406 iNSECTA. 



presents horns or projections which distinguish them from the fe- 

 males. In several, the three last joints of the antennae are semi- 

 cupular and concentrically piled or fitted into each other. They 

 compose the genera Onitis and Copris of Fabricius. 



Two subgenera with a foliaceous antennal club present a charac- 

 ter which, in this section, is exclusively peculiar to them: the third 

 joint of the labial palpi is but slightly or not at all distinct, and the 

 second is larger than the first. 



OxiTicELLus, Zieg. Dej. 



The body is oblong and depressed; the thorax large, nearly oval, 

 and almost as long as it is wide, and al\vays sftiooth. The scutellum 

 is distinct. Simple elevated lines or tubercles on the head distin- 

 tinguish the males from the femules(l). 



Onthophagus, Lat. — Copris, Fab. 



No scutellum. Their body is short, thorax thick, broader than 

 long, either almost semi-orbicular or nearly orbicular, but strongly 

 emarginated or truncated before. The head, and frequently the tho- 

 rax, of the male is furnished with horns. 



O. taunts; S. taurus, L.j Oliv. Col. I, 3, viii, 63. Small; 

 black; two semicircular hdrns on the head of the male; two 

 transverse and elevated lines on that of the female. In cow- 

 dung. 



O. nuchicomis; S. nuchicornis,'L.; Panz., Faun. Insect. Germ. 

 I, and XLIX, 8. Small; black; elytra grey \Vith little black spots; 

 a compressed laminiform projection terminating in an almost 

 straight point on the hind part of the head of the male; two ele- 

 vated and transverse lines on that of the female; a tubercle on 

 the anterior of the thorax. With the preceding. 



Africa and India produce several other species, some of 

 which are very brilliant, but they are all small(2). 

 Two subgenera presenting a scutellum, or sutural hiatus indi- 

 cating its place, in which the anterior legs are frequently destitute of 

 tarsi, and frequently also longer, more slender and arcuated in the 

 males, are distinguished from all other Coprophagi by the form of 

 their antennal club; its first joint, or the seventh of the whole num- 

 ber, is semi-cuculliform and receives the following one, a portion of 

 which at least is concealed and is shaped like a horse-shoe; the third 

 or last is in the form of a reversed cup. The thorax is large, and 



(1) Dej., Catalogue, &c., p. 53. 



(2) Dej., lb. See L^^.., Gener. Crust, et Insect., 11, p. 83. 



