 
genus 
Hister, Lin . 
Baron Paykull restricted his division of this genus to the separation 
of cei’tain strongly flattened species, with which he formed that of 
Hololepta, but Doctor Leach has established four more *. 
In some, the tibiae, at least the anterior ones, are triangular, den- 
tated exteriorly, and the antennae always free and exposed ; the body 
is generally square, but slightly or not at all inflated. 
They may be divided into two subgenera. In the first or 
Hoeolepta, Payk. 
The body is strongly flattened, the praesternum does not project 
over the mouth, and the four posterior tibiae have but a single range 
of spines; the terminal lobe of the maxillae is prolonged; the mentum 
is deeply emarginated, and the palpi, proportionally more advanced, 
are formed of almost cylindrical joints. 
♦ Zool. Miscell,, III, p. T6. 
O G 2 
