COLEOPTERA. 9 
distinct scutellum. The labial palpi are glabrous or but slightly pi- 
lose, and their third and last joint is larger, or at least longer than 
the preceding ones. The elytra completely envelope the contour of 
the abdomen, or form an arched roof to it, a character which approxi- 
mates them to the Scarabzides of the following section. Indepen- 
dently of this, these Insects, with respect to their antennz and legs, 
are closely allied to those of the preceding subgenus; but the sexual 
variations are less strongly marked, and frequently consist of mere 
tubercles. They are all small. Several species appear in the very 
beginning of Spring. They form two subgenera. 
Apuoptius, Lllig., Fab—Scarasxus, Lin., Geoff—Corris, Oliv. 
In which the last joint of the palpi is cylindrical, and that of those 
attached to the labium somewhat more slender than the preceding 
ones, or at least not thicker. ‘There is no appendage or corneous 
and dentated lobe to the inner side of the maxilla. The body is 
rarely short, with the abdomen arched, and when these characters are 
present, the thorax is not transversely sulcated. 
A. fimetarius; S. fimetarius, L.; Panz., Faun. Insect. Germ., 
XXXI, 2. Three lines in length; black; elytra and a spot on 
each side of the thorax fulvous; three tubercles on the head; 
elytra with punctured strize *. 
Psammopius, Gill. 
Where the last joint of the palpi is oval and the thickest and long- 
est of the whole number, and in which the internal lobe of the 
maxillze is corneous and bidentated, ‘The body is short, the thorax 
transversely sulcated, and the abdomen inflated f. 
This subgenus conducts us naturally to the first of the following 
section, that of the Arenicoutr. These Scarabeides, with the Apho- 
dii and Psammodii, are the only ones whose elytra entirely cover the 
posterior extremity of the abdomen, so that the abdomen is com- 
pletely concealed; but they are distinguished from the latter by seve- 
ral characters. ‘The labrum is coriaceous, and most frequently juts 
out beyond the epistoma. The mandibles are corneous, and usually 
salient and arcuated. The terminal lobe of the maxille is straight, 
and has no inward curve. The third and last joint of the labial palpi 
is always very distinct, and at least almost as long as the preceding 
one. With some few exceptions their antennze are composed of ten 
or eleven joints. 
These Insects are also coprophagous, make deep holes in the 
* See Scheenherr, Synon. [nsect., 1,1, p. 66; Panz., Ind. Entom., p. 7. 
+ The only one I refer to it is the Psammodius sulcicollis, Gyll., Insect. Suec. I, 
p- 9. The other species are true Aphodii. See Encye. Méthod., article Psammodie. 
The genus Euparia, established in' the Encye. Méthod., by MM. Lepeletier and 
Serville, belongs to this section, but as they have not completely described it, and I 
have never seen the Insect on which it is founded, I cannot assign its place. Accord- 
ing to those gentlemen, the sides of the head are dilated and form a triangle. The 
posterior angles of the thorax are emarginated, and the humeral angles of the elytra 
are prolonged anteriorly into a point. The only species quoted is the castanea. 
These characters, and even the colour, induce me to suspect that this genus is 
closely allied to the Ewrysterne of Dalman, which we haye already mentioned. 
VOL. IV. Cc 
